The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-05-14

maiignity of some favored politician. -,
These matters are a part of the history oi TINS
period aud show The embarrassments tiat htchoeu
and inpcded the progress of our army ON I. itrch
20 final success As consequence oil the lalure 10
strike decisive blow at this time there followed 10 '
the disastrous defeat at Fredericksburg ana oh,h-
Sceiorsville. and consequent loss OF cFe'ni anu ae
precision of spirit of the people Ag5iln the Con
federates eSsayed 10 invade Northern SOIL ana dark
moss like nall rested over the land. Washington
was again becaguered, and the patriotic oil All
parties hastened save the Capfiai and refei the
( The battle of Gettysburg settled that particular
campaign aud broke the backbone of the rebellion
After that defeat of the South, IL was lighting
against hope but still il fought with the courage oi
despair need not speak OF the c.osng campaign,
the terrible losses sustained by the attempt 10 narcn
direct from Washington 10 Richmond history VIII
note the fact that Richmond was finally surren-
dered to q force operating upon the james tNNer'
and this indicates that if re-enturcernents had oeen
sent there in ls62 the might have been ended
ButI1ow the great question propounded is whether
II was better il then should have ended without
the emancipation of the slaves. Was II pohuoa
necessity or provideTltiai plan which preserved
the strength of the South to be exhausted by al,
triton -? Would il have been well 10 have closed
the war before the original cause OF lrlltailon-
slavery had been forever aboishedf But why
slluda TO matters that caused bitterness quarter OF
a century ago. What ii, from over zeal. personal
ambition, even sordid motives, many UNJUST
illegal and outrageous acts were done? " hat II the
war was prolonged and human life wasted It only
proves the strength and wisdom of the institutions
and the loyalty of the people To the Government
II was impossible in such great war that mistakes
should not be made and injustice done; Dut Whal-
ever may have been done, the result IN the aooh-
ton of slavery and establishment of the Union
more than compensatcs for all the cost
LINCOLN, GRANT AND SHERMAN.
AZ stlc turning point in the history of the Army of
the Potomac was decided at Washington so il came
20 pass that the turning point III the destiny oi the
country was decided at Appomaitox. The Presi,
dent who had always been the defender and friend
of the Army of the Potomac, was 10 become the
savior of the country the bene1actor Of his race.
To show his steatfast adherence TO that army,
and the con slant and persistent efforts of politicians
TO interfere VITA. its organization and movements
and TO turn the to political purposes, one Incl
dent j potent He once said TO Gen. Siocli, while
In the Executive Chamber in the Winter of '63:
You may have terrible battles at the 'front.' pub
they are not TO be compared with what have to
contend with ia this room in uphuldIng the army
This indicates tbat there were enemies OF the Army
of the Potomac who met in council with the Pre,i-
dent; but their names require no mention. 80, at
the close of the war, a faction OF no mean proper
tons reared itself against the President to oppose
peace. except upOn condition of absolute snDuga-
ton of the Southern States, and their treatment as
conquered PROVINCES These factionisis were the
same men who had abused-an thwarted the Army
of the Potomac tor nearly four years To some OF
them the discontinue of Union General seemed
more welcome than the defeat of the rebels
We read in history that there were men IN the
Roman Senate who sent word To ArriovfstIis that II
he killed Cesar they would hoid IL good service
done. These Roman marpiots had their counter
parts here; but Providence had provided them
masters.
There were three men at this critical time who
held with the army, the destiny of the country in
their hands. They were men of such pure lives,
patriotic motives and who had performed such
Inertorous services TO be the idols OF the people
I need not mention the names of LIncon Grant
and Sherman. IL was the conduct of those three
men, backed ,s The armies OF the country t,at set
tied the o!uionary question. whether tile Union
should be restored or arbitrary ceutIaalZed gov
ernment be established.
Grant received t}le surrender OF the Confederate
army, and the terms made ratified by Lincoln
and enthusiastically approved by the army
The men o! The two armies iraternized on the
spot and the soldiers of the Array OF the Potomac
shared their ratioBs with their late enemies iii token
of an established peace.
The same terms could have been adopted long
before il the power to make peace had been vested
in the soldiers Of the two armies.
The men who lad opposed Mr- Lincoln in vain
succeeded in rejecting similar terms offered by Sber-
man to Jolnstons army; but nothing could with
stand the example established by the Army OF the
Potomac
1t isa couCTatuIatory lesson that through all the
perils and vicss:t,ics Of the war; in spite af
tending factions. regardless OF ers'ili or partisan
hate. the general sentiment of the people was loyal
and true.
They never wavered in their faith, faitered In
their courage or doubted the result. Now that
Lee had surrendered his army, tine public mind.
inspired by hopes cf the future, IN spite of the
protests of selfish and designing men. against the
clamor of the = Tritoas of the fish ponds almost
with one general reclamation of praise, approved
the action Of Gen Grant and refused to more
than such amendments to the Constitution as had
been rendered necessary by the war aud were lIi-
dispenslble TO a free country
No lesson is moro plainly taught by history than
that free country cannot govern subject provinces
No republic can live where one-hitlf of the pess
pie denied The rights OF citizenship. the people
knew this and with magnaniniity and wisdom ac-
cepted the final result restored Union under
the Constitution.
The army throughout the presented spec
tacle OF which the country may well be proud
Though severely criticized, II never murmurvd;
sometimes rcpulsed, IL was never Routed; Hiu-t!y
deprived of many of its flvorite officers. il never
failed TO fight with equal zeal under new COM
manders.
There never was hour in its existence when
it was no: ready TO light; never enterprise too
daring for 1t TO encounter; never enemy of the
cause they cspoused they would not put under
their feet.
AS in the beginning so TO the end, it remained
the same true, loyal and nuu-par1isan army, and
no power could change lis purposes.
But SO Il WAS that, by the patience and valoF OF
the army. Grant overc.lme Lee; and by The purity
and patriotism Of Lincoln and Grant. sustained 10y
the conservative spirit Of the army and ratified by
the trRe sentiments of the people the enemies OF
republican form OF government were thyyaTte'i,
irrevocable peace realized, and happy escape
made from the perils OF an arbitrary government
LESSONS TAUGHT BY THE WAR
There are lessons taught by the that require
notice. The generation thai has since upon
the stage form for years to come hut ,int
OF its true history, but it may learn valuable
lessons.
Apart from the deb. of gratitude the country owes
the volunteers OF 81, apart from the of the
struggle Itself there are practical Iesson, to hc
kept in mind AT all times. One above all others is
fairly expressed the minority must cheeriuliy ac-
QuicSce and make no attenpt to overcome such
will either by fraud or force. Another it4soI. is
Impressed upon every page of the history of the
war and that Is ts, that the Interference of civi-
ans with the tactics of campaigns must not be
tolerated. - fase maxim of Suwarrow WAS fr 4
power 10 the Gcnerai-ln- Chief. reporting only to
the Emperor IN person.
II Is clear that to successfully CARR on a war the
people must have implicit confidence ;n their lead
ers. When Il ~ manifest that dc4igninS men are
using their power To crafty personal spite and
cruel maiI2nity, prostiiutinE their authority To
selfish political purposes. regardless of the M hts
OF persons the interests of the people they tlu-t
be removed. although it may cssi.e a Vacancy in
the Cabinet ia the Office Of Geuer:li-n- 'hief
We alse adnlonished that in or,ier io have an
effective and wel-eiiscpned army thare mast be y
system OF promotion for merit established and
faithfully carried into effect.
Another icSs0n taa2ht is the va.ue OF tie mill
tary school al West Point The habits aud tlie in
stincts of the people at the reasug out Of the war
were opposed to standing army, except Ear
Il was necessary to protect the Indian frontier
Bnt the demonstrated thai the maintenance.
OF such school not merely in accord lcc wit n
sound public policy but that il nat o al uect-
sIty. We VIII not draw inyidlous com IHri,oiis where
all did nob!g, but when We consider what a great
involves in the way Of organizations supplies
transportation. ordnance planning de.ii9e l,rit!y-
ing streams. and The grand tactics Of campaigns
We cannot ial TO perceive tina: military trtiIu,
Is Indispensable 10 success Even from a pctfIniary
standpoint. il lie said that ia The ra,i,.i,-abise
and long suffering GluartcTm;Ister Department
alone more was saved during the war by the IA.
that IL was managed by Regular Army officers thai,
would equal Tie whole OF the school at Wesi
Point since lis establishment
II IS needless to name the heroes which the ir-ti-
tuition furnished to our cause 10 th-ir
important services in promoting ITS success. The
memorable letter addressed by Gen Sherman 10 the
Governor oi Louisiana ip the Winter of iSGl. when
he resigned his Office under !lle