north america-1-第71章
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rk nothing is said about the religion of the people。 It was regarded as a subject with which the constitution had no concern whatever。 But as soon as we come among the stricter people of New England； we find that the constitution…makers have not been able absolutely to ignore the subject。 In Connecticut it is enjoined that； as it is the duty of all men to worship the Supreme Being； and their right to render that worship in the mode most consistent with their consciences； no person shall be by law compelled to join or be classed with any religious association。 The line of argument is hardly logical； the conclusion not being in accordance with or hanging on the first of the two premises。 But nevertheless the meaning is clear。 In a free country no man shall be made to worship after any special fashion； but it is decreed by the constitution that every man is bound by duty to worship after some fashion。 The article then goes on to say how they who do worship are to be taxed for the support of their peculiar church。 I am not quite clear whether the New Yorkers have not managed this difficulty with greater success。 When we come to the Old Bay Stateto Massachusettswe find the Christian religion spoken of in the constitution as that which in some one of its forms should receive the adherence of every good citizen。 Hartford is a pleasant little town； with English…looking houses； and an English…looking country around it。 Here； as everywhere through the States； one is struck by the size and comfort of the residences。 I sojourned there at the house of a friend； and could find no limit to the number of spacious sitting…rooms which it contained。 The modest dining…room and drawing…room which suffice with us for men of seven or eight hundred a year would be regarded as very mean accommodation by persons of similar incomes in the States。 I found that Hartford was all alive with trade； and that wages were high； because there are there two factories for the manufacture of arms。 Colt's pistols come from Hartford； as also do Sharpe's rifles。 Wherever arms can be prepared； or gunpowder； where clothes or blankets fit for soldiers can be made； or tents or standards； or things appertaining in any way to warfare； there trade was still brisk。 No being is more costly in his requirements than a soldier； and no soldier so costly as the American。 He must eat and drink of the best； and have good boots and warm bedding； and good shelter。 There were during the Christmas of 1861 above half a million of soldiers so to be providedthe President； in his message made in December to Congress； declared the number to be above six hundred thousandand therefore in such places as Hartford trade was very brisk。 I went over the rifle factory； and was shown everything； but I do not know that I brought away much with me that was worth any reader's attention。 The best of rifles； I have no doubt； were being made with the greatest rapidity； and all were sent to the army as soon as finished。 I saw some murderous…looking weapons； with swords attached to them instead of bayonets； but have since been told by soldiers that the old…fashioned bayonet is thought to be more serviceable。 Immediately on my arrival in Boston I heard that Mr。 Emerson was going to lecture at the Tremont Hall on the subject of the war； and I resolved to go and hear him。 I was acquainted with Mr。 Emerson； and by reputation knew him well。 Among us in England he is regarded as transcendental and perhaps even as mystic in his philosophy。 His 〃Representative Men〃 is the work by which he is best known on our side of the water； and I have heard some readers declare that they could not quite understand Mr。 Emerson's 〃Representative Men。〃 For myself； I confess that I had broken down over some portions of that book。 Since I had become acquainted with him I had read others of his writings； especially his book on England； and had found that he improved greatly on acquaintance。 I think that he has confined his mysticism to the book above named。 In conversation he is very clear； and by no means above the small practical things of the world。 He would； I fancy； know as well what interest he ought to receive for his money as though he were no philosopher； and I am inclined to think that if he held land he would make his hay while the sun shone； as might any common farmer。 Before I had met Mr。 Emerson； when my idea of him was formed simply on the 〃Representative Men；〃 I should have thought that a lecture from him on the war would have taken his hearers all among the clouds。 As it was； I still had my doubts； and was inclined to fear that a subject which could only be handled usefully at such a time before a large audience by a combination of common sense； high principles； and eloquence； would hardly be safe in Mr。 Emerson's hands。 I did not doubt the high principles； but feared much that there would be a lack of common sense。 So many have talked on that subject； and have shown so great a lack of common sense！ As to the eloquence； that might be there or might not。 Mr。 Emerson is a Massachusetts man； very well known in Boston； and a great crowd was collected to hear him。 I suppose there were some three thousand persons in the room。 I confess that when he took his place before us my prejudices were against him。 The matter in hand required no philosophy。 It required common sense； and the very best of common sense。 It demanded that he should be impassioned； for of what interest can any address be on a matter of public politics without passion？ But it demanded that the passion should be winnowed； and free from all rodomontade。 I fancied what might be said on such a subject as to that overlauded star…spangled banner； and how the star…spangled flag would look when wrapped in a mist of mystic Platonism。 But from the beginning to the end there was nothing mysticno Platonism； and； if I remember rightly； the star…spangled banner was altogether omitted。 To the national eagle he did allude。 〃Your American eagle；〃 he said； 〃is very well。 Protect it here and abroad。 But beware of the American peacock。〃 He gave an account of the war from the beginning； showing how it had arisen； and how it had been conducted； and he did so with admirable simplicity and truth。 He thought the North were right about the war； and as I thought so also； I was not called upon to disagree with him。 He was terse and perspicuous in his sentences； practical in his advice； and； above all things； true in what he said to his audience of themselves。 They who know America will understand how hard it is for a public man in the States to practice such truth in his addresses。 Fluid compliments and high…flown national eulogium are expected。 In this instance none were forthcoming。 The North had risen with patriotism to make this effort； and it was now warned that in doing so it was simply doing its national duty。 And then came the subject of slavery。 I had been told that Mr。 Emerson was an abolitionist； and knew that I must disagree with him on that head； if on no other。 To me it has always seemed that to mix up the question of general abolition with this war must be the work of a man too ignorant to understand the real subject of the war； or too false to his country to regard it。 Throughout the whole lecture I was waiting for Mr。 Emerson's abolition doctrine； but no abolition doctrine came。 The words abolition and compensation were mentioned； and then there was an end of the subject。 If Mr。 Emerson be an abolitionist； he expressed his views very mildly on that occasion。 On the whole； the lecture was excellent； and that little advice about the peacock was in itself worth an hour's attention。 That practice of lecturing is 〃quite an institution〃 in the States。 So it is in England； my readers will say。 But in England it is done in a different way； with a different object； and with much less of result。 With us； if I am not mistaken； lectures are mostly given gratuitously by the lecturer。 They are got up here and there with some philanthropical object； and in the hope that an hour at the disposal of young men and women may be rescued from idleness。 The subjects chosen are social； literary； philanthropic； romantic； geographical； scientific；
