The Portland daily press., 1865-01-04

u0u our ooySe hA0 1upOEtOtlbJ 40 INV WfOttS
with the Federals." This journal would not
probably have made such remark liz the earl
Ter stages of the war, but now we think 1t can
be uttered with some degree Of truth and pro-
priety. ~ Al9fAe
The varying scenes and uncertain fortunes
of war have wrought great change In the as
pect of affairs. Ia the commencement Of the
rebellion, and for months afterwards, the South
had the advantage Of the North. The leaders
of the rebellion had .due opportunity, under
the administration Of the imbecie and timid,
If not trsitorous, "Old Public Functionary,"
to make all needed preparations, aud this OPP
portunity was taken advantage oil, and i'm
proved. Judging the people of the North by
Buchanan as their standard, they easily slid
into the belief that Northerners would not
nsh'. But Buchanan was not their only cri-
terion. dg 18&NaFR b Fl Ia s. asEf5 zA
Frank Pierce 1.-THE illustrious predecessor
of the Old Functionary also furnished them
with standard by which they measured the
courage, pluck and patriotism Of the North,
and BY which also they took the measure Of
the great Democratic party. But many ofthe
leading men of the Democratic party could
not be properly judged by such a criterion,
and hence their calculations failed. T1ss7
There are other reasons why the South had
the advantage Of the North In the earlier
stages Of the rebellion, and why they believed
the cool blood Of the North could not be fred
into a warlike fame. ~S-s NAAkA
Northern members Of Congress were often
insulted, and sometimes bullied and beatenin
the halls of legislation without showing much
resistance because duelling was not In accord
ance with their ideas of aproper and healthy
state OF society. Besides, Northerners were
not accustomed to the use of the pistol, rifle,
bowie knife OF sword as many Southerners
were. We are not now allpding to dough
faces" for upon these the chixRlry could al.
ways rely in almost any contingency. The
Southern leaders made mistake however,
when they measured the patriotism OF the De-
mocratic masses by such Doughfaces. sa1'
The fact Is quite obvious that the South was
better prepared for warlike demonstrationsi in
the beginning of the death grapple between
Liberty and Slavery than the quiet and indus
trious North. And 1t is not marvellous to any
philosophic. thinking mind that better Gene
rails should have sprung up on Southern soil
than at the North where the habits and indus
tries Of the people had no tendency to foster
and cherish warlike spirit. We confess that
the chivalry, Ia the commencement of hostili
ties, had many advantages which they i'm,
proved to the utmost of their power.
To "fre Southern heart" is a much easier
work than to health cool blood Of the North.
but when the latter is heated the process Of
cooling is comparatively slow as the rebels
have found to their sorrow. The eyes Of the
world were upon US, and the Judgment OF
mankind" pronounced decision In favor of
Southern generalship 10 the earlier stages of
our civil strife, but public opinion has under
gone great change.
There vas a time when the name OF "Stone-
wall JACKSON was q tower Of strength to the
rebelcause Although he was engaged in an
unrighteous strife, yet he exercised a moral as
well as military power in the land, and his
prowess was NOT to be lightly esteemed by
friend or foe. But Infinite Wisdom saw fit 10
remove him from the rebel army and from
earth. He has left name worthy of much
better cause than that in which he fought and
lost bis lite. History viii give him Justice.
General Beauregard acquired considerable
fame In the earlier periods Of the contest He
rose suddenly above the military horizon and
flashed across the skies like a meteor, but his
flight was SO sudden and SO high that he could
not keep long on the wing nor sustain his ele,
walton. he has some tact as all Frsnchmen
have, but has not mental breadth enough to
qualify him for leader Of armies. His engi-
neeriug qualities may be fair, but he lacks
depth and comprehension.
Gen. Hood possesses good deal OF the Hot
spur inthe elements Of his composition, and
his sanguine temperament often leads him as
tray and prompts him to- underrate the force
Of his enemy. There is dash enough about
him, but it is not well tempered by cool
Judgment His ambition too often o'erleaps
Itself. and in mounting his war-steed be some
times vaults SO high that he falls upon the
other side. But be Is favorite Of JEFF Da-
Wis in spite of the opposition of the rebel jour
mails which have soundly berated him for re-
moving johnson and supplying his place with
this hotspuf. Jeff didn't hketo have John
son retreat so many miles before Shermans
forces, and so he gave Hood the command
who soon demoralized and weakened an army
which johnson had left in good condition.
We are not surprised that JEFF. Davis was
in a great hurry to see Sherman whipped, and
as johnson had not accomplished the feat, he
thought he would try more dashing, but
less prudent commander. 1t is quite possible
that the bogus President now regrets the
change Of commanders, buthe is too plucky
and wilful to confess to any such regrets. Oh
the two we consider Johnson the more able
General, but Hood is decidedly better for us,
whatever the opinion Of JED. Davis may be.
Gen. Lee is unquestionably an able and
brave and prudent officer. He possesses man y
qualities that go to make upa commander Of
the first class, and we have no doubt much OF
the success and good fortune the rebels have
met with in months past and especially when
our Generals were not equal to those we have
now in the he.d-Was owing to the military
tact and talent of Gen. Lee Whether Davis
regards him as a formidable rival in the good
graces of. the people under his rule, time may
show. Many Of the rebel Journals woult
seem to shadow forth sucha spirit on the par
of Davis, or at least, to stir 1t up in his breast
They slyIy hint at the propriety of Davis
withdrawal from power and the reins giver
into the hands of Lee. Tits not to be expect
ed that such suggestions and recommends
tions would set very easy on the Confederate
Presidents stomach.
But the length of this article admonishes u
to draw towards the close. When the Soutl
had rule in our councils, they made use o
their power in developing the military talen
of their own section, while Northern officer