New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-01-22
THE JANUARY NORTH AMERICAN.

Our Boston correspondent has prepared the
readers OF TRIBUNE for reduction In the SIG OF
The North American Rereo The reduction has been put
in force January number, and occurs just where
we are most sorry to find II, namely, in the Critical
Notices" of new books So little genuine critioism is APP
Piled in the United States the publications OF the day
and such considerable proportion OF thatt mas come
The North american Repietc. that we can Ill AFFORD 10
spare its Just and fearless literary Judgments wch nave
deservedy carried weight than those OF any other
American periodical Only two notices arc gwen W the
present number, of which is devoted to Prof. PUN
pellys Across America and Asia" and the other TO
Prof. Whi.ney's Geological Survey OF California
large OF the body Of the Review Is devoted 10 nVe
topics Of politics and political economy. "Ihe Let
Alone Principle" by Simon Newcomb. starts with the
posuate that the true theory Of government ana the
secret Of national prosperity sto e the people alone as
far as that may be done with due regard to the protection
of individual rights and the public defense In particu
lar he argues apply this principle 20 questions
OF trade and finance consequently protective tarlH is
both impoc and tyrGnnical; legaltender oct Is
gross wrong and usury laws opposed TO all sound
theories OF government 1t would easy enoughto show
the faacy of this reasoning and reduce 1t 70 tho alb
surdlty of its legitimate consequences but we do not
purpose discussing the tariff IN this department OF HE
TRIBUNE. Mr.. Lewis II. Morgan continues, but
does not finish, his examination into the subject
OF Indian Mgrations" Karl Blind reviews, in tone OF
mingled compliment and complaint, Fergussons splendid
work OH Tree and Serpent Worship" Of which we have
recently told readers something's and MI. Gamalei
Bradford Boston gentleman. and, II we are not mis-
taken, retired merchant puts forth financial scheme
under cover Of examination OF 1.-The treasury Re
portsp interesting by far Of all the articles
in the review are Goodwin Smiths mastery survey Oh
1.-THE Ecclesiastical Crisis in England" which embraces
the clearest analysis we have read OF the different
parties concerned in the great English problem
and the paper by Charles Francis Adams. jr, on Rail-
way Problems in 1862" Mr.. Adams sketches the great
process OF onsOdation which has been steadily carried
forward by the railway companies of late years. and has
now reached such point that tho most thOughtless
hardly be nsensibe its dangers lie believes that it
has by no means reached its limits. Three States
-New-JeIsey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland-are
already owned by railroad combinations;
New.Yofk threatens to become fourth and
in their struggle with the express companies, it highly
probable that the railroads throughout the United States
will eventually combine in clearing house system such
express business Is based upOu and thus VIII
become virtually single corporation controlling the
whole country Some people in sucha case Will propose
to solve the difficulty by making the railroads Govern
mont property, just 1t is proposed to establish
Government telegraph But this would be inconsistent
with the whole theory Of Constitution and to turn
over 10 Government constructed on such principle as
ours the management Of so complex organization as
the railroad system would be like planting oak tree in
| porcelain vase.
Meanwhile here two systems growing and expand.
Ing By sldethe representative republican system OF
| government adapted to simple and somewhat undo;
yeloped phase of society aud the corporate industrial
system. the result and coneomtant Of complex and
aIhcal G;ylnzat9n do% dong San inGy 1TvI,o 20
legislatures aud Inarkeplace the growing tor
our machinery Of government vislby works. crude I'M
dgested propositions for reform which emanate from
quarter the startling rapdywith which change de-
velopsitse and the rapidly shifting phases which al IN,
teests assume clearly indicate some decpseaed social
aud political revolution in progress What this will re.
snt IN only disclose IL would be mere waste OF
space and ingenuity to endeavor forecast at present
|
result may according 20 present Indications soon
! he cassed among the things that are inevitable.
| our political system cannot much longer sustain the
| conflict with corporations. Modern civilization has
| created class of-powers which are TOO strong Tor
the control Of governments The machinery of com
binnon and perIetuty Is TOO perfect me future IN ms
matter is IN some degree lOieshadoWed ny ue
/ past once already has q great corporate interest
crasped the control Of Government and 10 could
one other occasion the Government became involved in
conflict with private corporation, welding the power
| Of only SJ5O0ONU OF capital and for years the
try disturbed Both OF these were the episodes OF
PRESENT. The States Of New-Jersey Pennsylvania, and
Maryland respectively owned by corporations within
their limits NcWYOrk is governed by two corporations,
Inied states is sruggiing painfully with half dozen
great combinations of private and corporate Interests,
and Vellnormed man doubts that toda Is IN the
| power Of the national banking system alone to die
tale 10 the National Government any financial pOhcy IL
may desire, and 10 compel It's adoption The simple fact
power these combinations. through their material in
uenee aud their power 10 create or ay disturbance,
! bincd. How indeed could it be otherwise Compare
the 6ns o. y Win da these 81 Yesterday pr Lhe
boosted capital Of $35.o0JoO0. The slave power was
only one section OF the country aud could be combated IN
another. The bank was overthrow through its own
! Slavery WAS accomplished after p years OF
| agitation and four years Of civil war. Tho
Organization. ecnsuye to the common interest subject
TO common control which now enjoys sl2j001OgJ OF
wealth. and S50O000O Of income and Is distributed all
over the country The railroad system dwals even this
single members Of IL control two hundred millions OF
I al nd 40 q uipu. 4 "A
united Influence shoots out ITS tancatODs into every
! State and county and town Of the whole Union.
sOG0 100000 OF wealth. These the disturbing forces
now called upon 10 take part social system which
| DO the limits Of their actlUni May not the oak
| tree already be shaiiering the porcelain vase
violently overthrow, bnt rather quietly antiquate,
any system Of government which thvarts their
development In our they will prove disturbing,
AID probably, Grder the present system Of government,
uucourOabe force Just so long as their Development
seeks 10 impose legal restraints upon them, they have
ends gain with legislative bodies. 10 these there Will
Tie conflict the Government has not equal chance
Tue corporations always IN earest the officials rarely
are Above AL, the corporation does not change.
It's whole organization aims ut unity in council, persist
ency IN action. and the selection from the comnuay Of
which found n permanently retains IN power; 1t is
4 disciplined, organized army. This superb effective
is then placed sGbOTdination 10, brought into
cOptct with, political administration which originates
Ia tho caucus, is continually trembling for It's reten
ton IN the temporary power which IT received the
principle OF rotation IN Office and which IT slgnazes by
tho spols. In conflict with such system needs
prophet TO ioresec that IN the future. tho past tho
spos VIII, as "a rule, teiOng to the corporations
The new EUerp Saturday, illustrated, promises
TO be greater than before The sagacty Of
Messrs. Fields Osgood Co., in securing Dickenss
novel for Erery Saturday, insures Immense addition
10 It's subscription lust While some of It's recent engrav