New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-23

coos no danger Of mob rule, when mas """S
been charged against democracy, but raohcr i"o''
danger of plutocracy. H., :,
The strength OF American democracy He' "
its stability, for there is hardly any o'her oo'"
try in which there is no thousht Oh "io p'i'
~ any considerable number OF overturnhg en-
isting institutions; in law-abldlnS haDit--"n"O
Professor Bryce calls legality OF view - large
10 induced by living under rigid CONSTITUENCIES
n broad simplicity in political ideas, ana coura-
peous consistency in carrying them out; very
SLIGHT reliance on government officials; the iack
Of strife between privileged and unprlvliegea
orders, the rich and poor; n rcmarkaole moran
vipor illustrated in the establishment ana sup
mort by private means of churches, semlnarleS'
roTcious charities. colleges and universities TO,
which there is no parallel elsewhere' inc hoino-
oencitv of the people; sense Of fraternity, CIV
ing the employer of labor l<eener sense oil duty
70 those whom he employs than employers have III
Europe Wealthy and powerful he admits
81 sucb n country must have been under any
form Of government But the speed with which
she has advanced and the employment OF the
sources of wealth which dilfused comfort among
millions of families may be placed TO the credit
of cumulative freedom"
One of the minor topics dealt with is American
conceit.
Fifty. or even forty years ago. the conceit Of this
people byword. IL was not only seil-consc1us,
f. Dickens most keenly of ALL In forgvlng whom the
Americans gave the strongest proof OF their goOd
rafure Doubtless all nations are either van OF
proud or both and those not least VINO receive ea9i
recognition from their negh6os 70 r ns,op its cS Sc
reliance; though when pushed to the ~ may AZ
more irretrievable But American concelt has pen
steadily declining as the country mas nv
other countries. There was less concert aiter uIo
Civil War than before though the civil war had 70.
there is less now than there was at tho close OF inc
Civil War An impartialy rigorous censor nun so,io
other planet might say Of the Americans that ,y a
at this moment less piggshly supercilious man me
Germans loss rcstless1y prctcnous than the fronch,
less pharisacay sclfsatiset than the Engish; Ah1ns
tho upper or better educated classes, glorhcau0n hss
died ont except of course Fourth OF July and Qther
public addresses, when the scream OF me Na'ionahi
eagle must be heard One sometimes nnds ~ % tbe
by undue scfdeprccatlon with lamentations over ilo
want Of culture the decline OF fath or the corrupuon
of politics.
This book ought to render the important ser
vice to this country of removing many mlscOh-
ceptions that exist in other countries ana eS-
pecially in England, regarding the government
and the political and social CHARACTERISTICS OF
the American people. On this side OF the ATTAIN
tic il will be esteemed for its cordial aPprecla-
ton of all that is bright and hopeful in American
life. as well for the learning, ability and skill
with which the political institutions of the United
States have been portrayed. There IS much
necessarily in the work that is only of passing
interest to the American, but until some one
of our own people supercedes it with better
worl. especially devoted to the exposition Of
our various systems of government 1t Will re-
main standard even for the American reader.