The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-30
We miss it if the people Of this country be
not yet called upon to administer wholesome
and needed rebuke
CONFUSION WORSE COMPOUNDED.

put hlnSelI are mortgaged 10 the Dau, REMINDS US
that others beside the new minister to England
spoke of Abraham Lincoln as ga wooden man, :"
there were leading Republicans, even in Indi-
ana, who were dissatisfied with the President;
that such men as Horace Greeley, and Ben
Wade, and Winter Davis so opposed him that,
in 1864, there was more or less powerful
movement resulting in the nomination of
John G. Fremont, in declared antagonism to
him; and because of this, the Journal is chided
for having called Minister Phelps to account
for his attitude during the war and his con-
temptuous expressions touching MIR. Lincoln.
That any man of ordinary intelligence-not to
say one of much more than usual keenness of
mind, and one who, during the war, contrib
uted greatly, because of his abilities, to the
| final success of the cause of the government
can now be so confused, is a striking
proof of the mist that has enyeloped
the questions and principles involved in
the mightiest struggle the world ever saw, a
mist that in an advanced stage Of murkiness
leads, inevitably, to such infamous disgraces
as the closing of one Of the executive depart
ments of the government, and the dipping of
the national flag in honor Of the memory of
the foulest scoundrel on the pages of Ameri-
can history disgrace be it said, that has
been permitted without serious protest, except
in very few newspapers; and these have re-
ceived sneers and taunts for their pains.
Let it be conceded that there were many
earnest and loyal hearts that were sorely tried
in the earlier days of the war Of the rebellion
by the seeming slowness and inaction of the
federal government. There were many such.
There were those who, with a zeal possibly
without knowledge, cried, 'On to Richmond"
and who begged. and pleaded, and argued,
and finally became restless and critical be-
cause the power of the Nation was not more
forcefully exerted to the crushing out of
not like the apparent policy, alluded to by
Gen. Sherman, of making war without hurt
ing anybody. There were anxious days, and
months, and years almost, when it seemed
that the whole government was in harmony
with McClellan's dress parade, and when the
Confederacy appeared to be slowly but stead
lily advancing and strengthening itself. There
were petitions and delegations almost num-
berless going to the White House. urging
stronger action. There were conventions of
people, and conferences of Governors and
caucusses of congressman, and reaaluttSas of
preachers and articles in newspapers, all con-
verging to the one point of more decided
prosecution of the war, and the adoption of
more radical measures for the restoration of
the Union and the integrity of the government.
All this is matter of history; and it were
useless to deny it, or to evade the reflection
now that much of it must have added to the fear
full load of responsibility carried by President
Lincoln. But all these expressions were but
the lamentations Of the deep spirit Of loyalty
that stood back Of the President; upon which
he knew he could rely; which was the rock of
defense for the country, and was the shadow
in which rested the worn President when he
turned from the armed enemies in front only
to find stealthy daggers and poisoned weapons
threatening him in the rear. Has it come to
this, that in less than twenty-one years since
the war closed man of intelligence shall
stand up and rank those who, from the fullness
Of loyalty, indiscreet though it was, urged
the government to more decisive action and
thought that Mr.. Lincoln was too slow
and hesitant, with the pestilent, trait
orous men, who, from hearts over
flowing with bitterness, opposed the war, de-
manded the entire cessation of hostilties
that an ignoble peace might be purchased of
the South, and denounced Abraham Lincoln
as ga smutty old tyrant, urging that he be
driven out of the White House with switchesY
Are the men whose lives had been devoted to
freedom, and whose souls were aglow with in
tense zeal against slavery-believing that to
be the last fortress behind. which the rebel
lion was intrenched, and who, therefore,
wanted the war power Of the government to
storm that and put the 'inst: tuition to
the sword, and who became "critics"
of Mr.. Lincoln because of this-to be
classed now with the 'copperheads" of
the North who threw their whole infuanca
with the South from the beginning of the
struggle because they were, in warp and wool,
the servants of the slave lords, lack
ing only the manhood and courage to be-
come open, as they were secret and malignant,
traitors OF such men as met in secrat mid