Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-07-25


English Ignorance of American Affairs
President Fairfield, of Hillsdale College
Michigan, writes from London to the De
troit Advertiser concerning the feeling
the English people towards the United
States. He says;
am sorry to say it but after 4 mOnht
spent in Great Britain, and eight month tn
travel generally, in which Ihave constantly
been brought INTO constant and friendly
personal relations with EngGshmen, 1 am
compelled to believe that envy of our ma
tional success, and hostility to our national
growth, Is the controlling feeling OF the
English people; and certainly can count
upon the fingers OF one hand all that 1
have found IN nine months who were in
cordial sympathy with US in suppressing Il
pro-slavery rebellion which seeks to estab-
lish an empire of which slavery shall be
the cornerstone. You will understand
that have made it no part Of my buiness
particularly to seek out our friends; but
speak Of those whom L have CHANGED 10
meet in hotels, cars, and elsewhere, which
1 think much the ftirest way OF ascertain-
ing the general feeling. One who addresses
pubic audiences on the American side of the
qnostion will naturally gather about him
these Of his own opinions, and will be like
ly very much to misjudge as to the atti-
tude of the great mass. And the general
ignorance of the people, not only Of the
question at issue between the North and
the South, but even OF the simplest facts OF
American geography is most amusing.
as Maine one Of the Northern or one OF
the Southern States2 asked talkative
Englishman the other day, when allusiOn
was made to this boundary Stale between
our country and the British possessions in
North America .Ohio, believe, is one
of the largest cities Of New York, is it
not? was the sagaciOus inquiry Of aRoth
er. l cannot tell you how many times
have been asked, when saying that L came
from Michigan 'ls that IN North A>merl-
ca or South America 2" Certainly more
than twenty.
Several Englishmen We're speaking with
each other tow days ago, and one OF tn EN-
in expressing his large conception OF what
progress had been made i'll the States, as
serted, IL suppose that railroads are now
built us for as six hundred miles into the
interior.
Several Americans and Englishmen met
at a table few weeks ago. The Aneri-
can war was the subject, when one otthe
latter, member of Parliament, said to the
Americans: "I am surprised that you
should object to a separation from the
South. \ GU were never made TO be one.
Only sec mere neck of land OF insight
flcant dimensions connecting TIM two ~
And he drew his fingers into shape TO IN
dicate the isthmus which connects North
and South Americal And, what is still
richer have related this story to several
parties of Englishmen, and not one OF
them has as yet detected the joke.
Roger Ascham said q long time ago;
The schoolmaster is abroad Ii 80, he
has either emigrated from England, or he
Is sadly deficient in American geography
l verify believe that if the statement
should be made in the Times that this was
a war between North America and South
America, not one in ten of those who read
that newspaper would detect the mistake;
and if it were SO declared to a mass meet
ing, embracing high and low, those who
read and those who do not read, not over
one in twenty would know otherwise.