north america-1-第63章
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are not to be found standing about。 They are very slow。 They are very dear。 A dollar an hour is the regular charge； but one cannot regulate one's motion by the hour。 Going out to dinner and back costs two dollars； over a distance which in London would cost two shillings。 As a rule； the cost is four times that of a cab； and the rapidity half that of a cab。 Under these circumstances； I think I am justified in saying that there is no mode of getting about in New York to see anything。 And now as to the other charge against New York； of there being nothing to see。 How should there be anything there to see of general interest？ In other large citiescities as large in name as New Yorkthere are works of art； fine buildings； ruins； ancient churches； picturesque costumes； and the tombs of celebrated men。 But in New York there are none of these things。 Art has not yet grown up there。 One or two fine figures by Crawford are in the town； especially that of the Sorrowing Indian； at the rooms of the Historical Society； but art is a luxury in a city which follows but slowly on the heels of wealth and civilization。 Of fine buildings which； indeed； are comprised in artthere are none deserving special praise or remark。 It might well have been that New York should ere this have graced herself with something grand in architecture； but she has not done so。 Some good architectural effect there is； and much architectural comfort。 Of ruins； of course； there can be nonenone； at least； of such ruins as travelers admire； though perhaps some of that sort which disgraces rather than decorates。 Churches there are plenty； but none that are ancient。 The costume is the same as our own； and I need hardly say that it is not picturesque。 And the time for the tombs of celebrated men has not yet come。 A great man's ashes are hardly of value till they have all but ceased to exist。 The visitor to New York must seek his gratification and obtain his instruction from the habits and manners of men。 The American； though he dresses like an Englishman； and eats roast beef with a silver forkor sometimes with a steel knifeas does an Englishman； is not like an Englishman in his mind； in his aspirations； in his tastes； or in his politics。 In his mind he is quicker； more universally intelligent； more ambitious of general knowledge； less indulgent of stupidity and ignorance in others； harder； sharper； brighter with the surface brightness of steel； than is an Englishman； but he is more brittle； less enduring； less malleable； and； I think； less capable of impressions。 The mind of the Englishman has more imagination； but that of the American more incision。 The American is a great observer； but he observes things material rather than things social or picturesque。 He is a constant and ready speculator； but all speculations； even those which come of philosophy； are with him more or less material。 In his aspirations the American is more constant than an Englishman or I should rather say he is more constant in aspiring。 Every citizen of the United States intends to do something。 Every one thinks himself capable of some effort。 But in his aspirations he is more limited than an Englishman。 The ambitious American never soars so high as the ambitious Englishman。 He does not even see up to so great a height； and； when he has raised himself somewhat above the crowd； becomes sooner dizzy with his own altitude。 An American of mark； though always anxious to show his mark； is always fearful of a fall。 In his tastes the American imitates the Frenchman。 Who shall dare to say that he is wrong； seeing that in general matters of design and luxury the French have won for themselves the foremost name？ I will not say that the American is wrong； but I cannot avoid thinking that he is so。 I detest what is called French taste； but the world is against me。 When I complained to a landlord of a hotel out in the West that his furniture was useless； that I could not write at a marble table whose outside rim was curved into fantastic shapes； that a gold clock in my bed…room which did not go would give me no aid in washing myself； that a heavy； immovable curtain shut out the light； and that papier…mache chairs with small； fluffy velvet seats were bad to sit on； he answered me completely by telling me that his house had been furnished not in accordance with the taste of England； but with that of France。 I acknowledged the rebuke； gave up my pursuits of literature and cleanliness； and hurried out of the house as quickly as I could。 All America is now furnishing itself by the rules which guided that hotel…keeper。 I do not merely allude to actual household furnitureto chairs； tables； and detestable gilt clocks。 The taste of America is becoming French in its conversation； French in its comforts and French in its discomforts； French in its eating and French in its dress； French in its manners； and will become French in its art。 There are those who will say that English taste is taking the same direction。 I do not think so。 I strongly hope that it is not so。 And therefore I say that an Englishman and an American differ in their tastes。 But of all differences between an Englishman and an American； that in politics is the strongest and the most essential。 I cannot here； in one paragraph； define that difference with sufficient clearness to make my definition satisfactory； but I trust that some idea of that difference may be conveyed by the general tenor of my book。 The American and the Englishman are both republicans。 The governments of the States and of England are probably the two purest republican governments in the world。 I do not； of course； here mean to say that the governments are more pure than others； but that the systems are more absolutely republican。 And yet no men can be much farther asunder in politics than the Englishman and the American。 The American of the present day puts a ballot…box into the hands of every citizen； and takes his stand upon that and that only。 It is the duty of an American citizen to vote； and when he has voted； he need trouble himself no further till the time for voting shall come round again。 The candidate for whom he has voted represents his will； if he have voted with the majority； and in that case he has no right to look for further influence。 If he have voted with the minority； he has no right to look for any influence at all。 In either case he has done his political work； and may go about his business till the next year； or the next two or four years； shall have come round。 The Englishman； on the other hand； will have no ballot…box； and is by no means inclined to depend exclusively upon voters or upon voting。 As far as voting can show it； he desires to get the sense of the country； but he does not think that that sense will be shown by universal suffrage。 He thinks that property amounting to a thousand pounds will show more of that sense than property amounting to a hundred； but he will not； on that account； go to work and apportion votes to wealth。 He thinks that the educated can show more of that sense than the uneducated； but he does not therefore lay down any rule about reading； writing； and arithmetic； or apportion votes to learning。 He prefers that all these opinions of his shall bring themselves out and operate by their own intrinsic weight。 Nor does he at all confine himself to voting； in his anxiety to get the sense of the country。 He takes it in any way that it will show itself； uses it for what it is worth； or perhaps far more than it is worth； and welds it into that gigantic lever by which the political action of the country is moved。 Every man in Great Britain； whether he possesses any actual vote or no； can do that which is tantamount to voting every day of his life by the mere expression of his opinion。 Public opinion in America has hitherto been nothing； unless it has managed to express itself by a majority of ballot…boxes。 Public opinion in England is everything； let votes go as they may。 Let the people want a measure； and there is no doubt of their obtaining it。 Only the people must want itas they did want Catholic emancipation； reform； and corn…law repeal； and as they would want war if it were brought home to
