The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-09-18
Tho Boat Raoe-Tcmper OF tho Ensiish
Press.

Tho Boat N0ce-Tcmpor Of tuo HnosDo
Press.
Mr.. Dickens speech at the rowing club din
ner was much nearer true appreciation OF
the recent boat race than any other English
utterance. He called the fortune of the Harvard
men "a great defeat'-putting the word great
in its most favorable sense-and he continued,
81 say that it is in the essence and life food OF
such defeat to become at last sure victory"
Here is man who knows what is coming,
who understands the spirit and character Of
the American people better than most men in
London, and who, when . struggle like this Is
waged to such close terms In q matter where
the chapter Of accidents counts for great deal.
knows that there is but little to glory over.
Mr.. Dickens, however, has one advantage. He
has been among us since the grand develop
ment Of heart and brain In the war made US
truly acquainted with ourselves. Knowing the
American people he can readily understand
that for satisfactory triumph there must be
more than boats length between Oxford's
supreme and eliminating effort after years Of
trial and Harvard's first raw attempt. Hence
he naturally warned his hearers that the spirit
that made that race, the spirit that sailed "a
mite Of yacht across the Atlantic In mid
winter" the spirit of restless rivalry in all gal
liant maritime endeavor, would push them to
future trial with, in all likelihood, very DIFF
fersnt result.
In the English press there Is no compre-
hension of the real philosophy Of this event.
Much has been said by the English papers.
Here and there an article has been inspired by
the same Cockney spirit that shines in Williams
letters, and the major part, though In quite
another tone, does not soar above Cockney
compliment and patronizing superiority. They
express mostly their rejoicing in having come
through the np0uvais quart GAeure that the
very thought Of this trial gave them. We
catch glimpse Of the spirit that is behind all
their rhetoric in this sentence from the
Times :-''Now that the day of the great boat
race Is safely over, we can afford to acknow-
ledge the humiliation from which five gallant
Brtons have preserved u.s." The day is
''safely over" Just that however, with not
spasm to spare, and the alternative of that
safety was Humiliation" and "a national dis
grace" They pour out their gratitude to us
for having failed to win. Their experience in
the hour of the race comprehended this very
| humiliation; for they were 30 near to being
beaten that they knew how it felt. Saved
| from that fate, but not saved by victory that
insures and guarantees their superiority and
supremacy yet saved for the time they feel
| a suddenly renewed consciousness Of their
4 dignity and attempt to cover their alarm by
an assumption of gallant manners toward the
causes of it. Poor and superficial effort at
| magnanimity.
This race shows in little the relation that
the two great maritime Powers of the world
| bear to one another, and, as straw, it has its
value. 1t indicates that the rivalry on the sea
| that has already led to one war is recognized
as legitimate part of the public thought in
both countries, and that the people who, in
| their latest resort to arms, so revolutionized
every principle of war on the sea as to make
| all the grand old navies mere heaps Of
lumber, are so impatient of asserted
superiority in even the smallest points, aud
50 eager to. test their mettle on any chance
that they will face romantic odds rather than
| reinquish mooted contest. 1t means that
England cannot escape the persistent rivalry
Of the younger Power that has entered the
field against her, and that is deferred by no
impediments or obstacles, and which, per-
fectly confident Of its ability to beat her where
ever It can act on Its own system, will even
take the disadvantage Of accepting her system,
and give her gallant struggle then, too. This
superabundance Of spirit, this disregard to
odds, this gallant resolve not to be ruled out
by any difficulty as to terms, is the character
istic Of youth. This exhibition Of fine quail
ties is the best part Of the whole contest, and
is all on the American side; and the problem
for England is to consider how she is prepared
to cope in larger contest with q people
animated by similar impulses, controlled and
| kxx~ ~