New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-12-26
orr STARE or rHE v0RLDs WoRK.


Americans are in a far way to have their
heads TUNED with the compliments which are
showered upon them from every quarter Of
Europe The best-intormed journals of
France, England and Germany have borne
testimony with one accOid to the financial
tIiumphs and material prosperity of the
United States. The resumption Of specie
payments, the cancellation of one-thrd
of the debt and the funding OF the re-
mainder at low rates Of interest, and
the rapid settlement Of the country and
the harmonious development of varied
forms of home industry, make a record
which is without parallel in the history of
mankind. So unrescrved is the praise that
is bestowed upon Americans, that they are in
danger of losing stcadinesS of judgment and
of installing what may have been in the
main their good fortune for financial genius of
the highest order. We are relieved, therefore,
10 find in one review certain structures upon
the Tenderness of our national life mingled
with the hcartiest tributes to financial achieve
ments which are unquestionably one of the
marvelS of modern times.
The Spectator is at once a most generous
and most discriminating critic of American
l.
radicalism, It's praise of whatever is pro-
gressIve in men or institutions is always
given ungrudgingiy. In this instance it I'M
hesitatinGly admits that - there never was
q" such financial triumph i'll the history OF
ga nation, OF one which reflected greater
credit on its authors" than that by which
"the half-ruined people of 1865, with
"ther cunsos at Is and an rredeemable
paper currency fluctuating = per cent in an
" hour have in 1880 the credit of Great BTi-
" tain and could raise G300.0OO,00O for a
war" It recognizes clearly the rank taken
by this country as already the second of the
White Powers OF the world in point of popu-
lation, and ailirms that American workingmen
obtain a living which, as regards food, cloth
ing, lodging and education, is distinctly bet
:" ter than that of any large population in the
past or present of the Old WOrld.r But the
praise is not unmixcd with criticism. The Spectator
reminds Americans that "much of their brm-
"ming prosperity is purchased at a heavy moral
"prce that they deliberately do less for
the world involving self-sacrilice than any
great people in it, unless it be the Germans y;
that no nation in bonds looks upward to the
Great Republic for AID, no struggling people
y turns 10 ltI uctl WIN lOnglnH, no UcIls0lnV
race so much as hopes that the Western
rifle will drive away the oppressor :" and
that 10 be brief. America is thoroughly sell
fish in her policy of isolation, seeking and
gaining her own happiness by indifference to
that of the inhabitants of the remainder of
the world
The charge is very serious one, for ma
telial prosperity is only ennobling and inspir-
ing when it is achieved without the sacrifice
of moral character. What can it profit the
American people if they acquire the wealth of
the Indies and store up for themselves vast
reserves of material resources, if they neglect
their opportunities and fail to do their share
of the worlds work. Are they 80 welded to
their idols of gold and silver that they are no
longer interested in the fate of mankindf Is
it, indeed, true that they are endlessly ac-
cumulating the strength they use politically
only for themselves, and " the world may die
of despair for Washington ~
Indeed, it is not true. Our country is doing
its full share of the worlds work. 1t is TAX
ing u vast horde from every nation in Europe
"a great mass of ignorant, impoverished, dis
contentcd and scditious immigrants-and train
ing them in work-a-day habits and the duties
and responsibilities Of citizenship. Ii offers to
the Irish cxlles whom England finds 1t i'm