Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1903-06-03

too were always welcome, but that
which gladdened the warriors heart
even more were the goodies, that ar
rived by mail or express, likewise the
tintypes, ambrotypes, photographs and
sweetheart tokens.
For period of three years or more
the campaigns in the east and in the
west were carried on with different
degrees of success. Shiloh Forts
Donelson and Henry, IslandN lumber 10,
Chickamaugua and Lookout Mountain,
and others, all marked a steady, but
expensive advance Of the western army.
In the East greater failures were
made and not much progress except in
the experience and organization of
the army. Mcclellan, the command
er of the East was too near the mill
tary politicians at Washington and
his success was hindered very much
by them. On the other hand tile west
throve surprisingly we'll in the alb
sence of political nourishment, and
certain western commanders achieved
cheering successes without aid from
the military civilians from Washing
ton. Other reasons than the meddle-
someness of politicians may account
for the Virginia failures, while wes-
tern successes may have been won in
spite of neglect rather than by reason
of it. Still as simple naked facts
these things were so. The truth is
that the ensnarlment of the Eastern
military affairs with politics made
successes in that field impossible for
the North. The conditions made it
practically inevitable that a Union
commander in Virginia should have
his thoughts at least as much occupied
with the members of congress in the
capitol behind him as with the Con-
federate soldiers in camp before him.
1t will never be known how many
brave boys in blue were sacrificed on
account of the foolish counsels and
fears of politicians. These are the
conditions that Mcclellan had to con-
tend with. Let US before condemning
him take them into fair consideration.
Grant, who was TO be the Savior of
the East, helped to very high degree
to bring about the successes of the
West and was brought out by them.
He was a fighter He had the best
and broadcast military temperament
for aggressive warfare this continent
has ever seen he was the long looked
for and Indispensable warrior for the
Union cause. He was simple, unas-
Stunning, earning every step of promo
tion by faithful work. He perhaps
deserves the highest Military fame of
them all for this period. Opinion in
some quarters has done him scant JUS
tice as to his qualities of heart. All
concede his unfiinching perseverance
his sobriquet too. of ''the great
hamerer' many credit him less
with feeling and intelligence than as
the ruthless tearer of human flesh, the
bruiser and pulveriZer of opposing
armies, by the merciless momentum
of two to one. Yet at Appomatox and
Vicksburg, this captor of immense
vanquished armies showed conspicuous
clemency and kindness towards those
who had fought against him.
Grant had splendid subordinates it
is true, but it was his safe discrimina-
tion that brought them into place and
he got the best work out of all who
served under him. 1t was he who in
spired the vigorous Sherman, the fiery
and hot blooded Sheridan, the method
ical Meade. He generously allowed
each to reap his full glory. He also
permitted in 1865 the army of the
Potomac to bring Lee to surrender
without the Intervention of Sherman s
army from the West. The Western
armies he felt had been in the main
successful, conquering and advancing
from field to field, while the eastern
army, not inferior in morale, had been
baffied and driven back so often, that
it was only justice to let them
vanquish at last, unaided, the enemy
against whom they had made such re-
peated and gallant attempts in vain.
The joy of the victories around Rich
mond was soon changed to gloom by
the death of Abraham Lincoln. The
assassination of a public ruler was so
strange, SO abhorrent to public sentl-
ment that the whole world stood
aghast at the new recurrence of an
ancient and medieval practice, but
since then this same enlightened CEN
tury has witnessed painfully enough
other instances of that brutal resort
by irresponsible zealots Nay-the
anguish of strong grief is scarcely out
of our minds from that awful taking
away of our late mar-yred President
Mckinley.
SOhp, q iiiS WdS
lost to the North but how terrible
w3s the cost to the South, the van
quished section. So far from tyrant,
it lost in Lincoln the best and most
capable benefactor among its northern
conquerors. That spirit of clemency
and moderation with which he was
already opening the work of reunit-
ing the country, strongly supported
by loyal opinion took flight with his
noble soul; and embittered hostility,
vindictiveness and suspicion Kindred
long the reconciliation of national
household.
The war ended with the complete
prostration and exhaustion of the
South. In the effort TO crafty its un-
holy ambition the lives of thousands
were sacrificed, their blood was split
upon the battlefield, their health was
undermined by suffering and disease.
The country was drained of some
of its best blood. Probably no civil
lied country in the modern world ever
poured out so much of its life and
treasure in an equal period as did
these United States during four
agonizing years in one section or the
other. The cost was not borne only by
our manhood, but also by our woman
hood. We can but little conceive of
the anxious hours of waiting endured
by the women at home, the encourage
ment they offered to those at the front,