New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-12-29
PHILOSOPHY FOR TIKI NEW
WEAR.

lieve that no rational philosophy forbids cheer
full view of ac,ual oompensstions, and still less
reckoning Of what is left US Of real and tan
gible happiness. The social festivities Of the
holidays might indicate merely the reckesnesS
of mcrcurial popular temperament. wcro there
not thousand indications that We fully appre-
ciate the great and solemn business in which
VIC are engaged. Ours ia rather tho elasticity
Of hope. the consciousness Of an enduring and
vital strength than the love Of present pleasure
which Is blind to the exactiOns Of to-day and
the foreshadowipgs Of tomorrow. If VIC give
ourselves for brief period to general JOY, it is
because we feel that we have earned the right
to relaxation. Our society is like man who
sometimes pauses from bis struggle with the
adverse fortunes which environ him. TO snatch
an hour Of pure, and solacing, and strengthen
ing enjoyment in the bosom Of bis family, and
to catch new courage from tasting once more
the priceless treasures which he Ia defending.
The congratulations of ths season have q
main element Of hope-we anticipate the Happy
New Year. which is the burden Of our kindly
good wishes. We may not be obliviouS of the
probable pain which awaits us-we may fully
comprehend that ours Il mingled destiny; but
not the less do we stand fast by our faith in iinal
accomplishments faith without which all lilc,
public or private. would DO intolersblo for an
hour. If vast majority Of our population did
not believe as surely in the extinction OF The
Rebellion as they believe in the sunrise OF 10.
morrow, It would be idle for us TO affect the
forms and shows Of enjoyment, for We sho,ld
carry our falsehood upon our faces. and beirsy
it in every syllable Of our faltering speech.
Perhaps, like tho Roman priests, We could not
meet each other without laughing; but ours
would be tho hollow guTaw Of despair or The
sichy smile Of q cynical skepticiSm. But nov,
if We know our risk, We know our resources.
We have gagged our capacity, and have asccr-
tanned its greatness beyond a peradventurc.
The ordeal through which wo have passed 10 not
q ligh. one. We arc 10 longer the children Of
theory. We have boon taught by discipline
Of blood and fire. This is not said in any spirit
Of arrogancc-it Is merely the statement Of q
truth which We need to recognize, and to the
encouragement Of which we have a sound and
moral title.
There are two considerations which naturally
present themselyes--the nature Of the war and
the ends which it will probably accomplish.
And in regard to the first, ii Is reason for graft
tude and encouragement, that We arc sustain.
ing what We believe to be the cause Of truth ond
Justice under such ameiiorated circumstances.
When we consider at what cost other nations
have maintained their integrity and independ-
ence-England, for instance, during tho first
Revolution, or Germany during the war Of Liber-
ation-we must feel that our task and tax are com.
parstively light. During the acme ofhoStlitles,
Peace has remained smiling OF our very thresh.
olds-production, instead ofceasing, has steadily
increased-our villages have been burned,
our cities have been occupicd by no insolent foe
we hare been spared the horrors Of siege and
Of famine, and except upon small portion Of our
border, the countless distresses Of inyasion-our
capital, with oil the archives and appunenances
of the Government. has been preserved, while
tho public enemy, after threatening for q time
the security Of our commerce. has been substan-
TALLY driven from the waters infested by his
piracy. lie must lie but an Indifferent observer
who does not in oil this discover tho immense
vantage ground which We occupy. We hare
enormous calls upon cur strength, but il is a
strength which Is perpetuslly renewed. We
lack nothing-mouoy, munitions men OF oil
these tho supply is, and promises to be, in
70 tho demand. But In oil this
we merely resemble many nation utterly
brutalized hy lust Of conquest, and Of var
wagsd for the qualification Of its savage OK.
elements and fatal passions. If the iniirmity
Of our nature force: Us 70 resort to the ordeal OF
physical strength. it Is compensation that in
seeking for national greatness We are seeking
only rational public happiness. If NO did not
believe, for tho well-being Of our children
and Of thci, children, for the progress Of the
world, for the vindicstion Of divine and
snnobling equities, the preservation Of the
Union to be Of tho last necessity, our finest
motive would be wanting. Il not this pleas.
ant thought-that however our objects may be
slandcred. our efforts bclied, our performance
lampooned, therc Is no power which can push
Us from the honorable place in history which
belongs to all who with stout hands and hearts
10 bsttle for the Commonwealth Standing
here upon the threshold Of another year. full o.
Il must b Of decisive events, We will think.
TOO, of the centuries which are 70 follow. In