Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- PREFACE
- CHAPTER I THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
- CHAPTER II THE LABOURING POPULATION—IRISH AND GERMANS
- CHAPTER III THE PRESS—ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE—PUBLIC OPINION
- CHAPTER IV RELIGIOUS AND MORAL CHARACTERISTICS
- CHAPTER V THE WOMEN OF AMERICA
- CHAPTER VI THE CITIES OF AMERICA—NEW YORK
- CHAPTER VII THE STEAMBOAT AND RAILWAY SYSTEM OF AMERICA—STREET TRAFFIC
- CHAPTER VIII EDUCATION—THE FREE-SCHOOL SYSTEM
- CHAPTER IX BUSINESS
- CHAPTER X MINERAL WEALTH OF THE COUNTRY
- CHAPTER XI THE LATE CIVIL WAR
- CHAPTER XII SANATORY FAIRS AND CHARITIES
- CHAPTER XIII POLITICAL CONDITION OF THE PEOPLE
- CHAPTER XIV COMMISSIONERS OF EMIGRATION—CASTLE GARDEN, NEW YOEK
- CHAPTER XV ADVICE TO INTENDING EMIGRANTS
CHAPTER XIII - POLITICAL CONDITION OF THE PEOPLE
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 29 August 2010
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- PREFACE
- CHAPTER I THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
- CHAPTER II THE LABOURING POPULATION—IRISH AND GERMANS
- CHAPTER III THE PRESS—ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE—PUBLIC OPINION
- CHAPTER IV RELIGIOUS AND MORAL CHARACTERISTICS
- CHAPTER V THE WOMEN OF AMERICA
- CHAPTER VI THE CITIES OF AMERICA—NEW YORK
- CHAPTER VII THE STEAMBOAT AND RAILWAY SYSTEM OF AMERICA—STREET TRAFFIC
- CHAPTER VIII EDUCATION—THE FREE-SCHOOL SYSTEM
- CHAPTER IX BUSINESS
- CHAPTER X MINERAL WEALTH OF THE COUNTRY
- CHAPTER XI THE LATE CIVIL WAR
- CHAPTER XII SANATORY FAIRS AND CHARITIES
- CHAPTER XIII POLITICAL CONDITION OF THE PEOPLE
- CHAPTER XIV COMMISSIONERS OF EMIGRATION—CASTLE GARDEN, NEW YOEK
- CHAPTER XV ADVICE TO INTENDING EMIGRANTS
Summary
Between thirty and forty years ago, long before the passing of the Reform Bill in the British House of Parliament, I was imbued with those Radical principles which were promulgated by Muir, Palmer, and Skirving. Knowing that the elective franchise under the old Tory rule was a mockery, I was impressed, like thousands of others, with the idea that the ballot was the only mode in which the rights of the people could be. protected against the corrupting influence of the great landed aristocracy. The Reform Bill was passed, under which a new order of things was inaugurated, the condition of the people improved, and the prosperity of the country advanced. The elective franchise, however, still remained a vexed question. The upper classes were afraid to entrust the people with anything like a free voice empowering them to send representatives to Parliament, and as a consequence the same system of political corruption prevailed, though in a modified form. I therefore continued a warm advocate for the ballot; but since I came to see the new organization of self-government by the American people and the working of the ballot, my idea of that boasted safeguard has been thoroughly exploded. I have found that universal suffrage is not the voice of the people, and that the ballot only affords dishonest and designing men a cloak for their knavery. While I am writing, the Republican party are taking every means that money, craft, and foul misrepresentation can give them, by which to retain place and power.
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- Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2009