The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-04-03
GREAT BRITAIN AND THE BRITISH PEOPLE,

For ourselves, also, we confess, that with all
her faults, yet kindred as she is to us in blood,
in language, and in institutions, and united as we
are more than any other two nations by CON-
merce, we should prefer the continuance of her
political ascendency in Europe, to the accession
of any other nation She derives large portion
of her food from the West, and of the raw mate
rial for clothing the world from the South and
her fall, while it would bring ruin on the whole
fabric of modern civilization, would cause revo-
luton in this country only less momentous than
In her own"
Thus speaks the Southern Press of England,
and we take pleasure in avowing our cordial con-
currcnce in the sentiments it expresses. There
arc prejudiced and narrow minded persons on
both sides of the Atlantic, who would SOW the
seeds of discord and alienation between the Uni
ted States and Great Britain who would place
them in the position of antagonists, with interests
eternaly in conflict, to such an extent that the
growth of one must be regarded as perilous to
the security of the other. These constitute but
a small portion of the citizens in either country,
but they make up in zeal and clamor what they
lack in numbers.
England and the United States belong to the
same sphere of civilization. The fact that they
have one language in common, in which are en-
bodied the imperishable records Of their laws and
institutions their science and literature, their
arts and arms, their battles for Freedom and
triumphs over Despotism, is of itself stronger
bond of sympathy and relationship than can ex-
list between either of them and any other nation.
Talk as we may of the mixture of races in this
country, exaggerate as we may certain peculiari-
ties which distinguish the American from the
Englishman, the truth remains that they belong
to one family, are alike in essentials of charac-
term hardness, adventure, tenacity Of pur-
pose, sincerity, earnestness, practical good sense,
contempt of pretension and imposture, self-reli-
ance love of personal freedom, capacity for self
government and respect for order--alike in their
ample provision for domestic comfort, their COM
mercial enterprise, and their strong instinct for
colonization alike in their religion, fundamental
laws and institutions, and social usages.
Each branch of the family, to use can't, but
significant term, has mission to accomplish, and
is 80 located that it may reach its highest devel'
opment without infringement on the sphere OF
the other In the Old World, the star Of Great
Britain is now, and has long been, in the ascend
ant in the New World the United States are
without rival Together, they exert control
ling influence over the destinies Of mankind Nc
other nation colonies and civilizes so rapidly
and 80 thoroughly as they do. This continent II
the grand field of our operations; Australasia
New Zealand, and India, the magnificent domain
of our elder brother. The United States seel
no interference in European or Oriental affairs
Great Britain asks only security for what she al
ready possesses in America. There can be n,
conflict of ambition between them, if their re
spective Governments are controlled by ordinar,
good sense and moderation. And, if no confic
of ambition, much less Of interest. Common in
terests bind them even more closely than com
mon relationship Each is the most importan
consumer and producer for the other The stop
page of our production would ruin her, as tn
destruction Of her industry would PROSTATE us.
With such ties between us, such grounds TO
mutual respect and affection, there is reason VIII
we should prefer the continuance Of her politi
cal ascendenoy in Europe to the accession of an.
other nation
Nor do we entertain doubt Of her ability I
maintain this ascendency. Divided as she is |
territory, she is no more so than when she maj
shaled Europe against Napoleon, and conquere
the Conqueror We cannot see in her presen
state those signs of weakness which the Somher
Press attempts to point out. She has double
her population in the last fifty years, beside
sending out vast streams Of emigration to a
parts Of the world. She has more than double
her commerce, her wealth, and her resource
The social condition of the masses of her peopl
is better than 1t was at the beginning Of the pref
ent century, Statistics show that there is lee
pauperism less crime, less ignorance, less proper
tionate taxation, less suffering higher standar
I Of living among them, than there was then. A
to the conflict Of classes, its bitterness has bee
mitgated rather than aggravated as monopolie
one by one, have given way, and more and moi
of the people have been elevated TO the enjo!