The Osceola times., 1881-05-21
An Epslish Editor on American CsiebrA-
uons. .'fsrr...
LONDON Telegraph.

During the last five years, almost as
much pride and exultation has been ex-
perienced by inhabitants of Great Britain
IN contemplating the magnificent on
ward march of the United States, since
their DECLARATION of Independence" in
1776 as by the existing population Of
the model Republic. 1t was in no
qrudging spirit that Lord Derby, then
Foreign Secretary, sent a competent
British official to Philadelphia to look
after the interests of his commercial
compatriots, who, in far higher degree
and with far hearuer zeal than the deni-
zens of any other European kingdom or
rhpublic, sent English commodities OF
all kinds to add lustre TO the successful
ensemble of the Centennial Exhibition.
The tact. courtesy, and geniality with
which the British Commissioner, Sir
Herbert Sandf0rl, executed, at Philadel-
phia, the delicate functions intrusted TO
him by the Foreiga Office, won for him
golden opinions from all classes of his
countrymeu. Having, however, III this
country looked on, not only without
jealousy, but even with sympathy, at five
years Of American obulhtions Of exalta-
tisn over series Of occurrences which
at the time were regarded as the heavi-
est blows ever administered TO the Nom
archy Of England, we may be permitted
-pcrhays not less in the interest of the
United States than from any wounded
sclf-loye-to rejoice that the last of these
iubilccs is at hand, and that when the
surrender at Yorktown has been duly
Celebrated" the normal relations ex-
i ting between the mother country and
her eldest daughter will he permitted to
resume their ordinary current.
Undoubtedly, it Is not only natural,
but even right and seemly, that our
Transatlantic kinsfolk should wish TO
observe the centenary of Yorktown, and
that Engishmen should take more
profound interest in the revived memory
OF the last than of the first armed en-.
counter of war which, in the opinion
of all ri. h thinking men and women
now alive upon both sides of the At
lauiic ought never to have taken place
at all. To American citizens, moreover,
Yorktown symboiizes the opening Of a
young, uHleitered, and disenthralled
nations Caecr-a nation which then
and there began, like giant, to run its
amazing course. To Engllshmen, on the
other hand Yorktown suggests no bitter
or humiliatins memories, seeing that the
subsequent verdict of mankind is un-
doubtedly that the establishment of
American independence was boon, mot
only TO the family Of man at large, out,
most of all, TO Great Britain herself
Reckoning from the first skirmish at
Concord. the Revolutionary War lasted
nearly nlne wears. There were occasions
during that stormy epoch when IT might,
perhaps. have been brought by England
to what she would have deemed a suc-
cessful termination; but it is far more
certain that in such an event the strug-
gle would have been renewed, for-as
the liographer Of Lord CORVALLIS
sagaciously remarks-"no one can inn
lgine that the mighty nation which now
Possesses so large portion of North
America would have permanently con.
ented TO be subject TO Great Britain"
There is, however, in the memories OF
Yorktown even now much 10 draw living
Euglishmen and Americans nearer to-
gether, and unquestionably the bearing
of General Washington at the supreme
mUment toward his vanqlished and
humiIiated enemy was Of that character
which Il is meet and right that historians
should mot willingly let die 1t is not
generally known that, at the moment
when Lord CORVALLIS surrendered to
General Washington, the humble Eng.
lisbman simultaneously uncovered his
bead. With Characteristic thoughtful