“The world outside of the United States is inclined to believe American democracy something next to infernal—­that it must have everything it sees, and turns everything it comes in contact with into dollars, cents, and republicanism.  To such it is a mysterious power, moved by chemical agency.  As for Littlejohn, he thought that in addition to our speculative spirit we should be governed by modesty, an example of which his forefathers had set us.  This he recommended on the principle of a gentleman who keeps up his dignity, gaining one half his object through the influence of his mien.  Many said this was the precise material General Pierce was most deficient in; and that if the General would preserve more dignity and less bluster his administration had been marked with results more in keeping with the true character of the nation.  Old Uncle John could brag stoutly; but Jonathan was a magnificent player at the same game.  I realised this as Littlejohn took a long look over our wonderful West, and asked by what singular process of diplomacy we got to many fine states, so richly burdened with natural resources?  He reckoned we must have come the smart of our go-ahead principles over the French, Spanish and Mexicans, and then insinuated ourselves into their dominions.  But, this being the smallest end of an Englishman’s ideas whittled down to the very point of self-conceit, Smooth thought it best to be good-natured and make the best of his calmness.  The fact is, John Bull and Cousin Jonathan must be good friends; strife is the dire enemy of good order, while war becomes the assassin seeking to overthrow those principles of constitutional liberty, both nations so wisely combined in their constitutions.  Why tear down the noble edifice you cannot rebuild? why blight the cheering prospects of thousands to gratify the vain ambition of pedantic politicians?

“‘Hallo!  Smooth, my dear fellow, what place is this below?’ cries out Littlejohn, looking over, as the balloon made a B line westward.

“‘That,’ I interrupted, ’used to be called the ‘far West.’  Now it is getting to be the centre of civilization.  It goes ahead of the march of progress, while outstripping comprehension.  Upon this great expanse will spring up the materials for feeding every hungry and oppressed citizen this side of sun-down.  We can already raise anything,—­from mountain of corn to a river of pork,—­on it; and as for the nigger crop, there’s no end of that!’

“’And that yours, too, Mr. Smooth?  Your fertile acres stretch from sea to sea.’  Little John interrupting, pointed all over the broad expanse below.  He had no generalized ideas of America, no distinct estimate of her productive and maintaining powers, and less knowledge of that machinery so simply beautiful called her government.  He never for once thought how this wide western expanse was destined for the back-bone of the mightiest republic the world ever knew.  People without homes in