north america-2-第93章
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； step will have gone on after step； and effect will have followed cause； till the American people will at last acknowledge that all these matters have been arranged for their advantage and promotion。 It may be that a nation now and then goes to the wall； and that things go from bad to worse with a large people。 It has been so with various nations； and with many people since history was first written。 But when it has been so； the people thus punished have been idle and bad。 They have not only done evil in their generation； but have done more evil than good； and have contributed their power to the injury rather than to the improvement of mankind。 It may be that this or that national fault may produce or seem to produce some consequent calamity。 But the balance of good or evil things which fall to a people's share will indicate with certainty their average conduct as a nation。 The one will be the certain sequence of the other。 If it be that the Americans of the Northern States have done well in their time； that they have assisted in the progress of the world； and made things better for mankind rather than worse； then they will come out of this trouble without eventual injury。 That which came in the guise of punishment for a special fault； will be a part of the reward resulting from good conduct in the general。 And as to this matter of slavery； in which I think that they have blundered both politically and morally； has it not been found impossible hitherto for them to cleanse their hands of that taint？ But that which they could not do for themselves the course of events is doing for them。 If secession establish herself； though it be only secession of the Gulf States； the people of the United States will soon be free from slavery。 In judging of the success or want of success of any political institutions or of any form of government； we should be guided； I think； by the general results； and not by any abstract rules as to the right or wrong of those institutions or of that form。 It might be easy for a German lawyer to show that our system of trial by jury is open to the gravest objections； and that it sins against common sense。 But if that system gives us substantial justice； and protects us from the tyranny of men in office； the German will not succeed in making us believe that it is a bad system。 When looking into the matter of the schools at Boston； I observed to one of the committee of management that the statements with which I was supplied； though they told me how many of the children went to school； did not tell me how long they remained at school。 The gentleman replied that that information was to be obtained from the result of the schooling of the population generally。 Every boy and girl around him could read and write； and could enjoy reading and writing。 There was therefore evidence to show that they remained at school sufficiently long for the required purposes。 It was fair that I should judge of the system from the results。 Here； in England； we generally object to much that the Americans have adopted into their form of government； and think that many of their political theories are wrong。 We do not like universal suffrage。 We do not like a periodical change in the first magistrate； and we like quite as little a periodical permanence in the political officers immediately under the chief magistrate； we are； in short； wedded to our own forms； and therefore opposed by judgment to forms differing from our own。 But I think we all acknowledge that the United States； burdened as they are with these political evilsas we think themhave grown in strength and material prosperity with a celerity of growth hitherto unknown among nations。 We may dislike Americans personally； we may find ourselves uncomfortable when there； and unable to sympathize with them when away。 We may believe them to be ambitious； unjust； self…idolatrous； or irreligious； but unless we throw our judgment altogether overboard； we cannot believe them to be a weak people； a poor people； a people with low spirits or with idle hands。 Now to what is it that the government of a country should chiefly look？ What special advantages do we expect from our own government？ Is it not that we should be safe at home and respected abroadthat laws should be maintained； but that they should be so maintained that they should not be oppressive？ There are； doubtless； countries in which the government professes to do much more than this for its peoplecountries in which the government is paternal； in which it regulates the religion of the people； and professes to enforce on all the national children respect for the governors； teachers； spiritual pastors； and masters。 But that is not our idea of a government。 That is not what we desire to see established among ourselves or established among others。 Safety from foreign foes； respect from foreign foes and friends； security under the law and security from the law； this is what we expect from our government； and if I add to this that we expect to have these good things provided at a fairly moderate cost； I think I have exhausted the list of our requirements。 I hardly think that we even yet expect the government to take the first steps in the rudimentary education of the people。 We certainly do not expect it to make the people religious； or to keep them honest。 And if the Americans with their form of government have done for themselves all that we expect our government to do for us； if they have with some fair approach to general excellence obtained respect abroad and security at home from foreign foes； if they have made life； liberty； and property safe under their laws； and have also so written and executed their laws as to secure their people from legal oppression；I maintain that they are entitled to a verdict in their favor； let us object as we may to universal suffrage； to four years' Presidents and four years' presidential cabinets。 What； after all； matters the theory or the system； whether it be king or president； universal suffrage or ten…pound voter； so long as the people be free and prosperous？ King and president； suffrage by poll and suffrage by property； are but the means。 If the end be there； if the thing has been done； king and president； open suffrage and close suffrage； may alike be declared to have been successful。 The Americans have been in existence as a nation for seventy…five years； and have achieved an amount of foreign respect during that period greater than any other nation ever obtained in double the time。 And this has been given to them； not in deference to the statesmanlike craft of their diplomatic and other officers； but on grounds the very opposite of those。 It has been given to them because they form a numerous； wealthy； brave； and self…asserting nation。 It is； I think； unnecessary to prove that such foreign respect has been given to them； but were it necessary； nothing would prove it more strongly than the regard which has been universally paid by European governments to the blockade placed during this war on the Southern ports by the government of the United States。 Had the nation been placed by general consent in any class of nations below the first； England； France； and perhaps Russia would have taken the matter into their own hands； and have settled for the States； either united or disunited； at any rate that question of the blockade。 And the Americans have been safe at home from foreign foes； so safe； that no other strong people but ourselves have enjoyed anything approaching to their security since their foundation。 Nor has our security been at all equal to theirs； if we are to count our nationality as extending beyond the British Isles。 Then as to security under their laws and from their laws！ Those laws and the system of their management have been taken almost entirely from us； and have so been administered that life and property have been safe； and the subject also has been free； under the law。 I think that this may be taken for granted； seeing that they who have been most opposed to American forms of government have never asserted the reverse。 I may be told of a man being lynched in one State； or tarred and feathered in another； or of a duel in a third being 〃foug
