New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-01-15
MIR. Jnmes's Lecture before the nIechaaics
Institute.


The lecture Monday night before the Mechanics
Institute by HENRY JAMES, Esq. was profound
and brilliant exposition of Democracy and its
Issues" The highly original statements of she
author were elucidated with profusion of racy
illustrations, and clothed with lively interest by
the charms Of an earnest and graceful elocution.
Mr.. James commenced his lecture with strik.
ing comparison between the democratic institu-
tions of this country and the aristocracy and mon
archy Of the Old World. Monarchy asserting the
right of privileged person or family to govern
rs-aristocracy claiming the right Of a certain
class to govern other classes, while democracy
protests against both.
The democratic idea has thus purely negative
development. IL is not constructive, but reyou-
tiOnary.
Its Office is to destroy the old world but not to
build up the new. 1t alleges the right of the peo-
pie to selEgovernment but when it speaks Of
the people it means the whole people not any
fraction thereof; not a numerical majority as OPP
posed to a minority nor the male portion in con.
tradistincton to the female, but the whole people
with no exception or limitation. But when you
speak of the people as a unit you see that their
polity ceases to be governmental, and is simply
administrative. Thus the democratic idea in af.
firmiDg the sovereignty Of the people, in fact
reduces government to a mere name. This is
the tendency of legislation in this country We
may infer, then, that when the democratic idea
becomes fully developed, every merely political
institution, every form of police will disappear.
l do not intend by this, said Mr.. j. to suggest
any distrust of democracy. | see nothing in our
future but hope and and abundant cheer. see
these things as the direct offspring of firm ale
glance to the essential democratic idea.
But democracy is not the ultimate condition OF
man. 1t signalises the time when the race energies
fha was If oh fak res fOr.
tunes into its own hands. 1t is a period in the
history of individuals which is often extremely
unhandsome. The urchin has outgrown the jacket
and RIFLES of infancy but 10 still too small for the
standing collar and long. tailed coat of manhood.
His actual attachments are small while his con-
ceit is unlimited. He utters the thoughts of boy
hood, but in hoarser voice than the adult man g.
He loves to demonstrate bis sentiment Of freedom,
by rudeness toward the old folks calls his father
the old man, his mother the old woman, and gives
out on every occasion, that they don't know every
thing
1t is so with nations arrived at Democracy.
They are far more estm able for their criticisms
than their perfoImances-for the execution they
have wrought on vicious forms Of government
tha for the restoration OF any perfect form for
themselves.
Mr. James then went on in a strain of eloquent
and vigorous logic to show the legitimate issue Of
the democratic idea, In the exemption OF the peo
pie from external rule, in the recognition Of no
authority but their own will This topic was
fully discussed, to the great satisfaction OF the
audience and the lecture closedwith an preston
Of the conviction that nothing but the persistent
operation of the democratic principle, or the des-
tructive legislation now in progress is necessary
to inaugurate the divine kingdom on earth, to
bring about the great prophetic period to which
all history has tended, that everlasting Sabbath or
rest which is to close in and gorify the brief but
toisome week OF mans past experience.