The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-14


Tho Grand idess Of the Future.
The American people have just emerged
from struggle for freedom and unity. Their
energies have been wholly employed in sue
cessfully concentrating the consolidation of
the government and the overthrow of slavery.
These results have been attained. The national
faith stands pledged for the full payment Of
the debt incurred in suppressing the rebellion;
but paying debts is but an incident with Amer
leans. It cannot be pursuit, an ambition.
An honest and untrammelled administration
has been chosen. During Its term of Office the
people, with singular unanimity, believe that
peace will be secured, the bonds of union ce-
mented, the conquered States restored and the
country started fairly on the road toward the
payment of the debt. If the corruption which
prevails at this time to such an amazing extent
in almost all branches of the public service can
be circumscribed within decent limits this can
be accomplished without increasing the bur-
dens of the people, The issues which have
heretofore divided parties, which have occu-
pied public attention and been the absorbing
topics of discussion on the forum and in the
press, are about sinking into q secondary and
subordinate rank. The financial question is at
most q question of time, and will be solved
and settled, unless we mistake the genius of the
American people, within very brief period.
With the nation united, the slave enfran-
chised, the debt in process Of payment, what
then will be the. idea of the future? Will it
be to become nation of shopkeepers, to pro-
duce and exchange, to buy and sell, to fatten
and increase, to pursue, in one grand, en-
crossing scramble after material wealth, the
almighty dollar2 OF individuals as personal
pursuit this is possible; of the nation it can
never be. Some more magnificent object will
be required to fill the imagination of the
American people. Arcadian focks and herds,
rural and urban industries may form suitable
themes for the versatile pens of our poets or
for the teachers of homely virtues; but the
Anglo-Saxon genius is essentially conquering
and aggressive. Something Of the spirit of
the old Roman republic burns in the heart of
our conglomerate nationality. The spirit of
the aggressive races-the Roman the Saxon,
the Dane, the Norman-is combined in the
mental constitution of their lineal progeny.
On the American Continent, under fostering
institutions, nurtured by free air and encour-
aged by ample space, this race is expanding
toward its most perfect development. Its mil
lions now TEEN on the shores of both oceans
and touch brotherly hands across the Cont
nent. To be repressed on the north by
province whose governing power is instinct
with the spirit of effete feudalism, whoses
Governor General is delegated in the interest
and by virtue of the divine right idea which
was repudiated on this Continent by the Decla-
ration of Independence, is repngnant to Amer
lean notions of the fitness of things, combining
and irritating to our republican institutions
and an obstacle to the realization OF the mani
fest destiny of the American republc-the
tinent. The genius Of our race will not for
ever brook these mctes and bounds. Our
natural boundaries are the Atlantic, the Pacific,
the Arctic Ocean and the Gulf We can en-
dure within these limits no rival Dominion"
Our natural and most necessary complement Is
territory and its people, who are Of our own
superior race. It is ours both by the doctrine
of nationalities and of natural frontiers These
doctrines have been preached and applied in
Europe. Shall we be behind the age? Terri
torial expansion is the order of the day with
all vigorous nations. Prussia has conquered
Germany Italy has acquired venetia, France
took Savoy, England has possessed herself
of an empire in the East. We need for
our security both shores Of the St. Lawrence
and the lakes. We need the st. Lawrence
also as the natural outlet to the Atlantic Ocean
of the vast grain fields of the Northwest. The
Yankee East and the Yankee West demand
policy looking towards an early acquisition Of
the British provinces. Territorial expansion
or, to use the glowing words Of the late Ste
phen A. Douglas, ian ocean-bound repub-
lic"-is the grand idea Of the future II is
manifest destiny" too, and General Grant in
the White House will be in position to clear
the track for the contamination of this glorious
mission Of the great republic.
A Coon TurNa-The hard knox" which
the Broadway bridge at Fulton street got on
Saturday, and which are to be continued to-
day.
A FAIR EXCHANGE No Robbery. fine
old maxim may be applied to the Erie Railroad
war. 1t takes money out Of the pockets Of the
stockholders and the contesting rings, but Il