New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-06-04
THE DISTURBANCES IN THE UNITED

possibly serve TO from the body corporate 'ne
mass Of disease which has been accommodating ior 'e
last twenty thirty years, and to restore tie imper
lied health of the Great ration; or II may, on tne
other hand hasten that ruin and disruption, the synp
toms of which had already begun to attract the atten
ton of the world before the question OF the secession
Of the Southern States raised.
Since De Tocqueyille published bis classic work on
| the Democracy Of America that Democracy has ex-
hibited the spectacle of progressive degeneracy.
They have seemed 10 make it their ann to give the lie
to the renowned orators who have held up their vir-
| tues as examples 10 the Democracy OF Europe The
world has had the strongest prepossessons in favor OF
the American Union. In il amounted multltudes saw
the embodiment of their political ideals in il they found
the LARGEST measure of individual freedom united with
order and law Gritty and the dignity OF man, reii-
lious zeal and loug-suiering liberation, power and
Justice, all evenly and perfectly balanced.
generation Las hardly passed away before this pre-
possession is supIlanted by its exact opposite. The
public opinion Of Europe is almost unanimous in the
condemnation which it passes upon the TRANSACT
! lantc Republic. And we can scarcely blame
il for this sentence Of condemnation. The
latest history Of the American Union renders it
wel-nigh impossible for the wurmest friends Of the
Americans TO defend their institutions their morals
Tie tree must be judged by its fruits and there are few
political vices which have not reached the fulness and
rpeness of perfection this tree Of the Union. Every
thing with which the old despotsms have ever been
reproached has been reproduced in the United States
in An incredibly brief period, and many upon colossal
scale. Dishonesty 10 public creditors arrogance to-
ward weaker neighbors, unjust wars and cOnquests,
the sale of Justice, corruption and fraud in all
branches of the Government, terrorism for opn-
ions sake, organization of the mob to repress the
right of outrage, Lynch law in the nineteenth
ceniury-such and similar titles must be written
over the charges which il will be the duty Of the i'm
partial historian prefer against the Governments and
populations of the Union when he shall come to pic
ture lis life during the last thirty years
The events Of 1860 and 1861 have not been such as
to win back to the United States the sympathes of the
world. Tie treachery of Buchanans Administration,
the gigantic swndles and treasons which in land OF
pullcy aud freedom of the press could rest 80 long
undiscovered and when discovered could 70 almost un-
punished the violation OF the oath Of allegiance by
Who'll, sale in the army, the powerlessness and iDeh-
Gency of great Nation against the open rebellion OF
unprucpled fanaticsnll this filed with astonshment
aud horror those who fully prepared for Bit
ter news. 1t revealed abyss Of corruption and de-
moalnation the depth Of which no man could have
anticipated.
But in spite Of all these sad indces II is still possible
that the unanimous Judgment Of Europe has done IN
Justice ~ the United States. Whether this be 80 will
become clear during the crisis which they have now
entered uIon. II il dhicult 10 10 ut judgment
upon the moral souidn Of nation; it IL especially
difficult TO ascsTtain to what degree the Of the
people share in the corruption OF the ruling minority
We know-and besi from our own history-ths, the
heart Of pcople may remain sound and healthy, IN
spite Of the moot miserable condition Of public Affair."
in pte Of The deepest deprayity Of the ruling classes
In America We may hope for like state OF things
The people there are the heirs Of prominent virtues
and Il las not cen shown that they have wholly squsn
1ered their inheritance Their greatest ain IL evidently
cle sin Of omission. For years they have remained
silent while AN army Of selfish professional politicians
with no senso of honor of shame has manipulated
and controlled their public insttu IONS their foreign
lstions, aud especially their public moneys. From ex-
elusive attention 10 private business from disgust Ut
r-pugnAnt relations, they have in silence how
avsrce has dsqaded State ard Federal Offices into
means of enolument and how the ballo-box has been
perverted undert the rule Of q violent minority. They
have allowed the press Of the country to become the tool
Of the passions Of the vulgar and the institution Of the
Jury TO become an instrument Of injustice.
These sins OF omission very weighty in a country
the system of which makes the duty of every citizen
TO take part in public affairs, however inoonyenen il
may boz but the responsibility falls rather OH the sys-
tenn than on the citizens TO whom the founders Of the
Constitution attributed n much too high degree Of
public spirit rot only in extraordinary but also in oEdi-
nary times. It is very possible, however, that apart
from the shy field Of party political strfe there is
still rich and fruitful soil remaining, in which, at the
right time, and under warmer glow of patriotism,
may be reaped harvest of public veal
The accounts which we have received by the last
mails Of the outburst Of patriotic enthusiasm through
out the Northern States justify the hope that this posi-
bity will soon show itsef accomplished fact.
The same classes who hitherto have borne the tyranny
Of the demigogues in patience, the merchants, the
manufacturers, and the farmers, have been startled
from their lethsrgy by the cannon-thunder Of Fort
Sumter and now for the first time since many years all
the better elements OF the population are uniting under
the common dag Of their country. Even the eyes of
the bndos opened al last 40 that they must zee
10 what abysses government plunges when justice,
honor and morality are reserved for private life, and
In public life the door is opened to every vice and
crime.
The leaders Of the Slave States are, il is true the
authors Of the conaagation the flames Of which now
unquenehable blaze against the skies but the coDfa-
grafton could never have been kindled had not the
North III well as the South lost out OF sight the high
est interests Of the country in idle party strife. Now
the Nemesis Of Justice comes to her HI we'll as to he
South and the terrible scourge Of civil war falls with
equal force upon both halves Of the sundered nation.
Ii still, remains TO lie seen whether the States will
oeve this Christening merely as a chastisement or
whether they viii make it means Of redemption also
Z. 49, ba IL