Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-08-22
y. WHITmORE.
Publisher and Proprietor
GEORGE DAWSON ON AMERICA.
An English aadicnI's view.

George Dawson, the Well-kn0Wn
English radical, made a spirited
speech at the Birmingham celebra-
ton, by Englishmen, Of the cen
tenary of American independence.
Mr.. Dawson, in proposing the toast
"Our American Kinsfolk," said he
thought it was just possible that
there might be some few cavils at
their being present at meeting Of
that kind but he was sure that any
blame that any one might be dis
posed to give them would be the
blame of fools, which was often the
wise mans highest praise. Laugh
ter and "Hear, hear" He pro-
posed to them their American
kinsmen. He knew them to be
their kinsfolk, because they revolted
against their tyranny. He thought
nothing showed so plainly their
parentage as that they would nc
longer bear the stupid government
of most stupid, absurd king
Had they not thrown off his yoke,
he (Mr. Dawson) should be ashamed
to own them; he should say they
were some relation in an improper
way laughter l-he should proclaim
their illegitimacy at once, anC
wonder who the guilty person was
by whom they were begotten. But
their having thrown off an intoler
able yoke of a personal goVernmen
showed the stock they came from
showed them to be their kinsfoik
They were careful not to revol
against the English Parliament
they revolted against the persona
government of George III, ant
their revolt had this admirable effec
in this country-that it prepared
us to get rid Of personal govern
ment, and ever since the Reform
| bill there had been no such thini
in this country, at least openly an'
avowed, and there never would b
anything of the kind again. Mos
of them would agree that it wa
better for them, for the Americans
and for the world, that they sepa
rated from rs. Hear, hear. L
their success he saw the stock o
the old country completed in thei
admirable experience in govern
ment he saw the signs of the com
monwealth man in England. Kins
men they were, because they ha
the admirable aptitude of our rae
for taking in foreigners and doin
for them Elaughter]-dOing fo
them in the completest sense; rot
bing them of their language, takin
from them the miseries they &c
from the Tower of Babel, and gi'
ing them a prospect of being II
.. stored to the unity Of language, an
therefore to the faith. Of cours,
Q the Americans spoke our languag
}. fwith some little differences tina
i he regretted, but in the mai
g il was our language. The
z would sometimes, out Of wantor
: ness Of youth, adopt new woT
a when good old one would SUI
: them quite as well. Well, the
4 spoke the same language, and th
/ had been a priceless blessing tn
!. they had bestowed upon American
!, They forced them TO be Engli'
{. with all that was great, though tn
separated themselves from the
in political connection. Hayil
:. pointed out that they still retainC
nSs many English characteristics,
s saidh would never suffer any
that the Ameglcans were superl
10 to us. Their chief virtues We
theip glorious actions; their on
it vices, lie thought, were all their o.
manufacture. Laqgbter.l Ma
: things they were striving at tn
could not have got if they h
:, wished, There were blossoms
the English tree which dropped
Immediately they cut it-pedigl
and tradition. There were thin
j. in this country that could not Ii
if they cut away the stream
history and tradition. Take
y bishop. There were bishops