The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1879-11-14
THE AMERICAN TRIAD.
Politician, Agent, Reporter .An Intel
ligens Foreigners Observations.

= Editor Nesc, YorA ,IStsn-Sir: Seven
years ago crossed the Atlantic Ocean,
being Attracted hero by the world
Wide praise Of this great American re-
public. During these seven wears I
have zled my beat tosa0coant lor these
praises. Many q romantic trait and
rose shade, created by enthuslastIc
European travellers who wrote of this
country, have vanished before me;
stAl, the reality looks even more at
tractive, more solid, and, above all,
more characteristic than had inn.
agined.
OF all the original features of Yam
kee life, one particular point strikes
me most of ALA point which, as vet,
has not been noticed, or, at least, has
not been brought to due prominence
by European travellers. The genius of
the people of this country Is persona
fed, and, as It were, crystallixed in
three original and peculiar types not
to be found In any other country of
the world. These types are the politi-
clan, the agent, and tho reporter
political, industrial, and moral world.
The spirit Of freedom, energy, and en-
terprise is fairly divided among them;
they are working, though independ-
emily, In the end -harmoniously, and
the result is the Unitetl States, as they
are, the most charming country of our
globe.
Wherever I have gone, whether
West, or South, or East, everywhere,
even In the remotest village, l have
seen and felt the vigilant power Of tho
workings of the ubiquitous agent, and
the irresistible influence of the omnis-
cient reporter; these constitute, tho
American Triad, SO to speak. have
seen that when the efforts of this triad
are harmoniously combined, new
towns spring up, railroads are made,
canals are dug, telegraph wires are
stretched, bridges and tunnels are con-
structed, until the wild places arc
transformed into the homes of men. L
have seen, also, that when these three
forces are out Of gear-when, for ex-
ample, the omnipotent politician uses
his power for some wrong end, or tho
ubiquitous agent is too selfish and
greedy, or the omniscient reporter is
destitute of a conscience-then blood
less wars ensue, In which are displayed
an intellectual energy, skill aud cour-
age, alike on the part of corruption
and of virtue, that might well excite
the envy of the gods of Homer, If they
had shifted their dwelling from Olym-
pus and Parnassus to the Alleghanics
and Rockies. Es
have seen politicians, who COM
manded perhaps only one vote, strike
out upon the platform at election time,
and argue their cause with their arms
and legs more eloquently than with
their tongue; the election over, they
disappeared among the mass Of tho
toilers for daily bread. But have
also seen politicians whose speeches
might serve as choice samples of tho
oratorical art; who spoke OF States as
their own, who boosted OF having
thousands of votes in thoir pockets,
and who lived in palaces.
have seen many agents whom in-
different persons called pcddlers, and
angry persons called thieves. But
have also known agents who wcro as
lavish of money as princes; who did
not write, but teiegraphed; who tray
elicd in palace cars, and who always
stopped ut the best hotels.
have known reporters who trampcd
for eighteen hours out OF twenty-four,
hunting for news, who could not write
the shortest item without maxim mis-
takes, and who earned barely enough
to keep body and soul together. But
have also known reporters whose
pen dictated opinions for millions of
people, and whose services could hard
ly be had for any money.
However insignificant some of tho
politicians, agents and reporters may
be, all Of them are part and parcel OF
the complicated mechanism that moves
the social system of this country. I'm.
agine for q moment what America
would be without politicians-that is,
without politics. What would become
of the national life? What Of the Pco-
ple's liberties? Imagine America with
out agents-the drummer as extinct as
the mammoth. Trade would vanish;
industries would colIapse; the United
States would be another Russia, agrcat
country Inhabited by n torpid, slug
glsh, and alternating people. I'm
aginc America without reportcrs-that
is, without newspapers. Crimo would
go unexposed; the people of one sec
tfon would not know what was going
on In other sections; the bonds Of tho
Union would loosen and snap; tho
living spring that now prevents social
stagnation would be dried up.
Yet these three forces are not apprc-
ciated by Americans. Their services