The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-06-26
TOM HUGHES ON AMERICA.
Politics-Social Lne-The Far West-The Big
Works of Illirois-Bigness Of the American
Mind-Results Of Am .r.can Restless En-.
ergy-How They Build Railroads
Gambling = Keno = slavery-L-
quor Laws-A Sober People
The Workingmsn.

1Ao WoAh.oS0SA'
On Saturday. The 10th inst. Mr.. T. Hughes M. p,
gave before crowded audience in the theatre OF
the School OF Mines, Jermyn street, London, an
account oil his recent visit to the United States.
Among the audience were many ladies and several
Americans.
Mr. Hughes commenced by observing that the
subject he HAD to speak upon was one which he
thought ought to interest En- gisn men and women
more than almost any other on political and social
grounds-pOliticaly, because our relations with the
United States are OF more importance to US, and he
believed to the people OF America, than any which
we can establish with other nations: socially be-
cause in that vast country we may see almost all
problems which are veXlng us at home working
themselves out in parallel lines under very different
conditions-no doubt different IN many respects bus
under laws which almost identical with our own,
and through the agency or men speaking our own
language and inheri,lng our traditions; whose prn.
clples motives and habits are like that we
can thoroughly und ersIand the actors, a1d may
and their failures. Mr.. Hughes then proceeded
to say that the ST. Lawrence, TIE lax $, the
Mississippi, and tue vast towns OF onii com:
quite enough to account for the special enthusiasm
Tor mere bigness III the American Inlni, which l9
certainly characteristic of it, the RAPID grown Of
Chicago struck hun as being particularly wonderful.
When he was there the drainage difficulty mad noe
non for carrying the sewage right away west across
State Of Illinois INTO the aissl sslpp but the idea
OF draining into the Gull OF Mexico had mt the
imagination Of the American people resident In the
West, and 1t Was not unlikely that II would be car
rled out. Ia a big country there ought TO he Dig
works, and Illinois was bent on having the greatest
engineering works IN the word. Oi course he
eight feet while some five hunured guests stay,
Ing as usual IN it, lie found that nouse-movng was
not confined to the west. In Boston he saw
them moving back markct-a solid brick
block sixty yards long ana two stories
fare. 1t was wonder to him that we IN England
never thought OF moving houses III this manner.
He was assured that the process was SAFE ana not
extravagant. one OF the results or American rest
less energy has been the rapid building VI lines OF
railway. when are likely soon to cover the West
with network almost as close as tnat oil Europe.
These lines are not In tine least ike those we are
used to. Here, again, the contrast OF the Englsh-
man shut up in little tslaud and the same man
with unlimited elbow roOin came out very Wvidly.g
The former builds very little trunipery ten-mie
line as II II were intended t. last uutil the last man
had been carried over It, the Latter just lays down
one line OF rails IN the toughest way. aad knocks up
the shakest KIM % WOO en- brldge-in short, cares
for nothing except TO get a train along soon ana
cheapy as possible. He purs no fence whatever
along 1t, as nothing can damage 1t much. Then he
sets to work It, and out OF the pronts improves
renews lays down permanent double lines, fences
years has a splendid line IKE the illinois
Central. which for many miles out OF
London and Northwestern OF England. In the
several places he visited IN the West-as far as
tons OF the settlers lie, such drinking and bill
lard rooms aud gambling houses, there were also
gratifying indications OF religious ant social pro-
gress. In more than one place large schools had
been erected, and was hoped thai In The course Of
time such establishments would have the effect OF
doing away altogether with the gambling houses;
but ne must say, In connection WIN tile latter, that
the game INDUCED In, called "keno," appeared TO
him to be remarkably fair, and vastly more credit.
able than the system OF sporting and other gambling
SO extensively INDUCED la III Eng and. The Amerl-
seemed 10 him to be more Of a newspaper
reading community than the English. He was
particularly struck with the condition OF the
INHABITANTS when lie was there, and ii could
boast OF two daily papers, tour weeklies ana two
he saw III one OF the thorougnlares, not Tar rom
where little more than ten years ago. stood the
save market black boy and white boy walking
along together sharing one sugar SUCK be wceni
them, one end beug sucked by the black chill aud
the other end by the white. lLaughler.) lie TOOK
that a. conclusive demonstration that slavery was
efectualiy Danishcd from ST. Lous. While IN Amc-
rica he paid a good deal OF attention TO the land
question. He found the people generally ndiilerenr
to land connected win family and social
standing. There was an eagcrness on the part
OF the working classes Tor land IN tile West, Bat
only from speculative point or view. A movements
had sprung up among the working Classes Tor
the purpose OF natlonaiz M land and appropriatng
all .uiure increase III value 10 pubic purposes. It
was not within MS province 10 say whether this
CARDS America he believed that no policy would be-
more unpopular In the UAicl states. MIR. Hughes
next came 10 what he could not help considering
the most important OF all social questions-viz.,
tue regulation OF the sale OF intoxicating drinks
He would say nolhing about the Maine Liquor LAWS,
as they had been already quite sufficiently debateds
but he mast say that nc did not see single drunken
person In New England Al one time ne thought.
with the generality OF people years
ago, that the Americans lacked PATRIOTISM. but
the last in that country had c0mpc tey
regard 10 religion, his first Impression was that the
Americans not religious. but ms experience in
Chicago made him change his mind materially. Life
In the settled portion OF the United ota,es was tanner
than IN .ne West, aad IT also lacked the coor, the
p cturesquencss, the perfect hnsh Inc repose Wncn
may be found IN some old countries; bur there was
the compensation thai men and and women sland
there IN simpler relations than they do III the old
Country. they are not nampercd py lle rappinIS
OF an old civilization, when nas lcit behind u mncn
that Is cumbrous and superhu0us 10 ualy life.
He should not forget the labor question lie met IN
America good many old friends VINO had been
members OF the Workingmen's College OF London.
The report he had received IRON :nei was hat
In large towns much higher wages were to be had
more easily than al home, but everything was 10
dear that their position was much the same. In
small towns the Gaze was much better. The moment
persons got To small country towns they seemed TO
quickly improve their position. IL had been stated
That the masons VINO went to Ithaca, at the invita-
ton OF Mr.. Goldwn SMITH, Jared very badly. lie
found. on the contrary, That these men were not
only earning higher wages than when at home, bn6
they were able 70 get little contracts which they
were able to carry out during their spare time Mr.
Hughes concluded by rcmarKng upon Inc act ina.
there IL NJ present pretty certain assurance ti'
England and America, IN their corporate capaclieS
are going 10 understand one another hetter tnaS
they ever had done.