Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-07-10
The Gazette ON Macaulny and American
Institutions.

The Gazette ON Macauiay and American
Not long ago the world lamented the
death of Macaulay in the full vigor Of his
intellect. How plainly now we can see the
smiling face that was then hid behind this
frowning Providence How fortunate that
he died before the Gazelte took hold of him
and showed the world that although he may
be a very good magazine essayist, poet and
historian ''his mind had no elements of a
sound political judgment" We are further
informed that political institutions are prac-
tical everyday things; they grow out of
human nature and society; they are not
works of genius; they can not be invented"
Therefore, Macaulay could know nothing
about them. In short, Macaulay lacked one
thing, without which it is impossible to
know every thing-he was not the editor of
daily paper
After having thus essentially disposed of
Macaulay at the start the Gazette proceeds to
take issue with his expression in a letter to
Jeffersons biographer, that america did
not owe her progress to institutions but to
her favorable physical conditions and circum-
stances; the Gazette holding the opposite of
this, that American progress is due to her in
stitutions.
1t would occupy too much space in our
paper to review the Gdsettes statistics and
instances in support of the institutional idea.
though such a task would be pleasant one,
but suppose we look at the philosophy of the
thing.
The Gdsehe'S proposition is, the progress
of the people is due to our political institu-
tions. They made them. Could they not
make as good or better to-day, OF any day?
If not they have not progressed. If they
could make as good to-day, or any day, then
the institutions are in the character of the
people, and how can the people be indebted
to institutions which are but the outgrowth
of their own character? The people, of
themselves as the Gazette shows, do not pro-
gress rapidly; so the people of themselves
create institutions, and then the institutions
make the people progress. So, the devout
Pagan, fearing his own weakness, makes an
institution of wood and stone, and then the
institution gives him strength.
But the Gazette also observes, political
institutions follow the moral and scientific
progress of society" The perpetual motion
is invented Institutions make the people
progress and the institutions follow the prog
ress of the people.
Another remarkable feature in the Gazette S
philosophy is that while our institutions have
caused such wonderful popular progress. The
institutions themselves have suffered great
damage. Thus it says, when Macaulay wrote
his letter in 1885, 'For thirty years the ma
tional Administration had been reversing all
the principles of jefferson. Instead
of restricting the power of Government, all
its departments have usurped powers never
conceded by Jefferson or by the Constitu-
ton"
Really, such usurpation must have seriously
affected our institutions. That can hardly be
called favorable progress; yet the Gazette says
our progress has been at an uncommon rate
and all due to our institutions, while institu.
tions follow the progress of the people. We
might say, if our institutions have been run
ming down so fast while we have been pro-
crossing, they mast have been a load on
progress which it is throwing off.
The Gdzette's illustrations are quite as novel
as its argument Thus, Canada has not pro-
gressed like this country because "The whole
industry and commerce of Canada is culti-
waited with the sole purpose Of carrying its
fruits to England This comes from a writer
who thinks Macaulay had mo elements OF
sound political judgment. What is our
great article of export, cotton, cultivated for,
but to carry its fruits to England England
governs the price of every agricultural pro-
duct of this country, for export; besides TAX
ing our raw products and sending them back
to us, manufactured goods. The whole finan-
cial system of the country would collapse,
but for the Industry and commerce which is
cultivated to carry its fruits to England
Then the Gazette remarks, with the most
irresistible drollery, 1--WE have examined this
question so closely that some of Dur readers,
especially young men," &c. Macaulay was a
man of some brilliancy, but not a "close'
reasoner. The close examination of the Ga
zette seems to consist of its length, being
nearly two columns. Briefer articles art
less liable to contradictions. Expansion
should not be attempted at the expense O.
continuity, else the argument becomes vague
and contradictory, like the emotions of the
Atlantic Cable that so long perplexed the
mythical De Sanity. But however wide
the Gazette may steer when it launches ou
on the sea of logic, it always fetches up at I
devout snubbing-post at last; and it does il
this case. 1t shows that our institutions ar,
not only good, but were distinguished b!
Providential agency. So this logical problem
finally takes this shape-Providence shape
the institutions; the institutions cause tn,
progress of the people, and the institution
improve with the growth of society; that is
God forms the institutions, but man i'm
proves them
RELIGIOUS editor of a city paper think
tha art;clas in ha pD moo nm ralioioua tonic