The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-03-14

/ AotoA IA hAucxuCa nuu GuIOpSss az zoe
In addition to these immense elements of
netalliferous wealth, the recent discoveries Of
silver In California, Arizona and Northern
Mexico promise soon to restore the equilibri-
um in the supply Of the precious metals, and
to enable us to pour into the channels Of COM
mercea tide Of silver equal to, and perhaps far
greater than, that Of gold, which, spreading
from our shores, is rapidly stimulating the in
dustry and the trade of every nation. Its not
alone from the newly discovered silver mines
Of California that we confidently anticipate
these results. The developements of Gin
nabar, and even Of quicksilver in pure state,
which have recently occurred there, contribute
largely to this end; for while they win stimu
late production in every silver producing
country, they make all Of these tributary to us.
Quicksilver is the necessary amalgsm to sepa-
rate silver from the ore, and for q long period
the monopoly of its supply was held by the Al
MAIDEN mines of Spain. The discovery of the
New Almaden mines in California, some
years since, reduced the price of that article
from $3.50 to S45 quintal. This soon began
to produce its natural effect upon the produc-
ton of silver in Mexico and South America,
when an unwise claim, set up on the part of our
government to the New Almaden mines
stopped their working, and sent the price Of
quicksilver up to twice the value to which it
had fallen. This suit is still pending and the
mines are still stopped; but it is to be hoped
that the new discoveries of quicksilver may re-
ieve the silver miners from the evil brought
on them by the closing Of the New Almaden
mines.
Thus, we are first in gold, fret in silver, first in
iron, first in coal, among the nations of the earth
To these we may add irstin cotton, first in lead,
and, as the Lake Superior region opens, we shall
be first in the production Of copper. These ele.
ments will make us first in industry, first in
commerce, and first In all the arts Of peace and
war, If an insane fanaticism and wicked
demaoopuiarr .ev uereated IN their pre-
sent attempts to fasten upon the powers
of the government, and, by destroying the
guarantees of the constitution, break up the
Union under which We now live and prosper
Under its benefcent provisions man is free to
develope his enterprise, his capital, his genius
and his labor, with such social organizations
as may be best suited to The community in
which he resides, the climate under which he
lives, and the SOL he makes fertile by the
sweat ofhis brow These guarantees cannot
exist in the crowded and class-ridden commu-
mites Of Europe; and as long as we maintain
them America win be the ark of refuge for the
struggling talent, willing industry and the as
piring energies Of youth from every quarter.
But should we unfortunately endeavor to make
our widely scattered communities and our d.
verse races subject to abstract and impractical
BILE theories of social organization and govern
ment, from that moment our unity will have
fed, and the very elements now making us
first among the nations viii constitute so many
objects Of contention and strife, and make us
only first in all the horrors Of civil war and
fraternal bloedshed.