The New York herald., 1864-12-11


executions are more privately conducted, al
though We adopt the English plan Of informing
the criminal Of the day Of bis death and allow
ing him to say what he pleases from the scaf-
fold. The expectation Of these speeches, or Of
some sush interesting Incidents, always col
lects great crowd around the Tombs when
any one is TO be hung; but no outbreaks like
those in London ever disgrace this city. II any
should occur our police would charge the mob
and our militia would be called out to quell
the riot The London Times will do well TO
bear these facts in mind when it again UNDER
takes to write US lecture upon our want Of
civilization. There is q larger field for mis-
sionary labor Of that sort in the model city Of
London. W
The Condition or the National Etnam
ccs-The True Solution.
Our contemporaries discuss the national Hnan-
ces, taking up point by point the various Grip
pied and hobbling ideas Of our pseudo national
finsnciers. Mr. Fessendsn is roundly rated on
taxes, and graped and canistered with due
quantities or Adam Smith and John Stuart
MILL while Mr.. Thaddeus Stevens is lectured
on nonsensical laws and assorted with the mil
lions of visionaries who have made the world
miserable by bad advice. And 80 tho discus
sion is likely to continue until 1t has taken up
by turns every single fact in finance and dis.
cussed taxes, penal laws, currency, bonds
loans Of all sorts and so on. This is not the
most profitable way in which this subject can
be kept before the people.
If We look at the world Of natnse superb
cially, and simply we first find It it is awilder-
ness Of apparent contradictions Of facts that
seem muddled with one another IN the widest
way, and AL constantly giving the lie, circum-
s.antial and direct How shalt we reconcile
condition Of the July thermometer How can
VIC look at the phosphorsscen. fire mounting
TO the suttace in the tropical seas and noun.
ta;ns the antagonism Of the two elenertss Is
not summer hots Will water not extinsuish
fire. Or, going a little further. what shall
we say to the polypus-to fish that
grows on . stem. or plant that can
digest animal natter What shall we
say to that singular vegetable the
diamond But when science has grouped all
the facts arranged them in their proper places
and reasoned TO the simple laws Of nature that
account for each-they are seen TO be reconcil-
able and all is plain and easy. II Is the same
with the discussion of the finances. II we argue
on the isolated facts, on the currency. on par
ticular taxes on this and that kind OF security,
| on the messages. arguments and proposals, the
question OF national fpancc becomes an endless
bewiiderment, and the pee lie get lost Ia It.
But if we keep to the great facts, and from
| them. reason out the few and simple laws Of
the case. it is plain story
| The great fact of our national life Just now
IS the war, and this is the controlling influence
that must affect and qualify every other fact
! We must not in our financial views lose sigEt
OF this great fact, as has 80 often been done
and attempt to apply in state Of va, reason
| ings adapted only to a state Of peace II ls
| plain thst we must provide money for the
necessities OF war, and equally plain thai we
must borrow large proportion Of 4 The
| important question here is not by what name
| we shall cali the loan Men 10 Washingion havs
and they bicker and dspcte accordingly
over seven-thirtics. ten-fort,es aud ali th.oGgh
TIE category. The important fact Tor . Dor.
rover ia to be able TO show thar ne eau paw
and to be able to chow this ACT IL our case We
must be able TO show thai we can end tie was
1t is We suppose, safe to assume .ba we stall
end the war some time and upon when we end
il must now depend the higher OF lower state o.
our credit, and whether We can borrow plentiful.
iy with safety ar not at al, If a war IL ended IL
month. the loan contracted TO carry IL on may
be al par or at a premium all The time so il
may II the war is ended in year. a.i the
lender have a.. the time a reasonable eon6
denee . the borrower But rs tha. time goes
on that confidence Uatura iy Gee iues, until Il
may go SO FAR that the borrower prom ses are
held to DC worthless a. the assignais were iD
France aud as the rehc, currency now > in
the Southern states Uucerta.n.y whether the
wal viii BE- ended in any given time is tbe
inj;,riors element
The one thing that mnst now he done to
give sonndpess ard safety so the nationa.
finances is for Congress TO show that this war
Is not 10 be interminaLle-ttat Il ~ 10 be ended
II once and tho effectiveness OF ,ha remedy
will be in proportion 10 the c!esruess with
which this is shown All the property owned "a
the Uu:ted States may be regarded as the pledge
for the payment Of the national debt and eui
debt is still infinitely smaller than the pledge.
We are radically sound, therefore, and s, that
Is necessary Is tina. the end Of the war shall be
definitely 6xed. and 50 fixed that the people
can have confidence in the limit W. are
abundantly able to pay IL the war were ended
to-day no one can for an instant doubt this
But fear that the war will creep on year after
year. unit. Il has eaten up the whoe pledge
or anti II has induced . polisica. soarchy tuat
will render the pledge value.ess and 70 make
payment impossible, Is the weak point Con
6dencc that this shalt not be 90 il what the |
people want, and Congress can give II. Con- |
GTeaq tha army and tbO uovv L.v~ ucs- ~ot /