Theretheelectionofamajorityofthetrusteesofthepublicmoneyiscontrolledbythemostignorantandviciousofapopulationwhichhascometousfromabroad，whollyunpractisedinself-governmentandincapableofassimilationbyAmericanhabitsandmethods。Butthefinancesofourtowns，wherethenativetraditionisstilldominantandwhoseaffairsarediscussedandsettledinapublicassemblyofthepeople，havebeeningeneralhonestlyandprudentlyadministered。Eveninmanufacturingtowns，whereamajorityofthevoterslivebytheirdailywages，itisnotsooftentherecklessnessasthemoderationofpublicexpenditurethatsurprisesanoldfashionedobserver。
\"Thebeggarisinthesaddleatlast，\"criesProverbialWisdom。\"Why，inthenameofallformerexperience，doesn\'theridetotheDevil？\"Becauseintheveryactofmountingheceasedtobeabeggarandbecamepartownerofthepieceofpropertyhebestrides。Thelastthingweneedbeanxiousaboutisproperty。Italwayshasfriendsorthemeansofmakingthem。Ifricheshavewingstoflyawayfromtheirowner，theyhavewingsalsotoescapedanger。
IhearAmericasometimesplayfullyaccusedofsendingyouallyourstorms，andaminthehabitofparryingthechargebyallegingthatweareenabledtodothisbecause，invirtueofourprotectivesystem，wecanaffordtomakebetterbadweatherthananybodyelse。AndwhatwiserusecouldwemakeofitthantoexportitinreturnforthepauperswhichsomeEuropeancountriesaregoodenoughtosendovertouswhohavenotattainedtothesameskillinthemanufactureofthem？Butbadweatherisnottheworstthingthatislaidatourdoor。AFrenchgentleman，notlongago，forgettingBurke\'smonitionofhowunwiseitistodrawanindictmentagainstawholepeople，haschargeduswiththeresponsibilityofwhateverhefindsdisagreeableinthemoralsormannersofhiscountrymen。IfM。Zolaorsomeothercompetentwitnesswouldonlygointotheboxandtelluswhatthosemoralsandmannerswerebeforeourexamplecorruptedthem！ButIconfessthatIfindlittletointerestandlesstoedifymeintheseinternationalbandyingsof\"You\'reanother。\"
Ishalladdressmyselftoasinglepointonlyinthelonglistofoffencesofwhichwearemoreorlessgravelyaccused，becausethatreallyincludesalltherest。
ItisthatweareinfectingtheOldWorldwithwhatseemstobethoughttheentirelynewdiseaseofDemocracy。Itisgenerallypeoplewhoareinwhatarecalledeasycircumstanceswhocanaffordtheleisuretotreatthemselvestoahandsomecomplaint，andtheseexperienceanimmediatealleviationwhenoncetheyhavefoundasonorousGreeknametoabuseitby。Thereissomethingconsolatoryalso，somethingflatteringtotheirsenseofpersonaldignity，andtothatconceitofsingularitywhichisthenaturalrecoilfromouruneasyconsciousnessofbeingcommonplace，inthinkingourselvesvictimsofamaladybywhichnoonehadeversufferedbefore。Accordinglytheyfinditsimplertoclassunderonecomprehensiveheadingwhatevertheyfindoffensivetotheirnerves，theirtaste，theirinterests，orwhattheysupposetobetheiropinions，andchristenitDemocracy，muchasphysicianslabeleveryobscurediseasegout，orascross-grainedfellowslaytheirill-