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the State。 The danger to valuable and movable property would be
too imminent； and those who felt an interest in its preservation
would not fail to rally in its defence。 It is precisely on this
principle that in the end property will protect itself as against
the popular inroads which are inevitable； should the present
tendencies receive no check。 Calm； disinterested； and judicious
legislation is a thing not to be hoped for。 It never occurs in
any state of society except under the pressure of great events；
and this for the very simple reason that men； acting in factions；
are never calm； judicious； or disinterested。
｛around the bell of the Capitol = Cooper is alluding to the
public ferment in upstate New York； during the 〃anti…rent wars〃
of the 1840s； resulting in laws infringing； in Cooper's view； on
the legal contractual and property rights of landowners｝
Nevertheless； the community will live on； suffer； and be deluded：
it may even fancy itself almost within reach of perfection； but
it will live on to be disappointed。 There is no such thing on
earth； and the only real question for the American statesman is
to measure the results of different defective systems for the
government of the human race。 We are far from saying that our
own； with all its flagrant and obvious defects； will be the
worst； more especially when considered solely in connection with
whole numbers； though we cannot deny； nor do we wish to conceal；
the bitterness of the wrongs that are so frequently inflicted by
the many on the few。 This is； perhaps； the worst species of
tyranny。 He who suffers under the arbitrary power of a single
despot； or by the selfish exactions of a privileged few； is
certain to be sustained by the sympathies of the masses。 But he
who is crushed by the masses themselves； must look beyond the
limits of his earthly being for consolation and support。 The
wrongs committed by democracies are of the most cruel character；
and though wanting in that apparent violence and sternness that
marks the course of law in the hands of narrower governments； for
it has no need of this severity； they carry with them in their
course all the feelings that render injustice and oppression
intolerable。
We think that the towns of America； generally； will suffer less
from these popular abuses than the rural districts。 As has been
already said； associated wealth will take care of itself。 It may
make； and probably will make； in the earlier stages of these
political changes； some capital mistakes； and there cannot be a
question that in the rapacity of private efforts to accumulate；
some of the most obvious and natural expedients of protection
will be overlooked； until the neglect compels recourse possibly
even to the use of the strong hand。 Still property will
eventually protect itself。 For； in an age like this； when even
the bayonet must be carried ordinarily in its sheath； and when
men get to be accustomed from infancy to the inbred recognition
of many of the most important principles of government； society
starts； as it might be； far in advance of the point which it
reached in the ages of pure military and arbitrary sway。 The
celebrated saying of Napoleon； 〃L'Europe sera； dans cinquante
ans； ou republicaine ou cossaque；〃 has a profound signification；
yet it must be greatly qualified to be received with safety。 The
〃cossaque〃 of the close of the nineteenth century will be a very
different thing from the 〃cossaque〃 of the days of Paul。 It now
means little more than conservatism； and this； too； a
conservatism that is not absolutely without that principle of
concession to the spirits and wants of the passing moment。 These
quarrels and bitter conflicts of which we hear so much in the Old
World； like some of our own； have their rise in abstractions
quite as much as in actual oppression； and the alternative
offered by change half the time amounts to but little more than
the substitution of King Stork for King Log。 It may not be
agreeable to the pride； recollections； and national traditions of
the Hungarian； or the Italian； to submit to the sway of a German；
but it may well be questioned if the substitutes they would offer
for the present form of government would greatly tend to the
amelioration of the respective people。
｛L'Europe sera。。。。 = Europe will； in fifty years； be either
republican or cossack ＇French＇； Paul = Paul I； Tsar of Russia
from 1796 to 1801； King Stork for King Log = from Aesop's Fables｝
What is true in the Old World will； in the end； be found to be
true here。 To us； it would seem that the portion of the people of
this country； whom we should term the disinterested； or those who
have no direct connection with slavery； on the one hand； or with
fanaticism； and its handmaid demagogism； on the other； should
turn their attention solely to the achievement of a single
object。 They have the strength to do it； if they only had the
will。 By compelling the disturbers of the public peace to submit
to the control of the government； and to cease their meddling and
wanton invasion of the security and property of their brothers
and neighbors； the question of slavery would soon take care of
itself。 A single generation would； probably； see it confined in a
great measure to the extreme Southern and Southwestern States；
for； under the present emigration from Europe； it cannot be long
before the upper counties of even the Carolinas and Georgia will
make the discovery that the introduction of a single white man
will be really of more importance to them than that of a dozen
negroes。 Could Virginia be made to see her true interests in this
behalf； the glory of the Old Dominion would speedily revive； and
her fine population of gentlemen would shortly take its place
again where it so properly belongs； in the foremost ranks of the
nation。 We require an exchange with that quarter of the country；
for we could give that which she greatly needs； and receive in
exchange that which would probably not a little benefit
ourselves。 Puritanism； most especially when it breaks out of
bonds by the process of emigration； does not always produce the
most acceptable fruits； while； on the other hand； the descendants
of the Cavaliers might obtain homely lessons； of great practical
benefit； from the utilitarian spirit of the whole North。
End