Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1863-10-13
THE YANKEES.


No people on the face of the earth con-
slider themselves so practical in all that
pertains to the affairs Of life, the prog
ress OF civilization and refinement, and
the advancement of the physical and
moral welfare Of the human race, as the
Yankees. They claim to be the most
progressive in everything that pertains
to the development OF the principles OF
nature, in harmony with the condition
of man, to his ultimate good, and to a
moral, political, religious and physlc cal
condition, based upon the supposition OF
a speedy consumation Of all the perfec
ton Of that constitution, and the COM
plete overthrow of It's evil tendencies
OF all people, they are the most vision
airy in their modes of thought, and the
least acquainted with the real suscepii-
bilities Of nature, of the abstractideas OF
the human mind, or OF the prac.icability
Of attempting to make them assume a
concrete form. Thus they continually
take the "guid oportet" for the squid est,
and are willing, in their utter reckless
ness and self-complacency, to overthrow
Governments, long established princi
pies, or the behests Of a pure relis ion
itself, in order to establish their enpir-
lcal notions in the establishment of III
nous and self destroying policy.
There is one thing, however, in which
they succeed most admirably. and it
may be, TOO, on account of the very prin-
ciples which we have suggested as be-
| ing characteristic of the Yankee mind.
We all know that there is a oneness a
homogene,ty in truth that makes all of
its manifestations harmonic and enter
the constitution Of things, without VIC.
lence or disturbance of the universal
order that would reign were it not for
the Devil andwhat may be aptly anc
genericaily Designated without misno-
Erer, the Yankee Spirit The Yankees
are the most famous people on the face
of the earth for concreting the lylne
conceptions oftheir fertile brains. They
can make the most beautiful wooden
nutmegs and oats and paper-soled shoes
that can be conceived. We do moi
blame them for this-it is a part of their
constitutional is an attempt to make
an abstract idea concrete, to force ma
fure to make the people wear the shoes
and use the nutlnegs in their brandy
toddys, and to learn the horse to eat the
oats, all for the good Of the human race
horses included. Now if they don't see
the lmpracticability Of such schemes
invented for the good of mankind, before the
money is pocketed which is the just eompensa.
ton for their philanthropic intentions we surely
cannot with reason hold them responsible. e.
gain, if they choose to say that the negro is SUI
| perior to the white man, born with an 1ndoubt.
ed capacity for self government, capable of the
grand intellectual efforts ef Newton moved by
all the aesthetic principles of the most refined
| poets, and fit to sit as co-equals with the
Websters, the Clays and the Calhouns, in tho
halls of legislation, and With our ablest divines
in the pulpit, what right have We to say that
| the experiment should not be tried If the Eng
/ .ish did convert the oily and weH-fed slaves Of
the West Indies into vagabond laborers who live
| among the swainps and marshes over~growing de-
ISOLATED estates where once mother earth shcwered
its blessings upon the energetic planters, and the
| country bloomed in beauty, what right have
| we to say that, under Yankee invention and Yam
| kee teaching, the sable children of Africa may
not become the advance guard OF civilization
and help to establish tree Government, in which
universal equality in mind, in morality. in prop.
erty, in education, in every thing, may not reign
supreme are not al. men born free aud equal
| Does God make one man fool and another a
| Solomon? Are some born rich and Others poor
Are some by nature repro bate and others govern.
ed by correct principles Are soma 10 SIT in the
chief offices of the State and occupy the chiefseais
in the synagogue, and others remain as outsiders
All these things but the manifestations Of the
evil that exists Ia the nature of things by Divine
appointment. Nature must be forced to do right
| whether or no-the revelations of the abstract
| reason must be placed above the revelations OF
tiod either in the nature or the inspired word
Nature must bend to our preconceptions the
| Bible must be discarded if it conflicts with the
civilization, refinement. aud progress OF the ma
tions to universal Yankseism