north america-2-第77章
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or even to four hundred millions sterling； whether it remain fixed at its present modest dimensions； or swell itself out to the magnificent proportions of our British debt； will the resources of the country enable it to bear such a burden？ Will it be found that the Americans share with us that elastic power of endurance which has enabled us to bear a weight that would have ruined any other people of the same number？ Have they the thews and muscles； the energy and endurance； the power of carrying which we possess？ They have got our blood in their veins； and have these qualities gone with the blood？ It is of little avail either to us or to the truth that we can show some difference between our position and their position which may seem to be in our favor。 They doubtless could show other points of difference on the other side。 With us； in the early years of this century； it was a contest for life and death； in which we could not stop to count the costin which we believed that we were fighting for all that we cared to call our own； and in which we were resolved that we would not be beaten as long as we had a man to fight and a guinea to spend。 Fighting in this mind we won。 Had we fought in any other mind I think I may say that we should not have won。 To the Americans of the Northern States this also is a contest for life and death。 I will not here stay to argue whether this need have been so。 I think they are right； but this at least must be accorded to themthat； having gone into this matter of civil war； it behoves them to finish it with credit to themselves。 There are many Englishmen who think that we were wrong to undertake the French war； but there is； I take it； no Englishman who thinks that we ought to have allowed ourselves to be beaten when we had undertaken it。 To the Americans it is now a contest of life and death。 They also cannot stop to count the cost； They also will go on as long as they have a dollar to spend or a man to fight。 It appears that we were paying fourteen millions a year interest on our national debt in the year 1796。 I take this statement from an article in The Times； in which the question of the finances of the United States is handled。 But our population in 1796 was only sixteen millions。 I estimate the population of the Northern section of the United States； as the States will be after the war； at twenty…two millions。 In the article alluded to； these Northern Americans are now stated to be twenty millions。 If then we； in 1796； could pay fourteen millions a year with a population of sixteen millions； the United States； with a population of twenty or twenty…two millions； will be able to pay the sixteen or seventeen millions sterling of interest which will become due from them； if their circumstances of payment are as good as were ours。 They can do that； and more than that； if they have the same means per man as we had。 And as the means per man resolves itself at last into the labor per man； it may be said that they can pay what we could pay； if they can and will work as hard as we could and did work。 That which did not crush us will not crush them； if their future energy be equal to our past energy。 And on this question of energy I think that there is no need for doubt。 Taking man for man and million for million； the Americans are equal to the English in intellect and industry。 They create wealth； at any rate； as fast as we have done。 They develop their resources； and open out the currents of trade； with an energy equal to our own。 They are always at workimproving； utilizing； and creating。 Austria； as I take it； is succumbing to monetary difficulties； not because she has been extravagant； but because she has been slow at progress； because it has been the work of her rulers to repress rather than encourage the energies of her people； because she does not improve； utilize； and create。 England has mastered her monetary difficulties because the genius of her government and her people has been exactly opposite to the genius of Austria。 And the States of America will master their money difficulties； because they are born of England； and are not born of Austria。 What！ Shall our eldest child become bankrupt in its first trade difficulty； be utterly ruined by its first little commercial embarrassment！ The child bears much too strong a resemblance to its parent for me to think so。
CHAPTER XIII。 THE POST…OFFICE。
Any Englishman or Frenchman residing in the American States cannot fail to be struck with the inferiority of the post…office arrangements in that country to those by which they are accommodated in their own country。 I have not been a resident in the country； and as a traveler might probably have passed the subject without special remark； were it not that the service of the post…office has been my own profession for many years。 I could therefore hardly fail to observe things which to another man would have been of no material moment。 At first I was inclined to lean heavily in my judgment upon the deficiencies of a department which must be of primary importance to a commercial nation。 It seemed that among a people so intelligent； and so quick in all enterprises of trade； a well…arranged post…office would have been held to be absolutely necessary； and that all difficulties would have been made to succumb in their efforts to put that establishment； if no other； upon a proper footing。 But as I looked into the matter； and in becoming acquainted with the circumstances of the post…office learned the extent of the difficulties absolutely existing； I began to think that a very great deal had been done； and that the fault； as to that which had been left undone； rested not with the post…office officials； but was attributable partly to political causes altogether outside the post…office； and partlyperhaps chieflyto the nature of the country itself。 It is I think undoubtedly true that the amount of accommodation given by the post…office of the States is small； as compared with that afforded in some other countries； and that that accommodation is lessened by delays and uncertainty。 The point which first struck me was the inconvenient hours at which mails were brought in and dispatched。 Here in England it is the object of our post…office to carry the bulk of our letters at night； to deliver them as early as possible in the morning； and to collect them and take them away for dispatch as late as may be in the day； so that the merchant may receive his letters before the beginning of his day business； and dispatch them after its close。 The bulk of our letters is handled in this manner； and the advantage of such an arrangement is manifest。 But it seemed that in the States no such practice prevailed。 Letters arrived at any hour in the day miscellaneously； and were dispatched at any hour； and I found that the postmaster at one town could never tell me with certainty when letters would arrive at another。 If the towns were distant； I would be told that the conveyance might take about two or three days； if they were near； that my letter would get to hand 〃some time to…morrow。〃 I ascertained； moreover； by painful experience that the whole of a mail would not always go forward by the first dispatch。 As regarded myself this had reference chiefly to English letters and newspapers。 〃Only a part of the mail has come；〃 the clerk would tell me。 With us the owners of that part which did not 〃come；〃 would consider themselves greatly aggrieved and make loud complaint。 But in the States complaints made against official departments are held to be of little moment。 Letters also in the States are subject to great delays by irregularities on railways。 One train does not hit the town of its destination before another train； to which it is nominally fitted； has been started on its journey。 The mail trains are not bound to wait； and thus； in the large cities； far distant from New York； great irregularity prevails。 It is I think owing to thisat any rate partly to thisthat the system of telegraphing has become so prevalent。 It is natural that this should be so between towns which are in the due course of post perhaps forty…eight hours asunder； but the uncertainty of the post increases the habit； to the
