The New York herald., 1877-01-12
MACAULAY PREDICTS CEsARIsM.

Harper's Maoasine for February will contain a num-
Der OF letters from the late Lord Macauiay 10 II. s.
Randall, author OF tho '.I.ife Of Jefferson" tnat,
although nearly twenty years ago, are particu-
larly timely this moment. Macauay did not believe
in Jefferson the Jenersonan policy and he expressed
himself very freely TO Mr.. Randall We quote in ad-
vance Of its publication few extracts from letter
dated May 23, 1851
You surprised to learn that l have not a high
opinion OF MIR. Jefferson. ana am surprised at your
surprlse am certain that never wrote line. ana
that never, IN Parliament, in conversation, or even
on the hustngs--a place where It is the fashion
TO court the populace-uttered word indicating
opinion that the supreme authority IN q state
ought To be ntrusted 10 the majority Of citizens
told by the head IN other words, TO the poorest
and most ignorant part OF society. have long
been convinced that institutions purely democratic
must sooner or later, destroy liberty or civiization
or both. In Europe, where the population Is dense,
tancous. You may think that your country
enjoys an exemption from these evils. will frankly
own 10 you that am OF very different opinion. Your
late believe to bc certain, though II Is deferred by
physical cause AS long us you have boundless ex
tent OF fertile and unoccupied land your laboring pop
uation will be far than the laboring pop
uation OF the Old World, and, while that Is the case
tho Jefferson politics may continue TO exist without
causing any fatal calamity But the time Will comc
when New England Will DC as thicky peopled AS Old
England. Wages will be as low, and will nuctuac as
much with you as with us. You Will have your Nam
chcstcrs and Brminghams. and In those Manchestcrs
and Birminghams hundreds OF thousands of artisans
viii assuredlv be sometimes out Of work. Then
test. IL Is quito plain that your gov.
crnmen will never DC able TO restrain distressed and
d,scontentcd majority. For with you the majority Is
the government, ana mas the rich, who are always
minority, absolutely at Its mercy. The day VIII como
none OF whom has had than half a breakfast, or
expects TO have more than hall dinner VIII choose
Legislature. is IL possible TO doubt what sort OF a
Legislature will be chosen On one side is
preaching patience, respect for vested rights,
strict observance OF public faith. on the other is
dcnagoguc ranting about the tyranny oi capitalists
and usurers, ana asking why anybody should be per-
mtted TO drink champagne and r,dc in carriage while
thousands OF honest olks want Of ncccssarics.
Which OF tho two candidates Is likely to bc preferred
by workIngman who hears his chdron cry Tor
more bread? seriously apprchend that you VIII.
in such season OF adversely as have described
do things which will prevent prosperity from return
ing; that you will act like people who should in year
OF scarcity devour all the sccd corn and thus make the
next year not OF scarcity, but OF absolute famine
There Will be- fear, spolialon. Tho spoiation VIII
increase the disros Tho distress viii produce fresh
spuliauon. There is nothing to stop you. Your con.
stituton all sail and anchor. As sald before,
when society has entered on THIS downward progress
either civilization liberty must perish Either some
Caesar Napoleon will seize the reins OF government
with strong hand your Republic Will be as lear
fully pundercd and laid waste by barharians IN the
twentieth century rs the Roman Empire was in tho
Guh with this difference the Huns and Vandais
who ravaged the Roman Empire came from without,
that your Huns and Vandnls will have been engen-
dercd WITHIN your own country by your own inslitu-
lions