The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-01-20
THURSDAY, JAN. go, 1875.
what n; Learned Englishman
81. Thinks Of Us.

81. Thinks Of Us.
Mr.. W.R. Greg, Of England, is we'll
known in intellectual circles as an occa-
sional contributor to the Contemporary
Rerfec, as the author Of "Enigmas Of
Life" and some other very readable
books, and as writer Of great perspi-
cacity and acumen. He has lately writ
ten work which is attracting quite a
degree Of public attention, entitled
Rocks Ahead, or the Warnings OF Cas-
sandra." lie thinks he secs three great
dangers menacing the future OF England,
to which he seeks to call the timely at
,ention Of his thoughtful cOuntrymen.
One he calls the "Political Rock, or the
danger arising from the political suprem-
acy Of the lower classes; the second is
the Economic Rock" or the approach
ing Industrial decline of England; the
third he entities the Religious Rock"
or the divorce Of the trained intelligence
Of England from its religion. This, he
rays, is a fat aeoompli in France, and may
u, no distant day become so in England.
What Mr.. Greg writes under these three
heads may we'll be studied, not only by
patriotic Englishmen but by obscrvant
Americans. He presents some remarka-
bic facts in clear and trenchNnt style,
which forebode i'll to the mighty empire
oi Britain.
lengthy appendix to the work, Mr..
Greg discusses "three men and three cras:
Washington, Jackson, aud Buchanan"
which affords him the occasion unspar-
ingly to criticize the offensive features OF
our national life. lie endeavors to show
tand has partially succeeded), that there
has been constant deterioration OF the
national character and aims from WASH
ington's time TO Buchanan's. Those
Americans who are accustomed to speak
slishtingly OF the intellectual character
Of Washington would do well to read
this noble estimate OF his character and
services. In contrasting the Ameri-
CA OF Jackson with the America Of Wash
ington, Mr.. G. fnds great cause for com.
plaint. The national changes OF forty
years had been enormous and gratifying;
territory, commerce, and the number of
commonwealth doubled; population tre-
bed. The moral, social, and political
change had been equally startling, but un-
fortunately not 20 encouraging. He
complains OF the linwise extension OF the
suffrage By doing away with shc property
qualification, manifest departure from
the maxims and policy OF the
Fathers OF the Republic. lie points
onl a still more fatal innovation in
the Judiciary system. He arraigns
both Jefferson and Jackson for attempts
to bring courts Of justice under the direct
control Of the people. In Jackson's time,
i've out OF the Iwenty'iour states 'hen
existing had made tho judges elective,
andthat only Tor term OF years. "eh'
Jackson is charged with giving the most
desperate and fatal blow to the dignity
and purity Of republican government in
America ever inflicted upon 1t by lFieha
or foc." Jacksonit was who lnaugurated
the policy OF removing government en-
Ploye' for their political opinions. Prior
TO this time they held Office during lie
or good behavior, and never changed
with change OF administration During
WashingtOn's administration only nine
persons were removed from office, none
for political reasons. Adams removed
nine and Jefferson thirty-nine, but all for
causes other than political. Madison
made five removals; Monroe ninei "a.
Adams, two only, As soon as jackson
was inaugurnted he dismissed from Office
nearly every man who had opposed him,
or whose friends had voted for his oppo.
nent, and replaced them by pHrtisan' OF
his own., Mr.. Greg attributes the inca
pacity and corruption Of our civil ser
vice not to the Republican party, but to
that Democratic saint, Andrew Jackson,
Passing on to Mr.. Bueh"nan's time, he
discovers growing evidence Of our cor
ruption and dishonesty. Hesay' that at
that time elections had fallen into the
hands OF professional agents. who Cm.
ploySd bribery, Standardization and
prOmlsesiand who we're "the mo'tnoxions
class Of bankrupt and disFeputable row.
dies,n The election Of Judges by the poo.