New-York daily tribune., 1866-04-07
WE LEARN BY TEACHING.

WE LEARN BY TEACHING.
There is at times an exquisite, although sad,
felicity in looking at the past, even when it is
gray and cloudy with the smoke of terrible
war. We occasionally 60 over the back files
of our TRIBUNE and fight for Fremont, and
Kansas, and Anti.Lecompton, with something
of the old enthusiasm. Time has deadened these
once living and earnest columns, and we are
more philosophic now than when We followed
with the lusty shouting crowd of freedOm-war-
riors. As the war progressed, we felt that the
past had really gone, and that those who had
peopled 1.-THE Dough-Faced Politician, the
Hunker, the Chivalric Southerner, the
Constitutional UniOnist, the Northern Man
with Southern Principles-had all passed
away, and were as extinct as the masto-
don or the dodo. As well, we said-with some
degree of sadness-make Behemoth come from
his petrifed home in the shale rocks as recreate
the Fine Old Southern Gentleman. Dear old
relic We could certainly draw him with this
pen-with boots and spurs and bowie-knife,
and feet high over table and window-sill, rain
ing tobacco juice over surrounding creation,
and consignng every living Abolitionist to a
most painful doom. Well, we fancied, it is a
law of nature. The sleek Tory who sneered
a. Washington no longer exists. The
fat, fox-hunting Jacobito has merged
into Conservative squire, who hates
John Bright, and drinks to the Queen without
passing his wine over the water. The stately
Frenchman who wore the Bourbon lilies under
the magnificent smiles of Marie Antoinette, and
was so gracious, so kind, SO patronizing to all
the world, has melted awey. He was very old
when Victor Hugo painted him. And so with
our precious Son of Chivalry. He has gone
from history. The place that knew him shall
know him no more. The plantation is managed
by Yankee, the slaves are Reliable Contra
bands, and he--we mourn TO say its an unre.
constructed Rebel.
Patience! We are probably too fast.
There was more blood in the chiyalrous veins
than we imagined. Deadly no means
Gone foreverl Oh no, wild icOnoclast You
have pulled down the temple of Slavery, but
the idol remains, and We are about to worship
him. Rather shabby perhaps and dinged, and
with nose or an ear broken by one Of
Sherman's bummers, but still sacred and wor-
shipful. Dead Rather say new lease OF
life. There was much philosophy in the recent
declaration of one of this gods high-prests, that
"the niger had to support himself now; before,
We had to support him. That is all the differ
ence emancipation has made in South Carolina"
Wise beyond your generation-keen, tobacco
chewing priest but not so loud next time,
if you please Then as to the dreadful war.
What did We fight against "State rights -
parent bird of all the brood Of National serpents'
If anything was put to the sword, it was
certainly State rights. Mistaken again! 1t
lives. Lee, champion, was stricken down.
Davis, champion, was thrown into dungeon.
A hundred thousand other champions were sent
home under bail to keep the peace. But it lives.
and Andrew Johnson is champion more pu.
issant than Lee or Davis, or their hundred
thousand followers. When Lord Stanley went
over to Richmond, Bosworth field was virtually
decided. Purblind, stupid Richard not to
know that there was fair daughter, who aspired
to a crown. You may have his son Georges
head, but look to your own crown. No time for
Ak or headsman now King Richard, draw and
save your own head! Your kingdom 8 gone.
You may keep Tennessee as hostage against
this new champion Of State rights. That would
be q mean revenge. You cannot defend the
rights Of over twenty States by making an
example of one.
Estate rights lives, jolly and fat, rather proud
of its honorable scars, and good for long fight.
If anything was slain by the war, certainly 1t
was Copperheadism. Yet the Copperheads
were never in such glee before-nover since
that Jolly season of Bull Run. Possibly,
there is no reason for all this Joy. They may
want to show an extreme exuberance Of spirits.
But we do not--well, not to be angry-we do
not like it. We wish no Capulets at our mas
querades They are treacherous race, and carry
daggers. This extreme Copperhead exuberance,
we scarcely know what to make oft! "Gentle.
men, you forget. Lee surrendered, Joe Johnston
was beaten, Early was smashed, Semmes was
blown out ofwind and water, JEFF. Davis Is in jail
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