New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-04-22
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
rnrpv.N ON THE UNITED STATES.

nv 80 ;.o,ross,ona were. with some exceptions
correct and he has set them down IN q iasn'on
nsuallv far and sometimes generous IL soino Vi
,-,Sor,,o,ions are untrue one-sided or vague. he
-. h;,nsen advanced a sufficient excuse IN his
,,oaeat acknowledgment of the necessarily lmDer-
feet opportunities of the passing traveller
What struck the Englishman most in this country
was how little it differed from his own, all Things
depending on the administration of the law oelus
largely the same in England aud America wn"o
hetyeen England and Scotland in these particulars
there is curious unlikeness. He LAYS stress on the
fact that Americans are English folk bound to
those across the sea by such ties of blood
and speech-and he might add, of sentiment
and temperament-as can never be loosened
The Americans perception Of this, Mr. FREE
man thinks, is not as of an obvious trn'h' out
az of fact which he had noticed, but which might
have escaped the notice of Others And tue tr'Veuer
roea ON TO say that while the British VlslIor III
America is welcomed cordially but SUN as "
foreigner the American IS welcomed oy MS DiI'iSi
host nc a kinsnan-on the express ground indeed'
that he is not foreigner. The Am9ricau' -
seems 10 me- feels greater distinction oet"ee" "
tween hiuself and the Englishman OF britain 'hhi
tha Enclisbman of Britain feels between himself ana
the American OF this it may not he unjust W say
that il il not only the hasty judgment OF passing
trovoIlor Int also the generalization from per-
soDoI feeling of one whose studies have led him.
90 he bmsolf SAYS to think of the ties OF DIood
and speech than of the separation wrought oS
nolitical and geographical causes. 10 the American
the landing on English shores has charm as oI
reacbjnc long-unseen home; the very names Vi
cities and streets of rivers and OF RUNS Ieca "
him even moro vlvIdly than TO the Brltoh b'el'Sn
history and English literature. 1t is because we nave
felt our kinsmanship that we have been so sensitive
TO British praise and blame. Americans nave never
manifested the same susceptibility TO cOhuheh'ai
criticism. Frenchman and German may say Wha'
thew will-their darts of rIdcule fall harmless.
b Il from kinsman misunderstanding ana sa'ire
are hard to bear. five were long in overcoming
the trammels of colonialism, there was
nerhaps another reason for 1t than
the mere habit of mental dependence.
The feeling OF kinsmanshp which Americans may
not have consciously entertained, helped to make
most keen the sting of Englands attitude outing
the Civil War We we're wounded IN the holse OF
our friends. 1t may safely be predicted that Ameri-
cans through whatever socia and political changes
NAV come. will be proud to admit and to comnem-
orate their Euglishry."
Mr.. Freeman makes another statement which Will
astonish the average reading American. lie
declares that he was, whenever he got peyohd
the very first range of minds. often struck
which he had certainly not looked for. While be
confesse that the ignorance Is largely mutual he
thinks that he may reasonably expect. on historic
cal grounds an American of average Thought and
average knowledge to know more OF English geog-
ranbv and of everything English than
he can expect the "Britisher" on the same level to
know of American matters. There IS certain rea-
condolences in this expectation that Americans
,honld study the geography politics and manners
of the little island whence they came but after ALL
would there not be quite as much practical II not
scientific reasOnableness in an American
expectation that the Bnton should feel a
pride in acquaint;ng himself with
the most sturdy and glorious of all Mother Eng
lands childreuf However this may be- the Am'rl-
can prodgal returning TO her shores will be inclined
to believe that the balance of ignorance rests
with her. British want of knowledge OF
America and everything American is some
times positively fascinating Dir. Freeman
refers to one delightful phase OF 1t
in his story of the Englishman who thought 1t need
fnl TO explain to an American lady who Sir Walter
Scott was
Our political IDEAS and methods Mr.. Freeman crti-
cises fairly and somewhat after the manner OF the
thoughtful and impartial American who is "out OF
notifies" The Engshman deprecates Capitalization,
convinced as he is that so vast a region taking in
thing can be kept together only by federal sys-
fem. leaving large, independent powers III the
hands of the several States. To insist he de-
clares on too close a union IS the very
way TO lead to separation. While he knows OF
no immediate reason to fear an attempt at CEN
traliz ltion it seems to him that there are ten
denotes at work which are more likely to lead to
that form of error than to IT'S opposite. Mr.. Free
man came to this country not long after Mr.. Conk-
ling had been performing his Stalwart capers be-
fore high Heaven. and those exhibitions doubtless
shed a slightly lurid but decidedly mistaken light
nnon some of these tendencies" Those who have
been disposed to accuse the traveller oil Southern
svmpathies will appreciate his statement that
secession from the Union was much rebellion as
n,nch n breach of the law in force at the time a.
xvae the original revolt of the Colonies against The
King. But while he holds that the powersconlcrreC
unon the Union by grant of tine States are lIrcvoca
bic lie insists upon State rights. after fashion
which. as he records, made one Boston newspape
exceedingly angry. In the tendency TO dlsplace the
word federal IN favor of the word national
Mr. Freeman sees tendency to forget ina
the federal character of our Government is NJ
very essence and from this he foretels ssiblt
dangers. Here. perhaps the judgment OF visitor
even though he be trusty "kinsnan," Is neces
sarilv at fault Even Americans themselves ar
sometimes surprised ny 'he cNIuou0cS VI 'O''
ground of common- sense and respect for cOnstitu
tiona law and justice which underlles our nationa
life and brings tendencies" however dangerous, t.
naueht. Mr.. Freeman may be assured that pothinl
IL more 6elusive IN America than an apparent ten
deney."
The offce-seeker was to orr friend an enigma o
an incomprehensible sort and be was most struci
by the way in which, in discussing matters OF al
most every kind. corruption seemed to be taken
matter of course. Here again is an instance o
the way in which a foreigner is deceived by tn
talk of the cultivated and despairng American o
the city or the college. The mass o
Americans do not by any means TAX
corruption as matter OF course, a
- ILL., IL IL.