north america-2-第91章
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sir？ Do you find that philanthropy； religion； philosophy and the social virtues are cultivated on a scale commensurate with the unequaled liberty and political advancement of the nation？〃 There is something absurd in such a mode of address when it is repeated often。 But hero worship and love of country are not absurd； and do not these addresses show capacity for hero worship and an aptitude for the love of country？ Jefferson Brick may not be a hero； but a capacity for such worship is something。 Indeed the capacity is everything； for the need of a hero will produce a hero。 And it is the same with that love of country。 A people that are proud of their country will see that there is something in their country to justify their pride。 Do we not all of us feel assured by the intense nationality of an American that he will not desert his nation in the hour of her need？ I feel that assurance respecting them； and at those moments in which I am moved to laughter by the absurdities of their addresses to me I feel it the strongest。 I left Boston with the snow； and returning to New York found that the streets there were dry and that the winter was nearly over。 As I had passed through New York to Boston the streets had been by no means dry。 The snow had lain in small mountains over which the omnibuses made their way down Broadway； till at the bottom of that thoroughfare； between Trinity Church and Bowling Green； alp became piled upon alp； and all traffic was full of danger。 The cursed love of gain still took men to Wall Street； but they had to fight their way thither through physical difficulties which must have made even the state of the money market a matter of indifference to them。 They do not seem to me to manage the winter in New York so well as they do in Boston。 But now； on my last return thither； the alps were gone； the roads were clear； and one could travel through the city with no other impediment than those of treading on women's dresses if one walked； or having to look after women's band…boxes and pay their fares and take their change if one used the omnibuses。 And now had come the end of my adventure； and as I set my foot once more upon the deck of the Cunard steamer； I felt that my work was done； whether it were done ill or well； or whether indeed any approach to the doing of it had been attained； all had been done that I could accomplish。 No further opportunity remained to me of seeing； hearing； or of speaking。 I had come out thither； having resolved to learn a little that I might if possible teach that little to others； and now the lesson was learned； or must remain unlearned。 But in carrying out my resolution I had gradually risen in my ambition； and had mounted from one stage of inquiry to another； till at last I had found myself burdened with the task of ascertaining whether or no the Americans were doing their work as a nation well or ill； and now； if ever； I must be prepared to put forth the result of my inquiry。 As I walked up and down the deck of the steamboat I confess I felt that I had been somewhat arrogant。 I had been a few days over six months in the States； and I was engaged in writing a book of such a nature that a man might well engage himself for six years； or perhaps for sixty； in obtaining the materials for it。 There was nothing in the form of government； or legislature； or manners of the people as to which I had not taken upon myself to say something。 I was professing to understand their strength and their weakness； and was daring to censure their faults and to eulogize their virtues。 〃Who is he；〃 an American would say； 〃that he comes and judges us？ His judgment is nothing。〃 〃Who is he；〃 an Englishman would say； 〃that he comes and teaches us？ His teaching is of no value。〃 In answer to this I have but a small plea to makeI have done my best。 I have nothing 〃extenuated； and have set down naught in malice。〃 I do feel that my volumes have blown themselves out into proportions greater than I had intended； greater not in mass of pages； but in the matter handled。 I am frequently addressing my own muse； who I am well aware is not Clio； and asking her whither she is wending。 〃Cease； thou wrong…headed one； to meddle with these mysteries。〃 I appeal to her frequently； but ever in vain。 One cannot drive one's muse； nor yet always lead her。 Of the various women with which a man is blessed； his muse is by no means the least difficult to manage。 But again I put in my slight plea。 In doing as I have done； I have at least done my best。 I have endeavored to judge without prejudice； and to hear with honest ears and to see with honest eyes。 The subject； moreover； on which I have written is one which； though great； is so universal in its bearings that it may be said to admit； without impropriety； of being handled by the unlearned as well as the learned； by those who have grown gray in the study of constitutional lore； and by those who have simply looked on at the government of men as we all look on at those matters which daily surround us。 There are matters as to which a man should never take a pen in hand unless he has given to them much labor。 The botanist must have learned to trace the herbs and flowers before he can presume to tell us how God has formed them。 But the death of Hector is a fit subject for a boy's verses； though Homer also sang of it。 I feel that there is scope for a book on the United States form of government as it was founded； and as it has since framed itself； which might do honor to the life…long studies of some one of those great constitutional pundits whom we have among us； but； nevertheless； the plain words of a man who is no pundit need not disgrace the subject； if they be honestly written； and if he who writes them has in his heart an honest love of liberty。 Such were my thoughts as I walked the deck of the Cunard steamer。 Then I descended to my cabin； settled my luggage； and prepared a table for the continuance of my work。 It was fourteen days from that time before I reached London； but the fourteen days to me were not unpleasant。 The demon of sea…sickness spares me always； and if I can find on board one or two who are equally fortunatewho can eat with me； drink with me； and talk with meI do not know that a passage across the Atlantic is by any means a terrible evil to me。 In finishing these volumes after the fashion in which they have been written throughout； I feel that I am bound to express a fixed opinion on two or three points； and that if I have not enabled myself to do so； I have traveled through the country in vain。 I am bound by the very nature of my undertaking to say whether； according to such view as I have enabled myself to take of them； the Americans have succeeded as a nation politically and socially； and in doing this I ought to be able to explain how far slavery has interfered with such success。 I am bound also； writing at the present moment； to express some opinion as to the result of this war； and to declare whether the North or the South may be expected to be victorious explaining in some rough way what may be the results of such victory； and how such results will affect the question of slavery； and I shall leave my task unfinished if I do not say what may be the possible chances of future quarrel between England and the States。 That there has been and is much hot blood and angry feeling； no man doubts； but such angry feeling has existed among many nations without any probability of war。 In this case； with reference to this ill will that has certainly established itself between us and that other people； is there any need that it should be satisfied by war and allayed by blood？ No one； I think； can doubt that the founders of the great American Commonwealth made an error in omitting to provide some means for the gradual extinction of slavery throughout the States。 That error did not consist in any liking for slavery。 There was no feeling in favor of slavery on the part of those who made themselves prominent at the political birth of the nation。 I think I shall be justified in saying that at that time the opinion that slavery is itself a good thing； that it is an institution of divine origin and fit to be perpetuated among men as in itself excelle
