The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-01-21
The Men for the Times.

In there Is any real tdi0ub III Country "oi
will sooner or later bring 1t out. The first
stages OF the struggle do not always develope
It. In the earlier boilings OF the caidron meD
are often thrown upon the surface and obtain
short lived notoriety, but the swiftly passing
events form crucible In which their quaiilie'
ara tried and often found wanting In the true
metal. This has been the result OF an tne WAIT
recorded In the annals OF the worio'
The war In which we are now engaged and
IN which the battles Of liberty and slavery, Of
ar,stocraey and democracy, Of absolutists and
liberallsts, are being fought, affords no excep-
tiOn to the general rule In such matters. Dur
Ing our struggle for the perpetuity OF our ma
ton, many men have arisen and shone like
msteors In the military sky for brief periods.
and then their lights went out and they sanl
to rise no more. - a1
nAnd that should teach Us '
Their = disin ~ that shapes our ends,
y Rough-hew th m how we will"
Many have vaulted into thelr saddles anc
thought they we're "witching the world viii
noble horsemanship," but their career wa
brief because something more than horseman
ship was required to constitute great warrior
Tneif saddles have been emptied, and the ri
ders have found like water In commotion thei
proper level. This rebellion was got up
an unprecedented magnitude and covered al
exp4nss of territory which many of Europeal
priucipaIities could scarcely comprehend.
Such being the great extent ofserritory ane
the formidable nature OF the iusurrectiu
against our government that men of gres
breadth of intellect, indomitable courage, an,
true patriotism were required 70 ride upoI
the storm clond and direct It. In the earle
periods of the war an almost universal or :
went up and its voice was heard through a
tbs loyal states. eve want q leader of on
sF ni4si We want the right man In the rig I
pl cap
Tn4re were men ambitious enough to listen
to that call and ready enough to answer IL
but the time seemed long to the true patriot
ofthe country before leaders arose to whom
the people could confdentially trust theh
dearest interest s and most sacred rights. ]
was not strange that 1t should be so. 1t hss
been so In all past ages. But good Provi.
dencs never forsakes a people who are strug-
Cling for the right. We have full faith that
we are not forsaken nor forgotten.
Time enough is always given for the accom-
pllshment ofgreat and good purposes, how
ever impatient, restless or even hopeless, NOR
Z tails may be. Events are the schoomasters
that teach m en- the most valuable lessons and
quality them for the emergencies OF the times
Such leaders we find In Grant and Sherman
: We are jlstided 10 saying that these Generals
have surveyed the whole ground the rebelioo
covers. They have exhibited their power to
operate on plans embracing great territoria
-expanse. And as the London Spectator trul.
sys: SHAY have knit together the effect of
Operations hundreds of miles apart, to make
victories in Tennessee tell Immediately on thu
campaign in Mississippi, victories in Mississippi
reset again on the campaign in Tennessee.
and the successful occupation Of the Northeas
OF Georgia the stepping,stone to more hopeful
invasion of Virginia"
The above il correct view from foreigt
standpoint. The capture of Fort Fisher wa
Immediately felt at Richmond, and the surren
der of Savannah struck a chord that Instant.
vibrated ia the heart of the rebellion, ano
gave pang whose pain will not soon subside,
Considering the mementous issue involved ii
this struggle and its effect upon future genera
lions, we must confess that the war has MOI
been long one, although we could have wish
cd that It might have been brought to conclu
sion and peace restored at an earlier day
But great battles are not fought in day. ano
great results are not obtained without grea
and often continued struggles, and much she'd
ding OF blood. Why this should be SO in th,
order Of Providence, is not for us to say. W.
accept the facts Of history, and yield to higher
powers. y - seA-2As ~ " 81 &