The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-05-01


achieved Three armies have been required 70 do the
work that was thought easy exploit for the onehaf
organized force that began the first march southward In
The last intelligence from New York exhibits that city
Ia all the intoxicaton Of triumph II has had its ocea-
the prospects the war they were 50 often followed by
such qualifications Of the success that at last the
OF victory were dsrusted or even dis
oeheved Then came periods Of depression, and not
year has elapsed since possible for few advo
Gates Of and compromise TO speak and write in
doubt misgiving Charleston and Richmond are again
federal cities President Lincoln is lodged in the house Of
Davis and the army Of Lee has retired e the ne
accessories calculated to impress the people with feel
ing tt the Work is accomplished and that the civ sar is
Suppose the whole nation impressed with that
victon, and mpulsively and at the same moment ex-
pressing what they feel under its influence and we can
not be surprised at the somewhat derous forms the
tubiation of New York has taken We shall hear sim
lar accounts from every great city OF the Union, Ba
the reported manifestations spontaneous and mpro
yised at the moment. Nothing was organized by CON-
own methods Of declaring itself and the result
was display eminently characteristic OF the
nation The extemporsed public meetings, the
instant appearance of host of orators, competing
with each other in extravaganza of language and
sentiment, the singing hymns in the street Of the
money changers and the reading military kilograms
from the pupts of churches all this reversal Of the ord
nary course OF things does not appear extraordinary
TO Americans When we recolect tho trfing incidents
tnat have sufficed to produce amazing sensation in
New York. we cannot wonder at the outburst of feeling
which has marked such a crisis in American history,
no people more readily their faculty of taking
cool and practical view of things The transition, in
rapid, and when the reaction In topics may be
discussed with perfect calmness which in the
excess Of fever would have excited paroxysm Of
wrath. We therefore, merely regret that the first
suggestion OF the public orators this occa-
SION was that one ,car being Terminated the ,coe nation
should embruI Itself in another my IN seris of cdrs
moment mn was q
thabwill In not distant future ask very serious
sideraon We also regret that next to the idea of war
tdnd But we cannot regard these fiery denuncations
seriously In bidding for applause there is check
the extravaganza OF promise; however wild 1t may be-
the speaker is always comfortably aware that he runs
little risk of being called to fulfil it, Passion ruled
he hour and the orators would not have been listened
10 had they not complied with the time and spoken
with the unchecked vehemence that suited 1t. We
are not disposed to attach overmuch Importance to
illusions to the "Fenian Brotherhood It Is told Off
in good round numbers but we know enough Of the ap
partition and how 1t has been got up deprive the threat
oi any sgnicance Every generation has had po-
ntcu scooped turnp OF this kind held up to it, with
surances that it is very terrible But that the Americans
VIII not countenance the imposition beyond the point of
sured.
The much truer expression of American feeling was
gwen we trust, Mt Washington, where the members Of
the government were summoned usual far less i'm
portant occasions, TO address public gathering They
sp%ke sp% ,n under double responsibility as ministers
Public enthusiasm cannot entirely @ ypOUSr eay pa1y away
men holding such position. They must consider
something beyond momentary applause. They must
avoid official embarrassments and not endanger the
party interests. The Washington speeches. therefore,
are pitched In more moderate key than those Of New
YORK; Statesmen cannot indulge in the 'Cambyses'
ven living as they do in terror Of after explanations
mr. Seicdrd therefore, did not encourage the Neto York
Suggestions Of vengeance and he adopted lighter
ode oI treatment for ue criis He very sfully cvaded
the perils OF set speech, and rather amused his
audlence than stirred them. His address served
the purpose. He could not let England escape
altogether, but he did not threaten her with ex-
termination or to annex Canada forthwith He
dealt IN tnnuendo, which, it pleased his hearers
have not the slightest wish to quarrel with. There
r less bitterness in his speech than in the Of many
OF his dispatches written chen European incrvenon
tcds really dpp'ehend<d. The Americans must ac-
knowledge that the appr hension grounde Against
the few reproaches Mr. Seward launched u.s. the
instances IN which, by his official acts he checked the
rasness OF subordinate officers Of the government II
sucn inammaory harangucs as those delivered at New
YORK DO not affect the policy Of the administration it
would be unreasonable to attach much Importance
them Very possibly Mr. Seward could not have spoken
80 temperatey to the excited thousands Of New York
But we believe the more moderate of the official
addresses at Washington Is reliable inder Of Ae-
ricda p0Licu