Washington telegraph., 1865-06-07

gentleman. Is has its uses doubtless But as
political guide it is worthless. Rather worse
than useless, since it generally misleads those
whose strong practical sense, and sound judg-
ment does not elevate them above the hasty
foregone conclusions which it tends 10 produce
Results depend upon infinite variety Of
surrounding eircums tsnces- They are affected
by countless contemporary events, all in6uenc-
ing and controlling each other. These are new
er the same with any two peoples. or with the
same people at different times. Were there on
ly one simple chain of single causes, similar
events might be always predicted History
would then be invaluable as a guide. But
events are found in reality to follow the law of
bodies acted upon by a variety Of opposing for
ees, all Of which it is impossible to estimate, and
hence predictions are always more or less falla-
cieus Hence it is that too much importance 10
attached to the study Of history. a. help to
political sagacity. very moderate amount of
good sense is worth the most intimate knorl-
edge Of IT,
These remarks strike us with much force just
now, in the light Of eur recent terrible discom-
fture. We were accustomed 70 think that any
people determined TO be free, and esraestly At
tempting il, would BE- sure to succeed. We
thsught history taught that lesson. We were
sure poetry did and relied upon it We had e1-
amples also Of weaker people achieving inds-
pendence under greater apparent odds than any
we thought it probable we might have to en-
counter. We were confident enough Of eur
own spirit, our patriotism. our courage, and
powers Of endurance. We brought them all to
bear and failed. The danger is now that in
place of suspecting the soundnecs of our calcu-
latioAs, we fall into toe deep = humiliation and
suspect ourselves inferior to other people who
have succeedrd-ibe old Greeks or Modern
Swiss. and Low Land Dutch Of N-,t erlands.
and our forefathers Of '76-even to the Poles.
and Irish, and Hungarians, and Modern Italians
whs failed because ws were intrinsically strong
or than they were, more united. and boasted Of
superior education in .he cause Of Freedom.
Really the cases are not parallel Different
causes and not the same have produced the diff
fsrent effect. We have noresson to dosbt our
heroism, or fsel personal humiliation No Eu-
ropean nation views as in that light They ac-
sord 10 rs all We ever claimed for ourselves, of
courage. patriotism. and powers Of endurance
We have astonished them in those respects and
eItortsd their involuntary admiration. They
too who should have seen more clearly and
judged more calmly, have been mieled BY this
false guide History. and never imagined that
we would fail Webave neverihel eles. Lut they
are none the less satisfied that we did all in hu-
mRn power to deserve success The truth is
hat fhare hefora pch cas. ~ -.
history Of the world Our history, may be some
sort OF guide tor ourselves in the future but We
had mons TO teach az any lesson in the struggle
which has passed. 1t is the only good old Eng
lish fair fight. with one to interfere that evur
came off on the surface of tho Earth 1t not
surprizing that disencum bered OF all embarrsss-
ment, the stronger party should ultimately sue
ceed. Had the parties been equal in numbers;
the possession OF manufactures at home and
foreign recognition, and the feet for blocksding
purposes on the part of the enemy, was enough
of itself 70 have determined the result could
our excited feelings have enabled TO reason
calmly. Our struggle against all odds is the
grandest ON record. We have nothing to be
ashamed Of 1t was the wrestling Of giants
The whole world stood outside the ring and
locked on-only perhaps did net give US air
enough. LI. -.-r.
Wa need not be ashamed therefore to meet
the spirits OF eur old revolutionary foIefath@rs
iASc - i~ND- Va AeAi hukL tncf mIEnk cnldc car
dsgeneracy
But il is rrninently 6t that we should learn
the lessons Of experience, far better teac her
than history. We know now what the effort
ter secession has cost. and something of our
power to accomplish it. That power has been
exerted and found wanting Wees never CAL
culaie on any wiser teachers, nor have We made
any gross mistake, we can hepe TO amend with
out she danger Of falling into others Carp as
We may, and. all disappointed people do, the
reasonable man will consider human nature a.
Il H. and not expect any higher wisdom here
after
He will then conclude two things. Firs,
that we are not degraded BY failure, and those
who attempt to treat US a. . dsgI adod broken
spirited people. will surely commit . disastrous
error on their part We may retain all our
spint ana sense Of personal dignity, but be pre-
pared 10 guide il more wisely-pratinc 20 eur
selves less about history, and thinking NOR. Of
the stern facts of our own experience.