New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-05-29
ADVICE GRATIS.

We wish that some shrewd mOralist would
give us treatise upon national ill-humor, with
extracts illustrative from the more doleful and
Responding articles upon American affairs which
appear in the English newspapers. To this class
of croakers the return OF peace to this country
will be q Godscnd. II will be their part
tn teach us that victories may be made
valucless by subsequent want OF wisdom
Nothing could well be more impressive than the
sage laundering to which we are now treated.
II may be impious 10 doubt the bOttomless
sagacity of the London oracle, but to Us (sav-
ing their tone, which is really mpressiye) We
must declare that the reyerberations seem trlfe
common-pl place. You have exhibited your
yalor," cries The Times, "but how are you Off
for wisdoml You can fight, but can you legis.
latc' You can conquer but can you concilate
You can abolish Slavery, but what will you do
with yournegroeS You have done many things
but are you sure that you can do a great many
other things' How will you dispose Of your
army, Just tell us how you expect ever to wipe
out your mammoth debt, You may crow loudly
and triumphantly. but please remember the
depth and the darkness of the woods from which
you have not yet emerged" A fair answer to
this would DO that, having proved equal TO one
occasion, we may possibly not be found wanting
upon another. The presumption of these cheer.
full writers is that individually and collectively
we are nation of madmen or idiots. Five years
ago We were pronounced grossly ignorant Of the
arts Of war. We pleaded not guilty, went to
trial and the verdict is recorded. Now, it would
appear, We are deficient in the arts Of peace.
Five years hence We shall be charged with some
other wickedness or weakness. The Lord only
knows what il will be
These acrid doubts would fill us with the
gravcst apprehensions were we not able TO count
upon the intelligence Of the American people
aud their capacity for the wise management Of
public affairs. Why will not foreign observers
once for all admit this element into their COM
putatons people at once poor, fierce and
ignorant, guided by animal instincts, prone and
obcdicnt as SalluSt has it. to the belly, not ac-
customed TO Judge and therefore not likely to
judge wisely; barbarouSly intolerant Of restraint
and contemptuous Of law regarding rulers
simply as agents holding letters of attorney re-
vocable at pleasure-a people whose very vir-
tues are the vices Of nations more advanced.
may wander from bloody bad to bloodicr worse
through the labyrnths Of anarchy aud doubt to
the desperate refuge of despotism The timid
talk tlippantly about Il fierce democracy, think
ing all tho time Of democracy in Athens, in
Rome or in Paris. They will not remember
that we are quite As likely to set up temple to
Juggcrnaut as the guillotine. They have for
gotten the year Of our Lord. They know
Some of them that We DO not tattoo ourselves,
and arc not given to man-mcat; but they
have an indefinite notion that, if an
should present ITSELF the
Americans would all bite of each others heads |
The London Times thinks so. Poor old Ppnch, |
with the rheum Of age oozing from his google |
eyes. thinks so. Mr.. Omnum Bullion of tho
Stock Exchange, who dabbicd little in Con.
fedcratc securities, thinks SO. Lord Runny-
mede, who predicted death and damnation to
the British Lion when Golden proclaimed the
gospel of Free Trade, thinks so, and hens and
haws out his conviction to an audience of
patient peers. All these gentlemen are Chris.
lians (besides being civilized, which we are mott
and of course their thoughts are not the children
Of wicked wishes We do not charge them with
doing us wiliul injustice. For nearly century
hey have predicted that the United States
would 90 to ruin--ior the last five years they
have rejolced (stolidly and soberly, We admit)
1t the near prospect Of an accomplishment of
heir prophecies but the fall of Richmond
would appear to change the auguries. Not at
all! Wait and see (Seyen sage shakes of the
head.) Just wait and see. more head.shaking, !
and very good head to shake it ISL UW you
wait and see, Capital shakes ad infnitum.)
"We must now wait, says The London Times,
70 for what nothing but time can teach us-the
solution of the great problem of Secession"
50 How will they be able to deal with the !
Whites ?" says The London Post; show will
they be able TO deal with tho Blacks" Zone
war being over, will not the Yankees immed-
ltcly begin several new ones ," asks again The
TINES. lnyaiVas OF Mexieo-seizures OF the