The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-06-05
Are We AZ bad A. We seem.

Y
with those who have been at one time darlings
Of the popular imagination is having its effect
il many Of tho criticisms which come back to
uS from the English press. The London
Standard has always represented that feeling
OF acrimony toward tho United States which
finds expression in lamentations over her
faith aud affairs, and that we are going to the
bad; that we have no high sense Of principle;
that we are abandoned to the consideration OF
the almighty dollar, that we are suffering
from two evils, universal suffrage and
democratic form of government, and that we
are as one English author says, almighty
dollar-worshipping, dinner-bolting, tobacco
chewing, splitting, iquoring, snivelllng
Yankees" If American authors or the con-
ductors Of American journals were to deal in
this spirit with Englishmen and phases of
English character we should have the answer
flashed back that we were jealous of
English power and that we lived only
in the hope of destroying the mother country.
The truth is that the tone of the London press
toward America is, with scarcelyan exception,
of an offensive and sometimes brutal charac-
ter. The difference between London and New
York is that here an important section of the
press is controlled by gifted and faithful citi-
zens of Great Britain, whose opinions of
America represent prejudices of home educa-
ton, and who, only partially informed about
America, take pleasure in giving currency to
all kinds of reports and criticisms concerning
our society and our public men. This is nat
uraly an immense advantage to England.
These journalists look upon New York as a
commercial residence, place to make money
They never fail while criticising their adopted
land to exat the honor and the glory of Eng
land. Therefore, while England has in
America an influential and gifted corps of
writer's, who, we will not say wantonly, but
heedlessly, never miss an opportunity of
throwing reproach upon America and exalt-
ing England, there is not, on the other hand,
in London to-day single journalist to our
knowledge Of any influence with the London
press who is either an American BY birth or
adoption or in sympathy.
We allude to this circumstance, apparently
trivial in itself, illustrating the advantage
which England possesses over America The
ignorance of the English journalists in treat
ing of this country is astounding. They
know as much about this country really as
we do about Nova Scotia They hold US in
about the same relation. 1t is true that of
the two countries England naturally holds
precedence in the eyes Of the world. We
concede its antiquity. its greater accumula-
ton of treasures of art and literature and
science, its wealth, its vast and spreading En-
pire. In hundred things we have much to
learn from England and other countries
But does it ever occur to our English critics
that when they are censuring us they are GEN.
surfing themselves? If we are as bad as they
would have it the evil is in our flesh and bone,
and the evil fruit we now bear draws its
juices from the old tree.
Does it never occur to our English critics in
mourning over the fall OF Amsrica to look to
their own country? There is scarcely copy
Of the London Tines whose police reports
are not marked with narratives Of brutality
to which we in America, with all our faults,
are comparative strangers-beastly intoxlca-
ton, kicking people to death, husbands beat
ing their wives conspiracies upon the part Of
employers to punish laboring men, conspira-
cies on the part Of laboring men to attack
employers, the constant advance Of intoxica-
ton This all shows the moving force in the
lower strata Of English life. Ii we go higher
we find that, Notwithstanding We have Mr..
Gould and his achievements in New
York over which to blush. we have
Baron Grant with his similar ex-
ploits in London. The evidence before
the Foreign Loans Committee Of the
House Of Commons shows on amount Of
financial depavity, schening and dishonesty
in the London money market that would put
even Dir. Gould to the blush. II we look
into the reports Of the HoSse Of Commons we
find, day after day, parliamentary boroughs
whose members have been unseated for cor
ruption. There is scarcely session in which
several members are not deliberately turned
out Of their seats because Of corruption in
the elections-open, shamefaced aud avowed.
Such an incident is Of rare occurrence
in our American Congress, and If q member
were expelled for corruption no would sink
out Of sight IS completely as Mr.. Tweed or
Mr.. Coliax. In England such an event is
nothing but o misadventure, and the dis
missed representative is sure to find q seat
from some other borough. We have had
stories about General Grant which no one
but heated partisan believes. How many
stories do We hear about the highest people
in England which We have not yet found any
Englshman to dishelieve? If there is any
doubt about the character Of some Of the
present members Of the royal family this
4 doubt does not exist as to the character OF
those who were kings Of England when John
\ Quincy Adams, Thomas Jefferson and james
Madison we're Presidents Of the United
\ States. Take the tone Of the public men
\ during the hundred years Of our national ex-
istence and the same period in England, AID
We can match our statesmen with those Of