272 ANDREW JACKSON 



invention of the screw propeller had set up the new 

 migration of foreigners from Europe, and after the 

 great stream of New Englanders had begun to pour 

 into the Northwest, the mixing became still more 

 complicated. The effect of this was excellent in 

 shaking men's ideas out of the old ruts, in bringing 

 together people of somewhat various habits and 

 associations, in breaking down artificial social dis- 

 tinctions, in broadening the range of sympathy, and 

 in adding to the heartiness and cordiality of manner. 

 This new society was much more completely demo- 

 cratic than that of the Atlantic states, and it soon 

 began powerfully to react upon the latter. During 

 the period of which I am speaking most of the states 

 remodelled or amended their constitutions in such 

 wise as to make them more democratic. There was 

 an extension of the suffrage, a shortening of terms 

 of office, and a disposition to make all offices elective. 

 There was much that was wholesome in this demo- 

 cratic movement, but there was also some crudeness, 

 and now and then a lamentable mistake was made. 

 Perhaps the worst instance was that of electing judges 

 for limited terms instead of having them appointed 

 for life or during good behaviour. In particular cases 

 the system may work fairly well, but its general ten- 

 dency is demoralizing to bench and bar alike, and I 

 believe it to be one of the most crying abominations 

 by which our country is afflicted. Taken in connec- 

 tion with the disposition to seek violent redress for 

 injuries, and with the mawkish humanitarianism of 

 which criminals are so quick to take advantage, it 

 has done much to diminish the security of life and 

 property and to furnish a valid excuse for the rough 



