New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-11-12

RLCUPERA7ItE F0RCE.
It is with communities rs with tic indiid-
ual. There are men who at once lose heart
and hclplcssly succumb to ill-hap and ruinOus
losses; ard, in the world, there arc doubtless
many cities which, visited by vicissitudo
like that which has Cveitakcn Boston, would
wait in q letlaIey Ct despair for the next
dubious turn Of fortune Such, however, is
not tho habit Of the English lace, and no
where more particularly than in the capital
of Ncw-Tnglaud has the inyinciblc fortitude
of that race been inherited. The first impulse
OF the Angl0-SaxOn sailor, after he has rccoy-
cred from the shock of wreck, is 90 construct
from tho ff0fmon,s of his shattered ship q
raft upon which hc may float to some more
hospiable haven. The first movement in Boston
win be to see what brands have been snatchcd
from the burning and to what purpose they
can be used in rebuilding the PROSTATE temple
Of industry and enterprise. The people of
Boston have justly valued themselves upon
the rapidity with which their city has adj
vaDccd TO n position Of opulcrt importance;
but we OvCTcstimatc their character if they do
not now take an equal pride in proving to the
world that Tie smoke Of the conilagraton has
not confused their heads any more than the
fire has melted their iron viii. Nor is there
anything in the history OF such calamities to
discourage them. There is hardly any great
city uTOn tic face Of the earth which has not
suffered at one period or another, in the same
way. Burning is bad enough, but burning
complicated with war is infinitely worse.
We shall sec the difference, if VIC consider
how prolonged siege, followed by capture,
ruins populous city and all within it's gates.
Then not only are cdifccs destroyed by fire
or by tie caunOnadc, but The end of AL finds
The wIe,chcd populace more than decimated
by pcstilence or hunger or battle, physically
weakened by want, and morally Frustrated by
despair. Yet after hard fortune like this,
many % city has advanced to more than its
pristine wealth, splcndOr, and activity. in this
world Of chances aud changes, there IS no ruin
which can bo considered final. There is hardly
one important city ii the United statcs-Ncw-
York, Philadelphia, Eew-OrIeans, Portland,
ChicagO-whirl has not suffered tho fate
which has now OyertaAon Boston; yet all
these in wealth and population are not to-day
approciably the worse for their purgation. 1t
Is certain, according to the authority Of all
historians, that the great historic fire which
desolated London in the end materially adj
yanced the fortunes and increased the happi-
ness of that metropolis. Publication and pur-
CATION carry deep significance in their ETY.
mology; and the fable Of the PhGnix, like
most fables, he's q profound meaning We
have said so many times and 50 many times
have heard that the uses of adversely are
sweet. that wo have weakened our sense of
the truth of the adage. In another place we
have Cursorily skctchod the past history of
Boston-a history which shows with what
noble superiority she las always shaken oil
the pressure of adverse fortune.
Having lost so much, the inhabitants OF Bos-
ton are not the philosophical race which they
have the reputation Of being, if they do not
console themselves by reckoning how much
thew have saved. They still retain the local
position which to them has been so valuable
they still occupy the moral center of New
England. The long lines OF railway covering
The Tar West and terminating in Boston are
untouched. The manufactures which are every
where established in Massachusetts, in Maine,
and in New-Iiampshire, must still find in
Boston market. The business facilities
which have been for n little while suspended
must be speedily revived, while morally the
will Of the community will be intensified, its
energy quickencd, its industry stimulated, its
sagacity sharpcncd by emergencies. MI DsS-
perandam is the only motto. The way may
DO rugged the difficulties diSheartening, the
dcprivatiOns many and great, and the labor
demanded heavy; yet Boston will go forward
With a good beaUt aud prove herself equal to
the demands upon her energies. Her peo-
pie may have seemed cold to those
whose moro impulsive manners proved
no warmer nature; but those who knew them
better, have always comprehended the sterling
virtues which were hidden under a demeanor
somewhat administrative, and hayo been
sure that in the day Of trial they would not
be found wanting in all manly and valuable
qualities. The country needs Boston yet, both
rs she contributes so largely to the national
prosperity and as she affords an example Of
thriftiness combined with intellectual culture
ard elegant tastes. She would have STILL
though her money capital were gone as it is
not by any means, the riches Of reserved force,
and these will be guaranty Of her complete
resuscitatiOn.