The Continental Monthly, Vol. 1, No. 6, June, 1862: Devoted To Literature and National PolicyVarious
History
The Continental Monthly, Vol. 1, No. 6, June, 1862: Devoted To Literature and National Policy
Various
Literature, Modern -- 19th century -- Periodicals; United States -- Politics and government -- 19th century -- Periodicals
Master-mechanic, master-farmer, _you are right_. These people _are_ your
inferiors; with all their boasts and brags of 'culture,' you could teach
them, by your shrewder intelligence, at a glance, the short cut to
almost any thing at which their intellects might be employed; and you
indulge in a very natural feeling, when, as conquerors, in glancing over
their Canaan, you involuntarily plan what you will do some day, _if_ a
farm should by chance be your share of the bounty-money, when the war is
over. For it is absurd to suppose that such a country will continue
forever a prey to the wasting and exhaustive disease of the
plantation-system, or that the black will always, as at present,
inefficiently and awkwardly fulfill those mechanic labors which a keen
white workman can better manage. Wherever the hand of the Northman
touches, in these times, it shows a superior touch, whether in
improvising a six-action cotton-gin, in repairing locomotives, or in
sarcastically seizing a 'Secesh' newspaper and reëditing it with a storm
of fun and piquancy such as its doleful columns never witnessed of old.
In this and in a thousand ways, the Northern soldier realizes that he is
in a land of inferiors, and a very rich land at that. At this point, his
speculations on manifest destiny may very appropriately begin. There is
no harm in suffering this idea to take firm hold. Like ultimate
emancipation, it may be assumed as a fact, all to be determined in due
time, according to the progress of events, as wisely laid down by
President Lincoln, without hurry, without feverish haste, simply guided
by the firm determination that eventually it must be.
We can not insist too strongly on this great truth, that when a nation
makes up its mind that a certain event _must_ take place, and acts
calmly in the spirit of perfect persuasion, very little is really needed
to hasten the wished-for consummation. Events suddenly spring up to aid,
and in due time all is accomplished. Those who strive to hurry it retard
it, those who work to drag it back hasten it. Never yet on earth was a
real conviction crushed or prematurely realized. So it is, so it will be
with this 'Northing' of the South. Let the country simply familiarize
itself with the idea, and the idea will advance as rapidly as need be.
In it lies the only solution of the great problem of reconciling the
South and the North; the sooner we make up our minds to the fact, the
better; and, on the other hand, the more deliberately and calmly we
proceed to the work, the more certain will its accomplishment be. Events
are now working to aid us with tremendous power and rapidity--faith, a
judicious guiding of the current as it runs, is all that is at present
required to insure a happy fulfillment.
* * * * *
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