The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-12-27
MONDAY, DECEMBER 81, 1869.
WHAT WE HAVE GAINED.


in danger, if not from having the ills over
stated, at least frSm not recognizing the
valuable advantages derived from this self
same source. Enjoying as we did for more
than three-quarters of a century the blessings
of the most benefcent Government ever
vouchsafed to man, there was, nevertheless, no
true, reliable national sentiment among our
people.
There was SO little to remind as of the
General Government-no burdensome taxes,
no forced military duty, no exercise, indeed,
of national authority, except In protection
and benefits. These blessings fell upon the
land az gently, naturally, and as unperceived
as the dews of heaven fall upon the unknown
grass The influence and exercise of the
central power were scarcely felt or recognized,
except when in some far-off country or upon
some distant ocean it was exerted to shield
the honor or protect the liberty of q citizen.
Our colonial system anterior to the
Revolution, the very slender bonds that
held the colonies together during that try
ing period under the Articles of Confedera-
tion, and the abominable and pernicious
heresy of State sovereignty under our present
Constitution, taught universally throughout
the South and to q great extent in the North,
will account very largely for this lack of
national sentiment.
Mr.. Webster, one of the most national men,
oftenest spoke for Massachusetts,; Mr..
Calhoun always for South Carolina;
and Mr.. Clay was emphatically the repre-
sentative of Kentucky. There were indeed but
few of our public men of whom it could with
truth be said they were national If the
truth must be spoken, let us frankly admit
that the war of the Rebellion found us a con-
federacy full of petty jealousies, State pride,
and with very little deep-seated love or intel
Igent appreciation of the advantages derived
from the National Government. In sorrow and
anguish we had to learn the lesson almost
neglected in the long years of our peace and
prosperity; but learn it we did, and when the
glad news of an honorable peace came flash
ing up from Appomattox, it found us in our
rejoicings united people, forgetting all con-
tracted State lines, proud and happy as Ame-
ricans over the vindication of our nationality
and tho triumph of our flag. Upon this de-
veloped love and devotion to our country
rest the brightest promise and most abun-
dant guarantee of the future. This is one
advantage of the war that cannot be over
estimated.
The overthrow Of slavery-the liberation of
four millions of human beings-was as neces-
sary to our existence as to their elevation and
happiness Long deferred justice was
at last done to an oppressed race,
our Declaration of Independence ceased to be
a rebuke to our own people, and the flag of
IL Iof4 IL,
of despotism, and doated for the first time in
our history the emblem of freedom and JUS
tice. The war developed our industrial in
terests and capacities. We advanced from
dreamers to doers. A railroad uniting the
oceans had long been speculated about and
talked of. Some of the more sanguine hoped
for its completion, but scarcely in their
day and generation. 1t was reserved,
however, for the aroused and developed
energies of 'our war times" to accomplish
the great undertaking, the fruits of which are
even now but dimly foreshadowed. 1t has
become the pioneer of other enterprises of
like character, which in q few years will bind
the continent together with bands of iron
1t has brought the East and West into
close companionship, annihilated distance.
destroyed seclasiveness, and established
life current between the sections that is the
surest bond of perpetual union.
Another and very important result of the
war is the elevation of our national character
abroad. The gigantic struggle carried ON upon
these shores for nearly four years; the re-
sources, the courage, the endurance of our
people, and the triumphant vindication of our
popular form of government, have astonished
and dumb founded the world; and whilst it has
educated Europe to an appreciation of the
vast extent and inexhaustible resources of
our country, of the spirit, intelligence, and
indomitable will of our people, it has also
taught them to respect the flag that repre-
sents our nationality. Citizens of the United
States constantly meet the evidence of this
in their journeyings through Europe, espe-
cially in Prussia. Here the feeling is not
confined to respect and admiration, but
often manifests itself in words and
acts indicative of devoted attachment
and love for the land of washington
and Lincoln" This feeling is shared
by all classes, from noble to peasant. Almost
every family has a representative in our coun-
try, and nearly all feel bound to us by ties of
blood as well as attachment. A beautiful ex-
hibition of the respect entertained for this
country by the governing class of Prussia was
presented a month or two since. The King,
commanding nearly fifty thousand troops, had
sham fight, and, the day following, grand
MAJ Ham ,I.frros fha ,I1 hoktI