of the slowness of this process. In the ardor
and impatience of our patriotism, we may demand more rapid and energetic
action, claiming that our immense resources shall be used with greater
vigor and concentration, and our vast armies hurled like a thunderbolt
upon the enemy, to crush him with one sudden and overwhelming blow.
Truly this would be a grand result--a consummation most devoutly to be
wished--making short work of the bloody war which has so terribly
afflicted our country. This done, there could not be any serious
difficulty in resuscitating the love of Union among the masses in the
South, and of reestablishing the Union on its old foundations.

It may or may not be reasonable to demand such energy and speedy success
at the hands of the Government. At all events, it is natural that the
country, having confided unlimited means to the constituted authorities,
should become impatient under the delays and difficulties of the
contest, and that inexperienced men should expect the unequal forces of
the two sections to be brought into quick and decisive conflict, with a
result accordant to the relative strength of the opposing parties. A
true Napoleonic genius might well have accomplished this grand result
within the two years that have already passed. But such a mighty spirit
has not yet come forth at the call of our agonized country; or if,
perchance, he has made his appearance, he has certainly not been
recognized and received by the powers that be. We must, therefore, needs
be contented with the slow and gradual approach we are evidently making
toward a final solution of the bloody problem. And as, even in the
greatest misfortunes, there is often some hidden compensation for the
unhappiness they produce, so in this case, perhaps we may find, in the
great changes destined to be wrought in the condition of the Southern
people by their stubborn perseverance in the war, ground for consolation
in the midst of the calamities and bereavements which every day
continues to bring upon us. The Southern rulers and masters pride
themselves on their inveterate animosity. They glory in their own shame,
and imagine themselves successful, so long as they can protract the
struggle and renew the slaughter of great battles in which they are not
utterly overthrown, though thousands of innocent victims are sacrificed
to their mad and wicked ambition. But in truth, with every day of
continued war they are only the more effectually destr