Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-10-22

great lesson is taught by both akeby the impotence OF
man in things OF which he is not Ignorant and by
his ignorance in those things to control which he is not
wholly impotent The fact that tell |" in what
position satellite of Saturn viii be hundred years
hence but cannot say how his bodily health shall be the
next hour teaches the truth, to wit the existence
of experimenting Providence, who rolls the along
in their orbits and who shapes ends" in every
event that checkers the life of But these what
Mr. IIildreth delights to carp at as mystical IDEAS
and we forbear
But if the compexty and obscurty of social pbenomeno
have always been such to preclude the possibility OF
forming any safe and universal theory of politics. most
emnently is this the at the present day 1t has
been well observed by English writer that change
has taken place in the nature of modern craftsmanship
compared with that of few centuries ago. and this
change conceive has resulted almost entirely from
the greater compcxy that obtains among the phenomena
Of modern social and political relations Iu former
times the destincs of the nations controlled accord
ing to the sovereign pleasure of the few who were born
rule Sir Robert Filmer used argue, by divine
right Thus Peter, the great Muscovitc founded an en-
pre and fixed the principles of a5solutism by the simple
edct of his majesty; thus Colbert was enabled to
revive as by potent wanl the sinking finances of the
French empire thus Gusavus Adophus welded at will
the military skill and of his realm in the de-
fence of German Professionalism In English history,
statesmen like Walsngham and Burleigh like BolD5broke
and the Wapoes pursued line of policy dictated chiefly
by their own individual pleasure or judgment; they
initiated measures and enforced them they ruled with
greater authority and independence because there
were fewer interests to concate and therefore less OPP
position to propitiate But as has been said the Minis
of the British Queen the present day land is
equally Of Mr. Pierces Secretaries at Washington
poweress except in far they induce others
to 60 with them
They have not only to conceive and mature wise
schemes, but have undergo the far painful and
vexaous labor Of persuadug others of their excellence
Of nstructng the Ignorance of some of convincing the
understandings of others, of combating the honest pre-
JUDGES of party and of neutralzing the interested
opposition of Others"
And then consider the multiplicity of interests and the
contradiction of opinions that prevail in modern times
through the greater development of all industrial activity
and through the diffusion of general if partial
education The number Of those who occupy themselves
with the discussion Of great social and political questions
is constantly increasing and in this progress it is
notable fact that the of eminent authority and Of
admitted superiority has almost entirely disappeared
Where each man is striving elongate himself into the
stature Of statesman there will always be few Sauls,
from the shoulders and upward higher than any of the
people" The preeminence of great political endowment
is clearly the decrease among US but the number Of
those possessing midding endowment is vastly increased
and rapidly increasing. As German author truly OBJ
served . it is not the quality the height of culture
in any profession pursued by doida that composes
the glory of the age but the quantity the width
the extension Of culture among the masses"
Now, par passH with this extension of popular interest
in subjects the cultivation and disposition of which was
formerly restricted within the prerogstivc rights of
privileged class has gone the greater complication Of oil
social and political phenomena, arising from the greater
rlnrn L. -.
must be consulted and, if possible harmonized 4
Theory Of Politics." therefore, more impossible
the present day than before and Of all does
it become the careful and philosophical interrogation
Of political facts and events mprovise his system
with much selfconhdence Mr. Hdreth brings to the
task.
We have neither the .ilo the inclination
by such Of authors particular opinions
seem illogical and absurd, neither does it fall
within province rebuke the attacks Of Mr..
Hildreth the doctrine Of Christianity We presume
however that the gaordRtq which he berays in
religious may be Of service in exposing the shall
oWness Of his political specuatioos His hatred Of CAL
yiaism especially as keen, Deep and precious
that which exists in the bosom of English reviewer
but tits made quite apparent that lac knows nothing Of
the system expounded by the great Genevan reomer
its travestie rcpresented by malignant opponents
How much truth there is in Mr. Hildreths statement
that the orthodox view OF the mystery OF the Trinity
took its origin with specialists who regarded Plato with
little, if any less than Christ" that " the
doctrine Of the incarnation is to be traced the infu
Of Buddhist missionaries" shall not pause to
inquire Mr.. ldreths ignorance Of ecclesiastical his
tory is evidently only equaed by the simplicity Of his po
itcal philosophy AT the risk of being cassed among
the periodical heresy hunters whom Mr II. seeks to
make the butt Of his clumsy ridcue, to sug
gest that he would have shown much sounder discretion,
and that too without being suspected Of piety, by sup
pressing his stale patitudes what he affects to call
mystical ideas"
Tie practical workings Of dsmocratcal form Of gov
ernment in country, according Mr. Hildreth,
Distracted by several disturbing forces Of which
tho influence upon the institutions and social condition of
America from considerable" Among these he emu
the English Common Law adapted the basis
Of American Jurisprudence, the general prevalence Of
mystical ideas" or "priestcraft" the existence Of
chatte slavery in the Southern States and the regency
or American colonization The first and greatest Of these
disturbing forces in the judgment Of author is the
Common Law" scheme directly hostile the spirit Of
democracy" and therefore, "under enlightened de-
mocratcal government entirely out Of place We must
join issue with Mr. lldreth this point and just
I the contrary. The Common Law, understand it.
is the democratic part Of institutions indeed
it is just the only thing purely democratic that is at all
recognised in the theory Of National Constitution
ia tie practical workings Of National Judiciary; for
4 the United States not Democracy, Mr. Hdreth
enormously conceyes The distinction between Statute
and Common Law is familiar every one, and what is
that distinction nv