The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-11-17
From the Nep York Tribune.

BosToN, November IL. 1852 bad. I....
From the Nep York Tribune.
German Crittcism OLA America.
The Husband, an excellent journal of Stuttgart,
10 favored with the collaboration of u German
writer in this country, whose business seems to be
soely to show up faults and wea knesses, after
the fashion OF Mrs. Troilope. In his view there is
hardly more degraded race of beings on earth
than the Americans, for though they have some OF
the externas Of civilization, they are sunk in the
lowest materiaism. Money lie their only God, and
his service they pursue with intensity and exclu
siyeness OF devotion worthy Of machine. Eeva-
fnement, taste for art, every thing in short, that
gives grace, beauty, and dignity to- life IL want
ing among them, and il is doubtful whether It can
be implanted BY the foreign immigration which CD
feared that these poetic germs will be smotnered
in the marshy soil of American materialsm. Hear
how this critic decaims against our great propen.
g Richly az mother Nature has scattered her
treasures in America, she has not been able to pour
young blood into the veins OF race grown old
The observer perceives only a cOnvulsive flicker
ing of the lamp Of life where with real youth, he
would sec the clear light OF cheerful joyousness.
Avarice, the sign of old age, or the greed OF gain,
is dominant in the American through the whole
period of his active life and during the whole year
he allows himself but small number oil days oil re-
pose from the chase after money, just rest enough
to get entirely out of breath. In this there 10
visibe childish disposition. bat not youthfuness;
even the youngest are affected by this weakness OF
old age. Boys and girls, soon they begin to
talk, are infected with lust for gold BY the example
it, and as soon the rising generation Ia capable
Of gaining money in any way, it is hurried with
reckessness, with arbitrary compuision that might
be called beasty, to the one end OF life-to money
making" H,a E.ru .. IL go f."
4 The following account ia given by our author of
the Fourth of July, that great national holiday;
there 10 truth in ii: ....... ..... .... "r
ssIn New York, in 1851, ga my first Fourth of
July on American soil. II wac the frightfulest
racket that ever experienced. Even the Russians,
with their popular festivals, rude and external as
Ia the nature of the same, are genuine artists In
that line compared with the Americans. From the
earliest dawn till late at night, noisy, senseless
cracking of pistol and shots, with the noise OF
fireworks, amid which not soul in the street is
secure of his life. forms the main element OF the
great holiday. Old and young, men and women,
boys and girls, all make ceaselessy the most ear
cracking clamor, which even peasant boy In
Germany would not long think amusing, because
in il one can think Of nothing whatever, except
that one is in danger OF losing his senses doubt
indeed whether an Indian could stand 1t long in
such confusing folly 1t is the grossest Of pleasures
If, indeed, it can be called such With it there is
now and then an empty parade OF militia and OF
whose ordinary end is getting drunk on brandy,
the most disgusting and grossest thing that can be
conceived. par. of the city's population went
out to the neighboring islands and other resorts
of the meanest drinking shops-ohered the means
of getting intoxicated on that liquor, amid the
noise of firing. In the evening the authorities ex
hibited some wretched and tnsteless fireworks, and
the day the journals full OF the Academia
that had occurred. The whole affair has always
Disguised the educated; this several confessed to
sne, and some thought an effort should be made to
give nobler direction to the day. But what can
DC done where the mass know nothing but show
and noise? Whence with the universal habits and
the want OF proper education can the nobler and
the better be derived? Only the Germans with
their good aud genial social feeling (Inneylichkei)
could exercise useful inucnce; but they are here
the oppressed, the governed, the dcspised, and
since German schools are wanting. their children
grow up with Anglo American rudeness and ex-
Icrnality. ..u.s.
long as was acquainted with New York alone
False THE pretcnce appears, had to let 1t pass
till l had seen and heard more Of America, and
convinced myself that in respect to holidays New
York truly represented the American character
little lees noise, in other places. perhaps the pro-
ccssion of Sunday school IN which dress' and
show were the chief elements-make the only
difference" . . ...
The Americans, we are told. have no real festi.
vals or days of recreation and expansion OF the
soul. Even Sunday ia nothing but a cold, formal,
and lifeiess season Of mere cessation from buai
ness, to which on the morrow all the world rushes
again with renewed Juror. The hypocritical and
mechanical pietism which, according to our au.
:hor is shown of on that day, rather hegho nh
servances of New Years that he especially wreaks
his satire. We translate passage: ....
"Whocver has any intimate acquaintance with
first Of january, and those whose acquaintance ia
but slight embrace the excellent opportunity OF
being presented to the ladies' indeed, the observ-
ties Il gives for presentations and inIoductions
The object OF the calls this day is that of wish.
ing the ladies, who remain at home--ot course
clad in their best-.'a happy new year. The tables
moreover, are universally spread with eatables,
drinkablcs, and delicacics. -..-e........ Ia
{. How many calls have you made -day?'
" 'sThis is the universal question among acquaint-
..~A.rn thoryF in ha N mr. M
q point to make calls upon and to shake hands
with the greatest number possible of ladies, though
not a word be spoken beyond the simple Happy
new year. Some go farther and make their OBJ
servations upon the uncommonly magnificent or
out Of the. way dress of this or that lady, While
others perhaps remark upon the style in which
the table was set out; and here the matter rcst5,
except in cases where some marriage project 10 in
view, when, Of coursc, some deeper fccing Is called
into play:
dcvolvcs upon the ladies, and 1t Is the duty OF the
gentlemen to remain at home. Still, have re-
marked that the principal object Of the ladies IN
going out is to ahow themselves in fine dress in the
streets, and to put the great question to their ie-
male Appropriateness: .aow many 'cails' did you
receive yesterday ~.
"In the reply, the greatest possible number is
themselves, and from earliest childhood have their
Thoughts turned only to show and outward APP
pearance. In the first families regular account
books are kept Of the number Of visitors More
over, the most indefatigabie cxertions are every
where made to exhibit the forms of polite society in
their highest degree of refnemenij and myself
Jaw on this day the most arstocratic and reserved
people, who at other times would shudder at the
slightest contact with any thing belonging TO the
mob or the common people, paying polite atten
tion to ordinary mechanics, and on tneir
accompanying them even to the outer door The
fact is people arc willing for once to follow the
custom and show themselves human--the show
being only the playing OF part similar to that
played in old times by cinpresses and queens in
washing the feet of bcggars." bi..gat..t.-..
The studies Of our traveller in the habits and
honesty Of public officers in this "grent country"
seems to have led him to the conclusion that they
are a pack of rascals. He says
ssAs far az have examined the financial admin
istration in the United States and this has been at
50 Fhcacouarte have found confirmation for the
assertion Of well informed persons that the officials
every where seek to appropriate to themselves as
much possible from the public pocket This
designating practice prevails In the Government OF