The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-05-30
AN ENGLISH CRITIC IN AMERICA.

In an article which appeared in the last num-
Der of Blackwoods Magazine, bearing the
very strong and suggestive title, 1.-THE Despot-
ism, Anarchy and Corruption of the United
States" an English writer Of undoubted in
formation but plainly animated by hostility
towards the American people, makes very
vigorous effort to show that this country is in
the last stages of moral and political decay. in
spite of its growing importance as financial
factor in the affairs of the world. The vast
resources of the United States as one of
the great Powers is not underestimate, but
at the same ,time revolving picture is pre-
sented of the "corrupting, despotic and an
archial" spirit which is supposed to be at
work in the general framework OF four national
life.
This picture is obviously colored by preju-
dice. Blackwood's has never been friendly to
the United States or disposed to appreciate
the true principles Of our government Its
attitude has invariably been that Of condemn
alton, which has as in the instance TO which
we are referring, only too often sunk into I'M
discriminating criticism too wide of the mark
to deserve very much consideration.
If there is one thing upon which the Ameri-
can people have long, and it has been sup
posed, Justly prided themselves, it has been
the freedom which they have possessed,
freedom which has frequently been enjoyed
so loosely that it has encroached upon the
bounds of license. And yet our critic in
Blackwood's asserts that our local administra-
tons are as despotic as any to be found in
the less enlightened portions of Europe.
Admitting this to be fact, it is quite for
tunate that American citizens are unaware of
it. If they are unconscious of despotic hand
being imposed upon them, they are in the
happy position described in the lines of
Shakespeare, that he who robs me of my
purse and | know not of it, robs me not at
all"
As to the anarchy prevailing in America,
the writer of the article in Blackwood's falls
into the mistake of drawing too broad con-
illusions from the single instance of the recent
New Orleans affair, in which a number of cut
throat Italians persisted at the hands Of pa
triotic mob In spite of much violence in
special cases, and under peculiar circum-
stances, there is really no lawless spirit abroad
in the United States Nowhere. indeed, is
law more respected. and nowhere is there a
stronger or more wholesome public sentiment
to sustain its enforcement.
The fact is that the defects of our general
system of government and of our social life
lie on the surface, and have, therefore, an
apparent significance which they do not bear
in reality. These defects are palpable 10
foreigners, who look at our institutions and
their practical working from the point of view
Of distance. In this prospective the evil in
our general system of national life seems to
be more conspicuous than the good, and no
doubt is, but it would be most unjust and
most incorrect to leap to the sweeping con-
clusion reached by the critic in Blackwood's,
that the United States i'll all its aspects is
worthy only of criticism and condemnation.
Only short-sghted and prejudiced observer
would form such an opinion of it as this.