, 1889-02-22

1t has In hand. Whilst the European tele-
grams In the daily papers give accounts Of
reviews, moblizations and military maneu-
vers, Of speeches In which the people are
reminded that their duty Is to serve their
emperor first and their country afterwards,
Of blasphemous prayers In which God Is
asked TO bless soldiers, swords and gunpow-
der, the American kilograms announce the
price of corn and cattle and the quotations
on the American stock exchange.
Happy country that can get into a state OF
ebullition over q presidential election, or the
doings Of John L Sullivan, while Europe in
trembling asks herself, with the return Of
each new spring, whether two or three mill
ions of her sons will not DO called upon to cut
each others Threats for tho great glory Of
thrco emporors in search Of excitement
America is rot only a great nation, geo
graphically speaking.
The Americans are a great people, holding
In their hands their own destiny, learning
dny by day, with the help OF their liberty, to
govern themselves more and more wisely,
and able, thanks to tho profound security in
which they live, to consecrate all their talents
and all their energy TO the arts Of peace.
The well read. well bred American Is the
most delightful Of men: good society in
America Is the wittiest, most genial and most
hnspitable | have met with.
But the more travel and the more | look
at other nations. the more confirmed | am In
my opinion that tho French are the happiest
people on earth.
The American II certainly on the road to
the possession Of all that can contribute to
"a --- + - - A.. -
seems to me 10 nave missed the path that
leads to real happiness His domestic joys
are more shadowy than real. To live in n
whirl is not To live well
Jonathan himself sometimes has his regrets
at finding himself drawn into such a frantic
race, but declares that IL Is out of his power
To hang hack II 1t were given To man to
i've twice on this planet, | should understand
his living his Gnst term a rAmericaine, 50 as
to be able to enjoy quietly, In his second eH-
istence, tho fruits of his toll In the first. Sec
ing that only one sojourn hero Is permitted
Us, | think the French are right In their study
to make it IA long and happy one.
II the French could arrive at u steady
form of government. and live In security,
they would be the most envinbly happy PEG
pie on earth
1t is often charged against the Americans
that they are given to Dragging. May not
men who have done marvels be permitted a
certain amount Of self glorihcationI
1t is said, too, that their eccentricity con.
stantly leads them into folly and license. Is
II not better to have the liberty to err than
TO 10 compelled TO run straight in leashi II
they occasionally vote like children, they will
learn with age 1t Is by voting that people
learn to vote
Is there any country in Europe in which
morals ARE better regulated, work better
paid, or edugutiun wider spreadi Is there n
country whore you cin find such natural
riches, AMI sch energy to turn them to nc
coun.. ~ AGO. iHuple with n consciousness
OF thoir ns1i H,ttlleotuAl and moral force, 50
many scaIC., here the child OF the million
afro AMI TIC .,ll 81 the poor man study side
by sido. 80 many libraries, where the boy in
rags may rel tine history Of his country
and be fired ny tho exploits OF its heroes
Can you nnuc n country with so many
learned societies. NJ many newspapers, 80
many charitable institutions, or 50 much
widespread COMFORT
Nj. Rcnan, wishing to turn himself into a
prophet of III omen, one day predicted that,
II Franco continued republican, she would
become a second America.
May nothing worse befall heri
THE END.