Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-06-27
A Study OF American Life.


teer regiments for the val with Spain,
and particularly of the regiment known
as the "Rough Riders" which is com
posed of wealthy young men of New
York and poor men from the far west,
with nc less a parsonage than Theodore
Roosevelt second in command, has re-
suited in a study of American social and
political conditions, and the character
1stics of American people by the London
Spectator, which undoubtedly surprised
the Britons in it's conclusions. From
the time of Charles Dickens to the pres
ent, the masses of the English have
persisted in regarding the Americans i n
the light of the information as portrayed
in MARTIN Chuzzlewit." but the article
in the Spectator takes an entirely diff
ferent view.
The Spectator takes the ground that
the greater number of Americans are
what is known as ''self-made men,
Grandfathers do not count for much in
establishing the social or political stand
ing of an American. In England dis
t%inction is apt to be regarded as political
distinction, for the reason that for CEN
turtles the great majority of distinguished
Englishmen have been connected with
political life, even in the cases of many
men of letters. But in this country it
is different. A man may be prominent
in politics and still have no great social
position, and may be illiterate to a
painful degree. On the other hand,
men who are noted for their learning or
social standing may be entirely unknown
in political circles. Still they command
respect in these several circles by rea-
son of powers which have been developed
by environment.
The idea that the almighty dollar is
by far the greatest social force in Ameri.
ca. receives a we'll merited setback
from the Spectator. While the fact
that Americans are money makers is
not denied, it is shown that compare
tive poverty is no drawback to men OF
worth. BY force of energy the accumu'
lation of wealth has become a power,
not unmixed with evil, ''but it must be
carefully differentiated from that vulgar
worship of wealth which is thought tC
mark the millionaire. The truth is,
that the average, quiet, undemonstra
tive American citizen, who in the last
resort really rules, is distrustful of great
wealth: and events are likely before long
to happen which will make evident that
distrust."
The one thing in American life which
especially attracts the attention of the
Spectator, is the regard held for educa.
ton and the influence it eXerts. In this
the clergy and teachers 60 hand in hand
and while they are comparatively poor
they are held in great esteem by al
classes. The u%tterances of grea1
preachers are placed before the public
and eagerly read; the opinions of educa'
tors are accepted in matters political as
well as in those in which they are di.
| rectly concerned. BY a system of pub.
lie schools supported through taxation.
| the poorest child in the land is en-.
| abled to secure an education, and in
place of becoming a public charge takes
his place in the world of business, poll.
tics orletters. In conclusion, the Spec.
tator says: ''The schoolmaster and the
preacher, are, in short, the two factors
held in high esteem, and these when
| America finds her soul, will always be
found topmost in her social fabric, the
real, unacknowledged aristocracy Of
American life. So long as this remains
true, the vessel of American democracy
may be beaten about by the fierce temp
ests which must come, but she will mo-
go under"