Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1837-09-06
From the Boston Courier.

"The Americans in their social, moral
and political relations. This is the title
of a work, published in London, some
months ago, written by FranclsiJ. Grund.
A new edition is now in the press, and will
be published soon in this city, by Marsh,
Capen and Lyon, the author is well known
in Boston, having resided here about ten
years, and enjoyed uninterrupted inter-
course with the people. Mr.. Grund, we
believe, first made himself known among
JUS as teacher of mathematics. In that
profession he possessed an unrivalled talent,
and in the prosecution OF 1t he met WIN
admirable success. We know OF no for
eigner who has made himself more accept
able 10 all classes OF American Society, or
who is better qualified from circumstances,
or by quickncss ofperception and intellect
nal power, to write Of the Americans, in
their social, moral and political relations.
We are indebted to the publishers for the
sheets embracing the first four chapters of
the work, from which we make column
of extracts, without comment--rescrv-
ing for future occasion, when we shall
have seen the entire work, a few criticisms
on the style of composition, and the correc-
ton ola few trining mistakes in matters of
fact or description.
''The attempt to create fashionable and
aristocratic distinctions, wilt in America
never be crowned with success. The rea-
son is apparent. Every species of arstoc-
racy must be based on wealth and power,
and contain, within itself, the principle Of
rerpetuity. Without these requisites, their
superiority will never be acknowledged.
nor will they have the means OF enforcing
it. There exists, in the large cities of A.
merica, certain coteries, composed princi-
pally of wealthy families but that wealth
is not permanent, and they are perfectly
powerless when opposed to the great mass
of the people. Not more than one fourth OF
all the men who possess property in the
United States have inherited it, the rest
have acquired it by their own industry
Scarcely one-fourth therefore, could have
been brought up in the elegancies of fash
,ionable life; the remainder are recruits and
stragglers. But, in the total absence of
monopolies, and with the immense resour-
'ces of the country, the road TO fortune is
open to all while those who possess prop
erty may loose it, and must, at any rate
ultimately divide it equally amongst their
children. The clements of American
'coteries, arc therefore constantly varying |;
but every new change brings them nearer
TO level with the people.
The abrogration Of primogeniture, in A
merica, has done more towards equalizing
conditions than the spirit ofexcusvenessw will
,ever be able TO overcome aristocratic
.pretentions may exist but they will always
remain impotent and die with respective
pretenders. The absence of prmogen-
iture acts as q constant moderator in socie-
ty humbling the rich and e,evating the
poor. 1t obliges the sons of the wealthy
to join personal application to an honest
inheritance, and elevates the hopes Of the
lower classes with the expectancc Of future
prosperity. 1t is thus the strongest pillar
of democracy in the Constitution Of nearly
every state in the Union"
"The man of education, or of fortune, is
respected in America as in Europe but
the Difference paid to his person is untin-
.ged with the humiliating consciousness of
being incapable ever to attain to the same
distinctions. There is nothing in the nsti.
tutions OF America to derogate from the
dignity of gentlemen they simply pre-
vent certain class from enjoying that title
to the prejudice and exclusion of all the
rest. They are not unjust to the rich and
learned, because they are more just to the
poor they do not prevent good breeding
ror good manners, but on the contrary.
spread them amongst a large number OF
people. But there are men who cannot
enjoy wealth, unless they know that others
ARE poor who value knowledge only in
proportion as it gives them power over
their fellow creatures who could not relish
venison, unless they knew half.starved
population was dying for the want of bread.
Such men have repeatedly visited the Uni
ted States, and were of course, much an
noyed with the vulgar plenty the land, and
the desire of every American to be con.
sidered "a gentleman 1t was this feature
of democracy which they described as be.
getting low breeding, because it is apt &c
make Americans wanting in that outward
respect, which certain class of men is al.
ways sure to meet with in Europe. But
Difference for the just claims ofothers need
not necessarily be accompanied by marks
of humliating self-denial and it is, perhaps
better that the whole distinction should be
dropped, than that the inferiority should OK.
list in the degree indicated by the outward
forms of civity."
"The most remarkable characteristic
of Americans is the uncommon degree o
intelligence which pervades all classes.
do not here speak Of the higher branches
of learning, which, in the language of Eu
rope, constitute scholarship; but of the grea
mass Of useful nowledge calculated to ben
eft and improve the condition Of mankind
1t is this latter knowledge for which the
Americans are distinguished, and for TIC
attainment Of which they have, perhaps
made better provision than any other ma
ton in the world. This is as il shoulC
be. No Democracy can exist for any
length Of time without the means of educa
ton being widely diaused througout the
country /; but it is certainly not TO be cxpec
ted thar republicans should tax themselvc:
in order to crafty certain elegant taste,
which are Of no immediate benefit to tht
public. The study of the higher branche
of science, and the cultivation of the fin'
arts, find their principal reward in the pleas
ure arising from the pursuit, and reqerC
seldom the assistance Of the law to be ca,
led into active existance Wherever this i