Such,alas,isbynomeansmywayofconstruingthematter;ifitwere,Ishouldhavehadthehappinessofremainingsilent,andbeenwithoutcalltospeakhere。Itisbecausethecontraryofallthisisdeeplymanifesttome,andappearstobeforgottenbymultitudesofmycontemporaries,thatIhavehadtoundertakeaddressingawordtothem。Thecontraryofallthis;——andthefartherIlookintotherootsofallthis,themorehateful,ruinousanddismaldoesthestateofmindallthiscouldhaveoriginatedinappeartome。ToexaminethisrecipeofaParliament,howfititisforgoverningNations,nayhowfititmaynowbe,inthesenewtimes,forgoverningEnglanditselfwhereweareusedtoitsolong:this,too,isanalarminginquiry,towhichallthinkingmen,andgoodcitizensoftheircountry,whohaveanearforthesmallstillvoicesandeternalintimations,acrossthetemporaryclamorsandloudblaringproclamations,arenowsolemnlyinvited。Invitedbytherigorousfactitself;whichwilloneday,andthatperhapssoon,demandpracticaldecisionorredecisionofitfromus,——withenormouspenaltyifwedecideitwrong!Ithinkweshallallhavetoconsiderthisquestion,oneday;betterperhapsnowthanlater,whentheleisuremaybeless。IfaParliament,withsuffragesanduniversaloranyconceivablekindofsuffrages,isthemethod,thencertainlyletussetaboutdiscoveringthekindofsuffrages,andrestnomomenttillwehavegotthem。ButitispossibleaParliamentmaynotbethemethod!PossibletheinveteratenotionsoftheEnglishPeoplemayhavesettleditasthemethod,andtheEverlastingLawsofNaturemayhavesettleditasnotthemethod!Notthewholemethod;northemethodatall,iftakenasthewhole?IfaParliamentwithneversuchsuffragesisnotthemethodsettledbythislatterauthority,thenitwillurgentlybehooveustobecomeawareofthatfact,andtoquitsuchmethod;——wemaydependuponit,howeverunanimouswebe,everysteptakeninthatdirectionwill,bytheEternalLawofthings,beastep_from_improvement,nottowardsit。
Nottowardsit,Isay,ifso!Unanimityofvoting,——thatwilldonothingforusifso。YourshipcannotdoubleCapeHornbyitsexcellentplansofvoting。Theshipmayvotethisandthat,abovedecksandbelow,inthemostharmoniousexquisitelyconstitutionalmanner:theship,togetroundCapeHorn,willfindasetofconditionsalreadyvotedfor,andfixedwithadamantinerigorbytheancientElementalPowers,whoareentirelycarelesshowyouvote。Ifyoucan,byvotingorwithoutvoting,ascertaintheseconditions,andvaliantlyconformtothem,youwillgetroundtheCape:ifyoucannot,theruffianWindswillblowyoueverbackagain;theinexorableIcebergs,dumbprivy-councillorsfromChaos,willnudgeyouwithmostchaotic“admonition;“youwillbeflunghalffrozenonthePatagoniancliffs,oradmonishedintoshiversbyyouricebergcouncillors,andsentsheerdowntoDavyJones,andwillnevergetroundCapeHornatall!Unanimityonboardship;——yesindeed,theship’screwmaybeveryunanimous,whichdoubtless,forthetimebeing,willbeverycomfortabletotheship’screw,andtotheirPhantasmCaptainiftheyhaveone:butifthetacktheyunanimouslysteeruponisguidingthemintothebellyoftheAbyss,itwillnotprofitthemmuch!——Shipsaccordinglydonotusetheballot-boxatall;andtheyrejectthePhantasmspeciesofCaptains:onewishesmuchsomeotherEntities——sinceallentitieslieunderthesamerigoroussetoflaws——couldbebroughttoshowasmuchwisdom,andsenseatleastofself-preservation,thefirstcommandofNature。PhantasmCaptainswithunanimousvotings:thisisconsideredtobeallthelawandalltheprophets,atpresent。
Ifamancouldshakeoutofhismindtheuniversalnoiseofpoliticaldoctorsinthisgenerationandinthelastgenerationortwo,andconsiderthematterfacetoface,withhisownsincereintelligencelookingatit,Iventuretosayhewouldfindthisaveryextraordinarymethodofnavigating,whetherintheStraitsofMagellanortheundiscoveredSeaofTime。Toprosperinthisworld,togainfelicity,victoryandimprovement,eitherforamanoranation,thereisbutonethingrequisite,ThatthemanornationcandiscernwhatthetrueregulationsoftheUniverseareinregardtohimandhispursuit,andcanfaithfullyandsteadfastlyfollowthese。Thesewillleadhimtovictory;whoeveritmaybethatsetshiminthewayofthese,——wereitRussianAutocrat,ChartistParliament,GrandLama,ForceofPublicOpinion,ArchbishopofCanterbury,M’CroudytheSeraphicDoctorwithhisLast-evangelofPoliticalEconomy,——setshiminthesurewaytopleasetheAuthorofthisUniverse,andishisfriendoffriends。Andagain,whoeverdoesthecontraryis,foralikereason,hisenemyofenemies。Thismaybetakenasfixed。
Andnowbywhatmethodascertainthemonitionofthegodsinregardtoouraffairs?Howdecipher,withbestfidelity,theeternalregulationoftheUniverse;andread,fromamidsuchconfusedembroilmentsofhumanclamorandfolly,whattherealDivineMessagetousis?Adivinemessage,oreternalregulationoftheUniverse,thereverilyis,inregardtoeveryconceivableprocedureandaffairofman:faithfullyfollowingthis,saidprocedureoraffairwillprosper,andhavethewholeUniversetosecondit,andcarryit,acrossthefluctuatingcontradictions,towardsavictoriousgoal;notfollowingthis,mistakingthis,disregardingthis,destructionandwreckarecertainforeveryaffair。Howfindit?Alltheworldanswersme,“Countheads;
askUniversalSuffrage,bytheballot-boxes,andthatwilltell。“
UniversalSuffrage,ballot-boxes,countofheads?Well,——I
perceivewehavegotintostrangespirituallatitudesindeed。
Withinthelasthalf-centuryorso,eithertheUniverseorelsetheheadsofmenmusthavealteredverymuch。Halfacenturyago,anddownfromFatherAdam’stimetillthen,theUniverse,whereverIcouldheartellofit,waswonttobeofsomewhatabstrusenature;bynomeanscarryingitssecretwrittenonitsface,legibletoeverypasser-by;onthecontrary,obstinatelyhidingitssecretfromallfoolish,slavish,wicked,insincerepersons,andpartiallydisclosingittothewiseandnoble-mindedalone,whosenumberwasnotthemajorityinmytime!
Orperhapsthechiefendofmanbeingnow,intheseimprovedepochs,tomakemoneyandspendit,hisinterestsintheUniversehavebecomeamazinglysimplifiedoflate;capableofbeingvotedonwitheffectbyalmostanybody?“Tobuyinthecheapestmarket,andsellinthedearest:“trulyifthatisthesummaryofhissocialduties,andthefinaldivinemessagehehastofollow,wemaytrusthimextensivelytovoteuponthat。Butifitisnot,andneverwas,orcanbe?IftheUniversewillnotcarryonitsdivinebosomanycommonwealthofmortalsthathavenohigheraim,——beingstill“aTempleandHallofDoom,“notamereWeaving-shopandCattle-pen?IftheunfathomableUniversehasdecidedto_reject_HumanBeaverspretendingtobeMen;andwillabolish,prettyrapidlyperhaps,inhideousmud-deluges,their“markets“andthem,unlesstheythinkofit?——Inthatcaseitwerebettertothinkofit:andtheDemocraciesandUniversalSuffrages,Icanobserve,willrequiretomodifythemselvesagooddeal!
Historicallyspeaking,IbelievetherewasnoNationthatcouldsubsistuponDemocracy。OfancientRepublics,and_Demoi_and_Populi_,wehaveheardmuch;butitisnowprettywelladmittedtobenothingtoourpurpose;——auniversal-suffragerepublic,orageneral-suffrageone,oranybutamost-limited-suffrageone,nevercametolight,ordreamedofdoingso,inancienttimes。
Whenthemassofthepopulationwereslaves,andthevotersintrinsicallyakindof_kings_,ormenborntoruleothers;whenthevoterswerereal“aristocrats“andmanageabledependentsofsuch,——thendoubtlessvoting,andconfusedjumblingoftalkandintrigue,might,withoutimmediatedestruction,ortheneedofaCavaignactointervenewithcannonandsweepthestreetsclearofit,goon;andbeautifuldevelopmentsofmanhoodmightbepossiblebesideit,foraseason。Besideit;oreven,ifyouwill,bymeansofit,andinvirtueofit,thoughthatisbynomeanssocertainasisoftensupposed。Alas,no:thereflectiveconstitutionalmindhasmisgivingsastotheoriginofoldGreekandRomannobleness;andindeedknowsnothowthisoranyotherhumannoblenesscouldwellbe“originated,“orbroughttopass,byvotingorwithoutvoting,inthisworld,exceptbythegraceofGodverymainly;——andremembers,withasigh,thatoftheSevenSagesthemselvesnofewerthanthreewerebitsofDespoticKings,[Gr。]_Turannoi_,“Tyrants“socalledsuchbeinggreatlywantedthere;andthattheotherfourwereveryfarfromRedRepublicans,ifofanypoliticalfaithwhatever!WemayquittheAncientClassicalconcern,andleaveittoCollege-clubsandspeculativedebating-societies,intheselatedays。
OfthevariousFrenchRepublicsthathavebeentried,orthatarestillontrial,——ofthesealsoitisnotneedfultosayanyword。
ButthereisonemoderninstanceofDemocracynearlyperfect,theRepublicoftheUnitedStates,whichhasactuallysubsistedforthreescoreyearsormore,withimmensesuccessasisaffirmed;towhichmanystillappeal,astoasignofhopeforallnations,anda“ModelRepublic。“IsnotAmericaaninstanceinpoint?
WhyshouldnotallNationssubsistandflourishonDemocracy,asAmericadoes?
OfAmericaitwouldillbeseemanyEnglishman,andmeperhapsaslittleasanother,tospeakunkindly,tospeakunpatriotically,ifanyofusevenfeltso。Sureenough,Americaisagreat,andinmanyrespectsablessedandhopefulphenomenon。Sureenough,thesehardymillionsofAnglo-Saxonmenprovethemselvesworthyoftheirgenealogy;and,withtheaxeandploughandhammer,ifnotyetwithanymuchfinerkindofimplements,aretriumphantlyclearingoutwidespaces,seedfieldsforthesustenanceandrefugeofmankind,arenasforthefuturehistoryoftheworld;
doing,intheirdayandgeneration,acreditableandcheeringfeatunderthesun。ButastoaModelRepublic,oramodelanything,thewiseamongthemselvesknowtoowellthatthereisnothingtobesaid。NaythetitlehithertotobeaCommonwealthorNationatall,amongthe[Gr。]_ethne_oftheworld,is,strictlyconsidered,stillathingtheyarebutstrivingfor,andindeedhavenotyetdonemuchtowardsattaining。TheirConstitution,suchasitmaybe,wasmadehere,notthere;wentoverwiththemfromtheOld-PuritanEnglishworkshopready-made。
DeductwhattheycarriedwiththemfromEnglandready-made,——theircommonEnglishLanguage,andthatsameConstitution,orratherelixirofconstitutions,theirinveterateandnow,asitwere,inbornreverencefortheConstable’sStaff;
twoquiteimmenseattainments,whichEnglandhadtospendmuchblood,andvaliantsweatofbrowandbrain,forcenturieslong,inachieving;——andwhatnewelementsofpolityornationhood,whatnoblenewphasisofhumanarrangement,orsocialdeviceworthyofPrometheusorofEpimetheus,yetcomestolightinAmerica?CottoncropsandIndiancornanddollarscometolight;
andhalfaworldofuntilledland,wherepopulationsthatrespecttheconstablecanlive,forthepresent_without_Government:
thiscomestolight;andtheprofoundsorrowofallnoblerhearts,hereutteringitselfassilentpatientunspeakableennui,therecomingoutasvagueelegiacwailings,thatthereisstillnexttonothingmore。“Anarchy_plus_astreet-constable:“thatalsoisanarchictome,andotherthanquitelovely!
Iforesee,too,that,longbeforethewastelandsarefull,theverystreet-constable,onthesepoorterms,willhavebecomeimpossible:withoutthewastelands,ashereinourEurope,Idonotseehowhecouldcontinuepossiblemanyweeks。CeasetobragtomeofAmerica,anditsmodelinstitutionsandconstitutions。
Tomenintheirsleepthereisnothinggrantedinthisworld:
nothing,orasgoodasnothing,tomenthatsitidlycaucusingandballot-boxingonthegravesoftheirheroicancestors,saying,“Itiswell,itiswell!“Cornandbaconaregranted:
notaverysublimeboon,onsuchconditions;aboonmoreoverwhich,onsuchconditions,cannotlast!——No:Americatoowillhavetostrainitsenergies,inquiteotherfashionthanthis;tocrackitssinews,andallbutbreakitsheart,astherestofushavehadtodo,inthousand-foldwrestlewiththePythonsandmud-demons,beforeitcanbecomeahabitationforthegods。
America’sbattleisyettofight;andwe,sorrowfulthoughnothingdoubting,willwishherstrengthforit。NewSpiritualPythons,plentyofthem;enormousMegatherions,asuglyaswereeverbornofmud,loomhugeandhideousoutofthetwilightFutureonAmerica;andshewillhaveherownagony,andherownvictory,butonothertermsthansheisyetquiteawareof。
Hithertoshebutploughsandhammers,inaverysuccessfulmanner;hitherto,inspiteofher“roast-goosewithapple-sauce,“
sheisnotmuch。“Roast-goosewithapple-sauceforthepoorestworkingman:“well,surelythatissomething,thankstoyourrespectforthestreet-constable,andtoyourcontinentsoffertilewasteland;——butthat,evenifitcouldcontinue,isbynomeansenough;thatisnotevenaninstalmenttowardswhatwillberequiredofyou。Myfriend,bragnotyetofourAmericancousins!Theirquantityofcotton,dollars,industryandresources,Ibelievetobealmostunspeakable;butIcanbynomeansworshipthelikeofthese。Whatgreathumansoul,whatgreatthought,whatgreatnoblethingthatonecouldworship,orloyallyadmire,hasyetbeenproducedthere?None:theAmericancousinshaveyetdonenoneofthesethings。“Whattheyhavedone?“growlsSmelfungus,tiredofthesubject:“Theyhavedoubledtheirpopulationeverytwentyyears。Theyhavebegotten,witharapiditybeyondrecordedexample,EighteenMillionsofthegreatest_bores_everseeninthisworldbefore,——thathithertoistheirfeatinHistory!“——Andsoweleavethem,forthepresent;andcannotpredictthesuccessofDemocracy,onthissideoftheAtlantic,fromtheirexample。
Alas,onthissideoftheAtlanticandonthat,Democracy,weapprehend,isforeverimpossible!Somuch,withcertaintyofloudastonishedcontradictionfromallmannerofmenatpresent,butwithsureappealtotheLawofNatureandtheever-abidingFact,maybesuggestedandassertedoncemore。TheUniverseitselfisaMonarchyandHierarchy;largelibertyof“voting“