The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-08-18
saratoga Correspodence-No. 5.


The one great absorbing idea OF the American is
politics. In that he never unbeads. He OCCASION
ally throws the pen from behind his ear, and dis
misses the counting house from his thoughts. Fa-
mily cares or domestic troubles are now and then
buried in temporary oblivion The young flock to
the dance, and the old to the julep and the cigar
In winter the theatre affords refuge for some and
others kill an evening at lecture room In sum-
mer the springs and small towns that fringe the
cool waters Of the Atlantic rejoice in the presence
of the citzen-but wherever he may be-whether
it be in the counting house or the coffee house
the theatre or the exchange-the concert room
or the church-in spring, summer, autumn or win
ter-at home or abroad, in sickness or in health
the grim-visaged genius ofpotics stalks beside him.
This ubiquitous spirit pervades every crevice of
this great Republic, and fills every corner Of the
public mind. On rare occasions, when unusual COM
binatons OF events bring the public veal into immi
nent danger-when grand ameliorations in the ma
tona institutions advocated by popular leaders,
and opposed by the hand Of power, when long stand
ing and rank abuses require the sud expression Of
the popular voice for their correction-this state Of
public excitement is witnessed in other countries.
1t was seen in England at the memorable epoch O.
the reform bill, when every British subject who had
voice, used it SO as to be heard within the walls
Of St. James and Westminster, ami in such a
fashion as to make the crown tremble on the head
Of the monarch, and corruption cover the
benches Of the Senate. But the object gained this
excitement subsidized, and the current oil mems
thoughts and feelings was contracted within its
tomary channel. America presents the anomalous
spectacle OF chronic political fever, and what is
most remarkable, this habitual morbid action
seems TO have no adequate cause Read the
journals and listen to the orators-look at the ban
ners and notices, and behold the PROFESSIONS,
and you would suppose the public safety
was in imminent hazard, that property, liberty
and life, all that men value here below,
were at stake. Seek the cause, and to your asto-
nishment you will discover that it hangs on the
event Of election to some Office, the very name
of which is unintelligbe beyond the limits Of the
States, and strangers witnessing the noise and up
roar, and the bitter hostility of the contending
parties, arc apt to exclaim-
"Srange that such difference should be,
'Twixt tweedle dunn and tweedle dee"
II the American could anywhere relieve himself
from this eternal nightmare under which he is op.
pressed, it would be here. Here where he comes
once in twelve months for week or two,
with the avowed purpose OF unbending. Yet
walk the colonades OF this hotel; saunter through
its pretty pleasure grounds; go in the morning
to the springs take your seat at noon in the
shade of the awning !: promenade in the evening
the drawing room and the ball room and the tym-
panum Of your ear will ache with the monotony oil
pulsation produced by The never.ceasing reteraton
of the sounds, "Clay" and "Pok," and Polk
and "Clay." Fly for relief to the reading room
where talk is prohIbited-alas hapless stranger
there is no relief for you. The virtues and vices
the beauties and deformities Of Clay and Polk. and
Polk and Clay, fill every journal. You lay down
the journals and seek refuge among the books scat.
| tered on another table-your Efforts are in vain,
your wearied eye falls the "Le and speeches Of
Henry Clay" and the ''pubic services OF James X.
Polk" Despairing of relief within, you take your
hat and cane, and walk out with determined air
vowing internally TO obtain, at least, from the air Of
heaven, and the clear blue of the armament re-
Lief from this everlasting worry. But the struggle
| is fruitless The visage OF Mr.. Clay eyes you
through every pane of wing glass; and the figure Of
Mr. Polk is poked at you from every democratic
easement. Thoroughly worn out when the shades
OF night come on, you withdraw TO the quiet OF
your chamber, hoping, at length, to obtain rest
! from
Tired natures sweet resorer.
The retna, however, obstinately retains the I'M
preston by which it has been SO constantly ex
cited during the day. and the tympanum still "
brates with those sounds with which it was for 80
many hours made to ring. Even the darkness and
silence OF night, therefore, brngsyou relief, Ion
the faces Of Clay and Polkscover the walls of You
chamber, and glare around your couch, while their
names ring almost audibly in your ear as if you
were still sitting in your customary chair in Judge
Marvin's coonnade.
AN EUROPEAN TRAyRLLER.