The record-union., 1891-01-13
A POLITICAL PROPHET OF TILE
LAST CENTURY ON AMERICA.

LAST CENTURY ON AMERICA.
The publication in the Century of ex-
tracts from the memoirs of Talleyrand,
the French diplomat and political sage,
is of profound interest, which is aug
mented by the graceful and interesting
introduction made by Minister Whitelaw
Reid.
Talleyrand has been dead fifty-two
years. He forbade the publication of his
memoirs until thirty years after his death.
The appearance of the memoirs has been
awaited for two decades with almost
feverish interest by European and Ameri-
can politicians and men of letters. For
Talleyrand was thought to be the reposi-
tory of more secrets than any other pub
lie man of his era. The revelations the
publication is expected to make will not,
probably, be so sensational as has been
anticipated. From what is now given to
us we should judge that the memoirs of
this the shrewdest and most constituencies
politician of his age, the most far-seeing
and the most reckless and unblushing
man of his time, will prove to be more
critical and philosophical, and less sensa-
tional than has been looked for.
However, it is impossible to tell what
the record of this most brilliant man,
whose career has not been paralleled in
Europe, may disclose, until it has been
read in full. What we have now to deal
with is the Talleyrand who criticised
America, Talleyrand of political wisdom,
the man whose wonderful genius, mar
velous prescience and mastery political
acumen made him statesman who, deS-
pite his proiiigacy, treachery and lack
of conscience, the world respected for his
far-seeing and wisdom, and honored for
his diplomatic skill and his wonderful
ability to read men and weigh policies.
Driven from France, he came, not will
ingly, to America in January, 1894. He
remained in this country nearly three
years, studying carefully the institutions
of the republic, then scarce twelve years
of age. Indeed, this wonderful political
prophet was in the very best attitude pos
sible to observe and to forecast for the
new government. In his memoirs he re-
corded the impressions he received, and
without feeling, but with statesmanlike
calm pointed out the dangers he looked
forward to for the new nation.
His observations of the tendencies of
our Government convinced him that
from its very inception the country was
to favor commerce and discourage agri-
culture; that is, that the new nation un-
wisely took it for granted that agriculture
would take care of itself and that COM
merce must be fostered. How marvel
ously this was prophetic, we now well
know; how closely he forecast the national
drift in this respect we now well UNDER
stand, and the present dangerous conten-
ton between manufactures, commerce
and production verifies. Thus Talley-
rand said as he looked at our situation:
Agriculture is the basis which all States
are founded. 1t is this-I say it with all
economists-that forms the chief wealth of
the social state, that teaches the respect of
property, and warns us that We are blind to
our interests when we interfere with those of
other people.
Clearly discerning the original ten
dency to conserve speculation and COM
merce, and to neglect the fostering ofagri-
culture, he said:
The American Government allowed itself
too easily TO be influenced by the geographi-
cal situation OF the States; it gave too much
encouragement to the spirit of enterprise
too much activity is devoted to busi-
ness, and not enough TO farming, and that
nrst direction given to all the ideas of the
country unsettleS its social establishment.
Whether we have changed in character
to this day, it is not necessary to inquire
lit is obvious. Talleyrand was pro-
foundly and disagreeably impressed with
the disposition in America to drive the
country in upon itself, by obstructing in
tercourse with other nations. He was
NOT, Il H. II
but held to his idea of 'the possibility of
all industry being some day divided in a
permanent way between the nations of
the world"
He says that he told Hamilton that. as
Europe eXcelled in all branches of art and
the manufacture of articles of luxury.
and as America pos ssed kind of wealth
peculiar to it, and q its crops would al
ways surpass those IF any rival nation.
he thought .'the distribution of these two
modes of applying mems abilities might
serve as the measure and basis of the re-
lations that must necessarily spring up
between nations, some of which daily re-
quire to buy, at a moderate cost, the most
usual necessaries of life, whilst others are
anxious to acquire all that tends to make
life most pleasant and sweet"
In other words, as this political prophet
clearly saw it, the natural balance would
furnish a vast ground for intelligent ex-
change, (which, being ruled by inter-
national convention, would constitute the
commercial intercourse of the different
powers
Hamilton's response to- this, and Talley-
rand's observations upon the financial
system of the country as he saw it, and
the warnings he sounded concerning the
use Of our vast extent of territory, and