New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-10-21
a PHILOSOPHERS IMPRESSIONS.

Mr.. Herbert Spencers impressions of Amer
lea, as defined in yesterdays TRIBUNE, will
increase the feeling of respect with which he
Is regarded by thoughtful men on either side
of the Atlantic. We have no hesitation in pro-
nouncingl 1t one of the most profound estimatesof
the tendencies of republican institutions in the
United States which have ever been formed.
He speaks not "a Englshman, but n
philosopher and while he lays bare the weak
spots in American civilization, he evinces a
subtle appreciation of the difficulties which
have been encountered and the magnitude of
the work undertaken in the United States. He
weighs what is good and what is bad with
great accuracy in the balance of his philo-
sophical judgment. He does full justice to the
industrial development, the material prosperity
and the marvellous nventvenCss of the Amer
lean people. Never has n heartier tribute been
paid to the material progress of the Republic.
At the same time he discerns defects in Ma
tional character and in the working of our
political institutions, and he analyses them
with q masters touch. Yet 80 grave and just
is his manner, so sympathetic is his tone, that
Americans have no reason to be offended by
aught that he says. They ought rather to
thank him for warning them against the dan
cerous tendencies OF their political institu-
tons and their social life, and to find leisure
for deliberate reflection upon words of practi-
cal wisdom so benignantly spoken
The underdOne American is he who will not
admit that there is anything at fault in the
politics, morals and social order of his own
country. The overdone American is he who is
disposed to disparage everything that Is char
acteristic in the government and society of
his own people. The finest type of American
citizen Is neither Optimist nor pessimst in his
views of the future of the country He has
reasons for the faith that is in him, but those
reasons are cOuded by serious misgivings. He
believes and he doubts. He has the critical
mood He glOries in the signs of material
growth, swarmng population and all the pos
tive achievements of inventive genius and
industrial enterprise. He knows that in popu-
lation the American Republic is already the
second State i'll ChristendOm, and the first in
material prosperity. This consciousness natur-
ally causes citation. AT the same time he
knows that at many points American civiliza-
ton is retrogradng rather than advancing,
and this reflection steades and sObers,
although it does not daunt nor appal him.
The American who does not know that in
some respects free institutions have worked
badly In the past. and are likely to work even
worse in the future, lacks either candor or
dscernment. What makes Mr. Spencer's di-
agn0sis Of the case so important is the fact
that the patient has already recognized the
symptoms Let Americans be honest with
themselves. Mr.. Spencer has told them
wholesome truths, which they know In their
secret hearts to be truths Let there be no
hair-splittng arguments respecting paper con-
stitutions and the necessities of political or
ganization. Let the gravity of his charges be
conceded and disposition be evinced to profit
by his criticisms.
For what is it that the philosopher finds
amiss in our political and social life Ii isa
defect of character which he thinks education
has proved powerless to remove 1t Is dull
sense of ones own claims, rights and priv
ileges, and an equally dull sense of the
claims, rights and privileges of others. This
sounds like philosophical abStra ction, but it
is plain and practical truth when the appli-
matters an easy-going readiness among Amer
leans "to permit small trespasses because it
"would be troublesome or prottless or unpop-
"ular to oppose, which leads to the habit OF ac-
"quiescence in wrong and the decay OF free in
" stltutiOns." Neglect of individual rights
naturally promotes indifference to the rights
of Others. The principle Is illustrated by the
license with which individuals are dealt with