下载辰思小说免费APP
TheamountorprintedmatterwhichispouredforthinstreamsfromtheprintingpressesofthegreatAmericanpublishersis，however，abetterproofofthetruthofwhatIsaythananythingthatIcanhaveseenmyself。
Butofwhatclassarethebooksthataresoread？Therearemanywhothinkthatreadinginitselfisnotgoodunlessthematterreadisexcellent。Idonotmyselfquiteagreewiththis，thinkingthatalmostanyreadingisbetterthannone；butIwillofcourseadmitthatgoodmatterisbetterthanbadmatter。ThebulkoftheliteratureconsumedintheStatesisnodoubtcomposedofnovels——asitisalso，now-a-days，inthiscountry。Whetherornoanunlimitedsupplyofnovelsforyoungpeopleisorisnotadvantageous，Iwillnotherepretendtosay。Thegeneralopinionwithourselves，Itakeit，isthatnovelsarebadreadingiftheybebadoftheirkind。
Novelsthatarenotbadarenow-a-daysacceptedgenerallyasindispensabletoourhouseholds。WhatevermaybetheweaknessoftheAmericanliterarytasteinthisrespect，itisIthinkaweaknesswhichweshare。Therearemorenovelreadersamongthemthanwithus，butonlyIthinkintheproportionthattherearemorereaders。
IhavenohesitationinsayingthatworksbyEnglishauthorsaremorepopularintheStatesthanthosewrittenbyAmericans；and，amongEnglishauthorsofthepresentday，readersbynomeansconfinethemselvestothenovelists。TheEnglishnamesofwhomI
heardmostduringmysojournintheStateswereperhapsthoseofDickens，Tennyson，Buckle，TomHughes，MartinTupper，andThackeray。
Astheownersofallthesenamesarestillliving，IamnotgoingtotakeuponmyselfthedelicatetaskofcriticisingtheAmericantaste。Imaynotperhapscoincidewiththemineveryrespect。ButifIberightastothenameswhichIhavegiven，suchaselectionshowsthattheydogetbeyondnovels。IhavelittledoubtbutthatmanymorecopiesofDickens\'snovelshavebeensold，duringthelastthreeyears，thanoftheworkseitherofTennysonorBuckle；butsuchalsohasbeenthecaseinEngland。Itwillprobablybeadmittedthatonecopyofthe“Civilization“shouldbeheldasbeingequaltofiveandtwentyof“NicholasNickleby，“andthatasingle“InMemoriam“mayfairlyweighdownhalfadozen“Pickwicks。“Menandwomenaftertheirday\'sworkarenotalwaysuptothe“Civilization。“Asarule，theyaregenerallyupto“ProverbialPhilosophy，“andthis，perhaps，mayhavehadsomethingtodowiththegreatpopularityofthatverypopularwork。
IwouldnothaveitsupposedthatAmericanreadersdespisetheirownauthors。TheAmericansareveryproudofhavingaliteratureoftheirown，andamongtheliterarynameswhichtheyhonor，therearenonemorehonorablethanthoseofCooperandIrving。Theyliketoknowthattheirmodernhistoriansareacknowledgedasgreatauthors，andasregardstheirownpoets，willsometimesdemandyouradmirationforstrainswithwhichyouhardlyfindyourselftobefamiliar。ButEnglishbooksare，Ithink，thebetterloved:eventheEnglishbooksofthepresentday。Andevenbeyondthis——withthosewhochoosetoindulgeintheluxuriesofliterature——booksprintedinEnglandaremorepopularthanthosewhichareprintedintheirowncountry；andyetthemannerinwhichtheAmericanpublishersputouttheirworkisverygood。Thebooksoldthereatadollar，oradollarandaquarter，quiteequalsourordinaryfiveshillingvolume。Nevertheless，Englishbooksarepreferred，almostasstronglyasareFrenchbonnets。OfbooksabsolutelyprintedandproducedinEngland，thesupplyintheStatesisofcoursesmall。
Theymustnecessarilybecostly，andasregardsnewbooks，arealwayssubjectedtotherivalryofacheaperAmericancopy。ButofthereprintedworksofEnglishauthorsthesupplyisunlimited，andthesaleverygreat。Almosteverythingisreprinted:certainlyeverythingwhichcanbesaidtoattainanyhomepopularity。IdonotknowhowfarEnglishauthorsmaybeawareofthefact；butitisundoubtedlyafactthattheirinfluenceasauthorsisgreaterontheothersideoftheAtlanticthanonthisone。Itistherethattheyhavetheirmostnumerousschoolofpupils。Itistherethattheyarerecognizedasteachersbyhundredsofthousands。Itisofthesethirtymillionsthattheyshouldthink，atanyrateinpart，whentheydiscusswithintheirownheartsthatquestionwhichallauthorsdodiscuss，whetherthatwhichtheywriteshallinitselfbegoodorbad，betrueorfalse。AwriterinEnglandmaynot，perhaps，thinkverymuchofthiswithreferencetosometrifleofwhichhisEnglishpublisherproposestosellsomesevenoreighthundredcopies。ButhebeginstofeelthatheshouldhavethoughtofitwhenhelearnsthattwentyorthirtythousandcopiesofthesamehavebeenscatteredthroughthelengthandbreadthoftheUnitedStates。TheEnglishauthorshouldfeelthathewritesforthewidestcircleofreaderseveryetobtainedbytheliteratureofanycountry。HeprovidesnotonlyforhisowncountryandfortheStates，butforthereaderswhoarerisingbymillionsintheBritishcolonies。
CanadaissuppliedchieflyfromthepressesofBoston，NewYork，andPhiladelphia，butsheissuppliedwiththeworksofthemothercountry。India，asItakeit，getsallherbooksdirectfromLondon，asdotheWestIndies。WhetherornotheAustraliancolonieshaveasyetlearnedtoreprintourbooksIhaveneverlearned，butIpresumethattheycannotdosoascheaplyastheycanimportthem。Londonwithus，andthethreecitieswhichIhavenamedontheothersideoftheAtlantic，aretheplacesatwhichthisliteratureismanufactured；butthedemandintheWesternhemisphereisbecomingmorebriskthanthatwhichtheOldWorldcreates。Thereare，Ihavenodoubt，morebooksprintedinLondonthaninallAmericaputtogether。Agreaterextentofletter-pressisputupinLondonthaninthethreepublishingcitiesoftheStates；butthenumberofcopiesissuedbytheAmericanpublishersissomuchgreaterthanthosewhichoursputforththatthegreaterbulkofliteratureiswiththem。Ifthisbeso，thedemandwiththemisofcoursegreaterthanitiswithus。
IhavespokenhereoftheprivilegewhichanEnglishauthorenjoysbyreasonoftheever-wideningcircleofreaderstowhomhewrites。
IshouldhavesaidthewritersofEnglishliterature，seeingthattheprivilegeisofcoursesharedbytheAmericanwriter。IprofessmybeliefthatintheStatesanEnglishauthorhasanadvantageoveroneofthatcountrymerelyinthefactofhisbeingEnglish，asaFrenchmillinerhasundoubtedlyanadvantageinhernationality，lethermeritsordemeritsasamillinerbewhattheymay。IthinkthatEnglishbooksarebetterlikedbecausetheyareEnglish。ButIdonotknowthatthereisanyfeelingwithuseitherfororagainstanauthorbecauseheisAmerican。IbelievethatLongfellowstandsinourjudgmentexactlywherehewouldhavestoodhadhebeenatutoratacollegeinOxfordinsteadofaProfessoratCambridgeinMassachusetts。Prescottisreadamongusasahistorianwithoutanyreferenceastohisnationality，andbymany，asItakeit，inabsoluteignoranceofhisnationality。Hawthorne，thenovelist，isquiteaswellknowninEnglandasheisinhisowncountry。ButI
donotknowthattoeitherofthesethreeisawardedanyfavororisdeniedanyjusticebecauseheisanAmerican。WashingtonIrvingpublishedmanyofhisworksinthiscountry，receivingverylargesumsforthemfromMr。Murray，andIfancythatindealingwithhispublisherhefoundneitheradvantagenordisadvantageinhisnationality；thatis，ofcourse，advantageordisadvantageasrespectedthelightinwhichhisworkswouldberegarded。ItmustbeadmittedthatthereisnojealousyintheStatesagainstEnglishauthors。Ithinkthatthereisafeelingintheirfavor，butnoonecanatanyrateallegethatthereisafeelingagainstthem:IthinkImayalsoassertonthepartofmyowncountrythatthereisnojealousyhereagainstAmericanauthors。Asregardsthetastesofthepeople，theworksofeachcountryflowfreelythroughtheother。
Thatisasitshouldbe。Butwhenwecometothemodeofsupply，thingsarenotexactlyastheyshouldbe；andIdonotbelievethatanyonewillcontradictmewhenIsaythatthefaultiswiththeAmericans。
Ipresumethatallmyreadersknowthemeaningofthewordcopyright。Aman\'scopyrightisrightinhiscopy；isthatamountoflegalpossessionintheproductionofhisbrainswhichhasbeensecuredtohimbythelawofhisowncountryandofothers。Unlessanauthorweresecuredbysuchlaw，hiswritingswouldbeofbutlittlepecuniaryvaluetohim，astherightofprintingandsellingthemwouldbeopentoalltheworld。InEnglandandinAmerica，andasIconceiveinallcountriespossessingaliterature，thereissuchalaw，securingtoauthorsandtotheirheirs，foratermofyears，theexclusiverightovertheirownproductions。ThatthisshouldbesoinEngland，asregardsEnglishauthors，appearstobesomuchamatterofcoursethatthecopyrightofanauthorseemstobeasnaturallyhisownasagentleman\'sdepositathisbank，orhislittleinvestmentinthethreepercents。Therightofanauthortothevalueofhisownproductionsinothercountriesthanhisownisnotsomuchamatterofcourse；butnevertheless，ifsuchproductionshaveanyvalueinothercountries，thatvalueshouldbelongtohim。ThishasbeenfelttobethecasebetweenEnglandandFrance，andaninternationalcopyrightnowexists。ThefactthatthelanguagesofEnglandandFrancearedifferent，makesthematteroneofcomparativelysmallmoment。Butithasbeenfoundtobeforthehonorandprofitofthetwocountriesthatthereshouldbesuchalaw，andaninternationalcopyrightdoesexist。ButifsuchanarrangementbeneededbetweentwosuchcountriesasFranceandEngland——betweentwocountrieswhichdonotspeakthesamelanguage，orsharethesameliterature——howmuchmorenecessarymustitbebetweenEnglandandtheUnitedStates！Theliteratureoftheonecountryistheliteratureoftheother。ThepoemthatispopularinLondonwillcertainlybepopularinNewYork。ThenovelthatiseffectiveamongAmericanladieswillbeequallysowiththoseofEngland。Therecanbenodoubtastotheimportanceofhavingorofnothavingalawofcopyrightbetweenthetwocountries。Theonlyquestioncanbeastotheexpediencyandthejustice。AtpresentthereisnointernationalcopyrightbetweenEnglandandtheUnitedStates，andthereisnonebecausetheStateshavedeclinedtosanctionanysuchlaw。ItisknownbyallwhoareconcernedinthematteroneithersideofthewaterthatasfarasGreatBritainisconcernedsuchalawwouldmeetwithnoimpediment。
ThereforeitistobepresumedthatthelegislatorsoftheStatesthinkitexpedientandjusttodispensewithanysuchlaw。Ihavesaidthattherecanbenodoubtastotheimportanceofthequestion，seeingthatthepriceofEnglishliteratureintheStatesmustbemostmateriallyaffectedbyit。WithoutsuchlawtheAmericansareenabledtoimportEnglishliteraturewithoutpayingforit。ItisopentoanyAmericanpublishertoreprintanyworkfromanEnglishcopy，andtosellhisreprintswithoutanypermissionobtainedfromtheEnglishauthororfromtheEnglishpublisher。TheabsolutematerialwhichtheAmericanpublishersells，hetakes，orcantake，fornothing。Thepaper，ink，andcompositionhesuppliesintheordinarywayofbusiness；buttheverymatterwhichheprofessestosell——ofthebookwhichistheobjectofhistrade——heisenabledtopossesshimselfoffornothing。Ifyou，myreader，beapopularauthor，anAmericanpublisherwilltakethechoicestworkofyourbrain，andmakedollarsoutofit，sellingthousandsofcopiesofitinhiscountry，whereasyoucanperhapsonlysellhundredsofitinyourown；andwilleithergiveyounothingforthathetakes，orelsewillexplaintoyouthatheneedgiveyounothing，andthatinpayingyouhesubjectshimselftothedangerofseeingthepropertywhichhehasboughttakenagainfromhimbyotherpersons。Ifthisbeso，thatquestionwhetherornothereshallbealawofinternationalcopyrightbetweenthetwocountriescannotbeunimportant。
Butitmaybeinexpedientthatthereshallbesuchalaw。Itmaybeconsideredwellthat，astheinfluxofEnglishbooksintoAmericaismuchgreaterthantheinfluxofAmericanbooksbacktoEngland，therightofobtainingsuchbooksfornothingshouldbereserved，althoughthecountryindoingsorobsitsownauthorsoftheadvantagewhichshouldaccruetothemfromtheEnglishmarket。Itmightperhapsbethoughtanythingbutsmarttosurrendersuchanadvantagebythepassingofaninternationalcopyrightbill。Therearenotmanytradesinwhichthetradesmancangetthechiefofhisgoodsfornothing；anditmaybethoughtthattheadvantagearisingtotheStatesfromsuchanarrangementofcircumstancesshouldnotbeabandoned。Buthowthenaboutthejustice？Itwouldseemthatthelesssaiduponthatsubjectthebetter。Ihaveheardnoonesaythatanauthor\'spropertyinhisownworksshouldnot，inaccordancewithjustice，beinsuredtohimintheonecountryaswellasintheother。Ihaveseennodefenseofthepresentpositionofaffairs，onthescoreofjustice。Thepriceofbookswouldbeenhancedbyaninternationalcopyrightlaw，anditiswellthatbooksshouldbecheap。Thatistheonlyargumentused。Sowouldmuttonbecheapifitcouldbetakenoutofabutcher\'sshopfornothing。
ButIabsolutelydenytheexpediencyofthepresentpositionofthesubject，lookingsimplytothematerialadvantageoftheAmericanpeopleinthematter，andthrowingasidealtogetherthatquestionofjustice。Imusthere，however，explainthatIbringnochargewhatsoeveragainsttheAmericanpublishers。TheEnglishauthorisavictimintheirhands，butitisbynomeanstheirfaultthatheisso。Asarule，theyarewillingtopaysomethingfortheworksofpopularEnglishwriters；butinarrangingastowhatpaymentstheycanmake，theymustofcoursebearinmindthefactthattheyhavenoexclusiverightwhatsoeverinthethingswhichtheypurchase。Itisnaturalalsothattheyshouldbearinmind，whenmakingtheirpurchasesandarrangingtheirprices，thattheycanhavetheverythingtheyarebuyingwithoutanypaymentatall，ifthepriceaskeddonotsuitthem。ItisnotofthepublishersthatIcomplain，orofanyadvantagewhichtheytake，butofthelegislatorsofthecountry，andoftheadvantagewhichaccrues，oristhoughtbythemtoaccrue，totheAmericanpeoplefromtheabsenceofaninternationalcopyrightlaw。Itismeanontheirparttotakesuchadvantageifitexisted；anditisfoolishinthemtosupposethatanysuchadvantagecanaccrue。TheabsenceofanylawofcopyrightnodoubtgivestotheAmericanpublisherthepowerofreprintingtheworksofEnglishauthorswithoutpayingforthem，seeingthattheEnglishauthorisundefended。ButtheAmericanpublisherwhobringsoutsuchareprintisequallyundefendedinhisproperty；whenheshallhaveproducedhisbook，hisrivalinthenextstreetmayimmediatelyreprintitfromhim，anddestroythevalueofhispropertybyundersellinghim。ItisprobablethatthefirstAmericanpublisherwillhavemadesomepaymenttotheEnglishauthorfortheprivilegeofpublishingthebookhonestly，ofpublishingitwithoutrecurrencetopiracy；andinarranginghispricewithhiscustomershewillbeofcourseobligedtodebitthebookwiththeamountsopaid。Iftheauthorreceivetencentsacopyoneverycopysold，thepublishermustaddthattencentstothepricehecharges。Buthecannotdothiswithsecurity，becausethebookcanbeimmediatelyreprintedandsoldwithoutanysuchadditiontotheprice。TheonlysecuritywhichtheAmericanpublisherhasagainsttheinjurywhichmaybesodonetohimisthepowerofdoingotherinjuryinreturn。Themenwhostandhighinthetrade，andwhoarepowerfulbecauseofthelargenessoftheirdealings，can，inacertainmeasure，securethemselvesinthisway。Suchafirmwouldhavethepowerofcrushingasmalltradesmanwhoshouldinterferewithhim。Butifthelargefirmcommitsanysuchactofinjustice，thelittlemeninthetradehavenopowerofsettingthemselvesrightbycounter-injustice。Ineedhardlypointoutwhatmustbetheeffectofsuchastateofthingsuponthewholepublishingtrade；norneedIsaymoretoprovethatsomelawwhichshallregulatepropertyinforeigncopyrightswouldbeasexpedientwithreferencetoAmericaasitwouldbejusttowardEngland。ButthewrongdonebyAmericatoherselfdoesnotresthere。ItistruethatmoreEnglishbooksarereadintheStatesthanAmericanbooksinEngland，butitisequallytruethattheliteratureofAmericaisdailygainingreadersamongus。ThatinjurytowhichEnglishauthorsaresubjectedfromthewantofprotectionintheStates，Americanauthorssufferfromthewantofprotectionhere。OnecanhardlybelievethatthelegislatorsoftheStateswouldwillinglyplacethebrightestoftheirownfellow-countrymeninthisposition，because，intheeventofacopyrightbillbeingpassed，thebalanceofadvantagewouldseemtoaccruetoEngland。
OftheliteratureoftheUnitedStates，speakingofliteratureinitsordinarysense，IdonotknowthatIneedsaymuchmore。I
regardtheliteratureofacountryasitshighestproduce，believingittobemorepowerfulinitsgeneraleffect，andmorebeneficialinitsresults，thaneitherstatesmanship，professionalability，religiousteaching，orcommerce。AndinnopartofitsnationalcareerhavetheUnitedStatesbeensosuccessfulasinthis。IneedhardlyexplainthatIshouldcommitamonstrousinjusticewereItomakeacomparisoninthismatterbetweenEnglandandAmerica。
Literatureisthechildofleisureandwealth。Itistheproduceofmindswhichbyahappycombinationofcircumstanceshavebeenenabledtodispensewiththeordinarycaresoftheworld。Itcanhardlybeexpectedtocomefromayoungcountry，orfromanewandstillstrugglingpeople。Lookingaroundatourownmagnificentcolonies，Ihardlyrememberaconsiderablenamewhichtheyhaveproduced，exceptthatofmyexcellentoldfriendSamSlick。
Nothing，therefore，Ithink，showsthesettledgreatnessofthepeopleoftheStatesmoresignificantlythantheirfirmestablishmentofanationalliterature。Thisliteraturerunsoverallsubjects:Americanauthorshaveexcelledinpoetry，inscience，inhistory，inmetaphysics，inlaw，intheology，andinfiction。
Theyhaveattemptedall，andfailedinnone。WhatEnglishmanhasdevotedaroomtobooks，anddevotednoportionofthatroomtotheproductionsofAmerica？
ButImustsayawordofliteratureinwhichIshallnotspeakofitinitsordinarysense，andshallyetspeakofitinthatsensewhichofall，perhaps，inthepresentdayshouldbeconsideredthemostordinary；Imeantheevery-dayperiodicalliteratureofthepress。
Mostofthosewhocanread，itistobehoped，readbooks；butallwhocanreaddoreadnewspapers。Newspapersinthiscountryaresogeneralthatmencannotwelllivewithoutthem；buttomenandtowomenalsointheUnitedStatestheymaybesaidtobetheonechiefnecessaryoflife；andyetinthewholelengthandbreadthoftheUnitedStatesthereisnotpublishedasinglenewspaperwhichseemstometobeworthyofpraise。
Areallygoodnewspaper——oneexcellentatallpoints——wouldindeedbeatriumphofhonestyandofart。NotonlyissuchapublicationmuchtobedesiredinAmerica，butitisstilltobedesiredinGreatBritainalso。Iused，inmyyoungerdays，tothinkofsuchanewspaperasapossiblepublication，andinacertaindegreetolookforit；nowIexpectitonlyinmydreams。Itshouldbepowerfulwithouttyranny，popularwithouttriumph，politicalwithoutpartypassion，criticalwithoutpersonalfeeling，rightinitsstatementsandjustinitsjudgments，butrightandjustwithoutpride；itshouldbeallbutomniscient，butnotconsciousofitsomnipotence；
itshouldbemoral，butneverstrait-laced；itshouldbewellassuredbutyetmodest；thoughneverhumble，itshouldbefreefromboastings。Aboveallthesethingsitshouldbereadable，andabovethatagainitshouldbetrue。Iusedtothinkthatsuchanewspapermightbeproduced，butInowsadlyacknowledgetomyselfthefactthathumanityisnotcapableofanyworksodivine。
ThenewspapersoftheStatesgenerallymaynotonlybesaidtohavereachednoneofthevirtuesherenamed，buttohavefallenintoalltheoppositevices。Inthefirstplace，theyarenevertrue。Inrequiringtruthfromanewspaperthepublicshouldnotbeanxioustostrainatgnats。Astatementsettingforththatacertaingooseberrywasfiveinchesincircumference，whereasintruthitsgirthwasonlytwoandahalf，wouldgivemenooffense。NorwouldIbeoffendedatbeingtoldthatLordDerbywasappointedtothepremiership，whileintruththeQueenhadonlysenttohislordship，havingasyetcometonodefinitearrangement。Thedemandfortruthwhichmayreasonablybemadeuponanewspaperamountstothis，thatnothingshouldbestatednotbelievedtobetrue，andthatnothingshouldbestatedastowhichthetruthisimportantwithoutadequategroundforsuchbelief。Ifanewspaperaccusemeofswindling，itisnotsufficientthatthewriterbelievemetobeaswindler。Heshouldhaveampleandsufficientgroundforsuchbelief，orelseinmakingsuchastatementhewillwritefalsely。Inourprivatelifeweallrecognizethefactthatthisisso。Itisunderstoodthatamanisnotawhitthelessaslandererbecausehebelievestheslanderwhichhepromulgates。Butitseemstomethatthisisnotsufficientlyrecognizedbymanywhowriteforthepublicpress。
Evilthingsaresaid，andareprobablybelievedbythewriters；theyaresaidwiththatspecialskillforwhichnewspaperwritershaveinourdaysbecomesoconspicuous，defyingalikeredressbylaworredressbyargument；buttheyaresaidtoooftenfalsely。Thewordsarenotmeasuredwhentheyarewritten，andtheyareallowedtogoforthwithoutanysufficientinquiryintotheirtruth。ButifthereisanygroundforsuchcomplainthereinEngland，thatgroundismultipliedtentimes——twentytimes——intheStates。Thisisnotonlyshownintheabuseofindividuals，inabusewhichisasviolentasitisperpetual，butinthetreatmentofeverysubjectwhichishandled。Allideaoftruthhasbeenthrownoverboard。Itseemstobeadmittedthattheonlyobjectistoproduceasensation，andthatitisadmittedbybothwriterandreaderthatsensationandveracityareincompatible。FalsehoodhasbecomesomuchamatterofcoursewithAmericannewspapersthatithasalmostceasedtobefalsehood。
NobodythinksmealiarbecauseIdenythatIamathomewhenIaminmystudy。Thenatureofthearrangementisgenerallyunderstood。
SoalsoisitwiththeAmericannewspapers。
ButAmericannewspapersarealsounreadable。Itisverybadthattheyshouldbefalse，butitisverysurprisingthattheyshouldbedull。Lookingatthegeneralintelligenceofthepeople，onewouldhavethoughtthatareadablenewspaper，putoutwithallpleasantappurtenancesofcleartype，goodpaper，andgoodinternalarrangement，wouldhavebeenathingspeciallywithintheirreach。
Buttheyhavefailedineverydetail。Thoughtheirpapersarealwaysloadedwithsensationheadings，thereareseldomsensationparagraphstofollow。Theparagraphsdonotfittheheadings。
Eithertheycannotbefound，oriffound，theyseemtohaveescapedfromtheirpropercolumntosomedistantandremoteportionofthesheet。OneisledtopresumethatnoAmericaneditorhasanyplaninthecompositionofhisnewspaper。IneverknowwhetherIhaveasyetgottotheveryheart\'scoreofthedailyjournal，orwhetherI
amstilltogoonsearchingforthatheart\'score。Alas！ittoooftenhappensthatthereisnoheart\'score。Thewholethingseemstohavebeenputoutathap-hazard。Andthentheverywritingisinitselfbelowmediocrity；asthoughapowerofexpressioninproperlyarrangedlanguagewasnotrequiredbyanewspapereditor，eitherasregardshimselforasregardshissubordinates。Oneisdriventosupposethatthewritersforthedailypressarenotchosenwithanyviewtosuchcapability。AmanambitiousofbeingonthestaffofanAmericannewspapershouldbecapableofmuchwork，shouldbesatisfiedwithsmallpay，shouldbeindifferenttotheworld\'sgoodusage，shouldberough，ready，andoflongsufferance；but，aboveall，heshouldbesmart。ThetypeofalmostallAmericannewspapersiswretched——IthinkImaysayofall——sowretchedthatthataloneforbidsonetohopeforpleasureinreadingthem。Theyareillwritten，illprinted，andillarranged，andinfactarenotreadable。Theyarebought，glancedat，andthrownaway。
Theyarefullofboastings，notboastingssimplyastotheircountry，theirtown，ortheirparty，butofboastingsastothemselves。Andyettheypossessnoself-assurance。Itisalwaysevidentthattheyneithertrustthemselves，norexpecttobetrusted。Theyhavemadenoapproachtothatomnisciencewhichconstitutesthegreatmarvelofourowndailypress；butfindingitnecessarytowriteasthoughtheypossessedit，theyfallintoblunderswhicharealmostasmarvelous。Justiceandrightjudgmentareoutofthequestionwiththem。Apoliticalpartyendisalwaysinview，andpoliticalpartywarfareinAmericaadmitsofanyweapons。NonewspaperinAmericaisreallypowerfulorpopular；andyettheyaretyrannicalandoverbearing。TheNewYorkHeraldhas，I
believe，thelargestsaleofanydailynewspaper；butitisabsolutelywithoutpoliticalpower，andinthesetimesofwarhastruckledtothegovernmentmorebaselythananyotherpaper。Ithasanenormoussale，butsofarisitfromhavingachievedpopularitythatnomanonanysideeverspeaksagoodwordforit。AllAmericannewspapersdealinpoliticsasamatterofcourse；buttheirpoliticshaveeverregardtomenandnottomeasures。
Vituperationistheirnaturalpoliticalweapon；butsincethePresident\'sministershaveassumedthepowerofstoppingnewspaperswhichareoffensivetothem，theyhaveshownthattheycandescendbelowvituperationtoeulogy。
IshallbeaccusedofusingverystronglanguageagainstthenewspaperpressofAmerica。IcanonlysaythatIdonotknowhowtomakethatlanguagetoostrong。Ofcoursetherearenewspapersastowhichtheeditorsandwritersmayjustlyfeelthatmyremarks，ifappliedtothem，areunmerited。Inwritingonsuchasubject，Icanonlydealwiththewholeasawhole。Duringmystayinthecountry，Ididmybesttomakemyselfacquaintedwiththenatureofitsnewspapers，knowinginhowgreatadegreeitspopulationdependsonthemforitsdailystoreofinformation；fornewspapersintheStatesofAmericahaveamuchwider，orratherclosercirculation，thantheydowithus。Everymanandalmosteverywomanseesanewspaperdaily。Theyareverycheap，andarebroughttoeveryman\'shand，withouttroubletohimself，ateveryturnthathetakesinhisday\'swork。Itwouldbemuchfortheadvantageofthecountrythattheyshouldbegoodoftheirkind；but，ifIamabletoformanyjudgmentonthematter，theyarenotgood。
CHAPTERXVI。
CONCLUSION。
Inoneoftheearlierchaptersofthisvolume——nowsomesevenoreightchapterspast——IbroughtmyselfonmytravelsbacktoBoston。
Itwasnotthatmywayhomewardlaybythatroute，seeingthatmyfaterequiredmetosailfromNewYork；butIcouldnotleavethecountrywithoutrevisitingmyfriendsinMassachusetts。IhavetoldhowIwasthereinthesleighingtime，andhowpleasantwerethemingledslushandfrostofthesnowywinter。Inthemorningthestreetswouldbehardandcrispandthestrangerwouldsurelyfallifhewerenotpreparedtowalkonglaciers。Intheafternoonhewouldbewadingthroughrivers，and，ifproperlyarmedatallpointswithIndia-rubber，wouldenjoytheriversashewaded。Buttheairwouldbealwayskindly，andtheeastwindthere，ifitwaseastasI
wastold，hadnoneofthatpowerofdominionwhichmakesusallsosubmissivetoitsbehestsinLondon。Formyself，Idonotbelievethattherealeastwindblowselsewhere。
AndwhenthesnowwentinBostonIwentwithit。TheeveningbeforeIleftIwatchedthemastheycartedawaythedirtyuncouthblockswhichhadbeenbrokenupwithpickaxesinWashingtonStreet，andwasmelancholyasIreflectedthatItooshouldnolongerbeknowninthestreets。MyweeksinBostonhadnotbeenverymany，butneverthelesstherewerehauntstherewhichIknewasthoughmyfeethadtroddenthemforyears。TherewerehousestowhichIcouldhavegonewithmyeyesblindfold；doorsofwhichthelatcheswerefamiliartomyhands；faceswhichIknewsowellthattheyhadceasedtoputonformethefictitioussmilesofcourtesy。Faces，houses，doors，andhaunts，——wherearetheynow？Formetheyareasthoughtheyhadneverbeen。Theyareamongthethingswhichonewouldfainrememberasoneremembersadream。Lookbackonitasavisionanditisallpleasant；butifyourealizeyourvisionandbelieveyourdreamtobeafact，allyourpleasureisobliteratedbyregret。
IknowthatIshallneveragainbeatBoston，andthatIhavesaidthatabouttheAmericanswhichwouldmakemeunwelcomeasaguestifIwerethere。Itisinthisthatmyregretconsists；forthisreasonthatIwouldwishtoremembersomanysocialhoursasthoughtheyhadbeenpassedinsleep。Theywhowillexpectblessingsfromme，willsayamongthemselvesthatIhavecursedthem。AsIreadthepageswhichIhavewritten，IfeelthatwordswhichIintendedforblessingswhenIpreparedtoutterthemhavegonenightoturnthemselvesintocurses。
IhaveeveradmiredtheUnitedStatesasanation。Ihavelovedtheirliberty，theirprowess，theirintelligence，andtheirprogress。Ihavesympathizedwithapeoplewhothemselveshavehadnosympathywithpassivesecurityandinaction。Ihavefeltconfidenceinthem，andhaveknown，asitwere，thattheirindustrymustenablethemtosucceedasapeoplewhiletheirfreedomwouldinsuretothemsuccessasanation。WiththeseconvictionsIwentamongthemwishingtowriteofthemgoodwords——wordswhichmightbepleasantforthemtoread，whiletheymightassistperhapsinproducingatrueimpressionofthemhereathome。Butamongmygoodwordstherearesomanywhicharebitter，thatIfearIshallhavefailedinmyobjectasregardsthem。Anditseemstome，asIreadoncemoremyownpages，thatinsayingevilthingsofmyfriendsI
haveusedlanguagestrongerthanIintended；whereasIhaveomittedtoexpressmyselfwithemphasiswhenIhaveattemptedtosaygoodthings。WhyneedIhavetoldofthemudofWashington，orhaveexposedthenakednessofCairo？WhydidIspeakwithsucheagerenmityofthosepoorwomenintheNewYorkcars，whoneverinjuredme，nowthatIthinkofit？LadiesofNewYork，asIwritethis，thewordswhichwerewrittenamongyouareprintedandcannotbeexpunged；butItendertoyoumyapologiesfrommyhomeinEngland。
AndthatVanWyckCommittee——mightInothaveleftthosecontractorstobedealtwithbytheirownCongress，seeingthatthatCongresscommitteewasbynomeansinclinedtosparethem？Imighthavekeptmypagesfreefromgall，andhavesentmysheetstothepressunhurtbytheconvictionthatIwashurtingthosewhohaddealtkindlybyme！Butwhatthen？Wasanypeopleevertrulyservedbyeulogy；oranhonestcausefurtheredbyunduepraise？
Omyfriendswiththinskins——andhereIprotestthatathickskinisafaultnottobeforgiveninamanoranation，whereasathinskinisinitselfamerit，ifonlythewearerofitwillbethemasterandnottheslaveofhisskin——Omyfriendswiththinskins，yewhomIcallmycousinsandloveasbrethren，willyenotforgivemetheseharshwordsthatIhavespoken？Theyhavebeenspokeninlove——withatruelove，abrotherlylove，alovethathasneverbeenabsentfromtheheartwhilethebrainwascoiningthem。Ihadmytasktodo，andIcouldnottakethepleasantandignorethepainful。ItmayperhapsbethatasafriendIhadbetternothavewritteneithergoodorbad。Butno！Tosaythatwouldindeedbetospeakcalumnyofyourcountry。Amanmaywriteofyoutruly，andyetwritethatwhichyouwouldreadwithpleasure；onlythatyourskinsaresothin。ThestreetsofWashingtonaremuddyandherwaysaredesolate。ThenakednessofCairoisverynaked。AndthoseladiesofNewYork——isitnottobeconfessedthattheyaresomewhatimperiousintheirdemands？AsfortheVanWyckCommittee，haveI
notrepeatedthetalewhichyouhavetoldyourselves？Andisitnotwellthatsuchtalesshouldbetold？
Andyetyewillnotforgiveme；becauseyourskinsarethin，andbecausethepraiseofothersisthebreathofyournostrils。
IdonotknowthatanAmericanasanindividualismorethinskinnedthananEnglishman；butastherepresentativeofanationitmayalmostbesaidofhimthathehasnoskinatall。Anytouchcomesatonceuponthenet-workofhisnervesandputsinoperationallhisorgansoffeelingwiththeviolenceofablow。Andforthispeculiarityhehasbeenmadethemarkofmuchridicule。Itshowsitselfintwoways:eitherbyextremedispleasurewhenanythingissaiddisrespectfulofhiscountry，orbythestrongeulogywithwhichheisaccustomedtospeakofhisowninstitutionsandofthoseofhiscountrymenwhomatthemomenthemaychancetoholdinhighesteem。Themannerinwhichthisisdoneisoftenridiculous。
“Sir，whatdoyouthinkofMr。JeffersonBrick？Mr。JeffersonBrick，sir，isoneofourmostremarkablemen。“Andagain:“Doyoulikeourinstitutions，sir？Doyoufindthatphilanthropy，religion，philosophyandthesocialvirtuesarecultivatedonascalecommensuratewiththeunequaledlibertyandpoliticaladvancementofthenation？“Thereissomethingabsurdinsuchamodeofaddresswhenitisrepeatedoften。Butheroworshipandloveofcountryarenotabsurd；anddonottheseaddressesshowcapacityforheroworshipandanaptitudefortheloveofcountry？
JeffersonBrickmaynotbeahero；butacapacityforsuchworshipissomething。Indeedthecapacityiseverything，fortheneedofaherowillproduceahero。Anditisthesamewiththatloveofcountry。Apeoplethatareproudoftheircountrywillseethatthereissomethingintheircountrytojustifytheirpride。DowenotallofusfeelassuredbytheintensenationalityofanAmericanthathewillnotdeserthisnationinthehourofherneed？Ifeelthatassurancerespectingthem；andatthosemomentsinwhichIammovedtolaughterbytheabsurditiesoftheiraddressestomeIfeelitthestrongest。
IleftBostonwiththesnow，andreturningtoNewYorkfoundthatthestreetsthereweredryandthatthewinterwasnearlyover。AsIhadpassedthroughNewYorktoBostonthestreetshadbeenbynomeansdry。ThesnowhadlaininsmallmountainsoverwhichtheomnibusesmadetheirwaydownBroadway，tillatthebottomofthatthoroughfare，betweenTrinityChurchandBowlingGreen，alpbecamepileduponalp，andalltrafficwasfullofdanger。ThecursedloveofgainstilltookmentoWallStreet，buttheyhadtofighttheirwaythitherthroughphysicaldifficultieswhichmusthavemadeeventhestateofthemoneymarketamatterofindifferencetothem。
TheydonotseemtometomanagethewinterinNewYorksowellastheydoinBoston。Butnow，onmylastreturnthither，thealpsweregone，theroadswereclear，andonecouldtravelthroughthecitywithnootherimpedimentthanthoseoftreadingonwomen\'sdressesifonewalked，orhavingtolookafterwomen\'sband-boxesandpaytheirfaresandtaketheirchangeifoneusedtheomnibuses。
Andnowhadcometheendofmyadventure，andasIsetmyfootoncemoreuponthedeckoftheCunardsteamer，Ifeltthatmyworkwasdone；whetheritweredoneillorwell，orwhetherindeedanyapproachtothedoingofithadbeenattained，allhadbeendonethatIcouldaccomplish。Nofurtheropportunityremainedtomeofseeing，hearing，orofspeaking。Ihadcomeoutthither，havingresolvedtolearnalittlethatImightifpossibleteachthatlittletoothers；andnowthelessonwaslearned，ormustremainunlearned。ButincarryingoutmyresolutionIhadgraduallyriseninmyambition，andhadmountedfromonestageofinquirytoanother，tillatlastIhadfoundmyselfburdenedwiththetaskofascertainingwhetherornotheAmericansweredoingtheirworkasanationwellorill；andnow，ifever，Imustbepreparedtoputforththeresultofmyinquiry。AsIwalkedupanddownthedeckofthesteamboatIconfessIfeltthatIhadbeensomewhatarrogant。
IhadbeenafewdaysoversixmonthsintheStates，andIwasengagedinwritingabookofsuchanaturethatamanmightwellengagehimselfforsixyears，orperhapsforsixty，inobtainingthematerialsforit。Therewasnothingintheformofgovernment，orlegislature，ormannersofthepeopleastowhichIhadnottakenuponmyselftosaysomething。Iwasprofessingtounderstandtheirstrengthandtheirweakness；andwasdaringtocensuretheirfaultsandtoeulogizetheirvirtues。“Whoishe，“anAmericanwouldsay，“thathecomesandjudgesus？Hisjudgmentisnothing。““Whoishe，“anEnglishmanwouldsay，“thathecomesandteachesus？Histeachingisofnovalue。“
InanswertothisIhavebutasmallpleatomake——Ihavedonemybest。Ihavenothing“extenuated，andhavesetdownnaughtinmalice。“IdofeelthatmyvolumeshaveblownthemselvesoutintoproportionsgreaterthanIhadintended；greaternotinmassofpages，butinthematterhandled。Iamfrequentlyaddressingmyownmuse，whoIamwellawareisnotClio，andaskingherwhithersheiswending。“Cease，thouwrong-headedone，tomeddlewiththesemysteries。“Iappealtoherfrequently，buteverinvain。Onecannotdriveone\'smuse，noryetalwaysleadher。Ofthevariouswomenwithwhichamanisblessed，hismuseisbynomeanstheleastdifficulttomanage。
ButagainIputinmyslightplea。IndoingasIhavedone，Ihaveatleastdonemybest。Ihaveendeavoredtojudgewithoutprejudice，andtohearwithhonestearsandtoseewithhonesteyes。
Thesubject，moreover，onwhichIhavewrittenisonewhich，thoughgreat，issouniversalinitsbearingsthatitmaybesaidtoadmit，withoutimpropriety，ofbeinghandledbytheunlearnedaswellasthelearned；bythosewhohavegrowngrayinthestudyofconstitutionallore，andbythosewhohavesimplylookedonatthegovernmentofmenaswealllookonatthosematterswhichdailysurroundus。Therearemattersastowhichamanshouldnevertakeapeninhandunlesshehasgiventothemmuchlabor。ThebotanistmusthavelearnedtotracetheherbsandflowersbeforehecanpresumetotellushowGodhasformedthem。ButthedeathofHectorisafitsubjectforaboy\'sverses，thoughHomeralsosangofit。
IfeelthatthereisscopeforabookontheUnitedStatesformofgovernmentasitwasfounded，andasithassinceframeditself，whichmightdohonortothelife-longstudiesofsomeoneofthosegreatconstitutionalpunditswhomwehaveamongus；but，nevertheless，theplainwordsofamanwhoisnopunditneednotdisgracethesubject，iftheybehonestlywritten，andifhewhowritesthemhasinhisheartanhonestloveofliberty。SuchweremythoughtsasIwalkedthedeckoftheCunardsteamer。ThenI
descendedtomycabin，settledmyluggage，andpreparedatableforthecontinuanceofmywork。ItwasfourteendaysfromthattimebeforeIreachedLondon，butthefourteendaystomewerenotunpleasant。Thedemonofsea-sicknesssparesmealways，andifI
canfindonboardoneortwowhoareequallyfortunate——whocaneatwithme，drinkwithme，andtalkwithme——IdonotknowthatapassageacrosstheAtlanticisbyanymeansaterribleeviltome。
Infinishingthesevolumesafterthefashioninwhichtheyhavebeenwrittenthroughout，IfeelthatIamboundtoexpressafixedopinionontwoorthreepoints，andthatifIhavenotenabledmyselftodoso，Ihavetraveledthroughthecountryinvain。Iamboundbytheverynatureofmyundertakingtosaywhether，accordingtosuchviewasIhaveenabledmyselftotakeofthem，theAmericanshavesucceededasanationpoliticallyandsocially；andindoingthisIoughttobeabletoexplainhowfarslaveryhasinterferedwithsuchsuccess。Iamboundalso，writingatthepresentmoment，toexpresssomeopinionastotheresultofthiswar，andtodeclarewhethertheNorthortheSouthmaybeexpectedtobevictorious——
explaininginsomeroughwaywhatmaybetheresultsofsuchvictory，andhowsuchresultswillaffectthequestionofslavery；
andIshallleavemytaskunfinishedifIdonotsaywhatmaybethepossiblechancesoffuturequarrelbetweenEnglandandtheStates。
Thattherehasbeenandismuchhotbloodandangryfeeling，nomandoubts；butsuchangryfeelinghasexistedamongmanynationswithoutanyprobabilityofwar。Inthiscase，withreferencetothisillwillthathascertainlyestablisheditselfbetweenusandthatotherpeople，isthereanyneedthatitshouldbesatisfiedbywarandallayedbyblood？
Noone，Ithink，candoubtthatthefoundersofthegreatAmericanCommonwealthmadeanerrorinomittingtoprovidesomemeansforthegradualextinctionofslaverythroughouttheStates。Thaterrordidnotconsistinanylikingforslavery。Therewasnofeelinginfavorofslaveryonthepartofthosewhomadethemselvesprominentatthepoliticalbirthofthenation。IthinkIshallbejustifiedinsayingthatatthattimetheopinionthatslaveryisitselfagoodthing，thatitisaninstitutionofdivineoriginandfittobeperpetuatedamongmenasinitselfexcellent，hadnotfoundthatfavorintheSouthernStatesinwhichitisnowheld。Jefferson，whohasbeenregardedastheleaderoftheSouthernorDemocraticparty，hasleftampletestimonythatheregardedslaveryasanevil。
Itis，Ithink，truethathegavesuchtestimonymuchmorefreelywhenhewasspeakingorwritingasaprivateindividualthanheeverallowedhimselftodowhenhiswordswerearmedwiththeweightofpublicauthority。Butitisclearthatonthewholehewasopposedtoslavery，andIthinktherecanbelittledoubtthatheandhispartylookedforwardtoanaturaldeathforthatevil。CalculationwasmadethatslaverywhennotrecruitedafreshfromAfricacouldnotmaintainitsnumbers，andthatgraduallythenegropopulationwouldbecomeextinct。Thiswastheerrormade。Itwaseasiertolookforwardtosucharesultandhopeforsuchanendofthedifficulty，thantoextinguishslaverybyagreatpoliticalmovement，whichmustdoubtlesshavebeendifficultandcostly。TheNorthernStatesgotridofslaverybytheoperationoftheirseparatelegislatures，someatonedateandsomeatothers。TheslaveswerelessnumerousintheNorththanintheSouth，andthefeelingadversetoslaveswasstrongerintheNorththanintheSouth。MasonandDixon\'sline，whichnowseparatesslavesoilfromfreesoil，merelyindicatesthepositioninthecountryatwhichthebalanceturned。MarylandandVirginiawerenotinclinedtomakegreatimmediatesacrificesforthemanumissionoftheirslaves；butthegentlemenofthoseStatesdidnotthinkthatslaverywasadivineinstitutiondestinedtoflourishforeverasablessingintheirland。
Themaintenanceofslaverywas，Ithink，apoliticalmistake——apoliticalmistake，notbecauseslaveryispoliticallywrong，butbecausethepoliticiansofthedaymadeerroneouscalculationsastotheprobabilityofitstermination。Sotheincometaxmaybeapoliticalblunderwithus——notbecauseitisinitselfabadtax，butbecausethosewhoimposeditconceivedthattheywereimposingitforayearortwo，whereas，now，mendonotexpecttoseetheendofit。Themaintenanceofslaverywasapoliticalmistake；andI
cannotthinkthattheAmericansinanywaylessentheweightoftheirownerrorbyprotesting，astheyoccasionallydo，thatslaverywasalegacymadeovertothemfromEngland。Theymightaswellsaythattravelingincartswithoutsprings，attherateofthreemilesanhour，wasalegacymadeovertothembyEngland。Onthatmatteroftravelingtheyhavenotbeencontentedwiththeoldhabitslefttothem，buthavegoneaheadandmaderailroads。Increatingthoserailwaysthemeritisduetothem；andsoalsoisthedemeritofmaintainingthoseslaves。
ThatdemeritandthatmistakehavedoubtlessbroughtupontheAmericansthegrievancesoftheirpresentposition；andwill，asI
think，sofarbeaccompaniedbyultimatepunishmentthattheywillbetheimmediatemeansofcausingthefirstdisintegrationoftheirnation。IwillleaveittotheAmericansthemselvestosaywhethersuchdisintegrationmustnecessarilyimplythattheyhavefailedintheirpoliticalundertaking。ThemostloyalcitizensoftheNorthernStateswouldhavedeclaredamonthortwosince——andforaughtIknowwoulddeclarenow——thatanydisintegrationoftheStatesimpliedabsolutefailure。Onestripeerasedfromthebanner，onestarlostfromthefirmament，wouldentailuponthemallthedisgraceofnationaldefeat！Ithadbeentheirboastthattheywouldalwaysadvance，neverretreat。TheyhadlookedforwardtoaddeverStateuponState，andTerritorytoTerritory，tillthewholecontinentshouldbeboundtogetherinthesameunion。Togobackfromthatnow，tofallintopiecesandbedivided，tobecomesmallerintheeyesofthenations，tobeabsolutelyhalfed，assomewouldsayofsuchdivision，wouldbenationaldisgrace，andwouldamounttopoliticalfailure。“Letusfightforthewhole，“suchmensaid，andprobablydosay。“Toloseanythingistoloseall！“
ButthecitizensoftheStateswhospeakandthinkthus，thoughtheymaybethemostloyal，areperhapsnotpoliticallythemostwise。
AndIaminclinedtothinkthatthatdefiantclaimofeverystar，thatresolvetopossesseverystripeuponthebanner，hadbecomesomewhatlessgeneralwhenIwasleavingthecountrythanIhadfoundittobeatthetimeofmyarrivalthere。WhilethingsweregoingbadlywiththeNorth，whiletherewasnotaleofanybattletobetoldexceptofthoseatBull\'sRunandSpringfield，noNorthernmanwouldadmitahintthatsecessionmightultimatelyprevailinGeorgiaorAlabama。ButtherebelshadbeendrivenoutofMissouriwhenIwasleavingtheStates，theyhadretreatedaltogetherfromKentucky，havingbeenbeateninoneengagementthere，andfromagreatportionofTennessee，havingbeentwicebeateninthatState。
ThecoastofNorthCarolina，andmanypointsoftheSoutherncoast，wereinthehandsoftheNorthernarmy，whilethearmyoftheSouthwasretreatingfromallpointsintothecenteroftheircountry。
WhatevermayhavebeenthestrategeticalmeritsordemeritsoftheNortherngenerals，itisatanyratecertainthattheirapparentsuccessesweregreedilywelcomedbythepeople，andcreatedanideathatthingsweregoingwellwiththecause。Andasallthistookplace，itseemedtomethatIheardlessaboutthenecessaryintegrityoftheoldflag。Whileasyettheywerealtogetherunsuccessful，theyweremindedtomakenosurrender。Butwiththeirsuccessescamethefeeling，thatintakingmuchtheymightperhapsallowthemselvestoyieldsomething。ThiswasclearlyindicatedbythemessagesenttoCongressbythePresident，inFebruary，1862，inwhichhesuggestedthatCongressshouldmakearrangementsforthepurchaseoftheslavesintheborderStates；sothatintheeventofsecession——accomplishedsecession——intheGulfStates，thecourseofthoseborderStatesmightbemadeclearforthem。TheymighthesitateastogoingwillinglywiththeNorth，whilepossessingslaves，astosittingthemselvespeaceablydownasasmallslaveadjuncttoavastfree-soilnation，seeingthattheirpropertywouldalwaysbeinperil。Undersuchcircumstancesaslaveadjuncttothefree-soilnationwouldnotlongbepossible。ButifitcouldbeshowntothemthatintheeventoftheiradheringtotheNorthcompensationwouldbeforthcoming，then，indeed，thedifficultyinarranginganadvantageouslinebetweenthetwofuturenationsmightbeconsiderablymodified。ThismessageofthePresident\'swasintendedtosignifythatsecessiononfavorabletermsmightberegardedbytheNorthasnotundesirable。Moderatemenwerebeginningtowhisperthat，afterall，theGulfStateswerenosourceeitherofnationalwealthorofnationalhonor。HadtherenotbeenenoughatWashingtonofcottonlordsandcottonlaws？WhenIhavesuggestedthatnoSenatorfromGeorgiawouldeveragainsitintheUnitedStatesSenate，Americangentlemenhavereceivedmyremarkwithaslightdemur，andhavethenproceededtoarguethecase。Sixmonthsbeforetheywouldhavedeclaredagainstmeandnothaveargued。
IwillleaveittoAmericansthemselvestosaywhetherthatdisintegrationoftheStateswill，shoulditeverberealized，implythattheyhavefailedintheirpoliticalundertaking。Iftheydonotprotestthatitarguesfailure，Idonotthinkthattheirfeelingswillbehurtbysuchprotestationsonthepartofothers。
Ihavesaidthattheblundermadebythefoundersofthenationwithregardtoslaveryhasbroughtwithitthissecessionasitspunishment。Butsuchpunishmentscomegenerallyuponnationsasgreatmercies。Ireland\'sfaminewasthepunishmentofherimprudenceandidleness，butithasgiventoherprosperityandprogress。Andindeed，tospeakwithmorelogicalcorrectness，thefaminewasnopunishmenttoIreland，norwillsecessionbeapunishmenttotheNorthernStates。Inthelongresult，stepwillhavegoneonafterstep，andeffectwillhavefollowedcause，tilltheAmericanpeoplewillatlastacknowledgethatallthesemattershavebeenarrangedfortheiradvantageandpromotion。Itmaybethatanationnowandthengoestothewall，andthatthingsgofrombadtoworsewithalargepeople。Ithasbeensowithvariousnations，andwithmanypeoplesincehistorywasfirstwritten。Butwhenithasbeenso，thepeoplethuspunishedhavebeenidleandbad。Theyhavenotonlydoneevilintheirgeneration，buthavedonemoreevilthangood，andhavecontributedtheirpowertotheinjuryratherthantotheimprovementofmankind。Itmaybethatthisorthatnationalfaultmayproduceorseemtoproducesomeconsequentcalamity。Butthebalanceofgoodorevilthingswhichfalltoapeople\'ssharewillindicatewithcertaintytheiraverageconductasanation。Theonewillbethecertainsequenceoftheother。IfitbethattheAmericansoftheNorthernStateshavedonewellintheirtime，thattheyhaveassistedintheprogressoftheworld，andmadethingsbetterformankindratherthanworse，thentheywillcomeoutofthistroublewithouteventualinjury。Thatwhichcameintheguiseofpunishmentforaspecialfault，willbeapartoftherewardresultingfromgoodconductinthegeneral。Andastothismatterofslavery，inwhichIthinkthattheyhaveblunderedbothpoliticallyandmorally，hasitnotbeenfoundimpossiblehithertoforthemtocleansetheirhandsofthattaint？
Butthatwhichtheycouldnotdoforthemselvesthecourseofeventsisdoingforthem。Ifsecessionestablishherself，thoughitbeonlysecessionoftheGulfStates，thepeopleoftheUnitedStateswillsoonbefreefromslavery。
Injudgingofthesuccessorwantofsuccessofanypoliticalinstitutionsorofanyformofgovernment，weshouldbeguided，I
think，bythegeneralresults，andnotbyanyabstractrulesastotherightorwrongofthoseinstitutionsorofthatform。ItmightbeeasyforaGermanlawyertoshowthatoursystemoftrialbyjuryisopentothegravestobjections，andthatitsinsagainstcommonsense。Butifthatsystemgivesussubstantialjustice，andprotectsusfromthetyrannyofmeninoffice，theGermanwillnotsucceedinmakingusbelievethatitisabadsystem。WhenlookingintothematteroftheschoolsatBoston，IobservedtooneofthecommitteeofmanagementthatthestatementswithwhichIwassupplied，thoughtheytoldmehowmanyofthechildrenwenttoschool，didnottellmehowlongtheyremainedatschool。Thegentlemanrepliedthatthatinformationwastobeobtainedfromtheresultoftheschoolingofthepopulationgenerally。Everyboyandgirlaroundhimcouldreadandwrite，andcouldenjoyreadingandwriting。Therewasthereforeevidencetoshowthattheyremainedatschoolsufficientlylongfortherequiredpurposes。ItwasfairthatIshouldjudgeofthesystemfromtheresults。Here，inEngland，wegenerallyobjecttomuchthattheAmericanshaveadoptedintotheirformofgovernment，andthinkthatmanyoftheirpoliticaltheoriesarewrong。Wedonotlikeuniversalsuffrage。
Wedonotlikeaperiodicalchangeinthefirstmagistrate；andwelikequiteaslittleaperiodicalpermanenceinthepoliticalofficersimmediatelyunderthechiefmagistrate；weare，inshort，weddedtoourownforms，andthereforeopposedbyjudgmenttoformsdifferingfromourown。ButIthinkweallacknowledgethattheUnitedStates，burdenedastheyarewiththesepoliticalevils——aswethinkthem——havegrowninstrengthandmaterialprosperitywithacelerityofgrowthhithertounknownamongnations。WemaydislikeAmericanspersonally，wemayfindourselvesuncomfortablewhenthere，andunabletosympathizewiththemwhenaway。Wemaybelievethemtobeambitious，unjust，self-idolatrous，orirreligious；butunlesswethrowourjudgmentaltogetheroverboard，wecannotbelievethemtobeaweakpeople，apoorpeople，apeoplewithlowspiritsorwithidlehands。Nowtowhatisitthatthegovernmentofacountryshouldchieflylook？Whatspecialadvantagesdoweexpectfromourowngovernment？Isitnotthatweshouldbesafeathomeandrespectedabroad——thatlawsshouldbemaintained，butthattheyshouldbesomaintainedthattheyshouldnotbeoppressive？Thereare，doubtless，countriesinwhichthegovernmentprofessestodomuchmorethanthisforitspeople——countriesinwhichthegovernmentispaternal；inwhichitregulatesthereligionofthepeople，andprofessestoenforceonallthenationalchildrenrespectforthegovernors，teachers，spiritualpastors，andmasters。
Butthatisnotourideaofagovernment。Thatisnotwhatwedesiretoseeestablishedamongourselvesorestablishedamongothers。Safetyfromforeignfoes，respectfromforeignfoesandfriends，securityunderthelawandsecurityfromthelaw，thisiswhatweexpectfromourgovernment；andifIaddtothisthatweexpecttohavethesegoodthingsprovidedatafairlymoderatecost，IthinkIhaveexhaustedthelistofourrequirements。Ihardlythinkthatweevenyetexpectthegovernmenttotakethefirststepsintherudimentaryeducationofthepeople。Wecertainlydonotexpectittomakethepeoplereligious，ortokeepthemhonest。
AndiftheAmericanswiththeirformofgovernmenthavedoneforthemselvesallthatweexpectourgovernmenttodoforus；iftheyhavewithsomefairapproachtogeneralexcellenceobtainedrespectabroadandsecurityathomefromforeignfoes；iftheyhavemadelife，liberty，andpropertysafeundertheirlaws，andhavealsosowrittenandexecutedtheirlawsastosecuretheirpeoplefromlegaloppression，——Imaintainthattheyareentitledtoaverdictintheirfavor，letusobjectaswemaytouniversalsuffrage，tofouryears\'
Presidentsandfouryears\'presidentialcabinets。What，afterall，mattersthetheoryorthesystem，whetheritbekingorpresident，universalsuffrageorten-poundvoter，solongasthepeoplebefreeandprosperous？Kingandpresident，suffragebypollandsuffragebyproperty，arebutthemeans。Iftheendbethere，ifthethinghasbeendone，kingandpresident，opensuffrageandclosesuffrage，mayalikebedeclaredtohavebeensuccessful。TheAmericanshavebeeninexistenceasanationforseventy-fiveyears，andhaveachievedanamountofforeignrespectduringthatperiodgreaterthananyothernationeverobtainedindoublethetime。Andthishasbeengiventothem，notindeferencetothestatesmanlikecraftoftheirdiplomaticandotherofficers，butongroundstheveryoppositeofthose。Ithasbeengiventothembecausetheyformanumerous，wealthy，brave，andself-assertingnation。Itis，I
think，unnecessarytoprovethatsuchforeignrespecthasbeengiventothem；butwereitnecessary，nothingwouldproveitmorestronglythantheregardwhichhasbeenuniversallypaidbyEuropeangovernmentstotheblockadeplacedduringthiswarontheSouthernportsbythegovernmentoftheUnitedStates。Hadthenationbeenplacedbygeneralconsentinanyclassofnationsbelowthefirst，England，France，andperhapsRussiawouldhavetakenthematterintotheirownhands，andhavesettledfortheStates，eitherunitedordisunited，atanyratethatquestionoftheblockade。AndtheAmericanshavebeensafeathomefromforeignfoes；sosafe，thatnootherstrongpeoplebutourselveshaveenjoyedanythingapproachingtotheirsecuritysincetheirfoundation。Norhasoursecuritybeenatallequaltotheirs，ifwearetocountournationalityasextendingbeyondtheBritishIsles。Thenastosecurityundertheirlawsandfromtheirlaws！Thoselawsandthesystemoftheirmanagementhavebeentakenalmostentirelyfromus，andhavesobeenadministeredthatlifeandpropertyhavebeensafe，andthesubjectalsohasbeenfree，underthelaw。Ithinkthatthismaybetakenforgranted，seeingthattheywhohavebeenmostopposedtoAmericanformsofgovernmenthaveneverassertedthereverse。ImaybetoldofamanbeinglynchedinoneState，ortarredandfeatheredinanother，orofaduelinathirdbeing“foughtatsight。“SoImaybetoldalsoofmengarrotedinLondon，andoftitheproctorsburiedinabogwithouttheirearsinIreland。Neitherwillseventyyearsofcontinuance，norwillsevenhundred，securesuchanobservanceoflawsaswillpreventtemporaryebullitionofpopularfeeling，orsaveapeoplefromthechancedisgraceofoccasionaloutrage。
Takingthegeneral，lifeandlimbandpropertyhavebeenassafeintheStatesasinothercivilizedcountrieswithwhichweareacquainted。
Astotheirpersonallibertyundertheirlaws，Iknowitwillbesaidthattheyhavesurrenderedallclaimtoanysuchpreciouspossessionbythefacilitywithwhichtheyhavenowsurrenderedtheprivilegeofthewritofhabeascorpus。Ithasbeentakenfromthem，asIhaveendeavoredtoshow，illegally，andtheyhavesubmittedtothelossandtotheillegalitywithoutamurmur！ButinsuchamatterIdonotthinkitfairtojudgethembytheirconductinsuchamomentasthepresent。Thatthisistheverymomentinwhichtojudgeoftheefficiencyoftheirinstitutionsgenerally，oftheaptitudeofthoseinstitutionsforthesecurityofthenation，Ireadilyacknowledge；butwhenashipisatseainastorm，ridingoutthroughallthatthewindsandwavescandotoher，onedoesnotcondemnherbecauseayard-armgivesway，noreventhoughthemainmastshouldgobytheboard。Ifshecanmakeherport，savinglifeandcargo，sheisagoodship，letherlossesinsparsandriggingbewhattheymay。Inthisaffairofthehabeascorpuswewillwaitawhilebeforewecometoanyfinaljudgment。Ifitbethatthepeople，whenthewarisover，shallconsenttoliveunderamilitaryorotherdictatorship，thattheyshallquietlycontinuetheircourseasanationwithoutrecoveryoftheirrightsoffreedom，thenweshallhavetosaythattheirinstitutionswerenotfoundedinasoilofsufficientdepth，andthattheygavewaybeforethefirsthighwindthatblewonthem。Imyselfdonotexpectsucharesult。
IthinkwemustadmitthattheAmericanshavereceivedfromtheirgovernment，orratherfromtheirsystemofpolicy，thataidandfurtherancewhichtheyrequiredfromit；and，moreover，suchaidandfurtheranceasweexpectfromoursystemofgovernment。Wemustadmitthattheyhavebeengreat，andfree，andprosperous，aswealsohavebecome。Andwemustadmitalsothatinsomematterstheyhavegoneforwardinadvanceofus。Theyhaveeducatedtheirpeople，aswehavenoteducatedours。Theyhavegiventotheirmillionsapersonalrespect，andastandingabovetheabjectnessofpoverty，whichwithusaremuchlessgeneralthanwiththem。Thesethings，Igrant，havenotcomeoftheirgovernment，andhavenotbeenproducedbytheirwrittenConstitution。Theyarethehappyresultsoftheirhappycircumstances。ButsoalsoarenotthoseevilattributeswhichwesometimesassigntothemthecreaturesoftheirgovernmentoroftheirConstitution。Weacknowledgethemtobewelleducated，intelligent，philanthropic，andindustrious；butwesaythattheyareambitious，unjust，self-idolatrous，andirreligious。Ifso，letusatanyratebalancethevirtuesagainstthevices。Astotheirambition，itisavicethatleanssotovirtue\'ssidethatithardlyneedsanapology。Astotheirinjustice，orratherdishonesty，IhavesaidwhatIhavetosayonthatmatter。IamnotgoingtoflinchfromtheaccusationIhavebrought，thoughIamawarethatinbringingitIhavethrownawayanyhopethatImighthavehadofcarryingwithmethegood-willoftheAmericansformybook。Theloveofmoney——orratherofmakingmoney——carriedtoanextreme，haslessenedthatinstinctiverespectfortherightsofmeumandtuum，whichallmenfeelmoreorless，andwhich，whenencouragedwithinthehumanbreast，findsitsresultinperfecthonesty。Othernations，ofwhichIwillnotnowstoptonameevenone，havehadtheirperiodsofnaturaldishonesty。Itmaybethatothersareevennowtobeplacedinthesamecategory。Butitisafaultwhichindustryandintelligencecombinedwillafterawhileservetolessenandtobanish。Theindustriousmandesirestokeepthefruitofhisownindustry，andtheintelligentmanwillultimatelybeabletodoso。ThattheAmericansareself-idolatersisperhapstrue——withadifference。AnAmericandesiresyoutoworshiphiscountry，orhisbrother；buthedoesnotoften，byanyoftheusualsignsofconceit，calluponyoutoworshiphimself；asanAmerican，treatingofAmerica，heisself-idolatrous；thatisaself-idolatrywhichIcanendure。Then，astohiswantofreligion——
anditisaverysadwant——IcanonlysayofhimthatI，asanEnglishman，donotfeelmyselfjustifiedinflingingthefirststoneathim。Inthatmatterofreligion，asinthematterofeducation，theAmerican，Ithink，standsonalevelhigherthanours。ThereisnotintheStatessoabsoluteanignoranceofreligionasistobefoundinsomeofourmanufacturingandminingdistricts，andalso，alas！insomeofouragriculturaldistricts；butalso，Ithink，thereislessofrespectandvenerationforGod\'swordamongtheireducatedclassesthanthereiswithus；and，perhaps，alsolessknowledgeastoGod\'sword。Thegeneralreligiouslevelis，I
think，higherwiththem；butthereis，ifIamrightinmysupposition，withusahighereminenceinreligion，asthereisalsoadeeperdepthofungodliness。
Ithink，then，thatweareboundtoacknowledgethattheAmericanshavesucceededasanation，politicallyandsocially。WhenIspeakofsocialsuccess，Idonotmeantosaythattheirmannersarecorrectaccordingtothisorthatstandard；Iwillnotsaythattheyarecorrectorarenotcorrect。InthatmatterofmannersIhavefoundthosewithwhomitseemedtomenaturalthatIshouldassociateverypleasantaccordingtomystandard。IdonotknowthatIamagoodcriticonsuchasubject，orthatIhaveeverthoughtmuchofitwiththeviewofcriticising；Ihavebeenhappyandcomfortablewiththem，andformethathasbeensufficient。InspeakingofsocialsuccessIalludetotheirsuccessinprivatelifeasdistinguishedfromthatwhichtheyhaveachievedinpubliclife；
totheirsuccessesincommerce，inmechanics，inthecomfortsandluxuriesoflife，inphysicandallthatleadstothesolaceofaffliction，inliterature，andImayaddalso，consideringtheyouthofthenation，inthearts。Weare，Ithink，boundtoacknowledgethattheyhavesucceeded。Andiftheyhavesucceeded，itisvainforustosaythatasystemiswrongwhichhas，atanyrate，admittedofsuchsuccess。Thatwhichwaswantedfromsomeformofgovernment，hasbeenobtainedwithmuchmorethanaverageexcellence；andthereforetheformadoptedhasapproveditselfasgood。Youmayexplaintoafarmer\'swife，withindisputablelogic，thatherchurnisabadchurn；butaslongassheturnsoutbutteringreaterquantity，inbetterquality，andwithmoreprofitthanherneighbors，youwillhardlyinducehertochangeit。Itmaybethatwithsomeotherchurnshemighthavedoneevenbetter；but，undersuchcircumstances，shewillhavearighttothinkwellofthechurnsheuses。
TheAmericanConstitutionisnow，Ithink，atthecrisisofitsseveresttrial。Iconceiveittobebynomeansperfect，evenforthewantsofthepeoplewhouseit；andIhavealreadyendeavoredtoexplainwhatchangesitseemstoneed。Andithashadthisdefect——
thatithaspermittedafallingawayfromitsintendedmodesofaction，whileitsletterhasbeenkeptsacred。AsIhaveendeavoredtoshow，universalsuffrageanddemocraticactionintheSenatewerenotintendedbytheframersoftheConstitution。InthisrespecttheConstitutionhas，asitwere，fallenthrough，anditisneededthatitsverybeamsshouldberestrengthened。Therearealsoothermattersastowhichitseemsthatsomechangeisindispensable。SomuchIhaveadmitted。But，nottheless，judgingofitbytheentiretyoftheworkthatithasdone，Ithinkthatweareboundtoownthatithasbeensuccessful。
Andnow，withregardtothistediouswar，ofwhichfromdaytodaywearestill，inthismonthofMay，1862，hearingdetailswhichteachustothinkthatitcanhardlyasyetbenearitsend。Towhatmaywerationallylookasitsresult？OfonethingImyselffeeltolerablycertain，thatitsresultwillnotbenothing，assomeamongushaveseemedtosupposemaybeprobable。IcannotbelievethatallthisenergyonthepartoftheNorthwillbeofnoavail，morethanIsupposethatSouthernperseverancewillbeofnoavail。
Therearethoseamonguswhosaythatasecessionwillatlastbeaccomplished；theNorthshouldhaveyieldedtotheSouthatonce，andthatnothingwillbegainedbytheirgreatexpenditureoflifeandtreasure。Icanbynomeansbringmyselftoagreewiththese。
Ialsolooktotheestablishmentofsecession。SeeinghowessentialandthorougharethepointsofvariancebetweentheNorthandtheSouth，howunliketheonepeopleistotheother，andhownecessaryitisthattheirpoliciesshouldbedifferent；seeinghowdeeparetheirantipathies，andhowfixediseachsideinthebeliefofitsownrectitudeandinthebeliefalsooftheother\'spoliticalbaseness，IcannotbelievethatthereallySouthernStateswilleveragainbejoinedinamicableunionwiththoseoftheNorth。
They，theStatesoftheGulf，maybeutterlysubjugated，andtheNorthmayholdoverthemmilitarypower。GeorgiaandhersistersmayforawhilebelongtotheUnion，asoneconqueredcountrybelongstoanother。ButIdonotthinkthattheywilleveractwiththeUnion；and，asIimagine，theUnionbeforelongwillagreetoaseparation。Idonotmeantoprophesythattheresultwillbethusaccomplished。ItmaybethattheSouthwilleffecttheirownindependencebeforetheylaydowntheirarms。Ithink，however，thatwemaylookforwardtosuchindependence，whetheritbeachievedinthatway，orinthis，orinsomeother。
ButnotonthataccountwillthewarhavebeenofnoavailtotheNorth。Ithinkitmustbealreadyevidenttoallthosewhohavelookedintothematter，thathadtheNorthyieldedtothefirstcallmadebytheSouthforsecessionalltheslaveStatesmusthavegone。
Marylandwouldhavegone，carryingDelawareinitsarms；andifMaryland，allsouthofMaryland。IfMarylandhadgone，thecapitalwouldhavegone。Ifthegovernmenthadresolvedtoyield，Virginiatotheeastwouldassuredlyhavegone，andIthinktherecanbenodoubtthatMissouri，tothewest，wouldhavegonealso。ThefeelingfortheUnioninKentuckywasverystrong，butIdonotthinkthatevenKentuckycouldhavesaveditself。TohaveyieldedtotheSoutherndemandswouldhavebeentohaveyieldedeverything。Butnomannowpresumes，letthecontestgoasitwill，thatMarylandandDelawarewillgowiththeSouth。ThesecessionistsofBaltimoredonotthinkso，northegentlemenandladiesofWashington，whosewholeheartsareintheSoutherncause。NomanthinksthatMarylandwillgo，andfew，Ibelieve，imaginethateitherMissouriorKentuckywillbedividedfromtheNorth。Iwillnotpretendwhatmaybetheexactline，butImyselffeelconfidentthatitwillrunsouthbothofVirginiaandofKentucky。
IftheNorthdoconquertheSouth，andsoarrangetheirmattersthattheSouthernStatesshallagainbecomemembersoftheUnion，itwillbeadmittedthattheyhavedoneallthattheyoughttodo。Iftheydonotdothis——ifinsteadofdoingthis，whichwouldbeallthattheydesire，theywereintruthtodonothing；towinfinallynotonefootofgroundfromtheSouth——asuppositionwhichIregardasimpossible——Ithinkthatweshouldstilladmitafterawhilethattheyhaddonetheirdutyinendeavoringtomaintaintheintegrityoftheempire。Butif，asathirdandmoreprobablealternative，theysucceedinrescuingfromtheSouthandfromslaveryfourorfiveofthefinestStatesoftheoldUnion——andavastportionofthecontinenttobebeatenbynoneotherinsalubrity，fertility，beauty，andpoliticalimportance——willitnotthenbeadmittedthatthewarhasdonesomegood，andthatthelifeandtreasurehavenotbeenspentinvain？
ThatistheterminationofthecontesttowhichIlookforward。I
thinkthattherewillbesecession，butthatthetermsofsecessionwillbedictatedbytheNorth，notbytheSouth；andamongthesetermsIexpecttoseeanescapefromslaveryforthoseborderStatestowhichIhavealluded。InthatpropositionwhichinFebruarylast(1862)wasmadebythePresident，andwhichhassincebeensanctionedbytheSenate，Ithinkwemayseethefirststeptowardthismeasure。ItmayprobablybethecasethatmanyoftheslaveswillbedrivenSouth；thatastheownersofthoseslavesaredrivenfromtheirholdingsinVirginiatheywilltaketheirslaveswiththem，orsendthembeforethem。Themanumission，whenitreachesVirginia，willnotprobablyenfranchisethehalfmillionofslaveswho，in1860，werecountedamongitspopulation。ButastothatI
confessmyselftobecomparativelycareless；itisnottheconcernwhichIhavenowatheart。Formyself，IshallfeelsatisfiedifthatmanumissionshallreachthemillionofwhitesbywhomVirginiaispopulated；orifnotthatmillioninitsintegrity，thenthatothermillionbywhichitsrichsoilwouldsoonbetenanted。TherearenowaboutfourmillionofwhitemenandwomeninhabitingtheslaveStateswhichIhavedescribed，andIthinkitwillbeacknowledgedthattheNorthernStateswillhavedonesomethingwiththeirarmiesiftheysucceedinrescuingthosefourmillionsfromthestainandevilofslavery。
ThereisathirdquestionwhichIhaveaskedmyself，andtowhichI
haveundertakentogivesomeanswer。WhenthiswarbeoverbetweentheNorthernandSouthernStates，willtherecomeuponusanecessityoffightingwiththeAmericans？Iftheredocomesuchnecessity，arisingoutofourconducttotheStatesduringtheperiodoftheircivilwar，itwillindeedbeharduponus，asanation，seeingthestrugglethatweasanationhavemadetobejustinourdealingstowardtheStatesgenerally，whethertheybeNorthorSouth。Tobejustinsuchaperiod，andundersuchcircumstances，isverydifficult。InthatcontestbetweenSardiniaandAustriaitwasallbutimpossibletobejusttotheItalianswithoutbeingunjusttotheEmperorofAustria。Tohavebeenstrictlyjustatthemomentoneshouldhavebegunbyconfessingtheinjusticeofsomuchthathadgonebefore！ButinthisAmericancontestsuchjustice，thoughdifficult，waseasier。Affairsoftraderatherthanoftreatieschieflyinterfered；andtheseaffairs，byatotaldisregardofourownpecuniaryinterests，couldbesomanagedthatjusticemightbedone。ThisIthinkwaseffected。Itmaybe，ofcourse，thatIamprejudicedonthesideofmyownnation；butstrivingtojudgeofthematterasbestImaywithoutprejudice，Icannotseethatwe，asanation，haveinaughtoffendedagainstthestrictestjusticeinourdealingswithAmericaduringthiscontest。Butjusticehasnotsufficed。IdonotknowthatourbitterestfoesintheNorthernStateshaveaccusedusofactingunjustly。Itisnotjusticewhichtheyhavelookedforatourhands，andlookedforinvain——notjustice，butgenerosity！Wehavenot，astheysay，sympathizedwiththemintheirtrouble。Itseemstomethatsuchacomplaintisunworthyofthemasanation，asapeople，orasindividuals。Insuchamattergenerosityisanothernameforinjustice，asittoooftenisinallmatters。AgeneroussympathywiththeNorthwouldhavebeenanostensibleandcrushingenmitytotheSouth。WecouldnothavesympathizedwiththeNorthwithoutcondemningtheSouth，andtellingtotheworldthattheSouthwereourenemies。Inorderinghisownhouseholdamanshouldnotwantgenerosityorsympathyfromtheoutside；andifnotaman，thencertainlynotanation。Generositybetweennationsmustinitsverynaturebewrong。Onenationmaybejusttoanother，courteoustoanother，evenconsideratetoanotherwithpropriety。Butnonationcanbegeneroustoanotherwithoutinjusticeeithertosomethirdnationortoitself。
Butthoughnoaccusationofunfairnesshas，asfarasIamaware，everbeenmadebythegovernmentofWashingtonagainstthegovernmentofEngland，therecanbenodoubtthataverystrongfeelingofantipathytoEnglandhassprungupinAmericaduringthiswar，andthatitisevenyetsointenseinitsbitternessthat，weretheNorthtobecomespeedilyvictoriousintheirpresentcontest，verymanyAmericanswouldbeanxioustoturntheirarmsatonceagainstCanada。AndIfearthatthatfightbetweentheMonitorandtheMerrimachasstrengthenedthiswishbygivingtotheAmericansanunwarrantedconfidenceintheircapabilityofdefendingthemselvesagainstanyinjuryfromBritishshipping。Itmaybesaidbythem，andprobablywouldbesaidbymanyofthem，thatthisfeelingofenmityhadnotbeenengenderedbyanyideaofnationalinjusticeonourside；thatitmightreasonablyexist，thoughnosuspicionofsuchinjusticehadariseninthemindsofany。Theywouldarguethatthehatredontheirparthadbeenengenderedbyscornonours——byscornandillwordsheapeduponthemintheirdistress。
Theywouldsaythatslander，scorn，anduncharitablejudgmentscreatedeeperfeudsthandorobberyandviolence，andproducedeeperenmityandworserancor。“ItisbecausewehavebeenscornedbyEngland，thatwehateEngland。Wehavebeentoldfromweektoweek，andfromdaytoday，thatwewerefools，cowards，knaves，andmadmen。Wehavebeentreatedwithdisrespect，andthatdisrespectwewillavenge。“ItisthusthattheyspeakofEngland，andtherecanbenodoubtthattheopinionsoexpressedisverygeneral。ItisnotmypurposeheretosaywhetherinthisrespectEnglandhasgivencauseofoffensetotheStates，orwhethereithercountryhasgivencauseofoffensetotheother。Onbothsideshavemanyhardwordsbeenspoken，andonbothsidesalsohavegoodwordsbeenspoken。Itisunfortunatelythecasethathardwordsarepregnant，andassuchtheyareread，digested，andremembered；whilegoodwordsaregenerallysodullthatnobodyreadsthemwillingly，andwhenread，theyareforgotten。FormanyyearstherehavebeenhardwordsbandiedbackwardandforwardbetweenEnglandandtheUnitedStates，showingmutualjealousies，andadispositiononthepartofeachnationtosparenofaultcommittedbytheother。Thishasgrownofrivalrybetweenthetwo，andinfactprovestherespectwhicheachhasfortheother\'spowerandwealth。Iwillnotnowpretendtosaywithwhichsidehasbeenthechiefestblame，iftherehasbeenchiefestblameoneitherside。ButIdosaythatitismonstrousinanypeopleorinanypersontosupposethatsuchbickeringscanaffordapropergroundforwar。Iamnotabouttodilateonthehorrorsofwar。Horridaswarmaybe，andfullofevil，itisnotsohorridtoanation，norsofullofevil，asnationalinsultunavengedorasnationalinjuryunredressed。Ablowtakenbyanationandtakenwithoutatonementisanacknowledgmentofnationalinferiority，thanwhichanywarispreferable。NeitherEnglandnortheStatesareinclinedtotakesuchblows。Butsuchablow，beforeitcanberegardedasanationalinsult，asawrongdonebyonenationtoanother，mustbeinflictedbythepoliticalentityoftheoneorthepoliticalentityoftheother。Noangryclamorsofthepress，nodeclamationsoforators，novoicesfromthepeople，nostudiedcriticismsfromthelearnedfew，orunstudiedcensuresfromsocietyatlarge，canhaveanyfairweightonsuchacreationordoaughttowardjustifyinganationalquarrel。Theycannotformacasusbelli。ThosetwoLatinwords，whichweallunderstand，explainthiswiththeutmostaccuracy。Wereitnotso，thepeaceoftheworldwouldindeedrestuponsand。Causesofnationaldifferencewillarise——forgovernmentswillbeunjustasareindividuals。Andcausesofdifferencewillarisebecausegovernmentsaretooblindtodistinguishthejustfromtheunjust。
Butinsuchcasesthegovernmentactsonsomegroundwhichitdeclares。Iteithershowsorpretendstoshowsomecasusbelli。
ButinthismatterofthreatenedwarbetweentheStatesandEnglanditisdeclaredopenlythatsuchwaristotakeplacebecausetheEnglishhaveabusedtheAmericans，andbecauseconsequentlytheAmericanshatetheEnglish。Thereseemstoexistanimpressionthatnootherostensiblegroundforfightingneedbeshown，althoughsuchaneventasthatofwarbetweenthetwonationswould，asallmenacknowledge，beterribleinitsresults。“Yournewspapersinsulteduswhenwewereinourdifficulties。Yourwriterssaidevilthingsofus。Yourlegislatorsspokeofuswithscorn。Youexactedfromusadisagreeabledutyofretributionjustwhentheperformanceofsuchadutywasmostodioustous。Youhaveshownsymptomsofjoyatoursorrow。And，therefore，assoonasourhandsareatliberty，wewillfightyou。“Ihaveknownschool-boystoargueinthatway，andtheargumentshavebeenintelligible；butIcannotunderstandthatanygovernmentshouldadmitsuchanargument。
NorwilltheAmericangovernmentwillinglyadmitit。Accordingtoexistingtheoriesofgovernmentthearmiesofnationsarebutthetoolsofthegoverningpowers。IfatthecloseofthepresentcivilwartheAmericangovernment——theoldcivilgovernmentconsistingofthePresidentwithsuchchecksasCongressconstitutionallyhasoverhim——shallreallyholdthepowertowhichitpretends，Idonotfearthattherewillbeanywar。NoPresident，andIthinknoCongress，willdesiresuchawar。Norwillthepeopleclamorforit，evenshouldtheideaofsuchawarbepopular。ThepeopleofAmericaarenotclamorousagainsttheirgovernment。Iftherebesuchawaritwillbebecausethearmyshallhavethenbecomemorepowerfulthanthegovernment。IfthePresidentcanholdhisown，thepeoplewillsupporthiminhisdesireforpeace。ButifthePresidentdonotholdhisown——ifsomegeneral，withtwoorthreehundredthousandmenathisback，shallthenhavetheupperhandinthenation——itistooprobablethatthepeoplemaybackhim。Theoldgamewillbeplayedagainthathassooftenbeenplayedinthehistoryofnations，andsomewretchedmilitaryaspirantwillgoforthtofloodCanadawithblood，inorderthatthefeathersofhiscapmayflauntinmen\'seyesandthathemaybetalkedofforsomeyearstocomeasoneofthegreatcursesletloosebytheAlmightyonmankind。
Imustconfessthatthereisdangerofthis。Tousthedangerisverygreat。ItcannotbegoodforustosendshipsladenoutsidewithironshieldsinsteadofinsidewithsoftgoodsandhardwaretothesethicklythrongedAmericanports。Itcannotbegoodforustohavetothrowmillionsintotheseharborsinsteadoftakingmillionsoutfromthem。ItcannotbegoodforustoexportthousandsuponthousandsofsoldierstoCanadaofwhomonlyhundredswouldreturn。
Thewholeturmoil，cost，andparaphernaliaofsuchacoursewouldbeinjurioustousintheextreme，andthelossofourcommercewouldbenearlyruinous。ButtheinjuryofsuchawartouswouldbeasnothingtotheinjurywhichitwouldinflictupontheStates。Tothemformanyyearsitwouldbeabsolutelyruinous。Itwouldentailnotonlyallthoselosseswhichsuchawarmustbringwithit，butthatgreaterlosswhichwouldarisetothenationfromthefactofitshavingbeenpowerlesstopreventit。Suchawarwouldprovethatithadlostthefreedomforwhichithadstruggled，andwhichforsomanyyearsithasenjoyed。Forthesakeofthatpeopleaswellasforourown——andfortheirsakesratherthanforourown——
letus，asfarasmaybe，abstainfromwordswhichareneedlesslyinjurious。Theyhavedonemuchthatisgreatandnoble，eversincethiswarhasbegun，andwehavebeenslowtoacknowledgeit。Theyhavemadesacrificesforthesakeoftheircountrywhichwehaveridiculed。Theyhavestruggledtomaintainagoodcause，andwehavedisbelievedintheirearnestness。TheyhavebeenanxioustoabidebytheirConstitution，whichtothemhasbeenasitwereasecondgospel，andwehavespokenofthatConstitutionasthoughithadbeenathingofmerewordsinwhichlifehadneverexisted。
Thishasbeendonewhiletheirhandsareveryfullandtheirbackheavilyladen。Suchwordscomingfromus，orfrompartiesamongus，cannotjustifythosethreatsofwarwhichwehearspoken；butthattheyshouldmaketheheartsofmensoreandtheirthoughtsbitteragainstus，canhardlybematterofsurprise。
Astotheresultofanysuchwarbetweenusandthem，itwoulddependmainly，Ithink，onthefeelingsoftheCanadians。NeithercouldtheyannexCanadawithoutthegood-willoftheCanadians，norcouldwekeepCanadawithoutthatgood-will。AtpresentthefeelinginCanadaagainsttheNorthernStatesissostrongandsouniversalthatEnglandhaslittletofearonthathead。
Ihavenowdonemytask，andmaytakeleaveofmyreadersoneithersideofthewaterwithaheartyhopethattheexistingwarbetweentheNorthandtheSouthmaysoonbeover，andthatnoneothermayfollowonitsheelstoexercisethatnew-fledgedmilitaryskillwhichtheexistingquarrelwillhaveproducedontheothersideoftheAtlantic。IhavewrittenmybookinobscurelanguageifIhavenotshownthattomesocialsuccessesandcommercialprosperityaremuchdearerthananygreatnessthatcanbewonbyarms。TheAmericanshadfondlythoughtthattheyweretobeexemptfromthecurseofwar——atanyratefromthebitternessofthecurse。Butthedaysforsuchexemptionhavenotcomeasyet。Whilewearehurryingontomaketwelve-inchshieldplatesforourmen-of-war，wecanhardlydaretothinkofthedayswhentheswordshallbeturnedintotheplowshare。Mayitnotbethoughtwellforusif，withsuchworkonourhands，scrapsofironshallbelefttouswithwhichtopursueanyofthepurposesofpeace？Butatleastletusnothavewarwiththesechildrenofourown。Ifwemustfight，letusfighttheFrench“forKingGeorgeuponthethrone。“Thedoingsowillbedisagreeable，butitwillnotbeantipathetictothenatureofanEnglishman。Formypart，whenanAmericantellsmethathewantstofightwithme，Iregardhisoffense，ascomparedwiththatofaFrenchmanunderthesamecircumstances，asIwouldcomparetheoffenseofaparricideorafratricidewiththatofamerecommonplacemurderer。Suchawarwouldbeplusquamcivilebellum。
Whichofustwocouldtakeathrashingfromtheotherandafterwardgoaboutourbusinesswithcontentment？
OnourreturntoLiverpool，westayedforafewhoursatQueenstown，takingincoal，andthepassengerslandedthattheymightstretchtheirlegsandlookaboutthem。IalsowentashoreatthedearoldplacewhichIhadknownwellinotherdays，whenthepeoplewerenottoograndtocallitCove，andwerecontentedtorundownfromCorkinriversteamers，beforethePassagerailwaywasbuilt。Ispentapleasantsummerthereonceinthosetimes:Godbewiththegoodolddays！AndnowIwentashoreatQueenstown，happytofeelthatI
shouldbeagaininaBritishisle，andhappyalsotoknowthatIwasoncemoreinIreland。Andwhenthepeoplecamearoundmeastheydid，Iseemedtoknoweveryfaceandtobefamiliarwitheveryvoice。IthasbeenmyfatetohavesocloseanintimacywithIreland，thatwhenImeetanIrishmanabroadIalwaysrecognizeinhimmoreofakinsmanthanIdoinyourEnglishman。IneveraskanEnglishmanfromwhatcountyhecomes，orwhatwashistown。ToIrishmenIusuallyputsuchquestions，andIamgenerallyfamiliarwiththeoldhauntswhichtheyname。IwashappythereforetofeelmyselfagaininIreland，andtowalkround，fromQueenstowntotheriveratPassage，bytheoldwaythathadoncebeenfamiliartomyfeet。
OrratherIshouldhavebeenhappyifIhadnotfoundmyselfinstantlydisgracedbytheimportunitiesofmyfriends。Alegionofwomensurroundedme，imploringalms，beggingmyhonortobestowmycharityonthemfortheloveoftheVirgin，usingthemostholynamesintheiradjurationsforhalf-pence，clingingtomewiththathalf-joking，half-lachrymoseairofimportunitywhichanIrishbeggarhasassumedaspeculiarlyherown。Thereweremen，too，whobeggedaswellaswomen。Andthewomenweresturdyandfat，and，notknowingmeaswellasIknewthem，seemedresolvedthattheirimportunitiesshouldbesuccessful。Afterall，Ihadanoldworldlikingforthemintheirrags。TheywereendearedtomebycertainmemoriesandassociationswhichIcannotdefine。ButthenwhatwouldthoseAmericansthinkofthem——ofthemandofthecountrywhichproducedthem？Thatwasthereflectionwhichtroubledme。A
legionofwomeninragsclamorousforbread，protestingtoheaventhattheyarestarving，importunatewithvoicesandwithhands，surroundingthestrangerwhenheputshisfootonthesoil，sothathecannotescape，doesnotaffordtothecynicalAmericanwhothenfirstvisitsus——andtheyallarecynicalwhentheyvisitus——abadopportunityforhissarcasm。Hecanatanyrateboastthatheseesnothingofthatathome。ImyselfamfondofIrishbeggars。Itisanacquiredtaste，whichcomesupononeasdoesthatforsmokedwhiskyorLimericktobacco。ButIcertainlydidwishthattherewerenotsomanyofthematQueenstown。
ItellallthisherenottothedisgraceofIreland——notforthetriumphofAmerica。TheIrishmanorAmericanwhothinksrightlyonthesubjectwillknowthatthestateofeachcountryhasarisenfromitsopportunities。Beggarydoesnotprevailinnewcountries，andbutfewoldcountrieshavemanagedtoexistwithoutit。AstoIreland，wemayrejoicetosaythatthereislessofitnowthantherewastwentyyearssince。Thingsaremendingthere。Butthoughsuchexcusesmaybetrulymade——althoughanEnglishman，whenheseesthissqualorandpovertyonthequaysatQueenstown，consoleshimselfwithreflectingthattheevilhasbeenunavoidable，butwillperhapssoonbeavoided——neverthelesshecannotbutrememberthatthereisnosuchsqualorandnosuchpovertyinthelandfromwhichhehasreturned。Iclaimnocreditforthenewcountry。Iimputenoblametotheoldcountry。Butthereisthefact。TheIrishmanwhenheexpatriateshimselftooneofthoseAmericanStateslosesmuchofthataffectionate，confiding，master-worshipingnaturewhichmakeshimsogoodafellowwhenathome。Buthebecomesmoreofaman。Heassumesadignitywhichheneverhasknownbefore。Helearnstoregardhislaborashisownproperty。Thatwhichheearnshetakeswithoutthanks，buthedesirestotakenomorethanheearns。Tomepersonally，hehas，perhaps，becomelesspleasantthanhewas；——buttohimself！Itseemstomethatsuchamanmustfeelhimselfhalfagod，ifhehasthepowerofcomparingwhatheiswithwhathewas。
Itisrightthatallthisshouldbeacknowledgedbyus。WhenwespeakofAmericaandofherinstitutions，weshouldrememberthatshehasgiventoourincreasingpopulationrightsandprivilegeswhichwecouldnotgive——whichasanoldcountryweprobablycannevergive。Thatself-asserting，obtrusiveindependencewhichsooftenwoundsusis，ifviewedaright，butanoutwardsignofthosegoodthingswhichanewcountryhasproducedforitspeople。MenandwomendonotbegintheStates；theydonotoffendyouwithtatteredrags；theydonotcomplaintoheavenofstarvation；theydonotcrouchtothegroundforhalf-pence。Ifpoor，theyarenotabjectintheirpoverty。Theyreadandwrite。TheywalklikehumanbeingsmadeinGod\'sform。Theyknowthattheyaremenandwomen，owingittothemselvesandtotheworldthattheyshouldearntheirbreadbytheirlabor，butfeelingthatwhenearneditistheirown。
Ifthisbeso，ifitbeacknowledgedthatitisso，shouldnotsuchknowledgeinitselfbesufficienttestimonyofthesuccessofthecountryandofherinstitutions？
ENDOFVOL。II。
