Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1862-08-07
AMERICAN "DEGENERACY."
The Slander of The London Times Err
posed al Home.


of Americans as " degenerate and insen-
safe people" " isolating themselves only
in order that they may indulge their own
fierce vices uncontrolled" 10 this the
London Spectator, the ablest Of the Eng
lish weekly journals, makes the following
reply:
yAGARIEs OF ENGLISH OPINION.
OF the many strange vagaries OF Eng
lish opinion the strangest is that which
the Times on Wednesday embodied in two
strong words That journal, which,
aware that its articles weigh in America
more heavily than dispatches, writes ev-
cry now and then as if it it wanted war,
styled the Americans "this insensate and
degenerate people," To the first epithet
we take no objection, though it it is scarce
ly one which applies to a race whose most
disagreeable quality, next to their self
conceit, is their habitual smartness. "
The civil war, simply as such, is, of course,
open to any amount of reprobation, even
from men who, were India again in re-
volt, would support its suppression by any
and every means short of depopulation.
Misery is rarely just, and the war creates
among certain classes a degree and ex-
tent Of misery which would account for
any disgust and palliate almost any viru-
lence. But how sensible Englishmen,
familiar with the history and incidents of
the war, can draw from them evidence of
American degeneracy. is to us unintelli-
gible. To us they seem on the contrary
to relieve the Americans from some of
the Severest reproaches which previously
rested on their national character.
THE FACTS,
Let us look at the facts. No sooner
had the war commence han the northern
people, supposed TO be Inc ones which of
all others preferred material objects, laid
aside every pursuit and staked their lives,
their fortunes and their future on war
for an "idea," that idea being the one
which in England we call patriotism
Taking the lowest view of their conduct,
they still had the motive which justified
Italy in declaring war for Venetia-they
fought for their national completeness.
Believed to be disinclined to service and
incapable of discipline, they enlisted in
hundreds of thousands, and the Times
correspondent bears witness from the Pa
munkey to their wonderful patience amid
suffering which equals .hat of our soldiers
in the Crimea. ... ...... .,.-..
Supposed to be guided wholly by i'm
pulse, they answered the frightful disaster
of Bull Run by creating new army, and
raising loans on a scale of more than Eu-
ropean profusion. Impatient and tickle, y
they waited five months for Mcclellan to
organize the army without abating one
| jot of their purpose, or becoming, even in
Language, more vlrulent against their foes
Incapable of self-restraint, they have
pardoned Mcdowell in spite of defea
which risked their existence as nation
and upheld Mcclellan through all hi.
wearisome delays. A "mere mob" they
suffered their President to postpone the
national pride to the public security, saw
the habeas corpus suspended without {
struggle, and gave up Mason and Slidel
in the very midst OF their joyous excite
ment at thelcapture. Worshippers of tn,
" almighty dollar" they have delberatel,
mortgaged the North that the war nigh
not be starved, and the nation split int
halves.
Without organization, and almost with
out government, with no adequate rev
enue, and with half their own strength il
F open instruction against them, they hav
fought on steadily for fourteen months
and in the very thick OF the contest bav
created navy and organized an arm
such as raised the Union to the rank of
first class power. And, be it remembers
in their praise, they have so fought with
out the excitement Of success, have sus
tanned defeats innumerable, have bee
compelled to cast aside statesman ate
statesman, to see general after genera
condemned as ignorant, dishonest, or want
in fidelity to the cause
They have done all this, too, withou
revolutionary measures. without upsettin
the authority of the States, without inter
fering, save for three months, with th
} routine of daily life. They are callet
vindictive, and SO they are in speech bat
after fourteen months of a rebellion com
menced by treachery without parallel
/
General Butler was the first to inhict dealt
on man convicted Of treason Presiden
Buchanan. wtoss life IN England nde
, the same circumstances Wouid not hav
been asorh an hours purchase, lives a
Wheatland still unmolested. Not one bill
of prescription has been passed, the solita
ry Confiscation bill is still not law, an
the people shrink with an almost coward
ly terror from the measure which, as the
fear, might create revolution within thei
, enemies homes.
Amidst their crowd of new men, on
| indao1 hos ,osnaJ ~,Jor, ~. Il L. I