New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-01-24
A WORD ON PEACE.

ton OF peace as ii some wrong "clc uoho WV
Nation. But all wars must have an end, even
those carried on, as so few ever have been, Tor
the highest good of the people, though all may
not be attained which the victorious party, at
the outset, promised itself. Ordinarily 1t is
struggle of endurance. 1t is question OF
pluck and resources, aud resources, as in all
human affairs, are the groundwork oil courage.
Which can hold ont the longestl Which can hold
out nolOnger' There comes always time when
the last is the vital question, and when 1t comes
peace is inevitable. We may or We may not
have reached that point, but the signs are, az
least, significant and wise men will give them
due consideration. Unwise, or at least thought
less men, remember only that we have been at
var but four years. while other nations have, with
more or less patience, endured its caamties ten
twenty, thirty years, with far less at stake
They do not remember that one year of modern
warfare, in the exhaustion attending it, in lis
enormous expenditure of blood and treasure, is
equal to five years of war century or half
century ago. The desolation that followed
the thirty years of war in Germany was not
greater, probably not so great, as that which
in the last four years has been visited
Upon the rebellious States of the South
Half of Virginia is q desert; Tennessee Is
barren waste; the young men of the South are
in their graves; tie old men are reduced to
poverty; the industrial system Of all the Slave
States is destroyed; from Mason and Dixon's
Line to the RIO Grande, desolation covers the
land. The Confederacy has nothing left hut an
IMPOVERISHED territory over which our armies
can march at will, a single sorely beleaguercd
army, and an Idea. How much longer can they
f CHIT for thsi How near are they to the end
of their resourcesl What courage and endur-
anec are still left in the people, They have
reached that point when they must look these
questions straight in the face.
On the other hand, we are stronger than ever
The war has developed our strength, our wealth
and our resources. We are stronger, infinitely
stronger and more capable Of beginning an ex-
haustive war to-day than we were the day
when the first shot was fired at Fort Sumter.
/ We have grown strong as the Rebels have
grown weak. and they know it well who best
know Their own weakness.
In the natural course OF things then, peace is
imminent. IL may be the imnneEce OF weeks
or of months certainly it cannot be delayed
beyond the duration Of one more campaign.
Circumstances peculiarly favorable to the Re-
bellion-for the devil takes care of his own
may possibly pos pone it TO the next Autumn,
but the chances in ITS favor are few and grow
ing daily fewer. The North wants peace, pro-
vided the terms and conditions shall suit it.
There is PROFESSIONALLY party at the South
that demands it, caring little what the terms
are; ready to accede to anything that We
demands that wants peace for its own sake.
IMPOVERISHED, weary, bereaved, hopeless, it
only asks that it may come back 10 the Union
come back with what life there is left to it.
with what little hope the future holds out to 1t.
II is ready to grant our utmost demand-lay
down its arms and submit. How strong tins
party is as compared with the 'last ditch
party we do not know, but the hope OF peace Is
sure to develop its strength. Some facts are
known to US which it is not safe now TO make
public But they must be known ere long,
and from that moment our public affairs will
assume new aspect.
They will assume new aspect, because then
we shall have something more positive than
mere conjectures to 60 upon. Now the public
mind ia feyersh and excited for want OF accurate
knowledge, and because it can trust only to signs
and portents. But these are very significant.
The opposition TO Mr.. Davis in the Rebel Con-
gress is bold and defiant. 1t knows the strength
that lies behind it. Mr.. Blair's first visit to
Richmond was neither frutless nor use
less. or it would not have been repeated.
Without pretending to know anything OF
| lis details, we, in common with everybody else'
arrive at this conclusion. Not less significant
is the gradual but steady decline in the price OF
gold. 1t has been going down Tor weeks with
certain fluctuations attributable merely to spec
ulation Gold gamblers and brokers are not the
arbiters of our destiny. They cannot make
peace, but they are careful observers OF the signs
that herald it. Those who command the market
are advised, not only Of all that is gong Oh
at Washington, but their lines Of commumca'
ton extend to Daviss Cabinet and Lees head
quarters. Money is great power, and com
mands the secrets Of State. Il Lee thinking o.
the evacuation OF Richmond DoesDayis loof
with appreciation upon the movements of the
party against him Does he dread some sud
den movement Of the Union party in any par
l.;or,or State3 The r0ld.pamblers know