The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-03-10

SNBEbSF3SA/, " it - an unpleasant
i/SSF2. .UA awakening TO find that
I M IN every foreigner - not
W E4b ready to acknowledge
the same opinion.
Nor is he long left in suspense as to the real
condition. A little reading Of the current pub
lications and few conversations with the aver
age Englishman will soon awaken his eyes 10
the too patent fact that everything American
is not accepted without question. Whether II
be in reference 10 custom or tho working OF
political institutions the general tenor Of OpIn-
ion is the same-that Of severe criticism.
Naturally. / should say the English people
have = great regard for America, and couse-
quently for things American. This results
from the fact that there are few who not
connected with that country by ties more or
less intimate. These friends n rule send
back favorable opinions both Of country and
people. Nevertheless, sOme-unsuccessiul huan-
cally-partly counteract these good reports by
mixing little gall with the general sweetness.
Too many doluded into the idea of q paradise
have gone. and then found TO their bitter sor-
row that even in America gold cannot be had
except for the digging; even there man must
earn his bread by the sweat Of his brow"
The cause Of this Unfayorable opinion must
not be sought here, for these cases arc com
paTatively iHircquent The true cause IS in
the unfavorable attitude Of the English press
aud reports of travellers through America.
NluCb Dlcktil1s AatlneW hfuolus anu oLitfa
wrote their criticisms Of our country 10 has be-
come the custom for every Englishman to fol-
low IN the tracks Of such illustriOus predeCes-
sOrs. So the papers aud reviews frequently
contain articles and editorials ceusuriug Ameri-
ca for faults both great and small, real and (as
] should say imagined. The tourist not only
looks aghast at the American swallowing his
dinner as a disagreeable duty TO be quickly
finished, but also looks suspiciously at his fell
low-travoler, as If he might be brigand carry
ing brace or pistols under his neat-htting
Prince Albert. The Yankee is condemned for
his love OF money, tie hotel for its publicity,
the streets for their roughuess, aud SO on
throughout long category OF subjects.
What with such sentiments spread abroad
by the press of the country, what with the
natural feelings excited by uniayoTable fuan-
cial legislation, IL is little wonder that the
general public have some not favorable impress
sions Of our great country.
TO fnd instances OF such criticism il is not
necessary 10 40 back more than month or two
In the numbers Of tue reviews and the files Of
the leading newspapers for abundant evidence
10 the above Statements From an article en-
titled the Brand of Cain on tho Great Re
public" which appeared few months since.
aud the Administration Of Justice in Cali
fornia" in the last FOniHghtiy RerisU. 10 tine
| editorials on the recent message on the Chilean
| question the same severe tone prevails.
served 70 heap up abundant instances OF like
nature.
Just criticism Is right and should BE- thank
/ fully received, but care must be taken lest 10
| become mania. This latter stage seems 20
have been reached in the English press of to-
/ day.
If the press is the spokesman Of the people,
then such must be the prevalent opinion. or il
the press is the molder Of public opinion then
4 the general thought viii necessarily partake Of
/ the nature Of the mold. In either case the re-
suit will be abont the same
The love Of the almighty dollar is a favorite
/ form Of attack as the basis Of baser evils, such
as the general corruption Ia politics aud tho
/ mRl-administTatiOn Of justice. The general
idea Is that oVery oiiiceholder aud legislator
has his price so TO speak Tho conclusion Is
that we have politicians, not statesmen. That
| corruption prevails to certain extent is unde-
niabe. Is England free: That it prevails to
| the extent charged is prepOsterous. No Gov
| ernmeut could exist FOR year in the midst Of
such a state Of affairs. We Americans who know
| so much To the contrary can afford TO laugh at
such exaggerated statements as appear here.
Yet il must be remembered that such state
ments made by 50 powerful an instrument as
the public press. must have a tendency 10 de-
press American honesty below par in the Brit
ish market.
"The administration Of Justice" SAYS the
Z
good government" statement which none will
dispute. The further statement that conyic-
tiOn Of crime in the States depends Oh the length
of the criminals pocket book will not pass with
out question. IL is the general conclusion
drawn from the particular ease, and an attack
has been made on the system because Of mo-
tUTiOus instance OF bribinR.
What percentage will these cases number
Is the question 10 be settled. In what country
are there not eligible jurors with an aching
void ia their pockct-bOOk2 So long as money
has power and men lack principle will such
things occur. The millennium has not yet ar
rived.
one great cause Of this attitude is the free
dom Of our own political press. It lacks the
conservatism Of this side. Hence, when pOliti-
cal feeling russ high charges Of corruption are
made with little though Of the ultimate result
These are copied and gain little by repetition
Most Of these should bo subtractod by half aud
the rest looked upon AS an eXaggcTatiOn uules;
supported by actual facts.
Not so with the foreign reader. These state.
menls arc read aud believed. In this respect
the English press is more trustworthy. Ere,
expression of truth is necessary, but uusup
ported accusations serve q bad end by lcsseuiul
our due measure Of respect abroad. The wOrs
weapon in these articles tue quotations
from American newspapers. The prevalence
OF corruption is supported by referring to tn,
"Outsp0ken confessions Of their own press
many OF which were no doubt made for politi
ca effect.
American diplomacy has also become favor
ite subject for attack. Whether the matter b.
great or small, affects England, or il most 70
mote 10 is all treated IN the same vein of levity
Diplomacy, say they, is determined by the pO
litical barometer. What should be done is no
the question, but what will serve private end
best The latest occasion has been the Chilean
affair, which was characterized by every lead
ing paper as electioncering scheming. Thi
also gave an opportunity 10 review American
= diplomacy in the past, which review eude,
with the above conclusion.
Lowell, after his return from the Court OF 81
: James, complained that an American in EurOp
d is constantly put on the defensive. This
Z true not only Of the official circle in which h
|. moved, but equally OF every class, at least o
the reading portions.
America is a wonderful country, the Yanke
is shrewd, practical, money. making, good
hearted perhaps; there t9a good qualities enc
II To balance which, an Cqaal number of ObjeC
n tions is named. The conclusion is, IS on
n writer expressed il, tiat America must ad
e vance many years bofoTaAhe can place hersel
d among the civilized nations Of Europe" n
d notice is taken OF the superior system Of fre
public schools (stll unknown in England).
the grand charitable institutions OF the grea
advance in temperance and other reforms.
= Oneness Of language aud common deseen
- does not necessarily mean sameness Of custom
a.