New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-08-22
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N4CAULAfS PROPHECY.

From, Spe.sh in the House Of Representatives May 81
1865. Ly General James 4 G0deM
MT. Chairman, / ~in = profound, might almost
say dev0ut, believer in the American idea, that
the consent of the governed IS the only true source
foundation on which to build Government. This
IA the fundamental axiom of our political faith TO
question it, is moral treason To deny 1t, IS pol
Itical atheism But we must not forget that a
majority, perhaps large majority, or tho thinkers
and writer's OF Europe declare that our axiom Is no
AXIOM but t m fn5n to annn o moment
to a wider and more serious consideration of ques-
ton closely connected with the topic am discuss.
ing q question which has painfully forced itsell
upon my mind during the last twelve months.
refer to letter written by the late Lord Mecaulay,
which probably contains the most powerful indlGt-
ment ever penned against the democratic principle.
will not read the letter full, but will state in
brief its substance.
When tho life of Thomas Jefferson WAS written
by s. s. Randall, distinguished citizen OF New
York. O copy sent TO the great British his
torian. MacaulaY answered, thanking tho author
for the volumes, but remarked that he had no adj,
mlration for Jefferson. The American expressed
his surprise and desired to know the reasons.
Thereupon Macaulay OH the 23d day of May, 1897,
Just twenty years ago, wrote this letter. III
which be gave his reasons for not believing that
Thomas Jefferson was bencfactor of his country
or OF mankind. His reasons were these " DO not
believe" said he, that it IL possible to Establish
Institutions thai will be permanent, based upon
the votes of people, counted by the head. That
proceeds upon the supposltOn that the rich ana the
poor the WISE and the ignorant the ylrtuous ana
the vicious, all counted as equal and endowed
with euual political power That said he, is the
fatal vice of the institutions that Jefferson
founded. Now your country can prosper SO long
you have great space Of unoccupicd land, great
West, for your surplus population; but the time
I've AS thckly populated as Old England when
there will be more fertile, un0ccuped lands for
your expanding poDulation
al hen will come the real strain and test OF your
institutions. There will be periods Of scarcity and
distress Thousands Of laborers will be out OF
work and men will begin to cay there Is no Justice
IN huUa mil xUh
other has not meal no Justice ia letting ono man
ride III his carriage aud dine sumptuously while an
other hears his children cry for bread. And when
that hour comes your Government Will be brought
to its final and fatal test. Then discontented
hopeless starving majority will elect tho Governors
of your States, the members of your LeglslatuTtss
and your President; and then. fear If not in this
century certainly in the next your country viii De
M fearfulIy rayageO as was the Roman Empire by
with this difference; your Huns and vandals will
have been engendered By your own institutions.
Your Constitution The ssysl is all sail and no
anchor. There Is nothing to stay you: l wish you
might have better fate but my wishes end my
reason are ut war. And therefore, believing your
fate is certain, cannot congratulate you upon
Thomas Jefferson and the doctrines he taught"
Such. in substance, Is the indictment and
prophecy which America must answer. With my
whole soul reps the Indictment; Every instinct
MS false. But what thoughtful man in all our land,
who had read that letter did not remember it last
summer. when ten millions of Americans trembled
in the balance Of uncertainty for DAYS. not know
Ing whether the torch and blood wonld mark the
pathway Of anarchy across our continent. or order
and peace would rule What man, say, reflected
upon the events Of that terrible period without
remembering the prophecy of Macauay, and asking
himself whether the grounds of his fnith in the
stability of his country vas established OH sure
foundation
say again. reject the doctrine of Macanlay.
endeayored five years ago rs best Il might, to
swer il. Perhaps it q rash attempts but
based my answer on two grounds:
The first was that hiacauiay took no account
of the tremendous power OF our educational forces
He did not know. he could not know the almost
omnpotent power IF universal education to en-
tighten and ennoble our people and fl them for the
liberties and duties OF American citizenship. In
thus rests our hope; and while the light Of our
| schools shines undtmmed and mcoudcd upon all
our children We may safely count upon centuries Of
liberty and safety.
NV second ground was this: that MacauIay did
not know, and 1t is hardly possible for any one
reared under monarchical institutions to under
stand that here III AuerIca there are no fixed and
permanent classes. In all arIstocraces society is
| organized tie principle OF permanent classes
fixed and rigid the layers Of rock that form
| the earths crust At the bottom under the super
| incumbent weight of all their institutions
| aud population. are the laboring poor. The
editor of an English periodical uttered a sentence
| few years ago, which makes the blood run cold
| II was this. SAID he:
81 have studied the agricultural laborers of my
| country carefully for twenty-five years and have
never known one who was born and reared in the
ranks of mere farm laborers that above
| his class and became a we-to-do citizen
Remember that half the population OF England
agrcull wrists. and the labcrers IN that class
amount not css than three four millions they
have above them the landlords, aud above them tho
several ranks OF nobility, and above them the royal
| family. The barriers are well-nigh impossible.
But, thank God. aud thank the founders Of our Re-
public aud the later patriots, who have made the
truth OF the Declaration of Independence reality
| here in America there cllsses. lApplsnse
Our society does not resemble the crust of the
earth with ITS impossible barriers of rock but re-
sembles rather the waters OF the mighty sea- deep,
broad boundless. bu! yet so free IN ali s paris That
the drop which minges with tn. sand at IFS bottom
is free TO through oil the OF waters till 1t
tApplause.l
There is no boy in America, however humble bis
birth IN whatever depth OF poverty his lot mny be
cast, who, II he has strong arm, clear head, and
O brave heart, may not rise by tho light Of our
schools and the freedom OF our laws until he shall
sand foremost IN the honor aud confidence Of his
afhis II INV answer. For these reasons do not
fear the Cassandra prophecy of Macaulay.