The Express.
London, England, 1847-10-15 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

Progress of America. By JOHN MACGIIIR.OIt 2 rots.
We resume our notice of this work. The contrast
between the political and social coedition of the
Hispano-Amencan republics and the United States
of Anglo-America, shadowed forth in the statistics
exhibited in Mr. Itlacgregor's volumes, is even yet
more striking to the common reader, and more re-
plete with political instruction to the statesman, than
that which the Brazils affords—as, in the former case,
the governmental and administrative conditions ap-
proximate more nearly, while the results, in the
relative prosperity and power of the les tire
communities, diverge yet more widely. Similarity
of organisation in the two hemispheres produces
no uniformity of effect. According to tho current
political theories, the states of Spanish America ought
to present the most perfect specimen of unity and the
prosperity which acting in concert gives to nations ;
for they possess in a remarkable degree all there ele-
ments of unity and coherence on which stale con-
structors calculate for the preservation of the integrity
and durability of their work. They speak a uniform
language. They profess a common religion. They
come from one parent stock. They have the same
original sympathies and tendencies, whether social
or political. They have a common history,
traditions, and literature; until recently, they
had a uniform system of government; and,
generally speaking, their material and commer-
cial interests were also identical. Anglo-America,
on the contrary, did not possess a single one of these
great elements of unity and conservation. It was
open to, and ultimately peopled by, every possible
variety of race, country, and creed. There is pro-
bably not one primitive stock, or one form of Chris-
tianity existent in the older world which has not its
representatives or its followers there. Every Euro-
pean language is spoken ; and every species of jealous
and antagonistic nationality flourishes on that chosen
soil—although the Saxon elements, both of race and
language, predominate ; and will probably, in process
of time, gradually assimilate all rival forms to its own
character. There was no elementary unity in the
United States ; a fusion of hostile ingredients has taken
place, and a new compound—truer, however, to the
original and predominant type than might have
been expected—is the result. In fact, the same pro-
cess of fusion and interfusion of adverse and diverse
races, has been peaceably effected on the North
American continent, which, in a leas organised period
of the world's history, could only have been accom-
plished through such agencies as the great migrations
of nations, with all their attendant horrors.

Yet, reviewing the history of the colonisation and
progress of the Anglo-American and the Spanish
hemispheres from this point of departure, with all the
moral elements of union and prosperity in favour of
the latter, and taking no account whatsoever of the
immeasurable material advantages which it pos-
sesses in its superior soil and climate, how
different is the result! The United States have
cemented and bound together the conflicting ideas,
interests, and passions, which nature had planted in
her bosom; and, advancing by an irresistible im-
pulse, have already assumed a position as one of the
great powers in whose hands are the destinies of the
world. Sprnish Americo, on the other hand, has
split itself up into hostile fragments, which are for-
midable only for mischief, and which are constantly
at war with those of their own kindred, language,
and religion, for the most petty of objects and from
the most puerile of causes. The Anglo• Americans have
progressed in peace, in the development of free insti-
tutions, and the cultivation of the arts of civilised life;
while, to use the generalisation of Mr. Macgregor, in
no place where the Spanish tongue is spoken, is there,
in this 1847, either civil or religious liberty, freedom
from anarchy and violence, confidence in the main-
tenance of peace, or security in the government.
These irreconcileable results of political systems

working onwards under kindred fortin are striking
in the extreme, and are not to be satisfactorily ex-
plained by any reference to the dogma-60 univer-
sally accepted in America, and so often appealed to
of late in England—of inherent and organic supe-
riority of race. However true this may be, it is not
wise nor useful to preach it. No good can come from
such wholesale depreciation. Nor, were the asserted
superiority true, would such a way of oohing so curi-
ous and important a problem be satisfactory. It is
too vague, general, intangible ; valueless as a result ;
a mere dead formula where the inquirer wished to
discover a vital cause, and inapplicable to any pur-
pose of reform or regeneration. Human endeavours
are only realised and consummated through known
instrumentalities. If it be granted that the Saxon is
intellectually superior to the Spaniard—and that this
is merely an assumption we trust is sufficiently self-
evident—it would still be necessary to exhibit the
superior processes evolved by the superior mind ; and
when these processes were laid down, it might then
be seen whether or not the Spaniard was incompetent
to follow them. This method would be more to the
purpose, and fairer to its subject. The other is un-
worthy the dignity of the historian ; it creates ill-
blood among those who need rather to be drawn
closer together ; and produces no other effect, even to
the " man," than a feeling of vanity, indulged in at
the price of truth and manliness of sentiment.
The difference in the present condition of these re-
, publics mhayva, we think, be sufficientl for
without ing recourse to any sucy h unnecessary
cause as an organic distinction of race. Although
AlthoughgK
the Spanish colonies were founded a century and a
half before those of England, they were founded after
the destruction of the municipal liberties of the
Spaniards. England founded hers at a moment
when her people began to make use of their muni-
cipal liberties to secure political
_rights and reli-
gious freedom. The difference de-
termined in a great degree •
ject. The Spaniard went
cious metals. His object
return to Europe in order
mostly an adventurer; and so
first object. he little cared for
obtained it, or the permanent
behind. He was a soldier, s•
the natives appealed only
or recognised, no other la,. _
These were the general moralities
IMO and thereabouts, Cabot:-
were projected in the lime

fereoce of time, too, de-
Tee
the difference of ob-
out in search of the prt,..
w.ro.orutot
that
enjoyeo
thgee
joatml ft l4.
1.•
ant suffering which • •
and in his des)•
to the sword ; he • ,; ••!:
tw—no ether teat
,oralities of the n
ot's voyages from Eng •.•-
spirit and carried out 1111 •

the same principles. In 1(40, ideas had changed.
The pilgrim fathers went to America to find a home.
They fled, not from poverty, but from oppression.
Thee carried with them their familie., their wealth,
their unconquerable freedom of opibi. n, their irstru-
ments of industry. Their object was with the roil—
the only original source of wealth which cannot be
exhausted. They brought with them not only the
obji eta, but the ideas, the intelligence, of an advanced
epoch. They bad the lessons of the south, too,
before their eyes. The Spanish colonies were original
experiments, of which the English had the benefit.
They were consequently enabled to avoid many
errors. They enlarged their basis—admitted enter-
prising foreigners, with their capital and industry,
into their is.faut societies on easy and honourable
terms ; and thus piovided for that amalgamation of
races to which it is probably far more j tNt to attri-
bute the present superiority of the United States, than
to the vain and fanciful chimera of higher Saxon
organisation. The vast importance of mixed blood
in a people is not fully recognised. There are sans
profound laws regulating the order and rapidity of
national developments not yet appreciated in our
political science. If the Spanish republics be im-
measurably behind those of North America—and this
is no assumption—it would yet be equally premature
and unjust to pronounce them incapable of improve-
ment.
We could proceed a very long way indeed with this
comparison, this account of similarities and dit-
ferenees, and their causes ; but we must refrain, and
shall limit ourselves to adverting to one great cause of
difference between north and south. This is the
growth of the population. The want of population
and of its increase in the south, the abundant supply
and pneluction of mankind in the north, is what
makes, after all, the great difference.
Trade, in Mr. Macgregor's opinion, does this; but
trade implies the spirit which feels wants, and the
energy which labours to gratify them. Akin to, and
bound up with, this spirit of industry, is the spirit that
does not shrink from the responsibility of matrimony.
On the question of population and its concomitants
we may quote the following remarks from Mr.
trade of North America has increased to he present
gate▪
gamontOot shoe the beginning of the pvcont century, from lit-
tle roses ego • mere interchange of manufactures for the skins of
wad besets. by Moo who have proceeded into the wcotern and
mortbern wilanness, in order to exim on the fur trade- Seclusive of
this Mao ems little internal navigation. except in carrying up the
rivers, in messes or booth, provisions and other +applies for the wood-
cutter% sod haft down the Umber which they had felled and pa-
wed for the sawksts at to eniorts. In the same ratio an the wil-
derness TIM 411411.14. and -abases'- were made, west of the Alle-
gheny; and onto Wein et sobs great lakes, and of the triesiaippi,
Ohio, Memo% sod star deers which drain the great valleys, ptims,
cad siosinas toe went, there arm fresh mources and prospects.
Thom mattlent wade paean all the natural elements wbkh
yield, by SAM sod get, sustenance and wealth to man, sad wen-
months sod nespanty to communities. Labour, skill, Moiements,
and mita are directed with spirit and judgment to tro lands,
waters, Munn and mineral+ of throe regions. Enterprise and in.
any amid the means of intercourse between the old sod Um new
settleimenb: fret by common roods, and common Tim boots; then
by molt; sal soon after by nand. end stem-broth Tr mon
quest loorome popolsalso, eml Who laternel noviestionsol
in km tam kW a emery, bes Moo seprulleird it the Wel=
world. One the 111014 remestshe elaucterthies of the
of Asides bibs Wang (d alba bold Ws been the =mph
mere Ors swain swam ens" perleep, Flanders) eta papa
to nib b towns. We leireo, bowner, Mss this tendency hes al-
=opt poor, in Ow" and be ell wwither, with the encodes st
Far in every ems wan Was ad meauhctures hare been
estabilied and malsimined. ad he,. Imeessed and proepered, we
And slot pegionaa awli moth bon hawed in about the sees
a TN ling& Ina polarised hem Awe always dedind drag
with One hams et mosiolmares and eemnawee. AMON( the sow
NOM Mal* Of lids het, we baellsone, sod soy Ohre
ling Was. Uhl eland the prowenue
emenn—lbe wishars,—ami the tam et and
the emovani Megan, hare dablehe4 In at
=Tina • dopes es he 1•1111111111 bade and riches cif to Min-
We alba st We some thee, tad Ow population of the greet has of
bus been greatly used be numbers. David Hume
Wen et opinion that no miles say contained SA many iuhabit-
tab es that was abed See" when he wrote. He
illagiatrod that there won haat cau.es wash would
auk • touch greater ahem at the population ewes of the
mat
of twourili eircumenneed tam At that time, the
mom et , and of psymen, within the bounds any
coo oboe, t poanft )eheityble conclusion. Who Hume
nolo, lOW from the Within amid ea be brought to Sanaa!
in se how Heys sa they sow ea be leonat Inca many ban The
mats alit brought amiss wen ohm se many byti awing
boistems weeper, ouldsg ash pomp Is Linda, so the stasis
are ow ponsemisg the maps Is Os smes owner it bow& no
drover Mann Ss lona Owen* Ileelhod aid Ingleod. with la
van* vibere they mad Mot lieu the from Is enbit es. 'Hey
antra Isom ad wen an by the Mpg* postern
liolsolid wool se has elsomeldps taw OW to Liana now
brag Mahn. Mari so the pitw et Me Alballeadhe High.
aka and oaths nom et the taaepamr. norift AO then with-
out lath le Ws alga of dr Themet.- ledatie Ile rower-
Wm. ameiLimbie annahlos, lea the named, err the maw
Ma. Tar he dons of Lana Sr IWorposl, an Oho mm
templealmikai . lame. It W, theirolliss, net bo weahrod st ilmt
be vim es laths lepaialnk el inns MM. Me
ant mei Inglemdl was begun by to Das , 1714.
is liogrowse gave as the Win
dew, liehoote Com- Winn
=wed Ilm
embed mkt. Da 1714. Watt Winn the efteracerglos
pain lon hr mos& vMhs mods It proodel end prelleala Cart-
Ifantilism linsika the pewn,leen. bin k imp only las papal
mer to USW To Ss 11.1pwildr Odd sod Ws Irma wan tt
enplosta; Ye&e eleeils=ey -rpennytiikdasts, and power-
's's' ; Is mot Wm air the one to
swat the dm; le Ike gent leek Maar. Wno north, central.
and tram amass, and of Wales; to the,
era owl Ira ot to
tipds; to tbe ma Woos ot Chinks ; to the eciparralltre boa
Ourawill; des persenrenes end industry or Um pops; to the
Clmargehe of We smonlestarers, and the skill of the shlness
venttreea*sdr
.r62l.l.,=6.Bm.ldsorhrtefroress ja ter:he:4llre, wtdola
at
ha Weedy vaunts- and to Ms tord;atrepidity et her bon
mann am Oren Wain owe Ow maw sal pompS tor
emoidberarlog aniesemercial bee Matey no less.
Om ma Idols railts;—ln do** offmoospraes„ du sod
door Doi, la hake eit all am Woes to national mosperity, tames
Sc samosa prowea which all ovannes, and none more so then to
United Mb" weld met wisely to Wain from their legtrlation.