Year: 1861

In answer to this question, the Missouri
Republican, the great. organ of the Missouri
Democracy, says:


We believe that he will, thoroughly and
hnally. But We are not among those who
think that success is the only merit, or that
failure is conclusive evidence Of incapncity.
We desire here to put on record that General
Fremont deserves success and gictory. whether
he obtains them or not. He has done all
that human energy could accomplish, under
circumstances of the utmost difficulty and
embarrassment He has already far outstrip
ped, in energy and generalship, all his mill
tary competitors of the day. We do not
speak ignorantly, for we know what was the
condition of things in this department when
he took the command and what it is now,
and the difficulties under which the change
has been effected. In these two months since
the disgraceful defeat ct Bull Run, which
had thrown its dark shadow over the whole
country, he has done Herculean work,
enough, of itself, to make the reputation of
any man living.


lie found the city absolutely deienseless,
Secession rampant and jubilant, Secessionists
organized and full of courage, the Union
men cherries, without organization, almost
afraid to speak and quite afraid to act. They
had no efficient head and no plan of action.
A considerable number of their most promi-
nent men (who are now loudest in COM
plaint). had left or were leaving the city, for
summers recreation.


The armies of the Confederates were grad
ually drawing around the city. Birds Point,
Plot Knob, Cape Girardeau, jefferson City
and st. Louis were all threatened and in dam
ger. The little army at Springfield was our
only hope. Gen. Fremont had no means of
reinforcing that point and this Gen. Lyon
well knew. He had neither troops nor am
munition to send. This can be proved, and
in proper time. if we are not mistaken, the
records will appear. The battle at Spring
tield-one of the most heroic exploits in all
history-one of the grandest of all human
acts Of self-sacrifice. gained time, which was
diligently improved In a few weeks all the
points most important to our cause we're ade-
quately strengthened. The beginning of a
grand army was made, ON scale which
proved that we had a commander who un-
derstood the magnitude of his work and the
enemy to be resisted and now, at the end of
these two short months, we have loyal city,
where secession hides ITSELF and in which
loyal men are thoroughly organized and
able to defend themselves


We have Il we'll defended city, with forti-
ications all around us, SO that all hostile at
tacks can be resisted by small army, and
the city itself controlled. We have II gal
liant army now in the field, under the Gener-
al himself, thirty thousand strong well
armed and equipped, with cavalry aud artil-
lery and engineer corps, all in good condi-
ton, and with every hope of victory, which
good cause and confidence in their officers
and General can give And how has that
army been gathered and organized in so
short time, under the disheartening reyerses
of defeat? Let the truth be known! 1t was
by the prestige of Fremont's name, and by
Fremont's indomitable energy. The men
have ilocked to his call, the arms and muni-
tons of war he has obtained on his own re-
sponsibility. lie has been thwarted 10y the
opposition, secret and open, of disappointed
men. He has been under the necessity of at
tending to all the details of business, because
those who ought to have helped him had
their own ends to serve. He has been com
PEELED to defend hiwself at Washington
against those whom he was serving and bv
whom he ought to have been uneonditionallv
upheld. His heroic wife stepped in the gap,
and taught them some lessons there which
they would not otherwise have learned The
Benton blood stirred within her, and the
truth was spoken in plain terms. But the
opposition has not been stage and no stone
has been left unturned, here or at Washing
ton, no agency neglected which could be
used against Fremont He has been driven
to take unusual steps and to assume unusual
responsibilities by the very men who cry out
against hirn, for what they have compelled
him to dol


We say and believe that he will triumph
antly succeed He thoroughly deserves sue
cess. Failure would not be his fault, but
success will be his glorious merit. Let all
patriots sustain him in this hour of trial, and
let the faults be found, if any, after the sue
cess has been gained. Every man who now
works against Fremont is giving all and
comfort to the enemy