The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-09-30


One would suppose that out of the nine hun
dred thousand people in New York city, two
efficient men could be had to perform the
duties of Harbor Masters without taking them
from tie rural districts; but that lie not the way
that Governors Weed and Morgan manage the
affairs Of the metropolis.
American Progress ana Eosiish Com.
ment-Thoughtsf for the Times.
"Who ever reads an American book" was
pertinently asked by British reviewer, not
one generation ago, and the spirit that animates
the question pervaded the British mind in re-
I'd to the whole range of American affairs.
But We have changed all that now. Else
where in our columns this morning we give q
series Of articles, culled from our English ex-
change papers, published during the week
from the 4th to the llth Of September. They
show conolusively how large space American
affairs occupy in the Geld of British consdera-
ton, aEd the Importance that is conceded to
TIE elements Of greatness among Us, and their
future developement Impressed with the ira
ditional idea of the Importance of ships and
commerce, John Bull contemplates with sur
prise the fact that the merchant navy
of Young America treads on the heels
of that OF Old Eugland-it now surpasses
it in tonnage-and takes 10 himself pride
in the fact that we are chip Of the old
block. Then he wonders at the abundance Of
our production of food, aud of wool, and Of
cotton, and asks himself, "Where would Eng
land be If the cotton crop ehould fail for one
year" On this point he errs in the answer he
gives himself, which is that she would be as
badly of as when the wheat crop used to fail
under the old Corn law. Now, when the wheat
crop falls in England, she applies to Eastern
Europe or to us to supply the deficit; but were
the cotton crop to fall to whom would she
apply for the raw material necessary to keep
her mills going and four millions of her people
in employment! And yet the very existence
of this cotton supply depends upon the present
social organization Of the slave States, which
the misguided humanitarians of England and
America are endeavoring to destroy.
II is not alone material questions Of American
production that now engage public attention
in England, as will be seen by the articles we
copy from English journals. Our social con-
stitution and progress are beginning to be
scrutinized. and, though still treated with
good deal Of ignorance Of American politics,
American representative men and American
geography, still there is more knowledge Of
facts and better spirit in their observation
than have ever before marked the English press.
The existence here of races obviously incapa-
bic of high civilization" 10 recognised and the
next step will naturally be discussion Of the
question Of policy best adapted to the social
organization and government Of q community
comprising a superior and an inferior race.
Our energy in works is admitted and De Witt
Clinton on railways, in 1928 Is approvingly
quoted. The effect Of our democratic institu-
tutiors on public men L. analysed, and our
practice and example are pointed to as being
what England herself must arrive at. Many
other questions are treated more or less care
fully, among which are the foreign element
among Us, the process Of our expansion and
flibusterism, and the probability Of an early
imbroglio between ourselves, Mexico, Cuba
and Spain, in which all Europe will, perhaps,
become deeply involved.
These questions and many other collateral
ones are ell separately treated by different
English journals at the same moment
Of time, thus showing that American
affairs are acquiring great importance in
England. and giving the best answer to the per-
tinent query OF the British reviewer which we
have quoted Many American books must now
be read in England. But there are other sub
jects touched upon besides those Of material
progress and tie policy Of government for infe-
rior races. England begins to congratulate
herself that the cords Of friendship between her
and us can never be broken, and looks to our
initiated in her North American possessions, aud
possibly elsewhere. In all this growth Of pub
lie opinion In England there Is something sin
gularly In contrast with the declaration Of Sc
nator Seward that the policy Of our govern
men, and eociety has been q failure; that we
present only picture Of excited and dissatis-
fed sectionalisms, and that black republcanism
must revolu,ionze the Interpretation Of the con-
stitution which has stood for eighty years, in
order 10 present more satisfactory results than
the United States can to-day offer to the world.
II will be well for US IL all parties will pause
for q moment In the midst Of the pre-.
sent heated political excitement and contem-
plate the picture Of foreign observation
on American progress which we to day present
to them. There will be found, drawn In frank
and bold lines, the confession that England has
failed ca ruler Of community Of white and
black races In her West India colonies the &C
acknowledgement, tha. our political system and
policy OF government are q success, and the
practical assertion Of the great fact that material
development, and the progress Of human know
ledge are inseparable. Yet a wild fanaticism,
combined with minor political disappcintments,
and stimulated by ambitious demagogues aud
selfish politicians, proclaims the necessity Of a