contributions to-all the year round(一年到头)-第7章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
particulars。〃
But； enough； sir。 The inhabitant of Tattlesnivel who has taken pen in
hand to expose this odious association of unprincipled men against a
shining （local） character； turns from it with disgust and contempt。 Let
him in few words strip the remaining flimsy covering from the nude object
of the conspirators； and his loathsome task is ended。
Sir； that object； he contends； is evidently twofold。 First； to exhibit the
London Correspondent of the Tattlesnivel Bleater in the light of a
mischievous Blockhead who； by hiring himself out to tell what he cannot
25
… Page 26…
Contributions to All The Year Round
possibly know； is as great a public nuisance as a Blockhead in a corner can
be。 Second； to suggest to the men of Tattlesnivel that it does not improve
their town to have so much Dry Rubbish shot there。
Now； sir； on both these points Tattlesnivel demands in accents of
Thunder； Where is the Attorney General？ Why doesn't the Times take it
up？ （Is the latter in the conspiracy？ It never adopts his views； or quotes
him； and incessantly contradicts him。） Tattlesnivel； sir； remembering that
our forefathers contended with the Norman at Hastings； and bled at a
variety of other places that will readily occur to you； demands that its
birthright shall not be bartered away for a mess of pottage。 Have a care；
sir； have a care！ Or Tattlesnivel （its idle Rifles piled in its scouted streets）
may be seen ere long； advancing with its Bleater to the foot of the Throne；
and demanding redress for this conspiracy； from the orbed and sceptred
hands of Majesty itself！
THE YOUNG MAN FROM THE COUNTRY
A song of the hour； now in course of being sung and whistled in every
street； the other day reminded the writer of these wordsas he chanced to
pass a fag…end of the song for the twentieth time in a short London walk
that twenty years ago； a little book on the United States； entitled American
Notes； was published by 〃a Young Man from the Country〃； who had just
seen and left it。
This Young Man from the Country fell into a deal of trouble； by reason
of having taken the liberty to believe that he perceived in America
downward popular tendencies for which his young enthusiasm had been
anything but prepared。 It was in vain for the Young Man to offer in
extenuation of his belief that no stranger could have set foot on those
shores with a feeling of livelier interest in the country； and stronger faith in
it； than he。 Those were the days when the Tories had made their
Ashburton Treaty； and when Whigs and Radicals must have no theory
disturbed。 All three parties waylaid and mauled the Young Man from the
Country； and showed that he knew nothing about the country。
26
… Page 27…
Contributions to All The Year Round
As the Young Man from the Country had observed in the Preface to his
little book； that he 〃could bide his time〃； he took all this in silent part for
eight years。 Publishing then； a cheap edition of his book； he made no
stronger protest than the following：
〃My readers have opportunities of judging for themselves whether
the influences and tendencies which I distrusted in America； have any
existence but in my imagination。 They can examine for themselves
whether there has been anything in the public career of that country during
these past eight years； or whether there is anything in its present position；
at home or abroad； which suggests that those influences and tendencies
really do exist。 As they find the fact； they will judge me。 If they
discern any evidences of wrong…going； in any direction that I have
indicated； they will acknowledge that I had reason in what I wrote。 If
they discern no such thing； they will consider me altogether mistaken。 I
have nothing to defend； or to explain away。 The truth is the truth； and
neither childish absurdities； nor unscrupulous contradictions； can make it
otherwise。 The earth would still move round the sun； though the whole
Catholic Church said No。〃
Twelve more years having since passed away； it may now； at last； be
simply just towards the Young Man from the Country； to compare what he
originally wrote； with recent events and their plain motive powers。
Treating of the House of Representatives at Washington； he wrote thus：
〃Did I recognise in this assembly； a body of men； who； applying
themselves in a new world to correct some of the falsehoods and vices of
the old； purified the avenues to Public Life； paved the dirty ways to Place
and Power； debated and made laws for the Common Good； and had no
party but their Country？
〃I saw in them； the wheels that move the meanest perversion of
virtuous Political Machinery that the worst tools ever wrought。 Despicable
trickery at elections； under…handed tamperings with public officers；
cowardly attacks upon opponents； with scurrilous newspapers for shields；
and hired pens for daggers； shameful trucklings to mercenary knaves；
whose claim to be considered； is； that every day and week they sow new
crops of ruin with their venal types； which are the dragon's teeth of yore；
27
… Page 28…
Contributions to All The Year Round
in everything but sharpness； aidings and abettings of every bad inclination
in the popular mind； and artful suppressions of all its good influences：
such things as these； and in a word； Dishonest Faction in its most depraved
and most unblushing form； stared out from every corner of the crowded
hall。
〃Did I see among them； the intelligence and refinement： the true；
honest； patriotic heart of America？ Here and there； were drops of its
blood and life； but they scarcely coloured the stream of desperate
adventurers which sets that way for profit and for pay。 It is the game of
these men； and of their profligate organs； to make the strife of politics so
fierce and brutal； and so destructive of all self…respect in worthy men； that
sensitive and delicate…minded persons shall be kept aloof； and they； and
such as they； be left to battle out their selfish views unchecked。 And thus
this lowest of all scrambling fights goes on； and they who in other
countries would； from their intelligence and station； most aspire to make
the laws； do here recoil the farthest from that degradation。
〃That there are； among the representatives of the people in both
Houses； and among all parties； some men of high character and great
abilities； I need not say。 The foremost among those politicians who are
known in Europe； have been already described； and I see no reason to
depart from the rule I have laid down for my guidance； of abstaining from
all mention of individuals。 It will be sufficient to add； that to the most
favourable accounts that have been written of them； I fully and most
heartily subscribe； and that personal intercourse and free communication
have bred within me； not the result predicted in the very doubtful proverb；
but increased admiration and respect。〃
Towards the end of his book； the Young Man from the Country thus
expressed himself concerning its people：
〃They are； by nature； frank； brave； cordial； hospitable； and
affectionate。 Cultivation and refinement seem but to enhance their
warmth of heart and ardent enthusiasm； and it is the possession of these
latter qualities in a most remarkable degree； which renders an educated
American one of the most endearing and most generous of friends。 I
never was so won upon； as by this class； never yielded up my full
28
… Page 29…
Contributions to All The Year Round
confidence and esteem so readily and pleasurably； as to them； never can
make again； in half a year； so many friends for whom I seem to entertain
the regard of half a life。
〃These qualities are natural； I implicitly believe； to the whole people。
That they are； however； sadly sapped and blighted in their growth among
the mass； and that there are influences at work which endanger them still
more； and give but little present promise of their healthy restoration； is a
truth that ought to be told。
〃It is an essential part of every national character to pique itself
mightily upon its faults； and to deduce tokens of its virtue or its wisdom
from their very exaggeration。 One great blemish in the popular mind of
America； and the prolific parent of an innumerable brood of evils； is
Universal Distrust。 Yet the American citizen plumes himself upon this
spirit； even when he is sufficiently dispassionate to perceive the ruin it
works； and will often adduce it； in spite of his own reason； as an instance
of the great sagacity and acuteness of the people； and their superior
shrewdness and independence。
〃'You carry；' says the stranger； 'this jealousy and distrust into every
transaction of public life。 By repelling worthy men from your legislative
assemblies； it has bred up a class of candidates for the suffrage； who； in
their every act； disgrace your Institutions and your people's choice。 It has
rendered you so fickle； and so given to change； that your inconstancy has
passed into a proverb； for you no sooner set up an idol firmly； than you are
sure to pull it down and dash it into fragments：
