New-York tribune., 1884-01-16
"A VISIT TO PHILISITA."
A sLAsHING CRITICISM OF AMERICA.
COUNTRY OF DIsnLUsIoNs AND DIsAproINT-
MFSTS.

A COUNTRY Of Dioiisi@o'iN+'' ''-''' -'-~-N
MENTS.
Sir Lepcl G,1tdn Il. O. s. l. ia The IortnghtG
Whether the discovery of America by Colunhns
has been of advantage loss to the so-cacd civil
ined neoples of the Old World would form an inter
esting thesis for discussion. When We 1ememDer
the gentle and refined races OF Mexico ana feIn,
tramned beneath the gross feet of PlzaTro, COrtes
and the InouistIon: or regard the savage pic.
tnres0uencss of the Indian tribes that wandered
over the North American c3htGnC, Gr,ei; Costnrn
cultnre we cannot hut look with S0mo doubt ana
hesitation at America of to-day the apOtheosls OF
PhihsInism, the perplcXlty and despair OF states
men the Mecca 10 which turns every religious or
social charatan, where the only god worshlpped is
Mammon, and the highest education Is the share
list. where poltical life. which should be the
breath of the nOstrs OF every freeman, Is shunnea
by an honest man as the plague where, TO enIich
;obbcrs and monopOlists and contractors, nation
has cmancipaed its slaves and enSlaycd it's tTocmen
where the people is gOTged and drunk with inater
alism. and where wealth has become Il curse instead
America IS the country of dslllusion and disap-
pointment, in politics literature. culture ana art;
in its scenery its cities and IT'S people; Nlth some
experience of every country IN the clVlllZed world
can think of none except Russia i'll which would
not prefer reside in which life would not be more
worth living, less sOIdld ana mean ana uhiONeiy
II ;s not the less certain that the most amiable
and intelligent Americans are looking forward 70 q
near future In which the Republican lion, having
dgested the aristOcratic lamb, shall lie down III
dguifiod TepOse with no one 10 question his claim
10 ne the first of created beings IN renewed world,
fhe secret of which he preends to be equality ap
piled 10 all except himself. For an Illustration oi
This il is sufficient refer to of the latest and
most pleasing American books, entitled, An Anerl-
can Four-m-Hand in Britain" by Mr.. Andrew
Carnegie which describes, with great VIVacitY. now
n marry of simple and imprcssiOnabe Republicans
chartered a coach at Brighton and were driven, 10
their immense satisfaction. through England and
ScotIand Throughout this book, which IS by
friendly hand. and treats British weaknesses with
kindly compassion, runs the strong Slreah ol o5litI
i'm the triumph of Rcpubhcansm in England, aud ITS
regeneration under the PURIFYING mluences OF
equality" which Mr. Carnegie declares Is the pau
acra OF all disorders, even constitutional mon
archv IL lac would only visit Boss Kelly sur
rounded by the gang Of Irish thieves who rule and
rob Ncw-Iork, and explain to thcm that ne was IN
every sense their equal cannot Dut thlhR that'
daring his hurried exit from the presence of the
municipal gods he would modify his somewhat SIM
If then. there be those like myself, who believe
flI1t no greater curse could bctdl England than for
her to borrow political methods, dopmas aud insti-
futions from America there seems every reason why
siir GJrf win which American travel may have
furnished them. The good in American institutions
is of English origin and descent what Is bad Is III
di.,nous and tins she now desires 10 teach To rs.
But Britannia, who, since her daughter has become
independent and carried her affections elsewhere,
has escaped the dgeary role of chapcfone may surely
reCuse invitations t. Columbia dance, IN fancy
dress, to the tune Of Yankee Doodle ana may pltau
her age and figure when asked to learn the new
etcp. There are doubtless IN English politics and
society many evils and anomalIes-priVlie@eS winch
cannot he defended wrongs and injustice aud
misery which must be rcdressed aud relieved but,
nevertheless the English Constitution, with ITS
ordered and balanced society from the throne to the
cottage is the sNmbOl and expression Of liberty III
tLc world Republican institutions have had a
trial for hundred years, and SO far as outsiders
can Judge. their failure - complete. France under
Republic has become bY-NOh Ut Europe l0r
weakness and trUculence abroad, ana financial lni-
bccty and corruption AZ nome; WINE America,
which boasts OF equality ana lTocdOm docs not
understand that, with the single exception OF
Russia. there Is no country where private Iight ana
public interests are more systematically outraged
Than in the United States The ideal ar>tocIaCy,
or government Of the best, has IN America been de-
a. a actual government Ot the worst, IN
winch the educated, the cultured, the honest aud
even the wealthy, weigh as nothing III thG Daiance
against the scum of Europe which the Atlantic has
washed up on the shores OI the New World.
TnE SUPERCinOUs AMERICANS.
Apart from unreasonable claims, which, through
ont life. make up 50 large part OF our uuhappneSS,
there exists a fruitful source OF irritation 10 Eng
lshn,eu travelling IN America in the dcpreclatOry
attitude to all things English that IS taken 10y the
vast majority OF AmcEcahS. II Is a HeT ANA q"uoI f
The continent OI Europe however lulch we LAY Dt
dislIk Il. regarded with hostile respect ana
consideration which is iiaterng TO the national
VANITY. Our habits and pTeudlcCs are lndulged and
consulted. The splendid notclS OF the khlne, ol
switzerland and Italy were but for English
travellers and in Difference to nglish tastes and
Guirements. although Of late years our American
cousins have shared with ms the venal attention OF
Continental landlords BUt IN America all TINS is
changed. English tourists are lew IN number, ana
are lost in the vast society OF travelling Americans.
Their habits when they differ from those oi the ma
tivcs are considered antiquated or obJectl0hahlc;
md every American usage OF institution Is heId up
10 ndmlrat ion, not only good IN itself, but as bet
Ter Than inything TO be found in the old country
Tho stranger would be far more disposed 10 accord
nm uugludgug admiration to the many improve
ments and conVeniences which America has nitro
0uced into common life, if II were not demanded SO
pcremptorlly with regard 10 numerous matters on
which there may be a reasonable difference OF Opln-
ion or on which impartial observers would give the
preference 10 English methods. But whether u be
hotels or railway cars horses or carTiage-buildDg.
banks or beautiful women. oysters or engineering
the ordinary American loudly asserts his superior
ity over England, and treats an Engllshlnan as an
imbecile creature 80 whom he was degning to OK
pound the elementary principles OF social and point
zeal life. a. Mr.. Washington Adams In England"
novel by Mr.. X. g. White amusingy reviewed last
October in The Saturday RerieOC is as good an illus
tratjOn as could be found of the worst type OF
American critic-ignOIant and pre- knptuOus-whO.
from the internal evidence Of his book, could never
have crossed the ocean. discussing English life and
manners II s some consolation TO hnd that mT.
White does not his thunders for subject OF
which he knows nothing and that to the September
number of The North american kcrfeo has con-
tributed an article on Class Distinctions III tho
United States which, for fierce and contemptuous
abuse of the mushroom mliOnnaiTes whose evil ex-
ample is demOralizing American society. exceeds
ANYTHING w.ich partially informed Englshman
could fairly or with prOprety write. 90 NOT now
ever desire by criticziDg American society 1urther
than it influences political aud national lfe 10 lay
nysef open TO the charges Of bad taste or super
ticiaty Which may justly be brought against MT
Vhita and NV frends In keW-H York. Washington,