The New York herald., 1864-05-16

= Il Il
OF peace will see the country more
than ever prosperous The poor and needy Of
the Old World will flock to our shores to all
the vast territory above referred to, and the
revenues Of our government will increase q
hundredfold. The cessation of the war will be
the signal for an immense movement In our
commercial world, and . great and material
prosperity will ensue. Not so in Europe
where the old monarchies have worn them
selves away. Disorders and revolutions must
overtake them; and, as this government will
once moro assume Its stand at the head Of ma
tions, We shall see the old rotten European edi-
dce crumbling iAto dust
Oar Fighting Qusiisiss--Our "Physical
Degenerscy."
Some years ago the London Times published
curious article seeking to prove that tho
Angio-Saxon race on this continent had de-
generated, both morally and physically. Az
evidence OF tho nrst Of these assertions il
pointed to the corruption that was fast In
vading every part Of the body polite, aud as
proof OF the second to tho lean, scraggy forms,
sunken checks and pale faces Of American men
and women.
We should like 70 know what the Times
thinks now. Have the ready saorlaces the
heroism and the sublime patriotism that have
marked the conduct Of our people during the
war done nothing towards altering its opinion
Of four moral degradation! And a. regards our
physical enfeeblsment, has II seen nothing to
induce 1t to qualify its viewsi Is comments
on Grants operations in Virginia will, we sx-
poet, offer an answer to both these questions
Our contemporary, like tho dupes Of whom it
Is the organ, b always to be found on the
winning side. No terms will be too strong for
tho admiration that It will express Of tho
endurance and pluck OF our Northern soldiers;
butt will add "ths was to be expected from
men Of the Anglo-Saxon race. We are proud
Of the qualities they have exhibited, for they
belong to us In common"
II is time that this latter illusion should be
dispelled. The people Of this republic have
nothing in common with the English either in
race or mental characteristics. We are people
as strongly defined and distinct in ourselves
as any that the earth has produced. No country
has ever before possessed population COM
posed like ours. 1t is made up Of the best
blood and bone of half q dozen races, which
are continually being fused into it until their
distinctive elements are lost. Tho result is
seen in the unparalleled mental and physical
progress we are making. In the arts, in the
sciences, in music, painting and sculpture, we are
making strides such as have never before been
Witnessed And our physical advancement Is
evidenced not merely by the stature aud fine
development Of our men, but by their wonder
full activity and endurance. The records Of
ell the military campaigns that have been
fought since fighting has been reduced to .
science offer no such spectacles Of energy and
disregard Of bodily fatigue aud danger as have
been presented by our soldiers during the
present war. In Europe an army is thought to
have accomplished wonderful things when it
has fought half q dozen great battles in
season. Here our armies fight great battle
every day ID the week, and that in a coun-
try where the natural difficulties Of the
ground increase the exertion tenfold Nor are
these qualities of the American race altered or
enfeebled by climatic influences. The South
erner exhibits just as much endurance and fights
just ~ desperately as the Northern man, al
though be lives under sun which in Europe
would in itself insure physical degeneration.
The war has contributed immensely towards
developing the physical superiority Of our
people. Its influence will not pass away with
it. The hundreds Of thousands who have spent
the last three years Of their lives in the field,
exposed to all the fatigues OF campaigning,
cannot relapse again easily into the easy aud
indolent habits Of city life. They will seek
fresh opportunities for indulglng the tastes
thus acquired, and will in turn bring up their
children in healtbful and natural way, nttipg
them either for the labors OF the agriculturist
or for the duties Of the soldier. Henceforward
we are to be Hrst class military nation, and
every effort will be made to keep up the physi-
cal standard required to enable us to maintain
that position. The gymnasium, the drill SER
geant and the swimming school are every
where becoming indispensable features Of our
system Of education. Such is the degeneracy
that gives our Europen critics so much concern
1t is predicting its fruits. Let them beware of
them.
The Park-Tho Flowers In Bloom.