north america-1-第7章
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nd it tells with historical truth the story of the success of that nation。 It was a great thing done when the purchase of the whole of Louisiana was completed by the United Statesthat cession by France； however； having been made at the instance of Napoleon； and not in consequence of any demand made by the States。 The district then called Louisiana included the present State of that name and the States of Missouri and Arkansasincluded also the right to possess； if not the absolute possession of all that enormous expanse of country running from thence back to the Pacific： a huge amount of territory； of which the most fertile portion is watered by the Mississippi and its vast tributaries。 That river and those tributaries are navigable through the whole center of the American continent up to Wisconsin and Minnesota。 To the United States the navigation of the Mississippi was； we may say； indispensable； and to the States； when no longer united； the navigation will be equally indispensable。 But the days are gone when any country such as Spain was can interfere to stop the highways of the world with the all but avowed intention of arresting the progress of civilization。 It may be that the North and the South can never again be friends as the component parts of one nation。 Such； I take it； is the belief of all politicians in Europe； and of many of those who live across the water。 But as separate nations they may yet live together in amity； and share between them the great water… ways which God has given them for their enrichment。 The Rhine is free to Prussia and to Holland。 The Danube is not closed against Austria。 It will be said that the Danube has in fact been closed against Austria； in spite of treaties to the contrary。 But the faults of bad and weak governments are made known as cautions to the world； and not as facts to copy。 The free use of the waters of a common river between two nations is an affair for treaty； and it has not yet come to that that treaties must necessarily be null and void through the falseness of politicians。 〃And what will England do for cotton？ Is it not the fact that Lord John Russell； with his professed neutrality； intends to express sympathy with the Southintends to pave the way for the advent of Southern cotton？〃 〃You ought to love us；〃 so say men in Boston； 〃because we have been with you in heart and spirit for long； long years。 But your trade has eaten into your souls； and you love American cotton better than American loyalty and American fellowship。〃 This I found to be unfair； and in what politest language I could use I said so。 I had not any special knowledge of the minds of English statesmen on this matter； but I knew as well as Americans could do what our statesmen had said and done respecting it。 That cotton； if it came from the South； would be made very welcome in Liverpool； of course I knew。 If private enterprise could bring it； it might be brought。 But the very declaration made by Lord John Russell was the surest pledge that England； as a nation； would not interfere even to supply her own wants。 It may easily be imagined what eager words all this would bring about； but I never found that eager words led to feelings which were personally hostile。 All the world has heard of Newport； in Rhode Island； as being the Brighton； and Tenby； and Scarborough of New England。 And the glory of Newport is by no means confined to New England； but is shared by New York and Washington； and in ordinary years by the extreme South。 It is the habit of Americans to go to some watering…place every summerthat is； to some place either of sea water or of inland waters。 This is done much in England； more in Ireland than in England； but I think more in the States than even in Ireland。 But of all such summer haunts； Newport is supposed to be in many ways the most captivating。 In the first place； it is certainly the most fashionable； and； in the next place； it is said to be the most beautiful。 We decided on going to Newportled thither by the latter reputation rather than the former。 As we were still in the early part of September； we expected to find the place full； but in this we were disappointeddisappointed； I say； rather than gratified； although a crowded house at such a place is certainly a nuisance。 But a house which is prepared to make up six hundred beds； and which is called on to make up only twenty…five； becomes； after awhile； somewhat melancholy。 The natural depression of the landlord communicates itself to his servants； and from the servants it descends to the twenty…five guests； who wander about the long passages and deserted balconies like the ghosts of those of the summer visitors； who cannot rest quietly in their graves at home。 In England we know nothing of hotels prepared for six hundred visitors； all of whom are expected to live in common。 Domestic architects would be frightened at the dimensions which are needed； and at the number of apartments which are required to be clustered under one roof。 We went to the Ocean Hotel at Newport； and fancied； as we first entered the hall under a veranda as high as the house； and made our way into the passage； that we had been taken to a well…arranged barrack。 〃Have you rooms？〃 I asked； as a man always does ask on first reaching his inn。 〃Rooms enough；〃 the clerk said； 〃we have only fifty here。〃 But that fifty dwindled down to twenty…five during the next day or two。 we were a melancholy set； the ladies appearing to be afflicted in this way worse than the gentlemen； on account of their enforced abstinence from tobacco。 What can twelve ladies do scattered about a drawing…room； so called； intended for the accommodation of two hundred？ The drawing…room at the Ocean Hotel； Newport； is not as big as Westminster Hall； but would； I should think； make a very good House of Commons for the British nation。 Fancy the feelings of a lady when she walks into such a room； intending to spend her evening there； and finds six or seven other ladies located on various sofas at terrible distances； all strangers to her。 She has come to Newport probably to enjoy herself； and as； in accordance with the customs of the place； she has dined at two； she has nothing before her for the evening but the society of that huge； furnished cavern。 Her husband； if she have one； or her father； or her lover； has probably entered the room with her。 But a man has never the courage to endure such a position long。 He sidles out with some muttered excuse； and seeks solace with a cigar。 The lady； after half an hour of contemplation； creeps silently near some companion in the desert； and suggests in a whisper that Newport does not seem to be very full at present。 We stayed there for a week； and were very melancholy； but in our melancholy we still talked of the war。 Americans are said to be given to bragging； and it is a sin of which I cannot altogether acquit them。 But I have constantly been surprised at hearing the Northern men speak of their own military achievements with anything but self…praise。 〃We've been whipped； sir； and we shall be whipped again before we've done； uncommon well whipped we shall be。〃 〃We began cowardly； and were afraid to send our own regiments through one of our own cities。〃 This alluded to a demand that had been made on the Government that troops going to Washington should not be sent through Baltimore； because of the strong feeling for rebellion which was known to exist in that city。 President Lincoln complied with this request； thinking it well to avoid a collision between the mob and the soldiers。 〃We began cowardly； and now we're going on cowardly； and darn't attack them。 Well； when we've been whipped often enough； then we shall learn the trade。〃 Now all thisand I heard much of such a naturecould not be called boasting。 But yet with it all there was a substratum of confidence。 I have heard Northern gentlemen complaining of the President； complaining of all his ministers； one after another； complaining of the contractors who were robbing the army； of the commanders who did not know how to command the army； and of the army itself； which did not know how to obey； but I do not remember that I have discussed the matter with any Northerner who woul
