New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-04-14
AMERICANISM.
A WORD WITH A CRITIC, AND A LAST ONE
ON JUDGE COX.

but it is not my fault that have again to refer to
him. What said before has, regret to see dis
turbed one of the inmates OF Buffalo; which seems
to be the Earlswood of New-York Mental confu-
sion manifests itself in different ways In the case
of II. j. whose letter you published lately, 1t leads
him to suppose we all want to know the extent OF
his indifference to what goes on outside his asylum
That is defect which men in full possession OF
their faculties take as much pains to hide as H. J
takes to display it. Ideas of decency vary. There
are tribes with whom it is point of good breeding
to exhibit what in Europe and America-even in
Buialo-it is usual to cover Moral nakedness may
be as immodest as physical. H. J. is at the pains
TO affirm that he would neither know nor care
what England thinks of American matters IL did
now ghowlv over il. l do assure him had no
thought of invading his ignorance. Might sug
gest to him easy means OF insurlng the porma-
nence of that torpidty which is dear TO hmf III
English opinion have no interest for him. my ac-
count of il can have none. He might SO easily
leave it unread The reading of it rouses him to a
degree of fury which must if long continued IN
crease the normal anxiety of his keepers
His frenzy seems to him, dare say patriotic
frenzy The distinction between what is patriotic
and what is parochial he has not mastered. What
TO him Is the opinion of the civilized world beyond
the Atlantici ave are fifty millions by the last
census" cries he. l have not the last census py
me- but will admit was not aware tnat the popu-
lation of Buffalo had reached that large hgule.
Nor had heard that town meeting had Deeh neiu
to appont H. j. trumpeter to this multitude. MOI
IS he the first to raise this howl" of contempt LOT
the outer world. We are four hundred Millions
soueaed the Chinese long before ii. D.; ana they
look upon the public Tor prvate) opinion OF Buifaio
with. fear more respect than does H. ). upon
that of England Possibly they would think better
of the Lake City If they were made aware that one
of their own people had settled there. But in view
of pending legislation at Washington, it would
really be prudent of II. J. not to parade his Cees-
tal origin.
This nomad of tho prairies complains That am
become English, and the evidence for his accusa-
ton is that am driven wild " by English criti-
cism on my own country. Perhaps that point need
not be abored / freely admit that grieve to see
my own country misunderstood and maligned in
Others If it be q mark of the good American to
delight in what besmirches America, or to be care
less about it, then l am not good American. and
II. j. is Bnt / will tell him one thing more, of
which in the loneliness of his lacustrne retreat he
may never have heard. l say nothing OF myself,
because must be judged, if anybody cares about
Judging me, not by what profess In moment o.
controversy but by what have written and you
have printed these many years past. But say OF
Americans in general that one way to nourish In
their breasts the true spirit of patriotism the true
and not sham love OF their native land Is to send
them to 1--we abroad. don't mean that they will
find everything abroad inferior to everything at
home. They will find soma things better and some
worse But they will be brought daily and hourly,
and in all countries, in contact with people whose
notions about theiI own country will be OF the
most curious kind. They will come in collision with
social and political convictions absolutely hostile
to their own. They will find themselves obliged to
reconsider their principles from foreign points
of view and to reargue not few which at homo
they regarded as axioms. The inevitable result OF
all this is to strengthen the convictions OF man
who has any to start with. His encounters with
prejudice have the same influence, and after no
long time he finds that his AmericaDism, by which
mean his love and respect for the people and in
situations of the United States is rooted deeper in
him than ever before.
As to my remarks on Mr.. Justice Cox, am sorry
TO say l have nothing to retract or modify. The
effect and influence of his conduct of the Guteau
trial are not matter Of opinion but OF fact. 1t is
fact that he did bring reproach upon us through
out the world, Central Africa perhaps excepted;
tact that the trial was, in English and European
opinion generally. a scandalous farce; and fact
that the censure which ought to have been cast on
Mr.. Justice Cox individually was distributed over
the American judiciary. thought Mr.. Justice Cox
an exceptional person, and that the English press
had DO warrant for condemning the judges and
judicial system of the whole United States because
one local magistrate had proved wanting III force OF
character and in q of what is becoming or toll
cradle in court l still think So The other fact
that Judge Cox delivered good charge to the jury
is totally beside the mark. Ii is the familiar APP
peal in behalf of the accused He is guilty, but he
is good father of a family. and has written an
epic poem which judicous critics consider superior
TO Milton. AS rule this plea does not much eS-
tenuate the sentence of the law.
/ will venture to add this. The view which L
took I took in common with the great majority of
Americans and of American journalists. Some OF
them afterward changed their minds, and they are,
as often happens in such cases, angry with those
who did nvt With the fckle consistency is an
offence But their first view and not their second is
the one which will prevail.
This is long letter in answer to short one, and
lay myself open to obvious retort. The better
to support il I will anticipate it. l agree that it
was not worth while to waste so much powder on
so feeble an enemy. But an inscrutabe Providence,
desiring to occupy the minds of theoogians with
perpetual search into an unfathomable mystery.
has peopled portion of the globe with created
objects OF which the benefcent purpose il puzzle,
but for which powder is the most convenient
remedy. II. j. attracted attention only because
you allowed him to meander across your page The
attention l pay him Is excessive, i dare say, and
oversteps the proper limits of personalities But 1T
is for only, and for the already given.
When it to suppressng personalities. and the
punishment for personal assaults, / am for it. But
if 1 may adopt more NJ. Alphonss Karr's i'm
mortal remark, say Let the assailants begin.
G. W. S.
THE CHURCH And THE STAGE.
Ill Ill 10, Drof Emil. ctarJo