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قراءة كتاب Society, Manners and Politics in the United States Being a Series of Letters on North America
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Society, Manners and Politics in the United States Being a Series of Letters on North America
SOCIETY, MANNERS AND POLITICS
IN THE
UNITED STATES:
BEING A
SERIES OF LETTERS ON NORTH AMERICA.
BY MICHAEL CHEVALIER.
TRANSLATED FROM THE THIRD PARIS EDITION.
BOSTON:
WEEKS, JORDAN AND COMPANY.
1839.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1839,
By Weeks, Jordan & Co.
In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts.
TUTTLE, DENNETT AND CHISHOLM'S
POWER PRESS,
No. 17 School Street, Boston.
NOTICE.
M. Chevalier was sent to this country in 1834, under the patronage of Thiers, then Minister of the Interior, in France, to inspect our public works. But attracted by the novel spectacle presented by society in the United States, he extended the time of his stay and the sphere of his observations amongst us, and spent two years in visiting nearly all parts of the Union, and studying the workings of our social and political machinery. His letters give the results of his observations, the impressions made on his mind, his speculations in regard to the future destiny of our institutions, rather than a detailed narrative of facts and events, which, however, is introduced when necessary for illustration or proof. The translator is not, of course, to be considered responsible for all the opinions and statements of the original; but it will be found, in his judgment, that M. Chevalier has studied with diligence and sagacity, drawn his conclusions with caution and discrimination, and stated his views in a clear, forcible, and interesting manner. He seems to be perfectly free from any narrowness or prejudice, ready to recognise whatever is good or of good tendency, whether in character, manners, modes of life, political and social institutions, habits, or opinions, without regard to mere personal likes and dislikes; and to be equally frank in condemning, whenever he perceives, in our practices, a violation of our own principles, or of those of an enlightened philosophy. He tells many home truths to all parties and classes. Some passages of the letters and many of the notes, which have no particular interest in this country, have been omitted. M. Chevalier's work has been very favourably received in his own country, where it has passed through several editions.
T. G. Bradford.
Boston, October, 1839.
CONTENTS.
| Page. | ||
|---|---|---|
| Introduction. | ||
| Course of our Civilisation over the World.—Oriental Civilisation, European Civilisation.—Their approaching Contact.—The Arabians stand between them.—Movement of European Civilisation towards the East.—Two Routes to the East.—The Three European Types.—Latin Europe, Teutonic Europe, Sclavonic Europe.—Mixed Character of France and Austria.—The part to be played by France | 9 | |
| LETTERS. | ||
| I. | The Railroad from London to Paris. | |
| Analogy between certain Political and Voltaic Phenomena.—France and England.—In what we should imitate the English.—Railroads.—Objects of a Journey in England.—The Feudal Castle of Heidelberg and the London Brewery | 19 | |
| II. | Liverpool and Manchester Railroad. | |
| Impressions of the Railroad.—Railroads in France.—Steam Carriages will not interfere with Railroads.—Analogy between the present Condition of France and the State of England after the Expulsion of the Stuarts.—Religion in Liverpool | 29 | |
| III. | War of the President of the United States upon the Bank. | |
| State of the Question.—History of Banks in the United States.—Creation of the Bank of the United States in 1816; it restored order in the finances of the country.—Causes of the Antipathy of the Body of the People against Banks.—Benefits which all Classes have derived from Banks.—Commercial Crisis | 37 | |
| IV. | The Democracy.—The Bank. | |
| Democratic Movements in France.—Less Influence than in the United States.—Errors of the Local Banks.—Their Dividends.—Wisdom of the Bank of the United States.—Political Dangers of the great National Bank.—Services rendered by it.—The President's Accusations against the Bank.—The Multitude applauds | 46 | |
| V. | Movement of Parties.—Bank Question. | |
| Industrial Crisis.—Backstairs Influence in Monarchies and Republics.—Party Demonstrations.—Imperfection of the Banking System.—Excess of Paper Money.—Modification of the Bank Charter.—Good Sense of the American Democracy.—How great Questions are settled in the United States | 55 | |
| VI. | Progress of the Struggle.—New Powers. | |
| Length of the Debates in Congress.—The Bank must withdraw.—Old Dignities and old Politics.—New Dignities and new Politics.—New Power of Industry | 69 | |
| VII. | Railroads in the United States. | |
| Rage of the Americans for Railroads.—Universal Use of Railroads.—Glance at Railroads in the United States | 80 | |
| VIII. | The Banks.—Preservation of the Union. | |
| Truce between the Parties.—Possibility of a Compromise.—The Democracy must prevail.—The Bond of Union grows weaker.—Probability of the Preservation of the Union.—Changes which it may undergo.—The three | ||