north america-2-第23章
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Ohio。 But when that division takes place； no river like the Ohio can form the boundary between the divided nations。 Such rivers are the highways； round which in this country people have clustered themselves。 A river here is not a natural barrier； but a connecting street。 It would be as well to make a railway a division； or the center line of a city a national boundary。 Kentucky and Ohio States are joined together by the Ohio River； with Cincinnati on one side and Louisville on the other； and I do not think that man's act can upset these ties of nature。 But between Kentucky and Tennessee there is no such bond of union。 There a mathematical line has been simply drawn； a continuation of that line which divides Virginia from North Carolina； to which two latter States Kentucky and Tennessee belonged when the thirteen original States first formed themselves into a Union。 But that mathematical line has offered no peculiar advantages to population。 No great towns cluster there； and no strong social interests would be dissevered should Kentucky throw in her lot with the North； and Tennessee with the South； but Kentucky owns a quarter of a million of slaves； and those slaves must either be emancipated or removed before such a junction can be firmly settled。 The great business of Cincinnati is hog killing now； as it used to be in the old days of which I have so often heard。 It seems to be an established fact； that in this portion of the world the porcine genus are all hogs。 One never hears of a pig。 With us a trade in hogs and pigs is subject to some little contumely。 There is a feeling； which has perhaps never been expressed in words； but which certainly exists； that these animals are not so honorable in their bearings as sheep and oxen。 It is a prejudice which by no means exists in Cincinnati。 There hog killing and salting and packing is very honorable； and the great men in the trade are the merchant princes of the city。 I went to see the performance； feeling it to be a duty to inspect everywhere that which I found to be of most importance； but I will not describe it。 There were a crowd of men operating； and I was told that the point of honor was to 〃put through〃 a hog a minute。 It must be understood that the animal enters upon the ceremony alive； and comes out in that cleanly； disemboweled guise in which it may sometimes be seen hanging up previous to the operation of the pork butcher's knife。 To one special man was appointed a performance which seemed to be specially disagreeable； so that he appeared despicable in my eyes； but when on inquiry I learned that he earned five dollars （or a pound sterling） a day； my judgment as to his position was reversed。 And； after all； what matters the ugly nature of such an occupation when a man is used to it？ Cincinnati is like all other American towns； with second； third； and fourth streets； seventh； eighth； and ninth streets； and so on。 Then the cross streets are named chiefly from trees。 Chestnut； walnut； locust； etc。 I do not know whence has come this fancy for naming streets after trees in the States； but it is very general。 The town is well built； with good fronts to many of the houses； with large shops and larger stores； of course also with an enormous hotel； which has never paid anything like a proper dividend to the speculator who built it。 It is always the same story。 But these towns shame our provincial towns by their breadth and grandeur。 I am afraid that speculators with us are trammeled by an 〃ignorant impatience of ruin。〃 I should not myself like to live in Cincinnati or in any of these towns。 They are slow； dingy； and uninteresting； but they all possess an air of substantial； civic dignity。 It must； however； be remembered that the Americans live much more in towns than we do。 All with us that are rich and aristocratic and luxurious live in the country； frequenting the metropolis for only a portion of the year。 But all that are rich and aristocratic and luxurious in the States live in the towns。 Our provincial towns are not generally chosen as the residences of our higher classes。 Cincinnati has 170；000 inhabitants； and there are 14；000 children at the free schoolswhich is about one in twelve of the whole population。 This number gives the average of scholars throughout the year ended 30th of June； 1861。 But there are other schools in Cincinnatiparish schools and private schoolsand it is stated to me that there were in all 32；000 children attending school in the city throughout the year。 The education at the State schools is very good。 Thirty…four teachers are employed； at an average salary of 92l。 each； ranging from 260l。 to 60l。 per annum。 It is in this matter of education that the cities of the free States of America have done so much for the civilization and welfare of their population。 This fact cannot be repeated in their praise too often。 Those who have the management of affairs； who are at the top of the tree； are desirous of giving to all an opportunity of raising themselves in the scale of human beings。 I dislike universal suffrage； I dislike votes by ballot； I dislike above all things the tyranny of democracy。 But I do like the political feelingfor it is a political feelingwhich induces every educated American to lend a hand to the education of his fellow…citizens。 It shows； if nothing else does so； a germ of truth in that doctrine of equality。 It is a doctrine to be forgiven when he who preaches it is in truth striving to raise others to his own level； though utterly unpardonable when the preacher would pull down others to his level。 Leaving Cincinnati； I again entered a slave Statenamely； Kentucky。 When the war broke out； Kentucky took upon itself to say that it would be neutral； as if neutrality in such a position could by any means have been possible！ Neutrality on the borders of secession； on the battle…field of the coming contest； was of course impossible。 Tennessee； to the south； had joined the South by a regular secession ordinance。 Ohio； Illinois； and Indiana； to the north； were of course true to the Union。 Under these circumstances it became necessary that Kentucky should choose her side。 With the exception of the little State of Delaware； in which from her position secession would have been impossible； Kentucky was； I think； less inclined to rebellion； more desirous of standing by the North； than any other of the slave States。 She did all she could； however； to put off the evil day of so evil a choice。 Abolition within her borders was held to be abominable as strongly as it was so held in Georgia。 She had no sympathy； and could have none； with the teachings and preachings of Massachusetts。 But she did not wish to belong to a confederacy of which the Northern States were to be the declared enemy； and be the border State of the South under such circumstances。 She did all she could for personal neutrality。 She made that effort for general reconciliation of which I have spoken as the Crittenden Compromise。 But compromises and reconciliation were not as yet possible； and therefore it was necessary that she should choose her part。 Her governor declared for secession； and at first also her legislature was inclined to follow the governor。 But no overt act of secession by the State was committed； and at last it was decided that Kentucky should be declared to be loyal。 It was in fact divided。 Those on the southern border joined the secessionists； whereas the greater portion of the State； containing Frankfort； the capital； and the would…be secessionist governor； who lived there； joined the North。 Men in fact became Unionists or secessionists not by their own conviction； but through the necessity of their positions； and Kentucky； through the necessity of her position； became one of the scenes of civil war。 I must confess that the difficulty of the position of the whole country seems to me to have been under…estimated in England。 In common life it is not easy to arrange the circumstances of a divorce between man and wife； all whose belongings and associations have for many years been in common。 Their children； their money； their house； their friends； their secrets have been joint property； and have formed bonds of union。 Bu
