TRIUMPHANT DEMOCRACY.

Evening Star, Issue 7495, 13 April 1888, Page 4

TRIUMPHANT DEMOCRACY.

[advt.]

■♦ [By Andrew Carnegie, J CHAPTER IV.—(Contisuku.) Although facts prove that the general standard of comfort was necessarily very much lower in the early part of the period we are considering than now, there yet prevailed a degree of general well-being unknown at the same time in Europe. Arfedson, a Swedish traveller, who visited the country in 1832-34, has thus placed on record his impressions : A European, travelling in this direotion (New York State) oannot help admiring the general appear mce of comfort and prosperity so singularly striking. To an inhabitant of the Scandinavian Peninsula, accustomed to different scenes, it is peculiarly! gratifying to witness, instead of gorgeous piiaces by the side of poor huts, a row of neat oountry houses, inhabited by independent farmers. A Swedish servant, lately arrived in America, at the date in question, on looking round and perceiving the happy state so generally diffused, exclaimed, with surprise and characteristic simplicity, "Sir, have the {[oodness to inform me where the peasantry ive in this country ?" In works on America written about this period, we everywhere find expressions of surprise at the absence of beggars. Sir Charles Lyell, inquiring |in hia 'First Visit' in 1840, "to what combination of causes the success of national education is to be attributed," and replying to his own query, makes a statement which is here relevant. He says :

First there is no olass In want or extreme poverty here, partly because the faoility of migrating to the West, for those who are, without employment, 19 so great, and also, in part, from the oheok to improvident marriages, created by the high standard of living to whioh the lowest people aspire, a standard whioh education Is raising higher and higher from day to day.

As a further result of this universal prosperity, there was less crime than in the older countries, where life was difficult.

The number of persons apprehended by the police of the City of LondoD, in 1832, was seventy-two thousand eight hundred and twenty-four. The population of London being twenty times that of Boston, the same proportion would give for Boston tbirtysix hundred and forty-one, instead of the aotual number, nineteen hundred and four.

But probably the greatest contrast of all was that between the low status of the factory operatives in England and the high status of the same class in America. In England, forty years ago, the factory hand was a mere machine—a drudge, ill-fed, illhoused, addicted to low pleasures, with no hope on earth, and scant knowledge of Heaven. In America the female operatives were usually farmers' daughters, who entered the factory to make a little money with which to set up housekeeping when they married. Their intellectual status is shown by the fact that at Lowell (Massachusetts) a magazine was published consisting entirely of articles and poems written by girls employed in the factories. By a judioious superintendence their morals were cared for, none being permitted to live in unauthorised lodging houses; and the result was that the girls of the Lowell factories were celebrated as much for their virtue as for their intellectual superiority. Unfortunately all this is changed. Immigrant operatives from Europe came in, and supplanted those of New England ; and at the present time the condition of the American factory hand, though decidedly better than that of the European operative, is said to be not nearly so high »3 it was forty years ago. The glimpses we are thus able to obtain of this period of fifty-five years ago(1830), show us a people scattered for the most part along the Atlantic seaboard. A few aggregations of people at Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore had made good their claim to rank as cities. The roads o! America, still, with some exceptions, the worst perhaps in the civilised world, were then only dirt lanes, almost impassable during the rainy season, but excellent in summer and during the hard frosts of winter. Stage coaones ran between the cities at intervale which to us seem absurdly

rare, and sailing packets, propelled by steam, and on the canals express packets, drawn by horses, divided the passenger traffic with the stage coaches. Enterprising pioneers had pushed westward beyond the Alleghanies into the Ohio Valley, and even as far as the plains of Illinois. The emigrant travelled in his own waggons to his new home in the then " far " West. Pining the long and hazardous journey, his family lived the life of roaming gipsies. The people's dress was of the cheapest and simplest character. A rough ce.ainet cloth was used for the best dress of the men, and few women OV.V o£ tHe principal cities 'aspired to a silk gown. In 1830 cotton I calico was worn by most women, even of the well-to-do class. The servant problem—--1 to-day such a difficult oiiG to the American housewife—wao much easier of solution then; for, as there were fewer foreign women available for domestic service, native Americans had to be employed. These were not called servants, but " help }" and it was the custom for them to sit at the family table, and in other ways to be treated as equals and members of the family. Such an arrangement was hardly an inconvenience where so much simplicity of life prevailed. A repugnance then existed to all distinctions in dress. No coachman was ever seen in livery, nor did servants dress in any prescribed fashion. Concerning this trait Miss Martineau writes :

One laughable peculiarity at the British Legation (at Washington) was the confusion of tnngues among the servants, who ask you to take fish, flesh, and fowl In Spanish, Italian, German, Dutch, Irißh, or Fronoh. The foreign ambassadors are terribly plagued about servants. No American will wear livery, and there is no reason why any American should. But the British ambassador must hive livery servants. He makes what compromise he can, allowing his people to appear without livery out of doors, except on state CMisions; birt he is obliged to pick up his domsstics from among forfigners who are in want o* a subsistence for a short time, and are eure to go nway as soon as they can find employment in which the wearing a livery is net a requisite.

Such was the repugnance to livery that policemen dressed like ordinary citizens. Even Now York City did not give its police a distinctive dress until 1845. Other cities followed later, until now it would be difficult to distinguish the police force in any American city from the metropolitan police of London. Coachmen's liveries are less gaudy in America than in Europe. We have not yet adopted powder-haired coachmen and flunkeys with stuffed calves, nor brilliantly colored coaches. I remember well that when the Pennsylvania Railroad Company decided that conductors and passenger-train men upon its lines should be distinguished from passengers by a uniform official dress, serious doubts were entertained whether the requirement would not lead to universal refusal to wear livery. In this case, as with the police force, the obvious advantage of the men in authority being known at once by their uniform was finally recognised by the employes. It is a sentiment well worth humoring, however, this dislike to distinctive badges, except when clearly useful. Unless so, let republican citizens be independent, and differ even in dress.

There was scarcely a private carriage iu Western cities in those days. People rode on hoiseback or in rude waggons, or, at best, in one-horse chaises. An old lady, living not long since, and ono whom 1 knew well and honored, kept the first carriage iu Pittsburgh ; and the lady who first had a Coachman in livery (he was a colored man fond of display) is still in her prime. If the dress, conveniences, and homes of the people were of the simplest character, so was the food. It was, however, very cheap. Eggs were three half - pence a dozen, and a leg of lamb cost only a shilling, Foreign wine was so rare and eostly as to be almost unknown. The importations of wine in 1831 amounted to only a million and a half dollars. Barter was a common mode of payment. Workmen, even in cities, received orders upon a store for their labor. Wages ware generally low. Laborers received sixty-two cents (threo shillings) per day, and two dollars (eight shillings) per dav was long considered remarkably high wages, and was given only to very skilful workmen. Salaries were even lower in proportion. The late President of the great Pennsylvania Railway received only 1,500d0l (L 300) per annum as late as 1855, when he was superintendent of the western division of the line. I was overwhelmed when, as his successor, I received LSO more per annum. Notwithstanding low wages, the regularity of work and the simplicity of life enabled the people to save considerable sums every year. Such as there was of fashion was in the direction of the plainest living, and in opposition to ostentation in residence, furniture, dress, food, or equipage. It was republican to be plain, simple, unaffected, and of the people. Kid gloves, dress coats, and silk dresses were hardly known west of the Alleghanies. There were no millionaires in those days. Men with fifty or a hundred thousand dollars (LIO.OOO to L' 20,000) were spoken of throughout the country as the millionaire is now. Indeed, there are probably more millionaires in New York City today than there were men in the whole country in 1830 who were worth a hundred thousand dollars. The first pianoforte manufactory was founded in 1822, but was so insignificant that in 1853 it turned out only fifteen pianos a week. Few carriages were made till 1840. Works of art were rarely seen. The first picture gallery of any consequence was that of the Pennsylvania Academy, Philadelphia, opened in 1811. Other cities remained till a recent date without important art collections. Libraries existed in colleges and in the public buildings of the State capitol, but few collections of books were accessible to the people. Previous to 1830 only three or four cities had such libraries, and these were unimportant. In those days every village and country district had its universal genius who could turn his hand to anything, from drawing a tooth to mending a clock. The doctor of divinity had usually the functions of doctor of medicine as well. The doctor of the body had no brother doctor of the soul; he was both himself. The lawyer was attorney, counsellor, real estate agent, banker, and barrister in one. With increasing population, handicrafts and professions have become specialised; and communities, however small, are now generally well supplied with men trained to their special vocations, to which they confine themselves, A community of toilers with an undeveloped continent before them, and destitute of the refinements and elegancies of life—such was the picture presented by the Republic fifty years ago. Contrasted with that of today we might almost conclude that we were upon another planet and subject to different primary conditions. If the roads throughout the country are yet poor compared with those of Europe, the need of good roads has been rendered less imperative by the omnipresent railroad. It is the superiority of the iron highway in America which has diverted attention from the country roads. Macaulay's test of the civilisation of a people by the condition of their roads must be interpreted, in this age of steam, to include railroads. Communication between places is now cheaper and more comfortable than in any other country. Upon the principal railway lines the cars—luxurious drawing-rooms by day, and sleeping chambers by nightare ventilated by air, warmed and filtered in winter, and cooled in summer. Passenger steamers upon the lakes and rivers are of gigantic size, and models of elegance. The variety and quality of the food of the people of America excels that found elsewhere, and is a constant surprise to Europeans visiting the States. The dress of the people is now of the richest character—far beyond that of any other people, compared class for class. The comforts of the average American home compare favorably with those of other lands, while the residences of the wealthy classes are not equalled anywhere. The first-class American residence of to-day in all its appointments excites the envy of the foreigner. One touch of the electric button calls a messenger; two touches bring a telegraph boy; three summon a policeman ; four give the alarm of fire. Telephones are used to an extent hardly dreamed of in Europe, the stables, gardener's houses, and other out-buildings being connected with the mansion; and the houses of friends are joined by the talking wire almost as often as houses of business. Speaking-tubes connect the drawing-room with the kitchen; and the dinner is brought up "piping hot" by an elevator. Hot air and steam pipes are carried all over the house ; and by the turning of a tap the temperature of any room is regulated to suit the convenience of the occu-

pant. The electric, light is coming into use throughout the country as an additional home comfort. Indeed, there is no palace or great mansion in Europe with half the conveniences and scientific appliances which characterise the best American mansions. New York Central Park is no unwoi thy rival of Hyde Park and the Bois de Boulogne in its display of fine equipages ; and in winter the hundreds of graceful sleighs (ashing along the drives form a picture prettier than anything London can boast. The opera houses, theatres, and public halls of the country excel in inagnioenoc those of other lands, if V/C except the Mer Constructions in Paris and Henna, with which the New York and Philadelphia opera houses rank. The commercial changes, and the imposing structures of the life insurance companies, newspaper buildings, hotels, and many edifices built by wealthy firms, not only in New York but in the cities of the West, never fail to excite the European's surprise. The postal system is equal in every respect to that of Europe. Mails are taken up by express trains, sorted onboard, and dropped at all important points without stopping. Letters are delivered several times a day in every considerable town. The uniform rates of postage for all distances, often exceeding three thousand miles, is only two cents (one penny) per ounce. In short, the conditions of life in American cities may be said to have approximated those of Britain during the fifty years of which we are speaking. Year by year, as the population advances, the general standard of comfort in the smaller Western cities rises to that of the East. Herbert Spencer was astonished beyond measure at what he saw in American cities. " Such books as I had looked into," said he, "gave me no adequate idea of the immense developments of material civilisation which I have everywhere found. The extent, wealth, and magnificence of your cities, and especially the splendor of New York, have altogether astonished me. Though I have not visited the wonder of the West, Chicago, yet some of your minor modern places, such as Cleveland, have sufficiently amazed me, by the marvellous results of one generation's activity. Oecasionally, when I have been in places of some ten thousand inhabitants, where the telephone is in general use, I have felt somewhat ashamed of our own unenterprising towns, many of which, of fifty thousand inhabitants and more, make no use Of it."

There is little difference between the municipal institutions of the new and the old lands, but no contrast can be greater than that between their country districts. The unfortunate people of monarchies have reason to envy the American in many respects, but in none more keenly than for the perfection of his local township and county organisations. If my American readers were'generally informed of the chaos prevailing throughout the country districts of England, they would be at a loss to understand how a people who speuk the English tongue could have tolerated it so long. The church has a certain share in local matters, especially as regards education j and the clergymen, vicars, rectors, and curates are found upon the select boards which manage all local affairs. Then the "lords of the manors," the owners of lands, have also a share. The squire and the parson are really the powers which attend to everything, and manage all to their own liking. The palace of my lord duke is assessed to pay taxes less in amount than the moderate-sized villa of the new man, who is not in the ruling coterie. Every little country district has its " ring." For in place of one " ring " in the Republic there are twenty in the Monarchy. The ofilcea are naturally distributed to the favorites of the landlords and the parsons. The people of the district have no voice whatever in the matter, since they are excluded from voting for county officials; only those who are possessed of a certain amount of property, or who reside in large houses and pay large rents, and who are consefluently of the ruling classes, are permitted to vote. The majority of the people, therefore, have no interest in the community as a community. There is no soil for the growth of local patriotism. In the British towns, however, a pleasing contrast to this sad picture is presented. In these manhood suffrage prevails, and in many, if not all cases, women possessed of property are also entitled to vote. _ The result is a degree of attention to municipal affairs upon the part of the best citizens of the towus which is rarely found even in America beyond the borders of the old settled States if at all. The proceedings of the town council, including the speeches of every member, are regularly published at length in the local newspupers. Sometimes as much as four columns are occupied by the report of this local parliament, and no reading is so much enjoyed, or excites a deeper interest in the community. It is true, one outside of the boundaries smiles to read of really able men, the local manufacturers and merchants of the place, disputing upon the correctness of a charge of five pounds six and eightpence for repairing the town-house clock, or an increase of ten pounds in the salary of the town clerk ; but the Imperial Parliament itself is not seldom engaged upon trifling matters, and it is this attention to details which insures a proper disposition of the public funds, and an excellent government of the municipality. The magistrates and town councillors are held in the highest honor, and one hears in Britain of Provost Matthews or Provost Donalds, premiership and local improvements being characterised as during this or that " administration." The resident of the town hears the names of prominent public men, but these are mere abstractions to him, and furnish no material basis for admiration ; but when the provost passes he sees in him concentrated glory, the pride of power, the " real presence," as it were. From the town councils the nation is drawing some of its foremost leaders. Mr Chamberlain and Alderman Renrick began their education in that of Birmingham ; Mr Storey his in that of Sunderland, and the late George Harrison his in Edinburgh. My experience of the town community in Britain gives me the highest possible estimate of the power of the masses to produce beneficial changes through the selection of men best qualified for the work. The time has not yet arrived for as complete and effective municipal institutions throughout the Republic as those of Britain, but we see in the more settled parts that we are arriving at similar results. While, therefore, the municipalities of the old land are not excelled by any in the new, and are upon the average better, the country districts of Britain have institutions which are a disgrace to a people. The stolid ignorance of the masses, their seeming contentedness with a life befitting the swineherds of early Saxon times, their dependence upon what they call their " betters," and the sycophantic vices which aristocratic rule ever produces in the poor, are positively sickening to the American, who naturally contrasts the situation with that at Home, and especially contrasts the men and women produced by the two systems. " You see then," says the narrow, uninformed Tory squire, as he shows his American visitor the condition of the masses around him ; " you see how utterly unfit these people aro for what you call selfgovernment and the equality of the citizen. Bless you ! if we didn t look after them they couldn't live." He does not often hear the proper reply, but I flatter myself he does sometimes. "Give these people all the rights and privileges you possess in this district, and before you die, unless you drop off suddenly, the result will surprise you. Never can they be transformed from practical serfdom except by imposing upon them the duties of citizens, and then educating them to the proper performance of those duties. You are just like the foolish mother who would not permit her boy to go near the water till he had learned to swim. Throw him iu. Be at his side to see that he does not quite drowD, but be careful not to assist too mueh. Don't bolster him up until he is exhausted and ready to sink." This same Tory squire will descant at dinner upon the mission his country holds for the improvement of inferior i races throughout the world, wholly oblivious to the fact that it would be difficult to find among any subject race in any part of the world a more ignorant, debased, and poverty-stricken community than that which the autocratic system of his class has produced within a few miles of his own gate. No man can see so clearly the mote in his brother's eye and bo bo blind to the beam in

his own as the country magnate of England. He feels, at least he proteases to feel, for every people but his own. A short description of the republican country organisations will probably be interesting to. the British people, and even to the American who is too apt to enjoy his blessings without paying much attention to their sources. The subdivision of States into counties, and of counties into townships for purposes of self-government, have not been made upon a uniform plan ; the earlier States present many points of difference in these divisions; but the newer States of the West and North-west, which cotwbvtie mucK the greater area. o£ the country, may be said to follow the same general mode. It is that alone which I think worth while to describe, since it is the recent and distinctively American practice. ( To he continued.)