The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-06-28
From TIE London Times.

After ALL there il not the least occasion that the
Americans should be either puzzled or sore. The
peculiar greatness Of their nation is that which
cannot be represented In 'glAss h(nse.' az they
are pleased to call it. They cannot exhibit their
magnificent territory, except in maps, and, az il
happens, their maps and thar Indie srubber are
among their most effective contributions. Thew
cannot exhibit their trumphs over the forest, az
cept a. they do in their cheap and handy little
ploughs, adapted to wind round stumps. They
cannot exhibit Niagara except in model few
bales OF cottonwood, snow-white and closely
packed as they are, make very poor figure con-
pared with Gobelin tapestry, or even Bohemian
glass; but, while England would hardly miss that
tapestry and that glass, slight decline ia the an
nual import Of those bales be il only from three to
two, spreads ruin, difficulty, and distress through
out the whole OF these isles. The trophy Of Indian
corn in glass case, In one OF the American courts
looks rather too like the old fash0ned ornaments
that sometimes seen in tho parlor Of small pub
lie house; but those few husks represent the timely
supply by which millions in these isles were lately
of self government by which nation. younger
than the youngest State in Europe. now reckons
more that twenty three million citizens, 10 very
inadequatcly imaged by the view Of Empire
Venice, tho commerce Of Liverpool, and popula-
ton equal TO that Of any city but the first in these
isles. large and handsome bridge, though
bulky contribution to glass case, IL nevertheless
an inadequate representation Of the Mississippi,
and whole arsenal of India-rubber boats, pom
toons, "camels," carpets, and garments of every
kind do very poor justice to the lakes and creeks,
and swamps for which they seem principally in
tended. HAmerica is true to herself, and follows
her line, not to be expected that she should
come out very strong in an Exhibition the chief
contributors to which wealthy and long settled
States, the heirs by linea descent of ancient cvi
cation
If the Americans do excite smile it is by their
pretensions. Whenever they come out oil their
own province OF rugged utility and enter intocom-
petition with European elegance. they certainly do
make themselves ridiculous. Their furniture Is
grotesque; their carriages and harness are ginger
bread; their carpets are tawdry; their patchwork
quilts surpass even the invarinbe ugliness Of this
fabric; their glass s clumsy their pianos sound
Of nothing but iron and wood; their bookbindinr
is that OF journeyman working on his own ac-
count in an English market town; their darucrrco-
types are the sfernest and gloomiest Of all daguer-
reotypes; their printed calicoes are such a. our
housemaids would not think it respectable to
wear Even their ingenuity, great as it is, becomes
ridiculous when Il attempts competition with Eu-
rope Double pianos. combination of piano
and violin, chair, with cigar case in its
back. and other mongrellc onstructions belong to a
could. and are always rebelling against tho tram
mels OF unity. But why should the Americans take
it 90 much TO heart if they cannot be all things at
once? Would it be reasonable that Paris should
envy them the possession of q continent? Then why
should they envy Paris any other city its natural
aptitude for art? The Americans cannot be all
things at once. In some things they claim to sur
pass the whole world, and expect their supremacy
to be allowed as a matter of course. In other re-
spects they are az plainly behindhand. and must
remain 80 for ages The Americans have really
no occasion to fret at the homely and uncouth
figure they cut by the side Of their neighbors
Even supposing they heard . few sssneers,' they
may say with the wealthy man
''Populous mihi sibiat, at mihi plaudo
''Ipse domi.'
nation with a continent in it's pocket can af
ford to be laughed at. After all, the American
section !: the fittest possible picture of the geo.
graphical part, not merely as fastidous Europeans
might describe it, but even as il would strike an
American himself in his progress from the Broad
way to the Missouri or the Rio Grande. lie Ameri.
ca not content with being America, but does il
want to be Europe ALEC Let it beware in time Of
that fatal ambition. If the United States are wise
they will be more anxious to ascertain their own
one. They will see that as Europe cannot be
America, 80 America cannot be Europe