New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-02-06
IN UNPREJCDICED ENGLISEMAN 4BRO4D

Tn Wilkinson Banker, IN Manchester GIN NerS
The great tact which was ever present to my mind.
and which was brought home to mo in q thousand
WAYS from tho morning | stepped upon the quay by
the Hudson River and was accOstcd by Custom
House officer to the day embarked on my return
home, was tho American people: There separated
ple speaking our Language, working hard late ana
early, prospecting and happy. scf-gOyerned and
state Church, and yet possessing more places
of worship rer head OF population than else
where; unprotected by great costly standing
army or navy and yet cecurc; anG even destitute OF
an aistOcracy with hereditary privileges and power.
yet UNCONSCIOUS of their poverty. To travel III the
United States is to witness the full meaning Of the
civilization of the nineteenth century. uatrammeed
by prejudice or precedent. DO not let this be mis-,
construed into speaking in q strain derogatory of
my own country. 1t IL not so intended, tor am
divrstng myself of what may be called prejudice.
10 still believe that the best outcome of cyzatIon
is vet to bo found among English gcntlefOk where
culture has gone hand i'll hand with breed. And
have ali nsilctlve repngnance To nickel and veneer
Ol all kinds,
Lord BeaconsleId in his recent production. En-
dymiOn," has gone ont OF Ills way TO use double
shOtted suecr lie makes one ot HIS hlgh-born char
acters suggest the suppOStlon that society III Amer
lea Is very ]Iko society in Manchester. And yet
these American people, ike the working and middle
classes of England, have done great things nOtwith
standing muCn opposition from the patrlclan class
10 nv mind one OF the submcst episodes IN the
history OF nations was seen after the suppression of
tho Southern Shareholders revolt against the United
States, when Il vast and excited army, flushed with
victory, was rapidly dsbandeJ and It's soldiers Ie-
turned to their peaceful avOcaIOls As cltZcns. Nor
was the example OF the United States government
less striking for its magnanmity when they tOrgaYe
and set Tree the leading rebels who had CanSod the
expenditure OF an unparalleled amount OF blood and
treasure 10 their honor. aSu he 1t remembered
that thcN were willing to submit important claims
10 arbitration with respect To the pirate ship Ala
bama. built and launchcd in OF our chief ports,
and which thence sailed forth on the high seas to
burn and destroy the property of friendly nation.
These were two examples which Will not be without
effect III future history.
The people OF the United States are the most in-
Structed people iii the world. aud among the most
laW-abdng. The schDOl-hOuSe of New-Engand
not planted IN yaln and L hope 1t will he
jealousy guarded from prlcstly interference to all
luturc time. There was SOwn tho little seed which
terminated and grew intO the tree of liberty. aud
The defence of which has lifted the United States to
are nation OF workers. Time Will bring leisure
when art Will grow upon American soil. There Is
even how no English poet who Is more read and
whose combination of mind and feeling has
deeper hold Oh tho affections of the multitude than
LOngfellOw and tUr his CHEEKY delightful cOnpan-
ionship who compare with Oliver Wendell
Holmes The American character has some blem-
IShes which time may change Like the newly made
rich in the old world there is too frequently self
asserIve tone which Is not pleasant, and u want of
Difference which IL painful to witness. But these arc
perhaps the cNuDerdnce OF strength, and time
goes an increased leisure may bring greater tran
guilty OF life and repOSc OF mind fruit full of good
results. Already see tho beginning of the new age
that activity III intellectual work which COntinu
ally applies itself 10 practical atfair1 and which has
improved printing press and II perfect host OF III
ventlons Tor economlzng human laOOr. Will never
pass away, hui may III other generations work out
ITS subtle life III creative art.