New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-06-23
AMERICAN VANITY.

The ssFerest faultdnders among Europeans wis
visit the United Ststa1 never blame cur people fer
a lack Of -selfesteem; some of them are shabby
enough 40 describe % as a nation Of selfcom-
placent.se5neeted and noisy boastf1l abitants
These chagges are annoying because they show an
unfriehdly spirit, because they are usually ex.
pressed inharsh and exaggerated terms because
they are Ia themselves boasts Of the astics SUI
periority, Sus especially because they are not
without foua6l ton.
There is ungrlestionabiy leayen If seIf,oonceit
in the character of our people that expresses itself
in so many fSElns, and SO CONSTANTS, that we do
not notice it in ONE another, while it il readily OBJ
served by straag ers. When men are suErounded
by the evidences Of prosperity and the Eal4able
results of their own talent and Labor, they are
quite liable to indn lge in Boosting, more especially
when visible compa rison does,not show them the
greater success and the higherGaerit of osaers We
are people proud eff our SUCCESS because the evil
dsnoes of material progress ara 50 paIpakae ave
have made so many aud such great improvements
in this country aimee ne drove OF the Indiana ana
stole their land, ahd the change from aaeacre
colonies to the first eank among governments hiss
been SO rapid that we forget how xnuch is stlleft
ndone, and how far we still are frern high grade
Of knowledge and excellence. RbateVer is done
by our people for profit Is usually 6one well. and
in the pursuit of moueytaey have shown great
amount of intellectual ability. Ourmerchants are
serewd and, hold-our mechanics are skifu and
enterprtsing. Under the excitement of gain. |
Americans display great stRongth of will singular
energy and no small deggee of intellect; butt
neither are the Qualities employed nor the sue
cess Of their employment, legitimate subjects for
national pride. Tie wealth of the country CON
ssts Of an Aggregation of the gasults Of Individual
gains, pursued with listempere6 zeal, and is noth
ing to justify boastilg. The swelling millions of
our great population il proper cause Of natona,
ptide-itis only vacant continent that is ailjpg
for the reason that there are great many of us,
ae have no OCCASION to ibesst that we are a gsaat
}eople-yet this pueeiity IS INDUCED in by our
people habitnally.
1T is noticed that Intelligent Americans come
nome from prolonged European tour with their
national vanity materially saIsdued. After in
pecting the great works Of commerce, the monu
nents, castles, walls, bridges tunnels roadwaYs-
he eathearals aud palaces tie libraries paintings
md statpazy, and all the gathered up boards Of ar
md Of artistic manufacture-affer seeing how nas.
ow regions sastain their thronging millions-he is
cry likely to return to these States withthe mpres Il
= n that matHred civilization will bestQW upon h
HI ,goyefnmentand people'mauy rich gifts which O.
hey have not heretofore been blessed WithaT f
We shal progress ali the faster along this upward 81
cad towards wealth. refinement and greatness IL
y getting rid Of our peFniaisus national c0nceit g,
HaHi dd sapieatia1a peioeajsseat gs5si Sc lam n,
efoefstsSe p'tsassenk So says the readers good A