The Carson daily appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1865-1870, 1868-04-23
DICKENS.

press in honor OF Mr. Charles Dickens
are correctly reported, that gentleman
took occasion then to make known tina,
the changes which have been wrought
upon himself and within the United
States during the twenty-six years that
have iutervened since his first visit TO
this country, have had the effect to
modify his views of men and things and
to cause him to regret whatever often
eiye criticisms be has hitherto been leo
to make with regard to our institutions,
manners and customs. We may not
doubt that be, man of the most OBJ
servant and impossible Of minds, COM
ing to contemplate the effects OF the
vast moral and physical revolutions
TIA; have taken place in this country
since his last visit, and taking brief
bat intelligent glance al the magnitude
OF the problem which is being solved
by our wonderful daily history. has
felt forced upon him the conviction
that at this time superficial criticisms
OF the peculiarities and errors of our
social life would be justly regarded as
flippgnt, irrelevant and the very rs-
verse Of philosophical. \ man with
ss great breadth of intellect as be
possesses cannot fail to observe, while
in his serious moments, that the sub
iect of the United States is matter
for the erudite political economist and
not for the fancy of the novel writer E;
f. matter to claim the undivided atten-
lion of the cultivated student of poll
tics and not the theme of fsnciful
tourist. He feels, in other words, that
he is not Macauley and that no man !
with a less profound and comprehensive
mird than Macauley would be justi-
fed in approaching such a subject.
If Dickens so worded his speech as
TO convey the idea that he was fain to
apologize for or retract any of the crit-
cisms on our manners and institutions
contained in the " American Notes."
he was weak enough to do himself an
injustice. A careful perusal of this
work at this time by auy candid, loyal
citizen, will force the conviction that
while it displays a remarkable blind
ness upon the part OF its author to the :
vast material resources and marvellous i
wealth Of means for the sustainment of /;
II future population that lay before and
around him IN all his iourneyings, and
that while be, as a general thing,
looked upoE his Surroundings with the
pnaccustomed eyes Of Londoner only !
TO note molehills when confronted by
while this REGULARITY OF =
the book will strike the reader, lie cam
not, if he regards with appreciation the b
great IetorUations which have been II
going on in our public affairs within the
past ten years, fail to agree with the Il
general tenor Of what it does say. The
Tins O." American Notes F." are Of omis- q
;ien, rot Of commission. Mr.. Dickens ::
listed the public institutions about ..
;oston, New Y orl, Philadelphia, Wash 10
rgton. Richmond and St. Louis. He to
ras struck with great admiration By hi
1sry things that he saw in New Eng as
and and saw some things eIsew here IN
lat suited his tastes aud IDEAS. But, '"
; must be remembered, that lie was in :.
Washington in 1912. The rro-slavery
srty ruled that city, as they did the tic
ountry. with a high hand. Slaves an
ed and abused right under the shadow ex
f the Capitol; slave auctions at Rich ties
lond the curse and horror of slavery. the
/ fact, affecting the country everywhere .0r
e went after leaving Philadelphia, be J0i
ecane horriied and filed with loath- p'
g at its barbarities and its damning ~,
Guences and when be got back 10 to-,
3 English home lie sat down and Y
voted one chapter TO the subject OF wei
avery and showed it Up in its most bef
deous features. He saw that Ameri- Int
n Liberty Was cheat ard a lie as