Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1863-10-13
Foreigners beginning to learn the strength
of our Republic

EOiOib hoAs oo6 AahAhb w AS"AA sAS SNAN-o s--
of our Republic
The American Republic during the present re-
bsllion, has proved perpetual ACCOMPLISHMENT to
foreigners, ignorant cf our wonderful resources
and the marvelously recuperative energies OF our
people. Russell, of the London Times, on his
first visit to this country, in the winierand spring
Of 1861, found matter for continual am,zement
eerywhere,--at first in the unaccountabe indif
ference Of the free states to the threats and APP
pretended danger Of secession and rebellion, az d
afterwards when the great North aroused itself like
agiant and went forth to battle, at the wonderful
displays OF its strength and the muDihcent out
pourings OF its treasure. But he and all his tribe,
the London Tines at home and all the prints
that with il sympalhized with the Shareholders
rebellion, began at thai momeet, anf have, until
recently, persisted in prophesying fnancial disas-
ter, bankruptcy, collapse and ruin as the result
soon TO oveftake this Government Of the United
States We were told that we did not know how
to conduct war; and the gigantic scale upon
which We we're prosecuting this one was continu-
ally portrayed as prodigal and wasteul, both OF
men and money. TO a degree which no people
could long endure. No other nation could staud
up under such burdens, and OF course Democracy
which had no cohesive power, but was held to-
gether only by the voluntary act Of its thirty mil
lions Of people, would inevitably shortly plunge
into poverty, misery, and the widest and most
discordant anarchy.
But events have so falsfed these ignorant views,
and so given the lie to all these prophecies Of
disaster, that even the most reluctant witnesses
against us have BEEN from time to time, Obliged to
acknowledge their mistakes and bear testimony
to the astonishing resources OF free Republic.
Long ago these foreign enemies we're pretty e.
fectuslly sbamed out Of their earlier position that
we could not raise and keep in the fields the ar
mics necessary to put down treason, as the SWELL
ing ranks Of the armed supporters Of the old Ang
still kept their standards advancing against rebel
lion. But they still prophesied financial ruin, the
bankruptcy Of the Federal treasury, the impov-
ishment OF the commercial classes, and the ruin
and distress OF the poor But as month after
month has gded by and found the Government
not only not bankrupt, but with overlooking
treasury and its securities bearing premium in
the market, while the people throughout the
length and breadth OF the land have enjoyed al.
most unprecedented prosperity, the laborer CON-
manding enhanced wages, and finding more ready
employment than heretofore, and every branch o.
industry and business exhibiting an unwonted YET
healthy activity these same prophets Of evil have
found themselves again at fault n their reckoning,
ard are slowly coming to understand this to them
new and incomprehensible phenomenon in our
country. The London Times in d;scoursing ed-
torally upon this phase in our affairs says
"a We shall make our meaning clearer il we ex.
plain il 10 connection with the problem which has
more than any other in the character of thu. war,
baffied the comprehension ofthe Europeans. This
frigldfA and desoldt'ng iodr does mol seem 10 hape
had any influence at present in destroying The PROV
periiy Of The Federal States On the contrary our
correspondents, wherever they 60, send US &C.
counts OF almost fabulous wealth and luxury. The
town Of Chicago, the great centre Of Western
commerce, is being rebuilt all over. In the coun
try most people have profted by the war" A
stimulus has been given to railways and every spe-
ces of commercial enterprise. The great Yves.
tern States have been more opened up; there com.
msrce has increased and, even taken into account
the depreciation Of greenbacks, the real solid
wealth Of the commercial classes has, in our cor
respondents opinion, gained by the war. There
10 no doubt, he tells US, that by this prodgious
shower OF greenbacks, the country has been enor.
mously fer'izsd. The same rule applies TO every
other branch Of commercial, agricultural or indus
trial enterprise. However worthless the green
backs may be in themselves, the lands that can b,
bought with them, the houses that can be bull
with them, are solid goods" The merchants Of
New York appear to be enjoying similar run o
prosperity and there can be no toubt that tn,
reckless way in which the war continues /, due, il
great measure, 10 the fact that its effect up 10 HI
present lime hos been 10 enrich and not 10 mpOptr
uh III. Federal Siaiss."
Thus one otter another the forecastings Of on
enemies across the Atlantic and their allies Soutl
and North at home, Of rretrievable ruin to tn
National cause, are being answered by admission
from the same pens which made them, when tn
unanswerable logic Of events has proved ,h.i
falsity. And II our peorle are but true to them
selves, and to the principles Of Republican free
dom, the future OF the United States shall nas
still greater light upon the world respecting III
strength Of genuine Democracy, than even III
past two years have done, and reveal our peopl
as able 10 bear the burdens Of tremendous wa
without drying up the sources Of a single s,reau
Of peaceful prosperity as able TO put on the Sc
and on the land an armament that has astounde,
the weal,hiest aud most warke na,iors of Eu
rope, and at the same time increased beyond pre-
cedsnt the riches Of its vast fields Of enterprs
and industry as able to crush the most glganli
treason that ever sssailed the foundations Of an
Government, aud yet seize upon tina, moment O
terrific National struggle to inaugurate and pusl
forward the greatest work Of humanity, cviliza
ton, emancipation and liberty that has illustrated
he annals Of any people.
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