, 1875-07-07


NEW ENGLAND IDEAS.
The address which was delivered few
days ago before the students at tho COM
menco,nent Of the University OF Virginia by
tho er-Coufederate Gen. PnEsroS, and which
was printed in tho last issue Of The TRIBUNE,
is perhaps the most remarkable specimen Of
bombast and braggadocio, as we'll as Of mis-
representation and virulence, That has beon
uttered in the South since the close Of the
War In point Of fact, these qualities are
developed to such an extent that VIC hnvo lit.
tlo doubt this fire-oating orator will creato
for himself in the South, as he most
certainly will in tho North, a feeling
Of profound contempt. His whole Grafton
turns upon two points, s,-drst, wail for
"The Lost Cause, y md second, savage at-
tack upon "puritansm," or, in other words,
New England ileas, which hc declares aro IT.
| reconci1abie with "southern IDEAS" The
first point needs but little attention. The
"Lost Cause" is ghost which has been OK
orcised by tho vast majority Of tho Southern
people. Only minority Of people Ind my
interest in the Cause before it wns lost, and
still fewer, now that It is lost, care to find it
ogain. Tho Lost Causa was the cause of the
old slave-owning oligarchy. About quarter
of o million families in the South owned
slaves and had a personal interest in slavery.
Perhaps another quarter Of million Of faini-
lies had m indirect interest, Wills million
mud half Of families, or moro than two thirds
Of the whole white population, had 10 moro
interest in "the peculiar institution than
! the North itself. Tho majority Of those who
formerly had any interest in slavery hive
adapted themselves to tho changed condition
| Of affairs since tho War, hnve accepted the
situation, mud have settled down to tho con-
viction that it ia their policy to mako tho
host of it. Tho orAtor Of the University of
Virginia, therefore, represents q mere hand
fu1 Of irrecoucilablos whoso vir,1lenco Is
silly because it Is harmless, md his whining
over the "Lost Cause" ls unworthy OF
serious attention.
The nttack upon New England idoas, how
ever, deserves little attention, not partieu-
larly because this orator has attacked them,
| but bocause they are exactly tho ideas which
the South neods to inaure her mntorial
| growth, to accelerate her industrial and social
| progress, and to promote her recovery from
tho waste aud ravage Of war. Tho South very
generally a]rouly, and before long will en-
tiraly, abandon tho idea Of the fervitudo of
the black race to tho white, and will accept
the idea Of tic possession of cqual politicd
rights by the blacks. This very materially
ahortenH tho distance betwoor Now Eugland
| and tho South. Then what idoas have
the Puritans, as Con paxsroa styles
tho Now Englanders, which will prove
injurious to the South, or which the South
caanot aeceptf Let ua sec. Now England
has most admirable common-school system,
which spreads the blessings Of education 10
tho whole population. It haa tho largest,
most houriahing, and most richly endowed
colleges In tho country, with tho ablcst and
best paid professors. It Inns gigantic sys.
TEN Of manufacturing Industries. It has o
perfsot system Of banking, which invests tho
capital OF Now England to tho most profitable
advantage. It has a eyatem Of expeiiting
communication by water, rail, and telegraph,
which has added immensely to tho produc-
tlveness and profit Of It's unfertile soil. It
Las devoted much time and lnbo.
to the improvement Of the sanitary
condition of It's cities, towns, and vii.
lagos, with excellent results. It's insurance
interests arc protecting both Ito and proper.
ty, not only In New England but oven in the
South. It has great and benoacent system
Of public charities, caring for those who are
unable TO care for themselves, relieving rnis,
cry, pain, and poverty, and helping hosa
Inflicted by nature or by accident. 1t has
loaned ont to other States hundreds Of mill.
ions Of dollars by the development Of la
own industries. Almoat every village has tta
public library, dit1uaing knowledge withou.
cost. 1t makea books, trans(ates books, and
reproduces tho best literature OF the world.
It davotes itself to political economy
It tolesates the largest degroe oi
religious Independence ind Freedom oi
opinion. 1t enlargea tho bounda oi
scientific research, and constantly swells The
list OF useful and labor -saving inventions. Il
recognizes the fact that ignorance ia The
fruitful parent Of evil aud misery, and there
fors earnestly strives to reach the hghes
possible degree OF general enlightenment
Now, these aro the dominant New Euglant
ideas. Does the South object to them
Does the South imagine. or does this sill,
Virginia orator believe, that they would Prov
injurioas? IL he not writing himseN dow1
the vesiest OF donkeya in declaring that thea
idsaa are irrsconcilable with the ideas Of th
South? II would DO an insult to tho common
} sense OF tha houthefn people to suppose 10
q moment that they held srch = position.
Thore Is one Nsw England idea, however
| not yet possessed by the South. which lies q