Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-11-24
HoweIIs OH England ana America.


We have counted 1t all Joy in our annals
that we were able to embiticr defeat to the
British in the pursuit from Concord TO Dos
ton, anu have, of course, made the most OF
their reprisnls The day is only II
chapter of history now. We are tender and
proud of it, because It is our own, and be-
cause 1t vindicated u.s. and proved US, after
the fashion of war, in the right. But II
there have been griefs between the two coun-
tries that no dilution of "the language of
Shakespeare and Milton" can wash out the
memory Of, there is scarcely pang in them
any more. Meanwhile we are still very
far apart, and after all that cables and
steamships can do, there are three thou
sand miles of sen, and immcasnrablc CULTS OF
democracy, between us. With few ex-
ccptions on either side we heartily dislike
and dis,rust each others civic and social
ideas. England Americanizcs in some rc-
spccls; in some respects American Angli-
cizes but the most of that amounts to very
little, suspect; and for our part, whatever
outcry we make over our own follies and sins
and errors, VIC do not believe that it is less
democracy, but more, that is to help us.
Mere contiguiiy might do something to
reconcile the ideas of the two countries, but
it could not do everything. The four mill
ions of Canada are not affected by the proX-
unity of our fifty millions: they cling
all the more closely to the English ideal,
or what they imagine it to be, and
shudder at the spectre of annexation,
which exists only in their own nervous ab-
horrenoe.
At the same time there is apt TO be so
much kindness personally between us when
we meet on any common ground, that ii is
difficult to realize the national alienation, and
impossible TO account for it. We seem so
very much alike-I necessarily speak only
only for the American half of the i'm
pression-that we feel like asserting an in
disputablc brotherhood. Upon reflection
We have our reserves our doubts, our fears ;
but for the time the illusion is ccightfully
perfect. 1t occurs with Americans, some
times not only upon acquaintance or speech
with Englishmcn, but at the mere sight of
their faces, which have a kindred look,
whatever their calling or degree; and think
we are never less wrapped in the national
flag than when we encounter English SOL
diers. The other day was walking through
one of the parks when came upon some
little barrack, where two or three privates.
being temporarily debarrcd flom Irritation
with the nursery maids by the duty they
were on, presented themselves purely and
simply us my traditional enemies. But 50
far from wishing to offer them battle, |
could only think of that whimsical and re-
morseful passage of Hawthornes "Septmus
Felton," in which he describes Pitcairn's
men as they marched into Concord after the
affair at Lexington, dusty, wearicd and foot
sore, but needing only half hours rest, a
good breakfast and a pot of beer apiece to
make them ready to face the world. Nor did
their faces look any way rancorous, but at
the most only heavy, cloudcd, good-na,ured
and humane. ''Oh, heavens, Mr.. FELTON, ~
whispered Rose, "why should we shoot these
men, or they us! They look kind, if homely."
at is the strangest thing in the world that
we should think Of killing them," said Sep
tlmus.
Indeed. it was monstrous. l realized then,
as never before, the tremendous moral disad-
vantage democracy is at in any war with a
royal or ligarchicipower; for whereas por-
ton Of the republican idea is slain in every
American who perishes on the field, the poor
fellows who fall on the other side personally
express nothing, while the real enemy re-
mains safe at home. 1t was no longer a
question of shooting at the king and his
ministers from behind stone walls as it had
been hitherto, but of picking of such amia-
bic and friendly looking folk as those ! saw.
Some hing in my heart-no doubt the broth
er plebeian-stilred in their presence with Il
novel pain; and if could have hoped tc
make these honest men in anywise cognizan,
of April 10, 1875, might have wished tc
excuse it them.