passages from an old volume of life-第21节
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There are those who profess to fear that our government is becoming a mere irresponsible tyranny。 If there are any who really believe that our present Chief Magistrate means to found a dynasty for himself and family； that a coup d'etat is in preparation by which he is to become ABRAHAM； DEI GRATIA REX；they cannot have duly pondered his letter of June 12th； in which he unbosoms himself with the simplicity of a rustic lover called upon by an anxious parent to explain his intentions。 The force of his argument is not at all injured by the homeliness of his illustrations。 The American people are not much afraid that their liberties will be usurped。 An army of legislators is not very likely to throw away its political privileges； and the idea of a despotism resting on an open ballot…box； is like that of Bunker Hill Monument built on the waves of Boston Harbor。 We know pretty well how much of sincerity there is in the fears so clamorously expressed； and how far they are found in company with uncompromising hostility to the armed enemies of the nation。 We have learned to put a true value on the services of the watch…dog who bays the moon； but does not bite the thief！
The men who are so busy holy…stoning the quarterdeck； while all hands are wanted to keep the ship afloat； can no doubt show spots upon it that would be very unsightly in fair weather。 No thoroughly loyal man； however； need suffer from any arbitrary exercise of power； such as emergencies always give rise to。 If any half…loyal man forgets his code of half…decencies and half…duties so far as to become obnoxious to the peremptory justice which takes the place of slower forms in all centres of conflagration； there is no sympathy for him among the soldiers who are risking their lives for us； perhaps there is even more satisfaction than when an avowed traitor is caught and punished。 For of all men who are loathed by generous natures； such as fill the ranks of the armies of the Union； none are so thoroughly loathed as the men who contrive to keep just within the limits of the law； while their whole conduct provokes others to break it； whose patriotism consists in stopping an inch short of treason； and whose political morality has for its safeguard a just respect for the jailer and the hangman！ The simple preventive against all possible injustice a citizen is like to suffer at the hands of a government which in its need and haste must of course commit many errors； is to take care to do nothing that will directly or indirectly help the enemy； or hinder the government in carrying on the war。 When the clamor against usurpation and tyranny comes from citizens who can claim this negative merit； it may be listened to。 When it comes from those who have done what they could to serve their country； it will receive the attention it deserves。 Doubtless there may prove to be wrongs which demand righting； but the pretence of any plan for changing the essential principle of our self…governing system is a figment which its contrivers laugh over among themselves。 Do the citizens of Harrisburg or of Philadelphia quarrel to…day about the strict legality of an executive act meant in good faith for their protection against the invader？ We are all citizens of Harrisburg； all citizens of Philadelphia； in this hour of their peril； and with the enemy at work in our own harbors； we begin to understand the difference between a good and bad citizen； the man that helps and the man that hinders； the man who； while the pirate is in sight； complains that our anchor is dragging in his mud； and the man who violates the proprieties； like our brave Portland brothers； when they jumped on board the first steamer they could reach； cut her cable； and bore down on the corsair； with a habeas corpus act that lodged twenty buccaneers in Fort Preble before sunset！
We cannot； then； we cannot be circling inward to be swallowed up in the whirlpool of national destruction。 If our borders are invaded； it is only as the spur that is driven into the courser's flank to rouse his slumbering mettle。 If our property is taxed； it is only to teach us that liberty is worth paying for as well as fighting for。 We are pouring out the most generous blood of our youth and manhood； alas！ this is always the price that must be paid for the redemption of a people。 What have we to complain of； whose granaries are choking with plenty； whose streets are gay with shining robes and glittering equipages； whose industry is abundant enough to reap all its overflowing harvest； yet sure of employment and of its just reward； the soil of whose mighty valleys is an inexhaustible mine of fertility； whose mountains cover up such stores of heat and power； imprisoned in their coal measures； as would warm all the inhabitants and work all the machinery of our planet for unnumbered ages； whose rocks pour out rivers of oil； whose streams run yellow over beds of golden sand；what have we to complain of？
Have we degenerated from our English fathers； so that we cannot do and bear for our national salvation what they have done and borne over and over again for their form of government？ Could England； in her wars with Napoleon； bear an income…tax of ten per cent。； and must we faint under the burden of an income…tax of three per cent。？ Was she content to negotiate a loan at fifty…three for the hundred； and that paid in depreciated paper； and can we talk about financial ruin with our national stocks ranging from one to eight or nine above par； and the 〃five…twenty〃 war loan eagerly taken by our own people to the amount of nearly two hundred millions； without any check to the flow of the current pressing inwards against the doors of the Treasury？ Except in those portions of the country which are the immediate seat of war； or liable to be made so； and which； having the greatest interest not to become the border states of hostile nations； can best afford to suffer now； the state of prosperity and comfort is such as to astonish those who visit us from other countries。 What are war taxes to a nation which； as we are assured on good authority； has more men worth a million now than it had worth ten thousand dollars at the close of the Revolution；whose whole property is a hundred times； and whose commerce； inland and foreign； is five hundred times； what it was then？ But we need not study Mr。 Still's pamphlet and 〃Thompson's Bank…Note Reporter〃 to show us what we know well enough； that； so far from having occasion to tremble in fear of our impending ruin； we must rather blush for our material prosperity。 For the multitudes who are unfortunate enough to be taxed for a million or more； of course we must feel deeply； at the same time suggesting that the more largely they report their incomes to the tax…gatherer； the more consolation they will find in the feeling that they have served their country。 But；let us say it plainly；it will not hurt our people to be taught that there are other things to be cared for besides money…making and money…spending； that the time has come when manhood must assert itself by brave deeds and noble thoughts； when womanhood must assume its most sacred office； 〃to warn； to comfort；〃 and； if need be； 〃to command；〃 those whose services their country calls for。 This Northern section of the land has become a great variety shop； of which the Atlantic cities are the long…extended counter。 We have grown rich for what？ To put gilt bands on coachmen's hats？ To sweep the foul sidewalks with the heaviest silks which the toiling artisans of France can send us？ To look through plate…glass windows； and pity the brown soldiers；or sneer at the black ones？ to reduce the speed of trotting horses a second or two below its old minimum？ to color meerschaums？ to flaunt in laces； and sparkle in diamonds？ to dredge our maidens' hair with gold…dust？ to float through life； the passive shuttlecocks of fashion； from the avenues to the beaches； and back again from the beaches to the avenues？ Was it for this that the broad domain of the Western hemisphere was kept so long unvisited by civilization？for this； that Time； the father of empires； unbound the virgin zone of this youngest of his daughters； and gave her； beautiful in the long veil of her forests； to the rude embrace of the adventurous Colonist？ All this is what we see around us； now； now while we are actually fighting this great battle； and supporting this great load of indebtedness。 Wait till the diamonds go back to the Jews of Amsterdam； till the plate…glass window bears the fatal announcement； For Sale or to Let； till the voice of our Miriam is obeyed； as she sings；
〃Weave no more silks； ye Lyons looms！〃
till the gold…dust is combed from the golden locks； and hoarded to buy bread； till the fast…driving youth smokes his clay…pipe on the platform of the horse…cars； till the music…grinders cease because none will pay them； till there are no peaches in the windows at twenty…four dollars a dozen； and no heaps of bananas and pine…apples selling at the street…corners； till the ten…flounced dress has but three flounces； and it is felony to drink champagne； wait till these changes show themselves； the signs of deeper wants； the preludes of exhaustion and bankruptcy； then let us talk of the Maelstr
