government.  Not only that.  The principle of Union itself among the non-seceding States is so shocked and shattered by the war which has arisen, that the fissures in it are likely to widen and spread, and to form eventually great gulfs separating the Northern Union itself into smaller bodies.  But ere the North be convinced of the futility of its efforts to substitute the action of force for that of free will, we think it will reduce the Southern States to the direst misery[1220]....”

Such occasional “professions of faith,” accompanied by sneers at the “Confederate partisanship” of the Times[1221] served to differentiate the Gazette from other journals, but when it came to description and estimate of specific campaigns there was little to choose between them and consequently little variance in the effect upon the public.  Thus a fortnight before his “profession of faith,” Russell could comment editorially on Sherman’s campaign toward Atlanta: 

“The next great Federal army on which the hopes of the North have so long been fixed promises to become a source of fearful anxiety.  Sherman, if not retreating, is certainly not advancing; and, if the Confederates can interfere seriously with his communications, he must fall back as soon as he has eaten up all the supplies of the district....  All the enormous advantages possessed by the Federals have been nullified by want of skill, by the interference of Washington civilians, and by the absence of an animating homogeneous spirit on the part of their soldiery[1222].”

Hand in hand with war news adverse to the North went comments on the Presidential election campaign in America, with prophecies of Lincoln’s defeat.  This was indeed but a reflection of the American press but the citations made in British papers emphasized especially Northern weariness of Lincoln’s despotism and inefficiency.  Thus, first printed in The Index, an extract from a New York paper, The New Nation, got frequent quotation: 

“We have been imposed upon long enough.  The ruin which you have been unable to accomplish in four years, would certainly be fully consummated were you to remain in power four years longer.  Your military governors and their provost-marshals override the laws, and the echo of the armed heel rings forth as dearly now in America as in France or Austria.  You have encroached upon our liberty without securing victory, and we must have both[1223].”

It was clearly understood that Northern military efforts would have an important bearing on the election.  The Times while expressing admiration for Sherman’s boldness in the Atlanta campaign was confident of his defeat: