MR HAMILTON ON THE PROSPECTS OF THE UNION. 299 



boleth of her fantastic supremacy. It is in vain, therefore, 

 to talk of female republicans ; there exists, and can exist, no 

 such being on either side of the Atlantic, for human nature is 

 the same on both. 



&quot; In truth, the spirit of aristocracy displays itself in this 

 commercial community in every variety of form. One en 

 counters it at every turn.&quot; 



It must be evident to every person who has visited the 

 United States, that wealth has already obtained a prominent 

 place in many parts of the country. That there are distinc 

 tions and classes in society, will not admit of doubt ; and from 

 the constitution of human nature, it cannot be otherwise in a 

 civilized and numerous population. The wealthy, the wise, 

 the proud, the profligate, the virtuous, and the vicious, will 

 associate with people of the same character, in despite of every 

 means that could be devised for their separation ; and it is 

 perhaps well for society that such is the case. The vain and 

 frivolous are harmless creatures. The proud man may puff 

 himself into bigness, like the frog in the fable imitating the 

 ox, and assume the emblems of luxury and pomp with impu 

 nity. The form of aristocracy meets the eye in all the social 

 relations of life. There is no such thing as equality in the 

 abstract sense of the term, with the political privileges of the 

 inhabitants, the right of franchise varying in different States, 

 and a qualification being requisite in all of them. 



Liberty and equality, as understood in Britain, is not to be 

 found amongst the inhabitants of the United States. The 

 people must obey the laws, which impartially affect the whole 

 population, except in the case of suffrage ; a privileged class 

 by inheritance, creation, wealth, or purchase, being unknown. 

 The laws are founded on the principles of freedom, and the 

 mass of the population may be said to be politically equal. 

 Here liberty and equality of the United States is applicable 

 only to the political condition of the inhabitants, and in this 

 relation must be taken in a restricted sense. 



Aristocracy seems inseparable from civilized society, and an 

 individual, by attending to the communings of his own heart, 

 will perhaps be convinced that its spirit pervades the life veins 

 of humanity. In almost every quarter of the globe, it has at 



