north america-1-第74部分
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in that case would all be with the South。 Up to that momentthe Christmas of 1861Maryland was kept in subjection by the guns which General Dix had planted over the City of Baltimore。 Two…thirds of Virginia were in active rebellion； coerced originally into that position by her dependence for the sale of her slaves on the cotton States。 Kentucky was doubtful； and divided。 When the Federal troops prevailed； Kentucky was loyal； when the Confederate troops prevailed； Kentucky was rebellious。 The condition in Missouri was much the same。 These four States； by two of which the capital； with its District of Columbia； is surrounded； might be gained or might be lost。 And these four States are susceptible of white laboras much so as Ohio and Illinoisare rich in fertility； and rich also in all associations which must be dear to Americans。 Without Virginia； Maryland； and Kentucky； without the Potomac； the Chesapeake； and Mount Vernon； the North would indeed be shorn of its glory！ But it seemed to be in the power of the North to say under what terms secession should take place； and where should be the line。 A Senator from South Carolina could never again sit in the same chamber with one from Massachusetts； but there need be no such bar against the border States。 So much might at any rate be gained； and might stand hereafter as the product of all that money spent on 600；000 soldiers。 But if the Northerners should now elect to throw themselves into a quarrel with England； if in the gratification of a shameless braggadocio they should insist on doing what they liked； not only with their own； but with the property of all others also； it certainly did seem as though utter ruin must await their cause。 With England； or one might say with Europe； against them； secession must be accomplished； not on Northern terms； but on terms dictated by the South。 The choice was then for them to make； and just at that time it seemed as though they were resolved to throw away every good card out of their hand。 Such had been the ministerial wisdom of Mr。 Seward。 I remember hearing the matter discussed in easy terms by one of the United States Senators。 〃Remember； Mr。 Trollope；〃 he said to me； 〃we don't want a war with England。 If the choice is given to us； we had rather not fight England。 Fighting is a bad thing。 But remember this also； Mr。 Trollope； that if the matter is pressed on us； we have no great objection。 We had rather not； but we don't care much one way or the other。〃 What one individual may say to another is not of much moment； but this Senator was expressing the feelings of his constituents； who were the legislature of the State from whence he came。 He was expressing the general idea on the subject of a large body of Americans。 It was not that he and his State had really no objection to the war。 Such a war loomed terribly large before the minds of them all。 They know it to be fraught with the saddest consequences。 It was so regarded in the mind of that Senator。 But the braggadocio could not be omitted。 Had be omitted it； he would have been untrue to his constituency。 When I left Boston for Washington； nothing was as yet known of what the English government or the English lawyers might say。 This was in the first week in December； and the expected voice from England could not be heard till the end of the second week。 It was a period of great suspense； and of great sorrow also to the more sober…minded Americans。 To me the idea of such a war was terrible。 It seemed that in these days all the hopes of our youth were being shattered。 That poetic turning of the sword into a sickle； which gladdened our hearts ten or twelve years since； had been clean banished from men's minds。 To belong to a peace party was to be either a fanatic； an idiot； or a driveler。 The arts of war had become everything。 Armstrong guns； themselves indestructible but capable of destroying everything within sight； and most things out of sight； were the only recognized results of man's inventive faculties。 To build bigger； stronger； and more ships than the French was England's glory。 To hit a speck with a rifle bullet at 800 yards distance was an Englishman's first duty。 The proper use for a young man's leisure hours was the practice of drilling。 All this had come upon us with very quick steps since the beginning of the Russian war。 But if fighting must needs be done； one did not feel special grief at fighting a Russian。 That the Indian mutiny should be put down was a matter of course。 That those Chinese rascals should be forced into the harness of civilization was a good thing。 That England should be as strong as Franceor； perhaps； if possible a little strongerrecommended itself to an Englishman's mind as a State necessity。 But a war with the States of America！ In thinking of it I began to believe that the world was going backward。 Over sixty millions sterling of stockrailway stock and such likeare held in America by Englishmen； and the chances would be that before such a war could be finished the whole of that would be confiscated。 Family connections between the States and the British isles are almost as close as between one of those islands and another。 The commercial intercourse between the two countries has given bread to millions of Englishmen； and a break in it would rob millions of their bread。 These people speak our language； use our prayers； read our books； are ruled by our laws； dress themselves in our image； are warm with our blood。 They have all our virtues； and their vices are our own too； loudly as we call out against them。 They are our sons and our daughters； the source of our greatest pride； and as we grow old they should be the staff of our age。 Such a war as we should now wage with the States would be an unloosing of hell upon all that is best upon the world's surface。 If in such a war we beat the Americans； they with their proud stomachs would never forgive us。 If they should be victors； we should never forgive ourselves。 I certainly could not bring myself to speak of it with the equanimity of my friend the Senator。 I went through New York to Philadelphia； and made a short visit to the latter town。 Philadelphia seems to me to have thrown off its Quaker garb； and to present itself to the world in the garments ordinarily assumed by large citiesby which I intend to express my opinion that the Philadelphians are not； in these latter days； any better than their neighbors。 I am not sure whether in some respects they may not perhaps be worse。 QuakersQuakers absolutely in the very flesh of close bonnets and brown knee… breechesare still to be seen there； but they are not numerous； and would not strike the eye if one did not specially look for a Quaker at Philadelphia。 It is a large town； with a very large hotelthere are no doubt half a dozen large hotels； but one of them is specially greatwith long； straight streets； good shops and markets； and decent； comfortable…looking houses。 The houses of Philadelphia generally are not so large as those of other great cities in the States。 They are more modest than those of New York； and less commodious than those of Boston。 Their most striking appendage is the marble steps at the front doors。 Two doors； as a rule； enjoy one set of steps； on the outer edges of which there is generally no parapet or raised curb…stone。 This； to my eye； gave the houses an unfinished appearanceas though the marble ran short； and no further expenditure could be made。 The frost came when I was there； and then all these steps were covered up in wooden cases。 The City of Philadelphia lies between the two rivers； the Delaware and the Schuylkill。 Eight chief streets run from river to river； and twenty…four principal cross…streets bisect the eight at right angles。 The cross…streets are all called by their numbers。 In the long streets the numbers of the houses are not consecutive； but follow the numbers of the cross…streets； so that a person living on Chestnut Street between Tenth Street and Eleventh Street； and ten doors from Tenth Street； would live at No。 1010。 The opposite house would be No。 1011。 It thus follows that the number of the house indicates the exact block of houses in which it is situated。 I do not like the right…angled building of these towns； nor do I like the sound of Twentieth Street and Thirtieth Street； but I must acknowledge that the arrangement in Philadelphia has its convenience。 In New York I found it by no means an easy thing to arrive at the desired locality。 They boast in Philadelphia that they have half a million inhabitants。 If this be taken as a true calculation； Philadelphia is in size the fourth city in the worldputting out of the question the cities of China； as to which we have heard so much and believe so little。 But in making this calculation the citizens include the population of a district on some sides ten miles distant from Philadelphia。 It takes in other towns； connected with it by railway but separated by large spaces of open country。 American cities are very proud of their population； but if they all counted in this way； there would soon be no rural population left at all。 There is a very fine bank at Philadelphia； and Philadelphia is a town somewhat celebrated in its banking history。 My remarks here； however； apply simply to the external building； and not to its internal honesty and wisdom； or to its commercial credit。 In Philadelphia also stands the old house of Congressthe house in which the Congress of the United States was held previous to 1800； when the government and the Congress with it were moved to the new City of Washington。 I believe； however； that the first Congress； properly so called； was assembled at New York in 1789； the date of the inauguration of the first President。 It was； however； here in this building at Philadelphia that the independence of the Union was declared in 1776； and that the Constitution of the United States was framed。 Pennsylvania； with Philadelphia for its capital； was once the leading State of the Union； leading by a long distance。 At the end of the last century it beat all the other States in population； but has since been surpassed by New York in all respectsin population； commerce； wealth； and general activity。 Of course it i
