The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-02-12
From the N. Y. Sun.
A HAPPY PEOPLE

:" The Americans the happest people in the
whole word.' This remark was made to us few
days since by gentleman who had seen nearly the
whole world-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 gaietes of Paris had
wandered among the mountains of Switzerland had
dwelt amid the ice and SHOWS of Russia, had gaZed
upon the fading gores 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 not merely to
gam 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
chidren-n a 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 roh 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-
dces in our favor and after few months residence
here declares, without hesitation that "the Ameri-
cans are the happest people in the whole worldn
On the very day that this declaration was made to
us, while we were yet rejecting upon such valua-
bic piece of testimony to show the superiority of
America over every other country on the globe );
while we could not but feel and that deeply the gra-
titude due to am overruling Providence whose hand
has So often been visible in affairs and while we
were considering the danger of Undertaking. and
abusing our exalted privileges, and thus rendering
ourselves unworthy of them, newspaper, claiming a
high character in this country, was put into our
hands, containing, an~ng other remarks, the follow
ing
"Dstrust with us is no spreading like a GANG rene
over the surface of society, and extending 10 ali the
relations of life 1t is often asked whence proceeds
the demoralzlng spirit so prevalent of late The
question may be answered by asking where is now
the incentive to exertion where the hope of reward
where is security to be found for the earnings of labor
where can industry invest, with safety, the avas of
its tolls O.
This is the language of the New York American,
and 1t certainly presents pretty strong contrast,
placed by the side of the opinion given by our friend
and quoted at the commencement of this article 1t
ia matter of small Importance ascertain which
is correct. Ii the American be believed instead
efbeing the haPPest, we are in truth the mise
rable people on earth: BY looking to the facts from
which the two conflicting opinions are drawn, we
may easily perceive which is most entitled to our re-
spect.
The American is annoyed in the first place, be-
politics will not 60 in accordance wi its own
peculiar views. Offices are disposed of contrary its
will John Quincy Adams is not regarded infalible
and every thing goes wrong. All persons who differ
from the views of that paper are usually considered by
it rogues and vagabonds. Never seeing any thing
in it's opponents but "gangrene," it is quite natural
when they triumphant that it should imagine that
society is about falling into state of putrefaction.-
In the next place stupendous paper bubble has
poded in tho country, and the people resouely refuse
to build it up again. The knavery and rottenness
concealed by it daily coming to light
The paper idols at whose shrine the Ameri-
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-incentive to
exertion where the hope of reward where is Sc
curity to be found for the earnings of labor where
can industry invest with safety the avas of its toll
Such is the language which we might naturally ex-
pect from an observer whose eye was filled with
Ngangrene."
But our impartial friend, who pronounces 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