The national Republican., 1861-12-28
Bayard TaylOr's Lecture

The third lecture before the Washington Lee.
ture Ass, citation was delivered by Bayard Tay.
can People, Socially and P.,litlcally,"t to large
and interested audience, with musical pre-.
lude, by the band Of the Eleventh Maine, of ex.
ceiling sweetness.
Mr.. Taylor apologized for delay, attended by
loss of his manuscript and lecturing vesture,
by u railroad mishsp, in a simple, unaffected
way, and proceeded to premise that he might,
In what he should say, give offenoe-Americans
being proverbially thin-skinned people. The
eompOsition and character of our people we're
peculiar; we are new people, not grated on
an anterior race. The root being English, the
branches have 4 predominantly English growth,
yet SO modified Ms to appear more French thar
English. The influx of foreigners seems to work
no change of national character, such Is our
assimilating power as 4 people.
In England, there is q social system indepen.
dent Of rank or wealth, and larger social free.
dom than ia found in this country; here, social
position depends much upon political or rel.
sious opinion, as well ~ wealth. He wss al.
most inclined to lay down the postulate: there
Ia found political despotism m and social freedom;
here there is political freedom and social des
potism. ..
There seems to be il social decentralization in
progress, caused in part BY overweening anx-
fsty for wealth and blunting Of conscience In
means Of acquiring 1t, and habit OF dishonesty
mildly designated As sharp PRACTICE. There 10
ssnsitivness, too, ABOUT acknowledgment OF
Of the traveller in London, who, instead Of
hinchiug at the unexpected charge of II guinea
for dish Of strawberries, ordered another n,
the cost of his only remaining guinea. A Ger
man, low in funds, will not hesitate 10 take n
third-class car; a Frencbman will dine on 4
biscuit; but Nh American will go without, ifId
say he has had his dinner. But the American
Is not penurious; II money making people,
we are money spending people, initiating the
bounty Of nature TO us, our lavishness is attest
ed nv reljgiun, charity. and science.
We are halfeducated people socially, want.
ing in courtesy and COZ duality, often blunt
and offensive in manners. 1t must be remem-
bered that we are alton without \ peasantry.
In Europe is found sorvile submission in the
lower strata Of society; here, instead, Is inso-
lent opposition to what Is above. Our only
real aristocracy was formerly represented by
| tsamsters Oh our eavy roads, now by servant
In Europe was preferable to the brutal barba-
rians known as white trash " In the Southern
States. 20.
Like the French, we are an excitable people
moved BY the passions Of the hour, and In the
great uprising Of our people now, he bad feared
| natural rebound, but the loud peal the trum-
| pet, calling the dying Union to indignant life
has not yet died away.
In referring to the English question, he said
that England never expressed sympathy for
any nation, because she never felt any. We
should keep cool, do right, and make no COW
ardly concessions, even before world In arms
| Our nation had large share OF vanity. Like
| \ maiden who loves to look in the locking glass
she should thank God and he satisfied. We
| have also an intense local pride. He could
tolerste 1t in live city like st. Paul, but was
disgusted abroad when a traveller remarked
"This ts . miserable, disgusting place it has
no resemblshoe TO Charleston"
| He next proceeded to note eur political char
Rcteristics, exposed the fAllacy OF State Rights
revered the Constitution as eternal truth, bu,
thought the machinery of Government worked
lumberingly; said that corruption had become
an acknowledged power; thought that the
workers of The civil service should hold Office
by \ tenure of good behavior that God had
now cast his alleged metal into his hottest cru
cble, from which he believed we should come
forth purihed for suhlimer destiny.