New-York tribune., 1872-04-10
CNICIGO RESNRGENS.

In close contguity and in the same news
paper we find accounts of the rebuilding OF
Chicago and Of the restoration OF ScDastopol-
exemDlfcatOns on great scale of the arts
OF peace and war. In the city first named,
with almost miraculous rapidity, the haunts
and conveniences of commerce, and the com
Portable homes which commerce renders pos
siblc, are assuming the old aspects of perma-
nent provision and arrangement, not to bo
again disturbed save by unforeseen casualty;
while in the historic stronghold of Russia the
purpose of the Government is "to concentrate
"thc means Of fitting out and supply
"ing ships of war" There are to be
now land batteries and water batteries,
docks, magazines, and naval manufac-
tories, with frOwning forts more impregna-
ble than ever. The Russians, it is true, pro-
pose to give to SebastopOl new commercial
significance, but the chances of devastating
war are not for moment to be lost sight OF.
The hands which are engaged in rebuilding
our great Western center of trade, from which
shall go forth supply Of bread to all the
nations, are not diverted from their useful
toll to guard the wealth which they are
creating. Chicago presents that which has
been rare on this earth, but which must, We
all hope, become more and more common
the spectacle of great city almost completely
EXEMPTED from the dangers and devastations
of war; for hardly any probable or posi-
bic foe Of the nation is near enough
to reach it, while scarcely any is far enough
from Our ocean washed coasts to be entirely dis
REGARDED. But is it q bascless dream that the
time may come when great cities like our own,
4, a., ol,o or nf ba
pense with old-faslioned defenses, and be chiefly
strong in their necessity to the life OF the
world? Philosophers complain, and with some
show of reason, that peace is enervating, if
too well secured and too long continued; but
n period may come when the lhealth OF our
better energies may be maintained, not by the
sanguinary gymnastics of war, but by the
blessing of action which produces all things,
and destroys nothing fit for conservation
| OF the character, utility, and blessings Oi
that indefatigable will which builds great
| cities. and makes sure their future advance
ment. we are sometimes in the habit of speak
ing with flippant injustice. When Chicago
WIS destroyed righteous or Over-rlghteous
people were not wanting who saw In the
great combustion q punishment inflicted
specially by an impatient Providence; and we
were told that if the city had been one OF tho
most marvelously prosperous, it had also been
one of the wickedest. Nothing could b'
handler by way of illustration than the
story of Sodom and Gomorrah. Nota
bly,, Dr. Bond printed somewhat un
charitable jeromiad in The 81. Louis Adrocat
the people of St. Louis no doubt reading
the same with ready appreciation and much
self-rightcous shaking of the head, since they
were not in tho least 10th to be told that
Chicago dis o proud, vain, wicked city, the
inhabitants being much given to the Nebu
"chadnezzar way of contemplating the grca
"Babylon they had builded." The Chicagoest
woro devoted to "profuse Ostentation, gross