The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1894-04-12
XLI-CONCuuSlON.

Americans Are Not 80 Happy the
French What Jonathan Has Accom-
plishcd.
"WeIl, sir, and what do you think Of
America"
When one thinks cf what the Ameri-
cans have done in a hundred years of in
dependent life, it looks as if nothing
ought to be impossible 10 them in the flu
ture, considering the incXhaustible re-:
sources at their disposition.
While the HohenzolIerns. the Haps-
burgs and the Tirebrandenburgs review
their troops; while her standing armies
are costing Europe more than 81 ,000.-
OOO,OJ0 Il year, in time Of peace; while
the Europe an debt is more than S25 ,O00,-
600, 900, the american treasury at Wash
in9t0n, in spite of corruption, which it is
well known does exist, las Il surplus of
$G0,O00,000. While European govern
ments Cudgel their wits to devise means
for meeting the expenses of absolute
monarchies. the Washington government
is at a loss to know what to do with the
money it has in hand. While the Euro
pean kilograms in the daily papers give
accounts OF reviews, notifications and
military nancuvcrS, 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 gunpowdcr, 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 a presidential
election or the doings Of John l.. Sulli-
van, While Europe i'll trembling asks her
self, with the return of each new spring,
whether two or three millions of her
sons will not be called upon to cut each
others thrQats for the great glory of
three emperors in search Of excitement
America is not only great nation,
geographically speaking.
The Americans are a great people,
holding in their hands their own destiny,
learning day ~ 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 con-
hrmed | am in my opinion, that the
French are the happiest people on earth.
Tho Ar,,C,-inoy, 81, ~
to the possession of all that can contrib
ute to the well being and success Of a
nation, but he seems to me to have
missed the path that leads to real happi-
ness. His domestic joys are more shad-
owy than real. To live in a whirl i.
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 lis power to hang back. If it
were given to men TO live twice on this
planet, l should understand his living
his first term IAmericaine. so as to be
able to enjoy quietly in his second exist
ence- the fruits of his toll in the first.
Seeing that only one sojourn here is per-
mitted Us, | think the French are right
in their study to make it a long and
happy one.
If the French could arrive at a steady
form OF government and live in security,
they would be the most enviably happy
people on earth.
1t is often charged against the Ameri-
cans that they are given to Dragging.
May not men who have done marvels be
permitted certain amount of self gIori-
ication?
1t is said, too. that their eccentricitv
leads them into folly and L. |
cense. IS 1t not better TO have the liberty !
TO err than 10 be compelled to run
straight in leash: If they occasionally |
Vote like children, they VIII learn witt |
ace. 1t Is by voting that people learn to .
vote.
Is there any country in Europe in
"4l"h morals SIe better regulated, work |
better p1id or education wider spread? |
Is there Il country in Europe where YOU
can lind such natural riches and such en- /
7rgy to turn them = account: so MANY
people with consciousness If their own
Intellectual and moral force; so many
schools, where the child Of the million
IRE and the child of the poor man study
lde by side: so many libraries. where the
10Y Ill rags may read the history Of his
'oIntry and be fired bv the exploits of its
'eroes: Gan you name country with
% many learned societies, SO many news
'apers, SO many charitable institutions.
II so much widespread comfort:
Il. l.enan, wishing to turn himself into
i, pTophet OF III omen. one day predicted
bal II 1 rance continued republican she
you'd become q second America. i
May nothing worse befal her, Il
THE END.