contributions to-all the year round(一年到头)-第9节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
whose claim to be considered； is； that every day and week they sow new
crops of ruin with their venal types； which are the dragon's teeth of yore；
27
… Page 28…
Contributions to All The Year Round
in everything but sharpness； aidings and abettings of every bad inclination
in the popular mind； and artful suppressions of all its good influences：
such things as these； and in a word； Dishonest Faction in its most depraved
and most unblushing form； stared out from every corner of the crowded
hall。
〃Did I see among them； the intelligence and refinement： the true；
honest； patriotic heart of America？ Here and there； were drops of its
blood and life； but they scarcely coloured the stream of desperate
adventurers which sets that way for profit and for pay。 It is the game of
these men； and of their profligate organs； to make the strife of politics so
fierce and brutal； and so destructive of all self…respect in worthy men； that
sensitive and delicate…minded persons shall be kept aloof； and they； and
such as they； be left to battle out their selfish views unchecked。 And thus
this lowest of all scrambling fights goes on； and they who in other
countries would； from their intelligence and station； most aspire to make
the laws； do here recoil the farthest from that degradation。
〃That there are； among the representatives of the people in both
Houses； and among all parties； some men of high character and great
abilities； I need not say。 The foremost among those politicians who are
known in Europe； have been already described； and I see no reason to
depart from the rule I have laid down for my guidance； of abstaining from
all mention of individuals。 It will be sufficient to add； that to the most
favourable accounts that have been written of them； I fully and most
heartily subscribe； and that personal intercourse and free communication
have bred within me； not the result predicted in the very doubtful proverb；
but increased admiration and respect。〃
Towards the end of his book； the Young Man from the Country thus
expressed himself concerning its people：
〃They are； by nature； frank； brave； cordial； hospitable； and
affectionate。 Cultivation and refinement seem but to enhance their
warmth of heart and ardent enthusiasm； and it is the possession of these
latter qualities in a most remarkable degree； which renders an educated
American one of the most endearing and most generous of friends。 I
never was so won upon； as by this class； never yielded up my full
28
… Page 29…
Contributions to All The Year Round
confidence and esteem so readily and pleasurably； as to them； never can
make again； in half a year； so many friends for whom I seem to entertain
the regard of half a life。
〃These qualities are natural； I implicitly believe； to the whole people。
That they are； however； sadly sapped and blighted in their growth among
the mass； and that there are influences at work which endanger them still
more； and give but little present promise of their healthy restoration； is a
truth that ought to be told。
〃It is an essential part of every national character to pique itself
mightily upon its faults； and to deduce tokens of its virtue or its wisdom
from their very exaggeration。 One great blemish in the popular mind of
America； and the prolific parent of an innumerable brood of evils； is
Universal Distrust。 Yet the American citizen plumes himself upon this
spirit； even when he is sufficiently dispassionate to perceive the ruin it
works； and will often adduce it； in spite of his own reason； as an instance
of the great sagacity and acuteness of the people； and their superior
shrewdness and independence。
〃'You carry；' says the stranger； 'this jealousy and distrust into every
transaction of public life。 By repelling worthy men from your legislative
assemblies； it has bred up a class of candidates for the suffrage； who； in
their every act； disgrace your Institutions and your people's choice。 It has
rendered you so fickle； and so given to change； that your inconstancy has
passed into a proverb； for you no sooner set up an idol firmly； than you are
sure to pull it down and dash it into fragments： and this； because directly
you reward a benefactor； or a public…servant； you distrust him； merely
because he IS rewarded； and immediately apply yourselves to find out；
either that you have been too bountiful in your acknowledgments； or he
remiss in his deserts。 Any man who attains a high place among you；
from the President downwards； may date his downfall from that moment；
for any printed lie that any notorious villain pens； although it militate
directly against the character and conduct of a life； appeals at once to your
distrust； and is believed。 You will strain at a gnat in the way of
trustfulness and confidence； however fairly won and well deserved； but
you will swallow a whole caravan of camels； if they be laden with
29
… Page 30…
Contributions to All The Year Round
unworthy doubts and mean suspicions。 Is this well； think you； or likely
to elevate the character of the governors or the governed； among you？'
〃The answer is invariably the same： 'There's freedom of opinion here；
you know。 Every man thinks for himself； and we are not to be easily
overreached。 That's how our people come to be suspicious。'
〃Another prominent feature is the love of 'smart' dealing： which gilds
over many a swindle and gross breach of trust； many a defalcation； public
and private； and enables many a knave to hold his head up with the best；
who well deserves a halter： though it has not been without its retributive
operation； for this smartness has done more in a few years to impair the
public credit； and to cripple the public resources； than dull honesty；
however rash； could have effected in a century。 The merits of a broken
speculation； or a bankruptcy； or of a successful scoundrel； are not gauged
by its or his observance of the golden rule； 'Do as you would be done by'；
but are considered with reference to their smartness。 I recollect； on both
occasions of our passing that ill…fated Cairo on the Mississippi； remarking
on the bad effects such gross deceits must have when they exploded； in
generating a want of confidence abroad； and discouraging foreign
investment： but I was given to understand that this was a very smart
scheme by which a deal of money had been made： and that its smartest
feature was； that they forgot these things abroad； in a very short time； and
speculated again； as freely as ever。 The following dialogue I have held a
hundred times： 'Is it not a very disgraceful circumstance that such a man
as So…and…so should be acquiring a large property by the most infamous
and odious means； and notwithstanding all the crimes of which he has
been guilty； should be tolerated and abetted by your citizens？ He is a
public nuisance； is he not？' 'Yes； sir。' 'A convicted liar？' 'Yes； sir。' 'He
has been kicked； and cuffed； and caned？' 'Yes； sir。' 'And he is utterly
dishonourable； debased； and profligate？' 'Yes； sir。' 'In the name of
wonder； then； what is his merit？' 'Well； sir； he is a smart man。'
〃But the foul growth of America has a more tangled root than this； and
it strikes its fibres； deep in its licentious Press。
〃Schools may he erected； East； West； North； and South； pupils be
taught； and masters reared； by scores upon scores of thousands； colleges
30
… Page 31…
