Year: 1864

WASHINGTON, Feb. !, 1884.
We are now rapidly reaching the close OF
the third year Of the war. That war has
been wonderful experience, and when we
extract from it all that is sad and dishearten-
ing, we cannot fail to be grateful for the i'm
mense average Of solid benefit it has con-
ferred upon loyal people. There have been
death, debt, and mercantile confusion but
the trial has left great population, hardened
to war and to priyation, and Government q
thousand times stronger than it was before
all its sinews, nerves, and limbs had been
tested in the struggle for its existence. This
incalculabe advantage may be counted as, in
one sense, an equivalent for many sutierings
and losses. Had our liberties been yielded
without blow, an attempt would have been
made to revive and to recover them, even II
the Continent had been bathed in human
blood. How grateful ought we not to be,
therefore, that they have been saved, and that
they are now so much more precious to US
because they have been rescued in whiri-
wind of battle and of death! 1tis, il we may
use the phrase, one Of the sorrowfully cheer
ful aspects Of the war, that those who have
lost most BY death in battle of dearly beloved
fathers, sons, husbands and brothers, are the
most earnest supporters of the Government
and the most vehement in demanding that
the war shall go on. They feel that those
they have given to the Republic are sancti-
fed and immortalized; and while they
mourn their loss, they do so with holy pride
in the memory OF the gallant dead, which
makes them more earnest that the rebellion
should be struck harder, and still harder
blows, by the devoted living. Have you ever
noticed that those who have lost the most,
not only complain the least, but stand most
steadfastly by the flag? And it is at least
probable that the survivors Of the brave sol
der who died that his country might live,
have caught the inspiration OF his example,
and honor him and his memory most by
doing in their sphere what he did SO well in
his. II you will read over the proceedings OF
Congress, you will find that the most devoted
Administration champions are the men who
have fought gallantly in the field. They are
| never found in factions.


Note, on the other hand, that those who
would fetter and embarrass the Government,
in Congress and out of it, are, in nearly
every case, the men who helped the Southern
masters OF the Democratic party to prepare
the way for the rebellion, or who since the
rebellion, have given little or nothing to the
cause, and if they have lost it has been by
oyer-con6dence in the dreadful heresy that
the traitors would be too strong for the Gov
ernment. But need not push this contrast.
It is not new thought, and revive it only
because now is the time when the Republic
once more needs all its children, and when
the hour for deadliest assault upon the foe
of human liberty is approaching with un-
pausing and inexorable tread. The five hum
dred thousand additional troops, which in
cludes the recent increase of the army, and
with this will render necessary new levy OF
about two hundred thousand, is the notice OF
awful, and believe decisive preparation.
would not delude our people with false hopes,
responded to, will be the last and that the
term of service will be brief.


That the rebel leaders will themselves
make desperate onset at an early period, Is
evident from all the signs but they will be
met at every point. Behind the rebel armies
is a dispairing, and indignant, and disen-
chanted population. They have seen the
utter failure Of the promises and pans OF
their hard-hearted masters, and they hear,
as if It came like a voice from Heaven, the
generous invitation Of the grand old Gov
ernment to return to their allegiance. These
oppressed men and women have, at last,
tired of fighting and starving for fantasy
and theory. They want rest and peace,
schools for their children, employment for
themselves, and Gods holy word for their
spiritual guidance. Already they are catch
ing at every opportunity to show how eager
they are for the end of the strife. Arkansas
Tennessee, Missouri, Florida and Louisiana,
are willing to give slavery to the winds, so
that their people may be really free. The
Presidents Amnesty has gone forth TO these
sections with healing on its wings. 1t has
stirred the rebels in their Richmond conyen-
tions, in their rugged camps, and in all their
borders. Every remedy resorted to by Pres.
ident Lincoln and the American Congress
has succeeded in the face of the double as
saults and traitorous predictit ms Of sympa::
thizers at home and rebels in the South ; and
not only has it succeeded, but is now, in
moment of terrible desperation, initiated by
the rebels themselves. Our financial triumph
is envied and lauded even by those who were
first to denounce and ridicule it. Vide the
fierce attack of Robert Toombs upon Mem
inger's miserable management OF the seces-
sion money chest After two years Of objur-
CATION against Mr.. Lincoln for employing
negroes, the rebel Congress has at last taken
ground in favor of using the slaves to defend
slavery. Nothing is needed but an axtreme
Northern sentiment, full and fighting army,
and rapid movements by land and sea, 70
give to all these elements Of disatfection in
the seeded South such momentum as will
hasten the whole system Of rebellion and
slavery to their universal and eternal over