Diary in America, Series One | Page 5

effected, are
evident almost to the child. To those who have rivers many thousand
miles in length, the passage across the Atlantic (of 3,500 miles) appears
but a trifle; and the American ladies talk of spending the winter at Paris
with as much indifference as one of our landed proprietors would, of
going up to London for the season.
We must always bear in mind the peculiar and wonderful advantages of
country, when we examine America and its form of government; for
the country has had more to do with upholding this democracy than
people might at first imagine. Among the advantages of democracy, the

greatest is, perhaps, that all start fair; and the boy who holds the
traveller's horse, as Van Buren is said to have done, may become the
president of the United States. But it is the country, and not the
government; which has been productive of such rapid strides as have
been made by America. Indeed it is a query whether the form of
government would have existed down to this day, had it not been for
the advantages derived from the vast extent and boundless resources of
the territory in which it was established. Let the American direct his
career to any goal he pleases, his energies are unshackled; and, in the
race, the best man must win. There is room for all, and millions more.
Let him choose his profession--his career is not checked or foiled by
the excess of those who have already embarked in it. In every
department there is an opening for talent; and for those inclined to work,
work is always to be procured. You have no complaint in this country,
that every profession is so full that it is impossible to know what to do
with your children. There is a vast field, and all may receive the reward
due for their labour.
In a country where the ambition and energies of man have been roused
to such an extent, the great point is to find out worthy incitements for
ambition to feed upon. A virtue undirected into a wrong channel may,
by circumstances, prove little better than (even if it does not sink down
into) actual vice. Hence it is that a democratic form of government is
productive of such demoralising effects. Its rewards are few. Honours
of every description, which stir up the soul of man to noble deeds--
worthy incitements, they have none. The only compensation they can
offer for services is money; and the only distinction--the only means of
raising himself above his fellows left to the American--is wealth;
consequently, the acquisition of wealth has become the great spring of
action. But it is not sought after with the avarice to hoard, but with the
ostentation to expend. It is the effect of ambition directed into a wrong
channel. Each man would surpass his neighbour; and the only great
avenue open to all, and into which thousands may press without much
jostling of each other, is that which leads to the shrine of Mammon. It
is our nature to attempt to raise ourselves above our fellow-men; it is
the main-spring of existence--the incitement to all that is great and
virtuous, or great and vicious. In America, but a small portion can raise

themselves, or find rewards for superior talent, but wealth is attainable
by all; and having no aristocracy, no honours, no distinctions to look
forward to, wealth has become the substitute, and, with very few
exceptions, every man is great in proportion to his riches. The
consequence is, that to leave a sum of money when they die is of little
importance to the majority of the Americans. Their object is to amass it
while young, and obtain the consideration which it gives them during
their lifetime.
The society in the United States is that which must naturally be
expected in a new country where there are few men of leisure, and the
majority are working hard to obtain that wealth which almost alone
gives importance under a democratic form of government. You will
find intellectual and gentlemanlike people in America, but they are
scattered here and there. The circle of society is not complete: wherever
you go, you will find an admixture, sudden wealth having admitted
those who but a few years back were in humble circumstances; and in
the constant state of transition which takes place in this country, it will
be half a century, perhaps, before a select circle of society can be
collected together in any one city or place. The improvement is rapid,
but the vast extent of country which has to be peopled prevents that
improvement from being manifest. The stream flows inland, and those
who are here today are gone to-morrow, and their places in society
filled up by