Jamesian Philosophy Refreshed

One-time imperial power and the one-time jewel in that old crown.  It is good to see amity between the United Kingdom and India. They have a new trading accord.  This may be a matter of considerable significance for the ongoing transformation of world trade. Not only are these two powerhouse economies, but this deal may be part of a pattern. Negotiations had been on a back burner for years,  But, when the President of the US started talking about how we need only two out of every 30 imported dolls -- or whatever -- the rest of the world had to think about work-arounds.  "Who can we sell to when the US stops buying from us?  Who will we buy from while we are holding up our end of a trade war with them?" Accordingly, the Brit/Indian deal went to the front burner in recent months.  This one may have some special resonance for those fascinated by the history of the US, because we know that in 1861 Lincoln told the Brits they could no longer import cotton from t...

More today about Lundberg's book on Greeley. On pp. 64-65, he is discussing Greeley's opposition to the war with Mexico.  "When the issue became apparent, Greeley was sure [in 1847] that a long-silenced Southern majority would overthrow Calhoun and his cabal." Greeley formed three critical views at about this time, while opposing war with Mexico. First, that the aristocratic planters who owned most of the south's slaves were a powerful conspiratorial force, extending themselves not just west but north. Second, that a unified "north" had to be called into existence by the force of his own paper and such allies as could be mustered, to oppose this force (to oppose those he would soon start calling the Slave Power). Third, that the downtrodden southern whites, who owned few or no slaves, would before long join forces with the North and overthrow their social superiors in that region. One great theme of Lundberg's book is that Greeley was wildly mistaken...