The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1883-01-21
HERBERT SPENCER ON
AMERICA,

Spencer. 1t was very notable
company that greeted him, and the
speaking was capital. Mr.. spencer's
own address va au interesting paper
in which he preached "the gospel of
relaxation" 10 an interview pub
lished some time before he hail made
some incisive criticisms upon Ans
erican life and character, and in his
dinner address be said that he was
going to find fault. That was frank,
and there has been no traveller
among US whose observations were
likely to be more valuable.
They all talk to us ike uncles or
pedagogues," exclaimed Americas,
impstiently. What business have
they to lecture Us in this style2 We
are quite old enough to take care OF
ourselves, and quite able to run this
continent without any instruction
from Englishmen. Suppose that
some American guest in England
should say 10 bic host that be wanted
to give them some coed advice, and
point out to them few of their
defects, and then proceed to pat them
on the head, with pratrouizing
praise, don't you think there would
be st0YmP Ii strangers liKe us, very
we'll; if they don't like us, very we'll.
II is matter OF supreme indifference
to us."
Why. then, do We ask them how
they like us? And Why should the
people of one country scornfully
decline to hear the comments OF
sensible people of other countries?
Every man is. or ought 60 be, glad
to receive intelligent counsel and TO
see his life from other points OF view
tnan his own. Why should not the
citizen be- equally sensible? We did
not ask De Tocqueville to come and
see us and analyze our political insti-
tutions and their operations, We did
not ask Won Hoist 10 write our con-
stituticnal history. But De Tocque.
Wills and Won Hoist have laid us and
all other lovers of popular constitu-
tional liberty under great obligations.
Both OF them have written better
books of their kind about us than any
American has written, It is absurd
to snarl that We don't care what they
ssy, and that they had better stay at
home and not lecture us. When
D,ckeue stung Us with the satire OF
Martin ChazzIesUit, he was not only
accused of ipgrstitude-ss if man
were bound to find no fault with any
abuse, and not to criticiee any ten
dency, in country where be had
been kindly Weloomed-but he was
told to look at home, and assured
that If hs waited to depict outrageous
evils and ridiculous people, he had
only to portray his beloved England.
That was said with fine all OF indig-
nation. But what else was Dickens
doing all his life? What are his
books, IN this point of view, but q
prolonged arraigument of the abuses
| and OF the absurd social types OF his
native England? But when Henry
James, jun, draws good-natured
and shreWd sketch OF the American
girl abroad in Daisy Miller, although
it is plainly intended to show the con-
ventional Europe that the American
girl is misjudged, we retulantly won
der why he could not choose another
type to illustrate.
The observations of intelligent
foreign critics are no more hostile
than the American criticisms which
the confirm. When for instance, al
ter a most intelligent recognition of
the material advantages OF this
country, Mr.. Spencer says that il
there had been another aud higher
progress commensurate with the ma
terial advance, there would pc moth
ing to wish, be says nothing which
very many Americans have not felt
and said, and he adds an improve
ment from history which had .orcar.
red to many Americans, and had
been strongly stated by them, that
while the republics of middle ages
surrounded themselves with material
spIendor, their liberty deosyed. And
what is this but q contemporary
statement OF the old truth which
Goldsmith put into memorable verse
100 years ago.
GIL fares the land, sto Fastening the
| prey,
Where wealth accumulstes and men
decay"
Mr., spencer's further remarks
that under the forms OF freedom We
may loose its substance, and that in
some ways, which he points out, we
are loosing it. in the burden OF warn
ing of many an intelligent Ameri.
can, which does not need the old
illustration of Caesars introduction
of the empire under republican
forms, nor the warning of Burke,
that ambition, though it has ever
the same general views, has not at all
times the same means nor the same
particular Objects" So when Mr..
Spencer says that paper co2stitu-
tions will not work. and that the
real basis and bulwark Of national
greatness and OF progressive liberty il
character and not education, he says
what every thoughtful American per
ceives and believes. He does moi
say, indeed, what many Americana
know, and what explains the en-
phasis with which We insist upon
education, that the PERCEPTION OF the