The midland journal., 1889-04-19
CHAPTER XII.

O1kAT L En- ALI.
"Well, sir, and what do you think of
Americaf"
Without pretending to judge America ex
cathedral will sum up the impressions jot
ted down in this little volume, and reply to
the traditional question of the Americans
When one thinks Of what the Americans
have done in a hundred years of independent
life, it looks as if nothing ought to be impos-
sible to them In the future, considering the
inexhaustible resources at their disposition
America has been doubling its population
every twenty-five years II immigration
continues at the same rate as it has hitherto
In fifty years she will have more than two
hundred millions of inhabitants. If, during
that time, Europe makes progress only in the
arts and sciences, while the social condition
Of its nations does not improve, she will be
to America what barbarism Is to civilization
While the Hohenzollerns, the Hapsburgs
and the Firebrandenburgs review their
troops; while her standing armies are cost
ing Europe more than $l00o,OO0,OO year,
in time of peace; whilst the European
debt is more than go, 900, ,0OO, 600, the Ameri-
can treasury at Washington, in spite of cor
ruption, which it is well known does exist,
has surplus of $6O,0OO,0 900 Whilst Euro
pean governments cudgel their wits to devise
means for meeting the expenses of absolute
monarchies, the Washington government is
at q loss to know what to do with the money
it has in hand. Whilst tho European tele-
grams in the daily papers give accounts of
,,,E.
vers, Of speeches In which tho 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 state of
ebullition over 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 be called upon to cut
each others throats for the great glory of
three emperors in search of excitementl
America is not only a great nation, geo
graphically speaking.
The Americans are great people, holding
in their hands their own destiny, learning
day by day, with the help of their liberty, to
govern themselves more and more wisely
and able, thanks to the 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
hospitable have met with.
But the more travel and the more look
at other nations, the more confirmed am ia
my opinion that the French are the happiest
people on earth.
The American is certainly on the road to |
the possession of all that can contribute to !
the well being and success of a nation, but he |
seems to me to have missed the path that |
leads to real happiness His domestic joys |
are more shadowy than real To live In a |
whirl Is not to live well
Jonathan himself sometimes has his regrets |
at finding himself drawn into such a frantic |
race, but declares that it Is out of his power /
to hang back If it were given to man to
live twice on this planet, should understand
his living his first term rAmericaine, so as |
to be able to enjoy quietly, in his second ex-
istence. the fruits OF his toll in the first See
ing that only one soiourn here is permitted
US, think the French are right in their study
to make 1t a long and happy one
II the French could arrive at steady
form of government, and live In security,
they would be the most enviably happy peo-
pie on earth.
1t is often charged against the Americans
that they are given TO Dragging. May not
men who have dono marvels be permitted
certain amount Of self glorificationl
1t Is said, too, that their eccentricity con-
stantly leads them into folly and license. Is
1t not better to have the liberty TO err than
to DO compelled to run straight in leashi II
they occasionally vote Like children, they will
learn With age 1t is by voting that people