Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1865-01-26
TIE PAST AND THE PRESENT.

TILE PAST AND THE PRESENT.
In the commencement ef the year 170l,
says the Richmond Dispatch that year
which terminated with the capture OF
Cornwalis at Yorktown and the cessation
of osti,:ties-the affairs of the colonists
had never worn SO g gloomy al aspect
Not only Savan nah. but Charleston, was
in the hands Of the enemy. Gates hao
suffered defeat, which caused the almost
entire dispersion of his army. What re-
,nained OF it seemed fit for nothing but a
prey TO the enemy. The traitor Arnold
had come suddenly into James liver with
stroug force, naval and military, and on
the Cd or Sd Of January he captured Rich
mond, where there WAS no force to oppose
him. To crown the public distress, lii the
army immediately under the command of
Washington, the Pennsy ylyania line mu-
tinted for want OF pay, and it was tor a
time supposed that the whole force would
disband. This mutny had no sooner been
suppressed than the New Jsrsey line fol-
lowed the example. The public at large,
and even w ashington himself, feared thai
the example had been contagious, and
the greatest anxiety prevailed. Never
Lnd tile affairs Of the colonlsts seemed SO
rear destruction. The weak kneed shook
in their shoes. Even men OF firm courage
and consistent temper began to despair.
But Washington never suffered his hopes
to abate, or his courage to shrink, or his
h,m resolve to be shaken for monlent.
Others might tremhle, but he knew not
how t, fear. Placing firm reliance in
1he Justice OF his cause, and of the good
ness OF Providence, he never doubted for
an instant that all would turn out well
and that his country would emerge from
the trial greater and more gloriens than it
would have done had it never been sub
iected to them. The country caught the
contasion of his example as men catch the
plague. Its fears we're allayed when it
saw the con- nmander- In chef calm and SO
confident Il proved to be the dark hour
just before day. The light socn began 10
break On tile 18th of January, J Morgan
defeated Tareton at tie Cowpens-a blow
from which Corn wallis never recovered
and on the 10th Of October, Cornwallis
surrendered. xss
We recall these things to recollection,
1T this time, because it strikes us there is
similarity i'll our present condition and
that Of our fathers ia the beginning of the
year 1881. Hood, like Gales, has been
defeated and Savannah has been taken
Yet Charleston has. not been captured,
and Hoods 5 defeat was far from being as
signal as that Of Gates Richmond is yet
in our HANDS, whereas. at the opening OF
the year 1881, Arnold was master of it,
When Green joined the army of the South
in December, he found it reduced to a
mere handful, inundated by defeat, ano
altogether incapable of making any great
exertlon. The forces Of Beauregard, > on
the contrary, are numerous and well dis
ciplined, and Its officers are able and yex
perienceds soldiers. 8, The ,yictory, which
has just been achieved over the yankee
armada at Wilmington may be fairly sci
off against the defeat Of Ferguson at Kings
Mountain Everything considered, we
are in q far more hopeful condition now
than were our fathers in 17S1.s@ I.se.s Il :
Let our country men consider that, fact
and deduce from it the inevitable con
clusion. They have no cause for, despond
ercy. God, in bis own: time, brought
light ont Of darkness in. January, 1881,
what reason have we to think that hewlI
not bring a glorious day out of this nigh
OF January, 1865. Our cause like every.