Washington telegraph., 1865-03-22

The SITUArIOs.-DuIingt the stern apprer-
siseshis Of four years of wAr He have learned
ra1ch that will avail Us hereafter. 1t would be
singular if We had not. We have hitherto been
lighting 10 maintain our pride in the eyes of the
7-orld. In deing SO, we have scorncd ths teach
ass Of history; we have repudased the princi-
,-.ss by whioh our fathers gained their victories
"A ha Amsrican Revolution; the same by which
every weaker power has becn enabled TO defend
.:ssIE, and % triumph il tic end. ---.-.
Taen the British possessed themselves of
ao:tea, New FORK, Philadelphia, Richmond and
e. GA~l!-s;3p, they felt that the work Of subiuss-
80 ras scsempIshcd; but It was only a. tEis
g'.-3i that our arms began to scquirs aew
sire, aal that cur enenIes found that the
-s.-aa4y Of tLeir triumphsra dafksrias to
1a1 nigh. of disapps iutlaent = .-. .r...-.f .
- fist th1ee campaigns Of Frederick the
--t-as X ora effsnsiTs- ~1ni DISASTROUS but when
ais ci.ics + Il before tho Sssdpmns of the all
powerful eliics, he n ..hdrew mis- forces into the
-terior Of the country, gathered slthis strength
III { las! deadly s.ruggi=, f.oIn which be rose
conquerer. -t. a =
W. h4Te hitherto been wsging war ef out
posts fer cur eitiss. the pride of Our land. AS
.hese ciiies scattered over the wide limis OF
.5 II copuity, We have been compelled to sep&-
- =. iJ:1esi s-d as this system always gave
9 ems my the inj,ia.ige, We have bceu defeated
-, detail Nashville. tew oIleans, nep,phis,
Iiohsburg Savannah, Charleston, Whining ton,
-. sell the same tale, and show the weakness
{. tl,4t policy which destroys our reso. rces in
defending. 50 many places so widely distant.
But .on tkat the eno4ny has these pisces, he
will have to garrison each with from FIVE to ten
thousand aAe-l, which Will proportionably weak
~ his armies. While he is dividing bis forces
we will be concentrating oursi and having no
lager any need to defend fixed stations, We
s,.=.l be left unsrarrnel.ed to conduct sn often
sir= defensive war, in which the enemy win no
iougsr havc tho advantage Of the initiative.
r. will be compelled 20 seek our armies in
whatever place We see Fl. TO place them, which
T.i be, rot where he bring aoet to assis.
"a land forces. but far away from his base of
stpp1ies here the reverse ef a day, instead CT
beng repaired on the morrow, Is heretofore,
wi!I prove his destruction. Had we gained in
Ike interior of our country ths splendid victo-
rits which have crowned our arms en the Polo
nse, the Rapidan, and in fsont Of Richmond.
oar Independence would have besn acquired.
But, in the end, they will sBd that cur cities
are .he barrels which smuse tbs whale. while
ths quick harpoon dyes the with blood
They win fAd that we were but resding the
same painful road which led Washington to
victory, Ehich enabled Frederi.1 to pat his heel
upon Li5 eneEiies, ann which conducted the Ne
tkerands to independence. Our enemies were
not aLls 10 hold Atlanta, simply because it was
in the heart ef eur ecuutry and when the
cities Of our seaboards and borders gons,
ws have wide extent of country. every path
OF which VIE know, which offers objective
poin. Of attack to the enemy, where he nust
waste his energies in weary marches. ending in
nothing, if not in his own defeat.