Year: 1862

~THESt S-eSfsfss ocrdf says Democratic


editor in Illinois once said "his party was


on the verge Of proeipice; but in the
/ same sentence cxortel ft,e., party 10 $50


steadily ahead" If tllst. editor is still
| alive, he is probably leader IN the 'con-


sentative party, and with the relics of his
| former party is eXhorting the government


to go steadily ahead though they see it
on the verge of a prccpice. This is the


position of Northern disloyal conservatism


which through its organs in the North is
| preaching -" conciiate the traitors -


don't touch their property =" don't of
tcnd their sensibilities = offer them peace
| compromise and appeal TO them by the kind


est regards. to come back, and restore the
| Union as it was


AS no parent who truly loves his child


will see it going wrong without giving it
! timely admonition and warning. so no true
| lover of his country will see it on the verge
of u precipcc and cxhort those in power to
! go steadily ahead tits perfectly astonsh-
ing how wise some selfish supporters of the
Government are. They live on the Govern


ment and shall they revie the source of
their sustenance? Not they But with
the enemies of the country their voices are


heard crying, Go steadily ahead all is
right" Is this the voice of patriotism
Does it exhibit a decent respect or love for
those in power to see them walking upon


the verge of precipice, and raise no voice


of warning Rather, are not those who


sound the alarm the true friends of the Adj
ministration


The administration has confessed itself
mistaken in conducting the first year of this


war, or it would othave changed its policy.
1t has tried every cxpedient but the one


that would accomplish the grand object of
putting an end to this rebellion At the


end of a twelvcmonth, it finds itself in the


midst of distressing embarrassments. Now


it is the part of wisdom, or friendship. to


say to onr rulers, so steadily ahead when
they and we sec that nothing is accomplish
cd, and that we are nearer the verge Of the
prccipce than ever? We have never
doubted the patriotism Of the raesident or
his constitutional advisers. We have never
| questioned their zeal in the most honorable
| and holy cause ever entrusted to human
| hands. But to say that they have not made
mistakes. is TO Concede more than they
claim for themselves. For having tried


one course and found it entirely powerless
to accomplish their object they, like wise


men, have concluded TO try another, and we


believe, a far better one. In the new policy
when it is developed, we expect to see
something that will be guarantee of sue
cess at least so far as human Judgment
| can decide upon such matter i'll advance.
One thing we know, and that is, the old
policy has utterly failed to produce the de-
sired results. AS slow as the Administra-


ton has been in coming TO that conclusion,
it has now found that those who admonished
it against the fallacy of trying to fight an in
solent and determined enemy, with profess
sions of love and conciliation are its best


friends. Talk about conservatism. What
is that, as used, but another name for timid


treason, willing and waiting to avow itself?


Prate about radicaism As though any
thing could be more radical than war. We


are engaged in war-not looking upon fancy
parades. War cannot he conducted success


fully upon peace principles nor be ruled by


the maXims of peace trainings.


Up to this time, we have had no holiday


sport. Our enemy has shown himself no


mean opponant, to be overcome by ninety
days general training, We count our
losses in men by the hundred thousand


and our expenses by the hundreds of mil


lions. What have we to show for it but


dearly bought experience of those in power


Have the people no interest in these things


that they should remain dumb Is the


press the hireing that it must keep silent


Let those whose living depends upon their


silence, he silent. But while we have the


heart to feel our conntry's woes and the


oourrge to express an honest conviction,


we shall not fail to " criticise the acts of


our dearest friend, if, in our opinoin, those


acts seem to be carrying our country


steadily ahead over the precipice.