The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-10-14
DAILY PRESS.
PORTLAND.
MOnisy Morning, October ID, 1867.
rhe Trial Of Nn,i.uaI r.,ienee.

The Trial of National Patience.
1t Is not to be disguised that there exists in
many minds, an apprehension of a surrender
in reace OF the ground won by the costly sac
rifces of war There isa fear that the vigil
lance of the people will be relaxed through a
deusiye sense of security. II such a danger
exist it is the part of fortitude to look it square
ly in the face. Scrutiny prepares the mind to
meetreal dangers. 1t causes spectres to van
1t would indeed be hasty inference to con-
slude that all danger to the republic was past
merely because its armies were victorious
What nation has most to fear, is not those
enemies who muster armies and wage reeu-
lar warfare. Many a ship of state has safely
weathered the storm of war only TO fall to
pieces in calm sea. The Evolutionary gov
erument of France though successful in re-
pulsng the combined armies of Europe, crum-
blcd amid the chaos created by the uncontroll-
ed passions of her people-a people victorious
over all enemies except themselves
The strength of nation, there fore, is not
measured by the number of its inhabitants.
the magnitude of its armies, or the extent of
IFS revenue. The greatest danger is from some
thing against which these resources are power
less. d sa .fI
The danger arises not more from a lack of
political wisdom to frame wise policy, than
from want of steadness to adhere to it with
ont going to excess in the elation of victory, or
fiinching under the more painful test OF tenn
porary failure. Nations like individuals must
be disciplined in the school of adversity Tenn
porary disappointment is the bitter draught
ordained by Providence for healing the moral
life of nations. They that WILL may drink and
live. They that refuse will not escape the suf
fering though they reject the cure They are
hike spoiled children, whom indulgence itself
by being too often repeated, has ceased to graf
ify, and whose fickleness ever uufits them for
heroic achievements in the worlds conflicts
Mexico and South America. afford a painful
illustration. Politics in those countries. is a
heaving volcano, in which one administration
or system of government rises only to sink
amid the eonvulsions that elevate another. 1t
Is scarcely possible to conceive of any evil
greater than anarchy. This must be avoided.
Indignation and discomfort even when Justly
excited, must be subject to the restraints OF
reason. If there are grievances to be redress
ed, premature and ill-advised attempt, result
ing in failure, only aggravates them, and post
pones instead of hastens the day of deliver
ance. fttf.4+ .eaf.fa.r .fs
Nations must learn to wait. The wheels of
Providence move slowly but their unceasing
revolutions are sure to bring the day of retri-
hutton. 1t is hard for nation to forego even
Al, al; -
pirations; but because it is hard, the selfcon-
troll that calmly waits and endures, not less
than he sagacity that discerns, and the decs-
ion that seizes, the appointed moment, is the
mark of nations moral power and greatness.
The national character is the measure of the
national strength.
The war being ended, the remaining question
is, whether the people will have suf6eient
steadiness to adhere to their policy in spite
of the temporary obstacles TO its success.
There are some who imagine that they see
signs of wavering ON the part of the people.
Let them reassure themselves 10y looking back
at the traditional instincts of the Anglo Sax
on race. A race not more distinguished tor
valor in war, than for steadiness in maintain
ing chosen policy in peace. Conquered at
Hastinsg eight hundred years ago, their per-
sistent firmness in resisting Norman innova-
tions in language and laws, s,secured to them the
pratical fruits of conquest. 1t was tLis self
:, .n' - 'e :, .'
~ .' :, 80 80 .N,.,"-'l'-e
'i"1 ~ ". 20
i' ".' - '"'
'oe'
Save to AiIIt.rIss rr1r 49,.
ma charta and supported the privatons and
suflerinos necessary to the achievement of in
dependence. 1t was this that preserved the
people from decentralization amid the reverses
of the Peninsula campaign. and while they
looked with longing ewes for the Great Procla-
nation.
Through the faction opposition of a despe
ate Executive. the national cbara eter was
again put to the test And again the race vim
dicated itself by trampling alike upon the
bribery of executive patronage and the mad
schemes of fanatics who urged revolution
The people in their elections year ago, exhib-
tied moral power to which the physical cOur-
age required in war is inferior, only because it
is less severe test of the natio nal spirit to do
than to endure. Who believes that the race
will stain the bright record of the past? The
political horizon is indeed unsettled and low
ering. The majorities of year ago are dinlin-
ished in some States, and in others the great
principle of equal rights has temporarily
suffered total defeat. The people seem not to
be awake. But let no man be deceived by ap
pearances. J
Even a rising tide has its ebbs. At the next
surge it will rise higher than ever. On the
main question, the people are overwhelmingly
on the right side. The stern determination
that resides behind all this quiet is not dis
~ aa,.,, 80, aa..aa:.,,s -4.'.,. M,
in tho rav;nos Of Andro,v Iobnso, tho ,ooL-
noss whose on,,, roso,,roo ;s,a To.l,;,, H..
attemnt revolption and the neo,,la woulJ ral-
ly from every hillside as they did after the guns
of Sumter and the autbor of ony suoh nod
1870 =. ""S ''n i"''
aI'e"pe "ouiu sooh pe praying ior the rocks
and mountains to fall on him and hide him
from the wrath to come. Let the friends of the
u;s,,t .oLo oo,r,oa II IA tho .m.n;sast d.s,i-
i'Sn' e'No oo"'"so 10 'no '""''
ny OF the natioh 10 DE great. lhat ffoVidehce
without whose notice not a sparrow falls, has
,ru;..o,, u;s ,,,.oo;as i, oharao.ors ;ndo,;,Io
upon the lace oi nature ana the character oil
the race. Says Americas greatest historian
i'm tLe exor,lium of his oration on President
-.
Lihcoih' EIeihai wisuoiii "arshais the great
procession of the nations, working in patient
continuity through the ages, never halting and