The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-07-07
Draper on the Philosophy of the Americas
Civil War.

-
passing, are more abundant, thanks to the en-
terprise and omnipresent espionage" of
American journalism, than those of any pre-
vious war; But the selection of these excerpts,
and the tone of the superficial comments upon
them, have usually been determined by sec
| tional and partisan motives. Scarcely an
attempt has been made to inquire into the com.
serious attempt to accomplish this high purpose
Of historical study the public is indebted to Dr.
Draper, one volume Of whose History Of the
American Civil War" has just appeared. The
author of this work obviously accepts the
| premises laid down by Buckle and other
modern scientific students Of history-that in
the direction of human events, as in physical
nature, the government of established and fixed
principles must be recognized. In his opinion
the national lie Of tho American people has
been influenced by uncomfortable causes, and
has strikingly exemplifed the great truth that
societies advance in preordained and newt
able course. DR.. Draper was led to write about
the war from this standpoint by seeing that
both in tho Northern and Southern States pub
lie men were accusing each other with bitter
ness each throwing the odum Of responsibility
on his antagonist, as if the war had not been
connected with past influences and had no past
history. The fact seemed to be forgotten that
the origin of the war dates before any Of those
who have been the chief actors in it were born.
SHOW, when we appreciate" says the author,
how much the actions of men are controlled
by the deeds of their predecessors, and are de-
termined by climate and other natural circum-
stances, our anmosites lose much of their
asperty, and the return of kind feelings is
fastened" The desire to aid in promot ng
such a consummation is surely commendable.
The direct object of DR.. Drapers first volume
Is to show how division and antagonism have
arisen among q people once thought to be
homogeneous-in a word, to seek out and dis
close the origin Of the American civil war
DR.. Draper believes that nature exers far
more importan. influence on the constitutions
and actions of men than is commonly supposed;
and at the same time thai a proper study of
nature will at length enable us to prevail over
her to such an extent as to bring within reach
of human control the difficulties arising from
opposing conditions which originate in physical
causes that can be understood. He, therefore,
begins with a brief description of the
physical peculiarities of the United States, de-
ducing the necessity OF national unity. H.
shows how in the face of this necessity for
union race-diyersity has been produced by
different climates and typographical conditions
among the Inhabitants OF this vas. country !;
and also how TO such natural causes of dis
turbance have been added certain artificial or
incidental ones, arising from the circumstances
of our national life and particularly from the
institution of slavery. The points presented
for consideration in this volume are thus
summed up:-Physical characteristics of North
America the topography and meteorology
of the republic; the character of the colonial
and subsequent population the tendency to
antagonism impressed upon that population by
climate and other causes the gradual develop
| mont of two geographical parties, the North
and the South !; their struggles for supremacy
in the Union, and the rupture between them.
The chapter devoted to "the special climate
effects on man. is particularly INTEREST," ng
from its bearing upon both the past and the
probable future history Of the American people.
:" In the same manner that climate affects
plants, it likewise affects human beings, pro-
ducing modified men. 1t controls their COM
plexion, their bodily construction, their dura-
ton Of life, their actions, their thoughts. 1t
has given rise in the Atlantic region to two
distinctly marked populations, and in the
Pacific region will hereafter originate many
others, the coun.erparts of nations now occur
ring in Asia" Such is the argument of this
chapter. And elsewhere the author predicts
that as the conditions which brought on the
recent conflict between the two sections, North
and South, of the Atlantic region, still exist in
other directions, future equivalents to those
ephemeral disturbing causes, slavery and aboli-
| ton, will in due time under other forms exert
their deleterious power. "varied climate and
opposing interests will tend to renew these
contests hereafter. If this has been the issue
between the North Atlantic and the Gulf States,
what may not be expected from the rivalres
OF the jewellers in the Great Basin, those Of the
Pacific slope, those Of the Columbian North.
west, the Germany Of America? The imperisl
| republic, shortly to be made manifest, has Per
STA, an India, Palestine, Tartary Of its own
To bind together so many diverse people, to CO.
ordinate their conflicting rights, to concentrate
into one nation men who, though all of Ameri
can BIRTH are in one place representatives Of
the fair European, in another Of the turbaned
Asiatic, in another Of the dusky African, viii
demand craftsmanship that recognizes as It's
animating principle justice to all" This 4
the moral to be inferred from . philosophical
study Of the causes Of the American civil war
| Our Watering Places.
Our watering places this summer appear t