Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-10-04

and they cannot respect his equality if he
sues for fayors." And this is the fount and
reason of the absorbent process the mar
velous patriotism" the amazing cohesive
force" the incompatible chivalry the
sacredness of 1.-THE flag" which so puzzles
good Mr. Jessopp
But there are problems i'll our political
life into which he would fain inquire =" on
the spot" Why have Americans pros
pered III spite of universal suffrage, and
seem to be by no means afraid it? Are not
those who in America assume to be of the
upper classes an insignificant number? He
is struck with wonder, in common with
most Englishmen, that nearly all Amer
leans are passionate politicians and go to
the polls in shoals, and what is more, that
this political interest is distinct from the
political excitement that internationally
rouSes the masses in Europe to outbreaks OF
frcnzied hate against established institu-
tons. To these inquiries the answer already
given will apply. As to the upper classes,
the Doctor probably knows full well it is
only an assumption on the part of igno-
rant wealth. Americans go to the polls
in shoals because the ballot is the insig
MIA of sovereignty, and the sovereign can
not and will not rise in hatred against
himself; ne is the only really "estab-
lished institution, for he is the personifi-
cation of the whole scheme of government
in which there is neither a ruling nor a
ruled class-in short, that state of affairs
can scarcely arise here that Jessopp admits
obtains in Europe, in which the character
istic OF political warfare is
Each man lusting for all that is not his own.
The Doctor is puzzled also that there
should be men III America who make a
profession of politics. When one branch
OF these is defeated he is solicitous to know
what becomes of them. Perhaps if he
knew that "what becomes of them in no
wise concerns the American people, and is
matter 10 which they never give Il
thought he would understand that what he
terms profession is 10 profession, nor
does il rise to the dignity of a trade, but is
only such scheming TO 1--we by the wits as
characterizes certain classes in all commu-
mites. Our professional politicians are
only schemers, whose grip upon party is
secured by their EXPERIENCES in managing
the venal class in one case, and beguiling
, OH
has no certainty of tenure, and is held in
no esteem by the people Therefore moth
ing happens when they are defeated, since
the people do not regard the drift the tide
sweeps out to sea.
In England, Jessopp informs us, the civil
service regulations render the Executive to
a very great extent independent Of the
Government of the day. Men may come
and men may CO. but permanent Secre-
taries go on for ever, as also Commissioners
and their clerks, and the thousands Of
stipendiaiies to whom it matters not one
straw whether the Radicals are in or the
Tories. Where such system prevails
one to which we hope to attain in America
it is not at all surprising that the ques-
ton is asked What results from your
shuflling and redealing the cards every
four years in the United States ?" Nor
must we be surprised that this inquiry is
followed by one still more serious What
is the effect upon the moral sentiments of
the people at large inevitably brought day
by day and hour by hour into relations
with a class of eager otficc-scekers, hungry,
alert jealous, disappointed, unprincipled,
or vindictivc, according to their success or
failure in getting what they consider their
due?' 1t may be replied that the outs"
do accept the logic Of fact not without
some deinur but none which has as yet
seriously threatened, for, as we have said,
thus far the people, as Il mass, arc in
different as to the fate Of the mere politi-
clan, and are too closely bound in other
relations for severance by the political
ambitions of oflice-seeilers. But as to the
effect upon the moral sentiments of the
people of the practices of the unprincpled
politicians. there is but one response TO be
made-it is utterly and wholly bad, and
must in time bear bitter fruit unless the ak
is laid at the rooi OF the tree
The remaining spoculations Of this in
teresting qucrist relate wholly to social
questions, the equality of the people, The
metropolitan and rural classes, our litela-
turc, journalism, religious tolerance, etc,
and though much less serious in tone, are
not less interesting TO the American reader,
since they invite to introspection that
cannot but prove beneficial To an cx-
animation of these witty intorrogations we
shall give further attention.