New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-05-11
AMERICAN INFLUENCE ABROAD.

AMERICAN INFLUENCE ABROAD.
Those who carefully read the great debate in the
House of Commons on the question Of Reform (Which
we agree with The London Times in considering one
of the most remarkable debates in the history OF Par
Eament), will be impressed by the influence which
America exercises upon the European mind. II IS not
long since we saw the Emperor of the French, point
ing with pride to France in some way initiating the
United States The resemblance was not obvious;
but the temper of the Emperor was great compli'
ment. When the Liberals in England wished to EN-.
phasizc their demand for an extended franchise and
the ballot they referred to the happiness, the free
dom. the vital power of America especially as she
appeared after the war. When the Tories desired to
show the miser!es that would come from the extern
sion of the franchise they found comfort in the de-
moraliza,ion occasionally in cities, the conflicts
between the executive and the legislative powers of
the Government, the want Of respect manifested to
Judges Mr. Lowe especialy-who, being an editor,
should know betier-made America the burden OF his
speech against Reform. According to Mr.. Lowe we
are only happy here because we haye-to use his own
elegant phrase" plenty OF elbowroom and subslst-
encc." When the country gets more densely popu'
lated we shall have q crash As il is Mr.. Lowe sees
good institutions become the seeds of faction" how
Senators have been expelled aud other violent and
revolutionary proceedings Mr.. Lowe, if he had only
been a fair man. would have in the expulsion of
Senators (meaning Stockton) act more violent
and revolutionary than the expulsion of seven Lber-
ais from the Commons during the week in which he
made his speech. The seven Liberals were Illegally
elected and Mr.. Stockton.
q. Il Ia.
debate and extends into all classes of society la
other DAYS, America was discussed by the English
press pretty much as we discuss the Republics Of
South America or the countries on the African coast.
The journalists did not know whether Annapolis was
an island or an archipelago. They sometimes placed
Massachusetts, in the State Of Philadelphia, and horri-
fled Boston By making it the capital of Maine. Their
notions of social life in America gathered from
the books Of Mr. Dickens and Mrs. Trollope, and from
personal experiences among the emigrant ships They
IMAGINED that everybody read The Ne,e York Herald,
and that children we're wcaned on Virginia tobacco.
Our Presidents were selected on account of personal
prowess in tho prize-ring, and nobody but Mr.. Emer
son and Mr.. Everett could construe six lines OF
Horace There was general impression that public
morals had fallen so low that great statesman, who
afterward became photographer was hanged for
murder Public life was very unsafe in our country
places and our colleges were tainted with atheism.
Henry Ward Beecher was known to attend chicken
fights; and it was rumorcd that he was preparing to
challenge Mr.. Heenan on his return from England.
Those of us Who were not positively debased, were
awaiting with anxiety an opportunity to welcome
the English scepter back to America; but it was gen
orally felt that no such royal mercy should be shown
until We had done abundant penance. Who read an
American book Who bought an American picture
Who owned an American stock or bond
Time, the tumult of mighty war, the sublime En-
gish virtue Of success the triumph of our armies pros
perty under an extraordinary debt, have given the
American name and character Importance abroad
which century of peace would not have gained
When the blockade was established, Lancashire
moaned in poverty, and the Exchange trembled
Securities rose and fell with the victory defeat OF
Grants armies. The American maps were studied
with intense and selfish interest, and true Engshmen
felt an impulse of pride when they saw men OF their
own blood with the same Saxon blue eyes, dong
deeds more marvellous than those OF Wellington
and Marlborough. The aristocratic element, rich,
fashionable, and noisy, was attracted to the South
from the affinity Of Slavery and caste but the great
heart of England was in union with America. How
earnestly the governing classes wished our overthrow
may be judged from the haste Of Lord Russell to
speak of the "late UnOn," and the enthusiasm OF
Mr.. Gladstone Tin one'of his "pilgrimages Of pas
sion" as Disraeli called them) over Jefferson Davis
and the empire he had founded. When Russell aud
Gladstone despaired of America, what could be ex-
pected from Stanley and Roebuck-from the Tories
whose creed is to incarnate all that is old and messy,
and destroy all that is fresh and liie-giving--from
every enemy of progress and truth The governing
classes wished our failure because success here meant
Iagitaon at home discomfort, perhaps revolt gene
al commotion among thrones, palaces, rubies' coro
nets and all sorts Of ribbons and stars and garters and
parchments, chaos come again, new spirit moving
upon the face of the waters, and new world coming
into being. If America had failed, its failure would
have been an example and warming teaching US to