The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-02-27
ELEMENTS or NATIONAL PROSPERITY.

Lecture by Brigadier General Jehn Cochvsne.
numerous and highly respectable audience Assem-.
bled last evening In the Union Reformed Dutch church,
sixth avenue on the occasion Of lecture delivered by
Brgsdier General John Cochrane who had selected az
the subject OF his the Elements OF National
Prosperity" Tho pulpit elegantly and appropri-
aely draped with the national ensign and previously to
the introduction Of the speaker few selections Of vocal
and instrumental music peasngy rendered by the
choir.
After being introduced by the Chairman the lecturer
said he felt somewhat difident Of the which
would attend his efforts to present to his audience
topic Of so varied and comprehensive character a. the
theme which had been announced As the subject Of his
remarks and which was such very obvious import We
are all participants Of the great national influences which
control tho naten Of which component parts but
he did not intend to speak specifically upon national
prosperity; but more properly perhaps Of what might
be called national progress for cognas those two
subjects that would require the careful criticism
70 specify them. The causes which induce national
prosperity are 30 varied and complicated that accumu
late them and present them in distinct succession would
DO Herculean task, and the multiplicity Of causes
% v,s' - would S conns
Of the various races and choose TO hold be might use
sh liz hs.ss Ss saS ipnu.ncsd Sy hs snis
once 70 supremacy that he may DO sad 70 be the
70 q and " 81 tina:
Every country and race seek 70 deducs that
which has placed this country prominently before
those expansive explosive energies which have DIFF
fused themselves among tho American people. He ex
70 " o. MS ~ n.
this continent continent occupied by people
quaied BY any that the sun has ever shone upon and
compose the origin OF life Man is undoubtedly sab
jected to the peculiar attributes tendencies Of the c
or ried zones The Esqumaux. who lives At 60 degrees
North latitude; the African, who lives composedly
where alcohol bos or the Caucasian who inhabits the
the great and distinctive characteristics Of the variety
Of climate under which they BORN yet this animal
by further dssectioa Of that idea which is based upon
tho classification by naturass OF the human family,
he would call attention 70 that which has proved itself
to DO the conviction OF every person present. The
mountaineer who nhabits the slopes Of the mountain
ranges OF the world presents marked contrast in ply
steal as well as ntelecual comparison with the native
Of the plain. The mountanecr has been the type
Of all that free independent unconstraned and
where the mountain tops rise to tho elevation Of tho
very clouds, and the vision ranges upward TO mtless
space there is ambition and indomtabe power and
energy He who traces his descent from the hills must
number among his lineage the champion Of the des.
inhabitant Of the plain is the antithesis Of
ference Of character confined by such limits as the
mountains the plains for frequently rivers the
discriminating lines between distinct national pecular
which separates peoples each Of distinctive features
The north bank Of the Niger peopled BY fair tall
inhabitants Of sallow, ashen hue. The ac-
compshed minds are however - be found In regions
that least visited by convulsons Of nature Windy
places produce windy men, aud a. example Of this
he would call attention 10 Gascony, in France, from
whence is derived word s.gasconade !" blowing
place l. apt to produce blowers Let look at
he roams overN the surface Of this vast
planet and ascertain what are his leading char.
acteristics; and let US then endea or TO find which
In fho fufan al
control the destnies of all others The appearance OF
in physique and construction in the various degrees
ratey is found ia the north to be brown southwark red
aud the tropics black Toward the northern attitudes
intellect low n the temperate zones u increases and
individuals Is also governed by the same great laws
which direct their energetic and functional tendencies
The tendency Of the temperament which Is induced By
climate leads . race to the commission Of arbitrary and
Unnecessary actions, as among the Eastern nations
the practice Of cruelty prevails 70 = great OK
upon the Roman Ambassadors have been con.
iTasted on the historians psgo with the cruelties
sciences commerce and war which brought Europe
and made her the abcr Of the destnics Of the
mainder Of the world and all this was the result 0. the
climatic influences Of the Caucassans place OF abode.
The invent0ps tho world tFaceable u the middle
climates, printing, gunpowder. and numerous other
Our own country ia composed or harmonious blending
Of all the various and Of the carth In which
snd Savc 20 each other
this Western World BY an expansion or explosion Of
ideas and energies, a. TO make u what We ara. In
our population we find one OF the moot
impulsve races Of the word-the Cct-holds import
ant position. This Celt occupied no less I'm.
portant sphere in the mode ages; 90 that with the
northern hordes that Europe found this
tionaliy playing prominent part Al the base Of tho
merdianaI civilization Of this period were paganism,
despotism and false Christianity; but persisted, rs
persisted the weed Greece fell, Rome fell, Carthage
FELL and the food OF northern barbarsm that drifted
Europe fell with them. Now, we find this Celt,
with Aaric, anon rushing with ''Thc Scourge"
Attilla, has grounded his arms, and smoothes the
wrinkles from his vissge when tho shrine Of Chris
tian religion And rs safe 70 assert that in like man.
they and barbarc tribes Of Europe advanced
from their state OF semi civilization that when this
people shall have assumed all Its completely OF compo
siton there shall be such people - tho world has
before In this country, OF all others the
people thai compose ara irrepressibe Their destiny
Is obvious the In his meridian spendor and
their laws will compass the whole earth as certainly IS
In that earth Illuminated with the glory Of the orb Of
day.
At the conclusion OF the lecture piece founded upon
tho last words OF General Rice. "Eet Me DIE with Ny
Face the Foe" aud the 1Hymn OF the Nation were
finely rendered by the choir after which the assembagc
ian