New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-07-06
KNOUIYG THE PEOPLE.

Americans have a greater aptitude than most
people for understanding the habits and char-
actrrs Of foreigners, but they are not quick 10
comprehend their own family. Perhaps both
the aptitude and the failure are due TO the same
cause. The WAYS Of orr mixed population are
so various that nothing seemsaltosether strange
TO MS. and vet nothing so familiar that we can
take il for granted An Englishman is never
in doubt about the tone OF English opinion OF
the line of conduct which the great ruling ma
iorty in his orderly andrcspcc'ablc little l'land
will consider proper and prudent. Still less does
n Frcnchman hesitate about the prevailing ideas
and passions of France. But to discover the
general drift which results from the balance
and resolution of score Of differing popular
currents in the United States requires the prac-
tcc of lifetime ~ well ~ special natural
gift. Not only is there n strong contrast IN the
dispoaitions of various localities. but IN certain
localities subtle changes accompany change
in the elements OF the population. lhc tone
of some parts of New England, especially the
manufacturing districts, has been altered dur
ing the present generation TO an extent which
few public men suspect. The Boston OF to-
day is n very different community from
towns which were settled from New England
are unlike their parents and oven the Original
cmigrant3 rapidly gave up their old habits OF
thought. The temper Of Ncw-iork, which VA
mes like April weather, is always II political
puzzle; the metropolis itself, though II has nm
fortunately fixed body of Democratic voters,
has no fixed opinions in politics or political
economy The true sentiment of the South is
no better understood than the sentiment OF
foreign country: We doubt whether it IL
really understood b. the Senator'S and Con-
gresSmcn who are returned 70 represent
it. There is an extensive and important border
land whose people are still strange to us and
whose very dialect is unfamiliar; while III all
parts Of the Union there are cddieS in the cur
rents of opinion which exercise a considerable
influence upon the course Of affairs.
Not many Of our political leaders have ever
known the American people Very few of our
recent Presidents have done 50. Probably Mr..
Lincoln knew them better than any ruler since
Jackson and used the knowledge with more
wisdom than any of his predecessors. 1t was
a matter Of instinct with him, rather
than study 1t seemed rs if in his honest,
straightforward, shrcwd, Practical kindly and
broad nature all the best and most useful quail
tiles OF the typical American met. lie knew
the American character because its best side
was 80 like his own. Andrew Johnson, who
could not tell the difference between rude man
ncrs and coarse minds, mistool it entirely, and
ruined himself in consequence. General Grant
sometimes misudgel character both indl-
vidual and public, principally because he was
50 surrounded that he could not study it,
President Garfield had the same instinct for
getting at the general mind which distinguished
Mr.. Lincoln: if he had lived he would
have been one of the most popular OF
our Presidents and one Of the most truly
representative.
Mr.. Blaine probably excels all the rest in this
invaluable kind of knowledge. and he is the
only political leader now in the field who seems
TO have it at all. Edmunds. Sherman, llawey,
Arthur. all i'm more or less degree lack it; and
ON the Democratic side the isolation OF the prin-
cipal candidates is conspicuous and hardly eX-
picable. What we call personal magnetism is
often only an expression for the sympathy
which results from infinite and complete I'M
dersfandng. There can be no leadership
without it. A statesman needs it in the
same way that workman needs to
know his tools. Whatever craftsmanship ac-
complishcs i'm government like ours must be
effected through the agency Of popular masses,
and nobody can guide, restrain, impel or in
spire them who does not understand their
character When the critics of Mr.. Blaine de
clare that he represents the general spirit. in
tellirence and tendency of the Republican
marty. they acknowledge that he possesses this
essential qualification for high office. The
distinguished gentlemen who are trying to
organize n revolt against the nomination
have never known the American people. aud
for this reason their influence has bccu dis
ptopoflionnte 10 their trd aud sincerity.
Mr. Curtis never could be leader Of
mon, harniise hp knows only one type ol mon,
Nh, krhis's acquaintance with the human race
Il st IN mnfu limited, f0f hp docs not know even
his German oonipatlos, We hate Ia Say 0t u
poiitioian that "ho 10 not Ia sympathy with
the MASSES" because that phrase has been 30
yilrly abused by dcmaguguesi but certain
kind of sympathy with the MASSES Is the first
requisite for an honorable public career. That
is the sympathy of knowledge. The "imprac-
ticabcs are those who do not know the pco-
ple we'll enough to speak to them with any
effect, who march on without waiting 10 see
how fast the crowd is following, who accom-
nlish nothing because they fail To understand
how much the people are ready to do at the
moment
PSYCHIC FORCE IN GEORGI1.
On the whole, it is perhaps just well that VIII