New-York tribune., 1882-08-16
JFCyTRES TO ANERICANS.

Apparently Americans are ial more lnulilcr-
ent to English criticism than Englishmen are to
American criticism. The ST. JameSS Gazette
for example, in the course OF a disparagng
article on foreign correspondents, referred to
| in our special cable dispatches a few days ago,
deprecated the partisanship of the American
press in dealing with foreign matters, and
made the candid admission that an intelligent
and impartial survey of England from IN
American pen is most useful to English pOlti-
clans. AS foil to this confession, mark the
concern evnced 10y The Spectator because no
reply is made from this side to what English
writer's have to say against American society
and republican institutions. 1t has waited i'm
patiently month after month for a crushing
reioinder to Mr.. Matthew ArnOld's "WOrd
about America" its sense Of justice being
outraged, meanwhile, by coarse TRADES in tue
reviews on the democratic decentralization pOr
trayed in certain American novels, which are
read with intense relish in England. AS no
reply has been made and all these attacks seem
to be regarded with supreme indifference in
America, The Spectator steps forward in de-
| fence of that republican order of public and
private life which meets with so little favor in
| England. That defence was reprinted in yes
terday's TRIBUNE, and proved to be singu
| larly generous and unprejudiccd survey of
| American society. Americans will be grateful
to the foremost Crgan of English Liberalism for
this eloquent and discriminating article. At
the same time they will not cease to look upon
snch criticisms rs Mr.. Arnods with languid
interest.
Americans have acquired experience since
| Mr.. Dickens wrote Martin Chuzzlewit."
Ridicule and sarcasm no longer cut i'll where
| the flesh is raw. The scnsitiycness which
| oDscured their perception of the fact that Mr..
| Dickens IN caricaturing what was either ludi-
| crous or wrong, without animosity toward them,
| was only doing here what lie was always doing
| in England has disappeared. When they find
Mr.. Arnold on their own ground riding the
same hobby, which has led him many a harm
less canter on his native soil-raling against
mddle-class mediocrty, lashing those wretched
GUS, Striker Murdstone and QuiniOn. rattlinS
over the stoues of Nonconformity and second
ary education, and chirruping about shadowy
ideals of swell being and humanitarian y
they are in nOwise disturbed. Why, it was
only few months ago that he was gallOping
over the Irish question, dcnOuncing the middle
class civilization of his own country IT'S con-
tanning nothing that was congcnial to the
Celtic race, and cntreating Engishmen "to
"acouire larger and sweeter temper, Il larger
sand more lucid mnd." Certainly Americans
have no reason to complain II MI Arnold,
desparing of the future Of English civilization,
is not wholly satisfied with American ciylliza-
ton. Indeed, they are confident that If he will
extend his researches and write supplement
tary essay on tho Irish in America, lie will find
evidence either of better temper or OF II
clearer intelligence in the treatment of race
which England has found it next to impossible
to govern.
1t is not strictly correct, however, to speak of
Mr.. Aruold's canter as being on American
ground lie has never been in this country,
and is forced to ground bis structures news
paper clippings and adyenutious anecdotes.
Now the worst book on America published in
England during the decade-that in which
Wilkes Booth was praised at Mr.. LincOns ex-
pense, and slavery WAS defended on the ground
that no better substitute had been found for it
was written by foreigner who had lived III
the United States for forty years Neyerthe-
less, even Sentimental journey" III for
eign land has some practical advantages over
n Journey Round Ones Room" Ill an arm
chair, and wcll-panned, delibcrately-exe-
cuted tour in the States could scarcely fail to
give breadth TO Mr.. Arnold's unders landing and
to add the weight of personal experience to his
words But whether he knows whereof he
writes, or makes too free a use OF inconcusve
material, the fact remains that Americans are
not deeply concerned III his mOralizing.
@Whoever makes too much or too little OF
himself" said Layater, has a false measure
for everything If Americans made too much
of themselves III Mr. Dickens's time, there is
now very little danger of their going " tho