north america-1-第2章
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re at death's door。 Nothing that I can say with reference to the social habits of the Americans can tell more against them than the story of that Frenchman's fate tells against those of our country。 From which remarks I would wish to be understood as deprecating offense from my American friends； if in the course of my book should be found aught which may seem to argue against the excellence of their institutions and the grace of their social life。 Of this at any rate I can assure them； in sober earnestness； that I admire what they have done in the world and for the world with a true and hearty admiration； and that whether or no all their institutions be at present excellent； and their social life all graceful； my wishes are that they should be so； and my convictions are that that improvement will come for which there may perhaps even yet be some little room。 And now touching this war which had broken out between the North and South before I left England。 I would wish to explain what my feelings were； or rather what I believe the general feelings of England to have been before I found myself among the people by whom it was being waged。 It is very difficult for the people of any one nation to realize the political relations of another； and to chew the cud and digest the bearings of those external politics。 But it is unjust in the one to decide upon the political aspirations and doings of that other without such understanding。 Constantly as the name of France is in our mouths； comparatively few Englishmen understand the way in which France is governed； that is； how far absolute despotism prevails； and how far the power of the one ruler is tempered； or； as it may be； hampered by the voices and influence of others。 And as regards England； how seldom is it that in common society a foreigner is met who comprehends the nature of her political arrangements！ To a FrenchmanI do not of course include great men who have made the subject a study；but to the ordinary intelligent Frenchman the thing is altogether incomprehensible。 Language； it may be said； has much to do with that。 But an American speaks English； and how often is an American met who has combined in his mind the idea of a monarch； so called； with that of a republic； properly so nameda combination of ideas which I take to be necessary to the understanding of English politics！ The gentleman who scorned my wife for hugging her chains had certainly not done so； and yet he conceived that he had studied the subject。 The matter is one most difficult of comprehension。 How many Englishmen have failed to understand accurately their own constitution； or the true bearing of their own politics！ But when this knowledge has been attained； it has generally been filtered into the mind slowly； and has come from the unconscious study of many years。 An Englishman handles a newspaper for a quarter of an hour daily； and daily exchanges some few words in politics with those around him； till drop by drop the pleasant springs of his liberty creep into his mind and water his heart； and thus； earlier or later in life； according to the nature of his intelligence； he understands why it is that he is at all points a free man。 But if this be so of our own politics； if it be so rare a thing to find a foreigner who understands them in all their niceties； why is it that we are so confident in our remarks on all the niceties of those of other nations？ I hope that I may not be misunderstood as saying that we should not discuss foreign politics in our press； our parliament； our public meetings； or our private houses。 No man could be mad enough to preach such a doctrine。 As regards our parliament； that is probably the best British school of foreign politics； seeing that the subject is not there often taken up by men who are absolutely ignorant； and that mistakes when made are subject to a correction which is both rough and ready。 The press； though very liable to error； labors hard at its vocation in teaching foreign politics； and spares no expense in letting in daylight。 If the light let in be sometimes moonshine； excuse may easily be made。 Where so much is attempted； there must necessarily be some failure。 But even the moonshine does good if it be not offensive moonshine。 What I would deprecate is； that aptness at reproach which we assume； the readiness with scorn； the quiet words of insult； the instant judgment and condemnation with which we are so inclined to visit； not the great outward acts； but the smaller inward politics of our neighbors。 And do others spare us？ will be the instant reply of all who may read this。 In my counter reply I make bold to place myself and my country on very high ground； and to say that we； the older and therefore more experienced people as regards the United States； and the better governed as regards France； and the stronger as regards all the world beyond； should not throw mud again even though mud be thrown at us。 I yield the path to a small chimney…sweeper as readily as to a lady； and forbear from an interchange of courtesies with a Billingsgate heroine； even though at heart I may have a proud consciousness that I should not altogether go to the wall in such an encounter。 I left England in August lastAugust； 1861。 At that time； and for some months previous； I think that the general English feeling on the American question was as follows： 〃This wide…spread nationality of the United States； with its enormous territorial possessions and increasing population； has fallen asunder； torn to pieces by the weight of its own discordant partsas a congregation when its size has become unwieldy will separate； and reform itself into two wholesome wholes。 It is well that this should be so； for the people are not homogeneous； as a people should be who are called to live together as one nation。 They have attempted to combine free… soil sentiments with the practice of slavery； and to make these two antagonists live together in peace and unity under the same roof； but； as we have long expected； they have failed。 Now has come the period for separation； and if the people would only see this； and act in accordance with the circumstances which Providence and the inevitable hand of the world's Ruler has prepared for them； all would be well。 But they will not do this。 They will go to war with each other。 The South will make her demands for secession with an arrogance and instant pressure which exasperates the North； and the North； forgetting that an equable temper in such matters is the most powerful of all weapons； will not recognize the strength of its own position。 It allows itself to be exasperated； and goes to war for that which if regained would only be injurious to it。 Thus millions on millions sterling will be spent。 A heavy debt will be incurred； and the North； which divided from the South might take its place among the greatest of nations； will throw itself back for half a century； and perhaps injure the splendor of its ultimate prospects。 If only they would be wise； throw down their arms； and agree to part！ But they will not。〃 This was I think the general opinion when I left England。 It would not； however； be necessary to go back many months to reach the time when Englishmen were saying how impossible it was that so great a national power should ignore its own greatness and destroy its own power by an internecine separation。 But in August last all that had gone by； and we in England had realized the probability of actual secession。 To these feelings on the subject maybe added another； which was natural enough though perhaps not noble。 〃These western cocks have crowed loudly；〃 we said； 〃too loudly for the comfort of those who live after all at no such great distance from them。 It is well that their combs should be clipped。 Cocks who crow so very loudly are a nuisance。 It might have gone so far that the clipping would become a work necessarily to be done from without。 But it is ten times better for all parties that it should be done from within； and as the cocks are now clipping their own combs； in God's name let them do it； and the whole world will be the quieter。〃 That； I say； was not a very noble idea； but it was natural enough； and certainly has done somewha
