The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-10-11
a FOREIGN oRITIC.

Ii is always entertaining and sometimes
instructive 10 consider the criticisms Of we'll
informed foreigners on this country. The
opinions Of such n person as Sir John \.
Macdonald. Prime Minister Of Canada, are
especially worth noticing, because he las
been nearly half Century in public life,
during much OF which period he has HeceS-
sariiy been in close communication with the
Government Of this country. Il was, there
fore with some surprise that Americans
read in a quite recent speech delivered by
Sir John tie following not complimentary
sentences
1t lie United States is a great county, but il
viii have It's yiciSsitudes and revolutions. Look
at tie mass OF foreign ignorance and vice which
has flooded that county with COMMUNISM, So
ciaIism, atheism aud all OlEer ismS. We can sit
calmly and quietly under the flag ol England and
cok VIII philosophy upon The struggles of fierce
democracy.
This was apropOs of tie Mckinley tariff.
How Sir John connects that measure with
the mass OF ignorance and vice" which, in
his opinion, floods this country" it is not
easy to discern. Judging from the dis
patches, foreigners can hardly be accused
OF favoriug The new tariff. Nor can it fairly
be said t. have been inspired by "cOmnun-
l-ill, Sbtli4lSli. VI hb44CA 1Aht ISlLlos 4 ltN-
ably the Nj Kinlcy act served as an occasion
for the liberation from Sir Johns mind of
bitter thoughts which had been terminating
there for some time.
That this country can scape the troubles
which have beset the path Of other great
nations 10 intelligent American VIII believe
We lave vast territory and large popu-
lat,on made up Of various races, and we
Igf IN la If
interest, which are inevitable, stormy times
will arise, which will try mems souls and
I'LL the weak with aFpreEensons. But
these embarras-ments Wouid be just as
grave if one enjoyed what appears to be Sir
Johns ideal Of bliss, ana sat calmly and
quietly under the flag Of England" If we
remember rightly there is good deal of
social trouble under that flag in England it
self, and perhaps more communism and
| socialism and other isms" than we have in
this country. 1t would possibly he grand to
sit calmly under L folds, but so Icing as the
British Government has to keep 100000
soldiers under arms to suppress discomfort
| and Jack the Ripper pugsues lis horrid
career undisturbed by the police the sitter
must be stolid who can be calm.
For reasons which it is easier TO under
stand than to Justify, it has been the policy
| of the Canadian authorities to promote IL
norance Of American affairs among the
| Canadians. Children at school are taught,
| in elaborate detail, the history Of kingdom
| three thousand miles away, while the his
tory of their nearest neiEhbor-a nation far
| coSrT to Canada in interest and utilization
than Great Britain-is disposed of in few
short lessons. Our political system, our in
| stitutionS, our habits and usages, our State
constitutions and our laws are very imper-
fectly understood on the other side OF the
| line, and the consequence is that When Cana
| dians have 10 form an opinion on current
| issues in this country, they almost always
take the wrong side, as they did at the time
o! the Rebellion.
1t is not very creditable to Sir John Mac
donald that he should exert his influence to
| increase instead Of dispeling this ignorance.
| 1t is not quite honest for him to use language
which may lead Canadians to believe that
the United States are flooded by foreign
ignorance and vice and The prey of COM
niunism, socialism and other noxious isms.
The great bulk of the foreigners who come
here are not more liable 10 the charge OF
communism and socialism than Sir John
was when he left his native Glasgow for
| Canada; and in this country, whatever be
! the character of our foreign-bCrn citizens,
! we are not in the habit Of placing one of
them at the head of affairs