The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-02-12
From the ". Y. Sun.
A HAPPY PEOPLE.

The Americans the happest people in the
whole world" This remark was made to us few
days since by gentleman who had seen nearly the
whole word--a foreigner who has been for many
months soourning In this country and who, before
he came hither, had passed many years in merrie
England" had mingled in the gaieties of Paris, had
wandered among the mountains of Switzerland had
dwelt amid the ice and SHOWS of Russia, had gazed
upon the fading glories of the Ottoman empire had
fingered long in the sunny and classic plains of
Greece and Italy, had trod the burning sands of
Africa and stood upon the hills of Judea In all
these places he has made it his study, merely to
gain knowledge OF kings, queens, princes, courts,
cabinets and parliaments, but also to dive down be-
low the surface, and learn the true condition of the
millions of Gods creatures-the men, women, and
children-in word the people, from the king on his
throne to the beggar by the wayside
After thus examining for himself the high and low
the rich and poor, the landlords and tenants the man
ufacturers and their operatives after learning the
actual condition of the masses, mainly composed of
the and daughters Of toll; after having studied his
subject not in books, but by actual Inspection learn
ing the state of the people with the people before his
eyes, he comes to America, certainly with no preju-
dices in favor, and after few months residence
here declares, without hesitation, that the Amer-
cans are the happiest people in the whole world
On the very day that this declaration was made to
u.s. while we were yet rejecting upon such valua-
bic piece of testimony to show the superiority of
America over every other country the globe !;
while could not but feel, and that deeply the gra-
ttude due to an overrullng Providence, whose hand
has so often been visible in our affairs and while we
were considering the danger of undertaking and
abusing exalted privileges, and thus rendering
ourselves unworthy of them newspaper, claiming a
high character in this country was put into our
hands, containing among other remarks, the follow
ing:
"Distrust with US is no W spreading like gang rene
over The surface of society, and extending TO all the
relations of life. 1t is often asked whence proceeds
the demoralizlng spirit so prevalent of late The
question may be answered by asking where is now
the incentive to exeron, where the hope of ard
where is security to be found for the earnings of labor
where industry invest with safety the avails of
its tolls :"
This is the language Of the New York American
and it certainly presents pretty strong contrast
placed by the side of the opinion given by friend
and quoted at the commencement of this article. 1t
is matter of no small Importance to ascertain which
Is correct II the American is to be believed instead
OF being the happest, we in truth the most mise
rable people on earth: BY looking TO the facts from
which the two conflicting opinions are drawn we
may easily perceive which is entitled to our re-
spect.
The American is annoyed in the first place be-
politics will not go in accordance wi h its own
peculiar views, Offices disposed of contrary to its
will John Quincy Adams is not regarded as infable
and every thing goes wrong. All persons who differ
from the views of that paper are usually considered by
il rogues and vagabonds. Never seeing any thing
in its opponents but "gangrene" it is quite natural
when they triumphant that 1t should imagine that
society is about falling into state Of putretaction.
In the next place stupendous paper bubble has
poded in the country, and the people resouely refuse
to build it up again. The knavery and rottenness
concealed by it are daily coming to light
The paper idols at whose shrine the Ameri.
can has so devoutly worshipped PROSTATE in
the dust The United States Bank long since col
lapsed, and the mighty brood of corporations which
sprung from its prolific loins are one after another
following its example. The American looks over
the wide waste Of paper rags and foo-incentye to
exertion, where the hope of reward, where is Sc
curty TO be found for the earnings of labor, where
can industry invest with safety the avails of its to
Such is the language which might naturally ex-
pcct from an observer whose eye was filled with
gangrene."
But our impartial friend, who pronounccs the
Americans the happiest people in the world looks
upon things from higher and better point of view.
He has not learned to regard few baseless corpora