IT is nearly eight years since this book was first published. I
present it, unaltered, in the Cheap Edition; and such of my opinions as it
expresses, are quite unaltered too.
My readers have opportunities of judging for themselves whether the
influences and tendencies which I distrust in America, have any existence not 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.
Prejudiced, I never have been otherwise than in favour of the United States.
No visitor can ever have set foot on those shores, with a stronger faith in the
Republic than I had, when I landed in America.
I purposely abstain from extending these observations to any length. 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.
I have many friends in America, and feel a grateful interest in the country.
To represent me as viewing it with ill-nature, animosity, or partisanship, is
merely to do a very foolish thing, which is always a very easy one; and which I
have disregarded for eight
years, and could disregard for eighty more.
LONDON, JUNE 22, 1850.
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