More from the WESTERN MONTHLY (1830)

The conclusion of this 10-page article:

Let it not be said, that we do not cordially respect a competent legislator; or that we do not consider it the duty of every man, to obey the distinct intimation of the will of the country, that he should serve it. But when we see what miserable timber is wrought into the political ship, how many bipeds are sent to our legistatures, who ought never have aspired to any thing, beyond finding the way from the bed to the fire, we cannot but feel a certain humiliation in this degradation of our country's character, apart from its bearing on the point, for which we contend. Our consolation is, that every thing changes in our country. The fashion of belles lettres, literature and the fine arts, will come round in its turn; and mean while, knights of the quill must toil on, with what courage they may.

Given that the condition of our electioneering and politics in 2011 seems so similar to that of 1830, I conclude that either our political life hasn't changed or the final prophecy that a better character will "come round in its turn" has come and gone and is to be hoped for again at some point in the future.