Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-10-29
1T IS A FALSE FRIEND.
England's Interest in American Matters
Certain 10 be of Selfish Nature.

England's Interest in American Matters
Certain 20 be of a Selfish Nature.
John Bright, during the rebellion said
of the government, or aristocracy of Eng
land:
Privilege thinks it has great interest in
it, and every morning with blatant voice
it comes into your streets and curses the
American republic. Privilege has
shuddered at what might happen in old
Europe if this grand experiment should
succeed, but you, the workers, striving
after better time, you, struggling up
ward toward the light, with slow and
painful steps, you have no cause to look
with jealousy upon a country which,
among all the great nations of the globe is
that one where labor has met with the
highest honor, and where it has reaped the
greatest reward
Every blockade runner captured bore the
English flag. The Alabama and other pirat-
ical craft whosruined our ocean commerce
were mostly English. But enough on that
scOre-facts familiar to all who read and
reflect. Not very long ago the Cob1en
club avowed through its mouthpiece that
"they would never rest while the United
States were unsubdued," a subjugation
they expected to accomplish had Cleveland
been reelected. John Bright said: 81
wish that Internal country, the United
States, had never been discovered, because
they have no taxes in proportion to their
population. The farmers In America have
no rent to pay, no tithes, no poor rates;
they till the soil but own the land they TILL ;"
As for the expression of England's good
will toward US, no sensible man of ordi-
nary intelligence believes in her good will
toward US. To use an English phrase,
That too fat for the fire. place, " or an
other, 'It won't wash.' It's too trans
parently false. 'John Bull may have
read the historical incident about the
Dutch in former days, pretending such
good Will" toward the Chinese and pro-
posing the erection of hospital in China
on point of land commanding the en-
trance to the harbor. While the erection
was going on the Cinnamon asked why
the walls were so thick and the windows
were Of such peculiar shape. When the
casks of medicine ca were landed, the
first taken toward the hospital ~ burst
its head and out rolled 80 pound shot.
That startled the Cbinemen; they exclaim-
ed, eli va! Hi va! How can sick man
axe such big pill? No let him in. No
let HIM IN The trick was exposed in
time. The fort was nevergarrisoned.
Intelligent Americans, whether by
birth or adoption, all those who are in
spired and guided solely by love OF their
own country, and desire for its welfare,
preferring its prosperity to the enrichjng
OF anyOther, are not caught by the false
teachings or allurements held out to de-
ceive and mislead them, in the injury of
their own. To those who sought these
Oh
the purpose, of lettering their
condition., the warning is Of
fered that there is more danger
to be apprehended from false friends than
from open enemies. Every time we have
lowered cur tariff, always at the instiga-
ton Of English influence, we have suffered
hard times or panic As President Ham,
lin, marlborough college. Vermont, said
to the students: 'Be loyal to your coun-
try. Give no countepance to the crafty
and selfish designs of Great Britain upon
our industries and commerce. Never be
deceived by her hypocritical and disgust
ing professions of ner regard to our we'll
fare and prosperity. Her words are
smoother than butter, but the poison Of
asps is under her lips England well
knows that as a barometer denotes the
condition Of the weather so has and does
our tariff indicate our prosperity or our
depression. To quote Peter Cooper's ire
futable historical fact, "The history of one
tariff is the history of all that have been
enacted. Their repeal has always brought
misery and ruin, and their re enactment
has always restored prosperity" England
will always bear the closest watching. As
said of old Beware of the Greeks when
they bear gifts" Our esteemed country
man may derive some instruction, perhaps
benefit, from reading that old English
short poem: