Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1864-05-13

date. is 40 reple,c with good sense, and re-
views the state Of the country with relation
10 the war with s. much moderation ana
disintcresteancss,. that W. give place ~
in lieu of other editorial matter, ana coh'-
mend it to our readers for pcrusai
II is.a subject Of daily remark that the
wsr - fsr ~ il regards or affects the indus
,r;., p,rsuits Of the country, does not ioi'
low the ordinary course of other great wars.
A, the commencement Of the contest al
most every one in the country, North ana
South believed tina; the struggle would be
short. The generally received time for its
termination was NINETY days. The South,
particularly after the battle Of Manassas
believed that it, independence would be
speedily acknowledged tie North was con-
fidcnt. that with It's enormous war material!
and war resources. it would take bat little
while to crush the rebellion. There was
much 10 induce this confidence on both
sides The South Was flushed with the
first victory the friends Of the mon ar-
extraordinary efforts volunteering pro
ccedcd with such alacrity that the authoii-
ties nj Wa shidgton were ovcrw lined, al
most embarrassed with Offers OF regiments ;
and everywhere al the North men Of all 20
litica parties rendered their services and
their means TO put down the rebellion, and
to stop the strife.
This was the summer of 1861. The coun
try was then in anything but its normal
condition The whole nation was absorbed
in war In every Northern city the excite
men; On the subject was only cqualed by the
enthusiasm, which gave place at later pc.
Rod to real calnestness. For, al first, the
people scarcely realized that it was actual
war There was AN over confidence IN the
ability to crush the rebellion, ami !. CORES
ponding sense Of security IN tho strength to
resist the efforts and advance of the Mon
armies. There was now "A confessed gno-
rance, or at least an underestimate Of the
strength and resources Of the two sections
Of the country, and the Northern papers
damaged the | nion cause much by cndcay
oring to convnee tho rc,aers that The rebels
were ill-clothcd badly armed, badly diScip
lined, diSorgan,Zcd, dcmora!lzcd, and were
the prey of an easy defeat. Ii required {.
long tuition in severe school to impress;
upon the public mind lccsons ;ha. have since
been learned But while the country was
preparing not only its arins, but is mind
for war the cities Of the North and of th-
South were scenes Of daily and magnificent
parades. The main business Of the pcopI-
was regiment receiving. banner prcsenta-
tons, speech making, dinners to distin
guishod rficcrs; the contest hsi an almost
holiday character for months after it com
menccd The industry OF the North was
not suspended an hour. Those particular
branches Of manufacture that had alwaY,
depended for market upon the South were
diverted to other channels. Thus the car
riagc makers, the builders of plantation wa
CONS, the manufacturers OF mule harness
all of whom had liberal customers in the
Southern States, soon found new customers
III the newly enriched contractors, who
wanted carriages, aud in the goyerniat nj
that needed gan carriages, army wagons
and amhulanccs The shoemaking towns,
Tor there arc whole villages in New Eng
land that are almost exclusively devoted to
this Manufacture, that used to do plantation
worl, and sent whole shiploads OF broaans
to the South, were Immediately and busily
employed in making army shoes. In many
manufacturing villages, cotton as king com
pletcly abdicatcd in favor of wool, for the
time regent, SO immense was the demand
for army clothes. All the ironworks, ma
chine shops, shipyards, indeed every branch
OF Northern industry, were at once pressed
into service. Nor were other fields of la
Dor unemployed. There has never been so
great demand in this country since the
foundation Of the republic for articles of
pure luxury With the growth of the war
there grew up a new class OF men with new
fortunes, and they needed many new things
new clothes, carriages. jcwelry plate, pie
lures, fine houses, and everything that
wealth can buy. Aud az money tha. easily
acquired is lavishly expended, the fashion
able stores were never we'll patronzed,
the merchants never made more ready sales
and never dreamed of demanding or thought
OF receiving such cxtrayagant prices for
their wares. The cities wxIc never so filed
with people who 70 there from the country
for the express purpose of spending money
and seeing life. The hotels were never
so crowded the theatres neve.11S ;hronrc,l.
all the lines and avenues of travel never
presented such activity. Mad 50, on tile
surface AT least, iherc is uu5ounde,; pro.-
Per''y, anl apparently unlimited wealth
everywhere al tic North
here IS To degice corresponding dis.
pa, OF energF, activity, and enterprise Ia
tnr southern states The non-intcrcourSc
with the North and the rgors OF the block
AIDE early compelled the South to begin to
develop It's oNil manufacturing resources
Georgia, which has AWAY hetl, distinguish, |
ca III iiiis respect nov makes almost every |
'''ng' from artillery and gunpowder TO pa
er' ana at different points through me |
SCUM manufactures have sprung ND. almos. |
rs II 10y magic to furnish not only material |
Tor tae war, h't to supply many of the de |
h'alds ior articles for family and individual |
wear and Use tina; Formerly came who'll, !
from abroad or from the north Anl when.
the war begun. there was wiloSprcal al |
most rockies estravagapcc at the South. ana |
the southern papers INDUCED in the usual |
accusations about Unprinciplc,l contrae
tors, the ''plurdercrs Of the government,
and the extravaganza Of the pe,pla y H.
ueed' human nature is the same everywhere
ana, doubtless, taking into consideration tho
relative value Of gold and greenhacLs and
gc'a ana confederate money. the cxnend;-
lures, SO Tar as there is occasion or .nno.-
'"'lty to spend money, are relatively H..
same North and south.
!. ~ mas never been claimed. we hc,cro
.nai the industry Of this country. esna.;si
!! al the North, has been .spagaiize1 i,v H. I
war Certain trades and pursuits hay, -
doubt suffered; and there has been an ~ nv
mensc amount OF suffering among certain
asses 81 people. When the war ends. and