New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-01-21
"pUBLuC SPIRIT, IN RICHMOND

The red-hOt rebellious newspapers in Rich
mond are letting numerous eats out Of the bag
in way which is far from prudent. Ii is nat
ural to suppose that there are great many
persons in the Confcderacy who are quito sick
Of Instruction, aud uncommonly sorry that II
was ever undertaken. These wise apostates
from foolish faith are, TO n considerable cx-
tent, defended from wrath and violence by the
fact that to hang them, fog them, or tar and
feather them, would be creative of most dam
aging scandal. But the ferocity of desperate
editors is not always to be restrained and even
in the wise House Of Representatives We per-
ceive that il has been thought necessary 70 re-
solve that the Confederate States will stick by
each other and mean to fight either TO the
death or the Day Of Judgment. When solemn
declarations like these are judged 10 be fit and
proper, il does not require great deal oil logic
TO prove that the disaficcted are neither moagcr
in numbers nor poor in character. II does not
therefore, surprise us to find TIE Richmond Er-
alninsr Of the 10Th inst in n depressed frame Of
mind over what il is pleased TO call "the decay Of
public spirit" Tie EramiHu, if we may credit
its trumpet toned defiance, fears neither our old
armies nor our new drafts, our guns nor our
generals, our ships nor our steamboats,; and
it goes into an elaborate calculation ill.,
tended to prove that We are at the pres
ent moment not only used up but upon our
marrow bones, bawling Justify for quarter.
Under such rejuvenating and stimulating cir
cumstances it really does strike us as greatly
and inexplicably queer that public spirit, like
other "spirits," should be growing scarce in the
Rebel stronghold. Yet The Eraminr admits
the decay" and avows that it is greatly to
be feared" Why this decay" 1t isn't to
he attributed either to the loss Of battles or to
sieges or to blockades, to diminishing proycndcr
or painfully diluted potatons; but rather, a.
we are confidently informed, to "the continual
spectacle Of executive folly and legislative sub
servicncy." One reason may perhaps, be as
good as another in an emergency. But if we
were that mongrel thing, "citizen" Of the
Confederaoy we think that it would give US
exceedingly unpleasant interior feelings to be
told that, in the first period of our bran-new
commonwealth, our pretty new Congress, the
pick of an cnfranchised people, the quintessencc
Of Slaveholding wisdom and virtue and patriot
ism, was proving subservient to one who is no
better than "fool" Yet there it is in blacl
and white, Executive folly Legislative sub
seryiency Nay The Enaminr goes further
than this. The army, it declares, is demorazcd
by lack of "manlness" in Mr.. Davis and of
common sense" in his Congress. All this in
dcates most portcntous depression, both civil
and military
While the law .makcrs and the law-executor;
are thus giving out we are proud to say that
the Secession editors are moro blatantly bold
than ever. The number of long poles with
which Mr.. Davis and his Senators are being con-
| tinually stirred up surpasses computation.
The valor of the newspapers, we arc bound to
confess, shows not the smallest sign of abate-
ment. The ready writers Of the Coniederacy
are still most murderously metaphorical and
brilliantly belligerent. Were not our cause ex-
cellcnt, we should surely succumb before the
broadside Of bad names which is every morning
! discharged at US. We should have supposed
that the natural effect of these lurd leading
articles would be q revival of "publc spirit.
Fine writing sometimes does wonders. A
lucky song once gave fresh impulse to tin
French Revolution when it threatened to StoI