north america-1-第64章
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ic emancipation； reform； and corn…law repeal； and as they would want war if it were brought home to them that their country was insulted。 In attempting to describe this difference in the political action of the two countries； I am very far from taking all praise for England or throwing any reproach on the States。 The political action of the States is undoubtedly the more logical and the clearer。 That； indeed； of England is so illogical and so little clear that it would be quite impossible for any other nation to assume it； merely by resolving to do so。 Whereas the political action of the States might be assumed by any nation to…morrow； and all its strength might be carried across the water in a few written rules as are the prescriptions of a physician or the regulations of an infirmary。 With us the thing has grown of habit； has been fostered by tradition； has crept up uncared for； and in some parts unnoticed。 It can be written in no book； can be described in no words； can be copied by no statesmen； and I almost believe can be understood by no people but that to whose peculiar uses it has been adapted。 In speaking as I have here done of American taste and American politics； I must allude to a special class of Americans who are to be met more generally in New York than elsewheremen who are educated； who have generally traveled； who are almost always agreeable； but who； as regards their politics； are to me the most objectionable of all men。 As regards taste they are objectionable to me also。 But that is a small thing； and as they are quite as likely to be right as I am； I will say nothing against their taste。 But in politics it seems to me that these men have fallen into the bitterest and perhaps into the basest of errors。 Of the man who begins his life with mean political ideas； having sucked them in with his mother's milk； there may be some hope。 The evil is at any rate the fault of his forefathers rather than of himself。 But who can have hope of him who； having been thrown by birth and fortune into the running river of free political activity； has allowed himself to be drifted into the stagnant level of general political servility？ There are very many such Americans。 They call themselves republicans； and sneer at the idea of a limited monarchy； but they declare that there is no republic so safe； so equal for all men； so purely democratic as that now existing in France。 Under the French Empire all men are equal。 There is no aristocracy； no oligarchy； no overshadowing of the little by the great。 One superior is admittedadmitted on earth； as a superior is also admitted in heaven。 Under him everything is level； and； provided he be not impeded； everything is free。 He knows how to rule； and the nation； allowing him the privilege of doing so； can go along its course safely； can eat； drink； and be merry。 If few men can rise high； so also can few men fall low。 Political equality is the one thing desirable in a commonwealth； and by this arrangement political equality is obtained。 Such is the modern creed of many an educated republican of the States。 To me it seems that such a political state is about the vilest to which a man can descend。 It amounts to a tacit abandonment of the struggle which men are making for political truth and political beneficence； in order that bread and meat may be eaten in peace during the score of years or so that are at the moment passing over us。 The politicians of this class have decided for themselves that the summum bonum is to be found in bread and the circus games。 If they be free to eat； free to rest； free to sleep； free to drink little cups of coffee； while the world passes before them； on a boulevard； they have that freedom which they covet。 But equality is necessary as well as freedom。 There must be no towering trees in this parterre to overshadow the clipped shrubs； and destroy the uniformity of a growth which should never mount more than two feet above the earth。 The equality of this politician would forbid any to rise above him instead of inviting all to rise up to him。 It is the equality of fear and of selfishness； and not the equality of courage and philanthropy。 And brotherhood； too； must be invoked fraternity as we may better call it in the jargon of the school。 Such politicians tell one much of fraternity； and define it too。 It consists in a general raising of the hat to all mankind； in a daily walk that never hurries itself into a jostling trot； inconvenient to passengers on the pavement； in a placid voice； a soft smile； and a small cup of coffee on a boulevard。 It means all this； but I could never find that it meant any more。 There is a nation for which one is almost driven to think that such political aspirations as these are suitable； but that nation is certainly not the States of America。 And yet one finds many American gentlemen who have allowed themselves to be drifted into such a theory。 They have begun the world as republican citizens； and as such they must go on。 But in their travels and their studies； and in the luxury of their life； they have learned to dislike the rowdiness of their country's politics。 They want things to be soft and easy； as republican as you please； but with as little noise as possible。 The President is there for four years。 Why not elect him for eight； for twelve； or for life？for eternity if it were possible to find one who could continue to live？ It is to this way of thinking that Americans are driven； when the polish of Europe has made the roughness of their own elections odious to them。 〃Have you seen any of our great institootions； sir？〃 That of course is a question which is put to every Englishman who has visited New York； and the Englishman who intends to say that he has seen New York； should visit many of them。 I went to schools； hospitals； lunatic asylums； institutes for deaf and dumb； water… works； historical societies； telegraph offices； and large commercial establishments。 I rather think that I did my work in a thorough and conscientious manner； and I owe much gratitude to those who guided me on such occasions。 Perhaps I ought to describe all these institutions； but were I to do so； I fear that I should inflict fifty or sixty very dull pages on my readers。 If I could make all that I saw as clear and intelligible to others as it was made to me who saw it； I might do some good。 But I know that I should fail。 I marveled much at the developed intelligence of a room full of deaf and dumb pupils； and was greatly astonished at the performance of one special girl； who seemed to be brighter and quicker； and more rapidly easy with her pen than girls generally are who can hear and talk； but I cannot convey my enthusiasm to others。 On such a subject a writer may be correct； may be exhaustive； may be statistically great； but he can hardly be entertaining； and the chances are that he will not be instructive。 In all such matters； however； New York is pre…eminently great。 All through the States suffering humanity receives so much attention that humanity can hardly be said to suffer。 The daily recurring boast of 〃our glorious institootions； sir；〃 always provokes the ridicule of an Englishman。 The words have become ridiculous； and it would； I think； be well for the nation if the term 〃Institution〃 could be excluded from its vocabulary。 But； in truth； they are glorious。 The country in this respect boasts； but it has done that which justifies a boast。 The arrangements for supplying New York with water are magnificent。 The drainage of the new part of the city is excellent。 The hospitals are almost alluring。 The lunatic asylum which I saw was perfectthough I did not feel obliged to the resident physician for introducing me to all the worst patients as countrymen of my own。 〃An English lady； Mr。 Trollope。 I'll introduce you。 Quite a hopeless case。 Two old women。 They've been here fifty years。 They're English。 Another gentleman from England； Mr。 Trollope。 A very interesting case！ Confirmed inebriety。〃 And as to the schools； it is almost impossible to mention them with too high a praise。 I am speaking here specially of New York； though I might say the same of Boston； or of all New England。 I do not know any contrast t
