The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1861-03-08
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hlt Neu III amoIlCA bo bktNibk w o'"h
about q peaceful solution Of the difficulties
which threaten our national existence, European
journalists with moro leisure and less excite
ment. are seeking for some philosophical eSpla-
nation Of the fact, that state which has 30 long
mado union and liberty its boast, should secm
In single hour to forget all the traditions Of its
history, AMI to approach, II not to pass the bor-
ders Of disunion and anarchy. Among the va
rious explanations Of tho phenomena with which
l havo bccon either amused or instructed In
reading European journals observed one in
La Pdtrie, Of this city, which, whatever may
bc thought Of 1t in other respects, is At least
efficiently ingenious to merit notice.
La Pdtrie graudly informs us that the pri-
mary csuse Of the rapid disintegrstion of the
American Government Is to 10 found not In
slavery, not 10 treason, nor yet in sectional an-
imcsity and Misunderstanding, but in the en-
tire absence in America Of that domestic life by
which ls fcstcrcd that love OF family and kin
dred which, in its broader manifestation, rs.
sumes tho form Of love Of country and renders
the existence OF united nation possible. In
| tho United States, we arc assured, such thing
| as domestic life 10 unknown, and is, in fact
| impossible. There arc few or no private
dwellings in America, the whole population
| clustering together in vast hotels, and from
one Of these huge carav.nSaries monsieur goes
forth at carly morning to occupy himself with
| business until late at night, forgetful Of mad.
| am and the children, who, meanwhile amid tho
| hustle and excitement II hotel life find little
| opportunity for tho cultivation Of the domestic
virtues and graccs which render home attras-
| tive to tho husband and father. Thus has this
unnatural mode Of life gradually destroyed
thosc homo affections which are the strength Of
| q state and without which its continued exist
tencs is no longer possible. Compromises will
| avail nothing concession is idle. Even tho
abolition Of slavery would not touch the roal
evil. We must burn down our hotels, Danish
our landlords and return to the domestic hearth
| stone to cultivate anew the family affections
and tho copjugsl virtues OF which tho French.
| men give us 20 bright and shining
an example. Such is tho theory Of La Pdtrie,
and is 1t not sufficiently cool even for =
Frenchman To think Of me being lecturcd
on the want Of domestic virtue, by man who
probably regards his wife as one Of the incon-
venicnt necessities Of conventional life, whom
he Is glad to leave at home, to receive her next
friend, while he visits his mistress around tho
corner. Thus are we, who have had 70 much
to say about the language which has In II NO
word for homo, ineeniously tormented with our
ewn theories.
It is singular how generally the ilca that VIC
are q nation Of hotel loungors, is entert aimed In
Europe. II seems 10 be considered as . matter
about which there Is no que!tios even persons
sufficiently well informed about us In other ro-
| spects, having vague notion that private
dwellings arewith US the exception and hotel
| life the rule. Hotel-kecpipR IL tho one
thing in regard to which they never hesitate to
cOncode our superiority; even director Of tho
grand hotel do Louvre, acknowledging to me,
with sigh that his house, modelled After tho
American pattern, equals our 9th avenue In
size alone, and by no means in tho complete.
ncss Of its arrangements for convenience and
comfort.
In regard to the subject OF secession and re-
bellon in the United States, you may be per-
suaded that the few Americans abroad at this
season, arc not tho less interested that they
are 30 far from the scene Of action and con
nict. It is the one absorbing subject Of CON
versation with US as We occasionally meet;
and, coming in contact as do with rcprosen-
tatives Of all scctions Of tho Union, I have an
opportunity Of forming an opinion Of tho
temper OF different classos among US. find
but few Of the southernors have met or heard
fiom very rabid in their views, some Of them,
| indeed, very loud in their denunciatiOn Of
the reckless politicians OF tho South for the
rpin they are bringing upon that section.
The majority seem, however, to regard tho
days Of the Union as numbered.
Among us northern men there Is little dis
position to regard tho days Of our national ex-
istenee as numbered. We are persuaded that
Gro long We shall have light out Of this dark
ness, and from this chaos will arise new and
better order Of things. We are well assured
th.t the hour Of trial will be the hour Of ou
triumph, and that we are to give tho last iina
and conclusive answer to those who are agail
corgratulatinr themselves upon the failure o
tho experiment Of scif-Sovernmont by tn
people.
, The news rom Italy grows more peaceful
and il bc,, .s to lock much as though GARi
BALD was yielding to the pressure upon him
and would remain in his island seclusion, In
8 | stead Of lending the Italians again to battle
Gaeta .tll holds out, though the coup de grdc
c.nnot DO much longer delayed. exPec
to leave fer Italy in another week, and hoT
l a.