New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1844-04-25
THE YOUNG AMERICAN.

BY RALPH WALDO EMERSON.

proof is our senstvcness to foreign and especially
English censure One cause of this is our i'm
mense reading, and that reading chiefly confined
to the productions of the English press. But a
more misplaced sensibility than this tenderness to
fame on the subject Of our country and civil IN
stitution, I cannot recall. Could we not defend
and apologize for the sun and ram. Here are
we, men Of English blood, planted now for five
SIX, or seven generations on this immense tract
in the temperate zone, and so planted at such
coniuncture of time and events that we have left
behind us whatever old and odious establishments
the mind of men had outgrown. The unsup-
portable burdens under which Europe staggers,
and almost every mouth muttcrs " Revolution.
Revolution" we have escaped from as by one
bound. No thanks TO us but in the blessed
course Of events it did happen this country was
not open to the Puritans until they had felt the
burden of the feuda system, and until the com
mercial era in modern Europe had dawned, 50
that without knowing what they did, they left
the whole curse behind, and put the storms of the
Atlantic between them and this antiquity. And
the telling of the forest, and the settling IN so lar
of the area Of this continent, was accomplished
under the free spirit of trading communities with
complete success. Not by our right hand, or
foresight, or skill, was it done, but by the simple
acceptance of the painest road ever shown men
to walk in. ii was the human race, under Dr.
vine leading, going forth to receive and inhahlt
their patrimony. And now, if any Engllshman,
or Frenchman, or Spaniard, or Russian, or Ger
man, can find any food or merlInent IN the spec
tacle, make him welcome to shake has sides.
There never people that could better afford
to be the subject of little fun, than we An
honest man may, perhaps, wonder how, with so
much to call forth congratulation, our lively
visitors should be so merry and critical. Perhaps
they have great need OF ii little holiday and diver
sion from their domestic cares, like other house
keepers who have heavy time of 1t at home,
and need all the refreshncss they get from
kicking up their feet little now that they have
got away on frolc.
1t is also true, that, to imaginative persons III
this country, there is somewhat bare and bald in
our short history, and unsettled wilderness. They
ask, who would live IN a new country, that can
live in an old ? Europe is to our boys and girls,
what novels and rumances are and 1t Is not
strange they should burn to see the picturesque cy
tremcs of an antiquated country. But 1t is one
thing to visit the pyramids, and another TO wish
to live there. Would they like tithes to the
clergy and seventies to the government, and
horse guards, and licensed press, and grief when
child is born, and threatening, starved weavcrs,
and pauperism constituting one-thlrccnth
Of the population! Instead OF the open future
expanding here before the eye of every boy 10
vastness, would they like the closing in of the
future to narrow slit of sky, and that fast con.
tracing to be no future One thing, Tor instance,
the beauties of aristocracy, we commend to the
study of the travelling American. The English,
the most conservative people this side of India,
are not sensible of the restraint, but an American
would seriously resent it. The aristocracy, i'll
corporated by law and education, degradcs lie
for the unprivieged classes. 1t is questionable
compensation to the emhittcred feeling of proud
commoncr, the reflection that the worthless lord
who, by the magic of title, paralyzcs his arm,
and plucks from him half the graces and rights of
man, is himself also asprant excluded with
the same ruthessness from higher circles since
there is no end to the wheels within wheels OF
this spiral heaven. Something may be pardoncd
to the spirit of loyalty when it becomes fantastic ;
and something TO the imagination. for the baldcst
life is symbolic. Philip III. OF Spain rated hls
ambassador for neglecting business of great I'M
portance in Italy. whilst he debated some point of
honor with the French ambassador; " ion have
left business of Importance for ceremony"
The ambassador replied, How for ceremony
your mslesty's self is but ceremony" In the
East, where the religious sentiment comes III 10
the support of the aristocracy, and in the Romish
church also, there is grain of sweetness in the
tyranny but in England, the fact seems to me
intolerable, what is commonly affirmed, that such
Is the tranScendent honor accorded to wealth and
birth, that no man of letters, be his eminence
what it may, is received into the best society,"
except as lion and show. 1t seems to me-
that with the lights which are now cleaning in
the eyes Of all men, residence in that country
becomes degradation TO any man not employed
to revoutonizc it. The English have many
virtues, many advantages, and the proudeSt his
of thn world hut thev oil aoI
than all the resources of the past to indemnify
heroic gentleman in that country for the mortiii.
cations prepared for him by the system of society,
and which seem to impose the alternative to re-
sist or 10 avoid it. That there are mitiga,ionS
and practical alterations TO this rigor, is not
excuse for the rule. Commanding worth, and
personal power must sit crowned i'll all compa.
MES, will extraordinary persons be sighted or
affronted in any company OF civilized men. But
the system is an invasion of the sentiment of
justice and the native rights of men, which, how
ever decorated, must lessen the value of English
citizenship. 1t is for Engshmcn 10 consider
not for us: we only say, let us live in America
too thankful for our want of fcudal Institutions
Our houses and towns are like moses and lichenS
SO slight and new but youth is u fault of which
we shall daily mend. And really at last all lands
are alike. Ours, too, is as old as the Flood, and
wants no ornament or privilege which nature
could bestow. Here stars, here woods, here hills
here animals, here men abound, and the vast
tendencies concur of 4 new order II only the
men are we'll employed IN conspring with the
designs of the Spri, who led us hither, and is
leading us still. we shall quickly enough advance
out of all hearing of others censureS, out of all
regrets OF our own, into new and more excel
lent social state than history has recorded.
The CREeKs.-O- po,h.le-holos towns, in the
upper part of the Creek Nation, arc said to be
making rapid strides in Improvement. They have
commenced spinning and weaving, and many of
the families entirely clad in homemade clothes
They have expended portion of their annu,ies
In establishing two additional blacksmith shops,
and for the purchase of iron and steel, and the
agent has been instructed by the Government to
establish four additional school houses.
IN O piravupp