The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-11-12
and slideln wa, indeed lnment.ble; .uch

| and siidelD was indeed lamentsble: suci
| mon should not have talked bosh, ever
at n little private ovation. and we have reason
TO know that some OF them were hearth,
ashamed OF itas soon as they saw It In print
1t was Immediately spoken OF here by innuen.
tial people tsome OF whom refused to attend
the dinnerl. and In ut least one paper. In tone
like your own. 1t was really as bad as the
speeches OF some members OF Parliament
and worse. because It was foolish. The fact
is. set OF cunning fellows on both sides OIL
the water tbut here utterly characterless
have contrived to make both English and
Yankees believe that each was bent on quar-
relling with the other"
In the sa me letter DR.. Gray tells Darwin thnt
Your thinking OF me as an Engllshman
would once have been compliment, ana Is
what. from my well-known feelings and ex-
pressions. have passed for among my friends
mere. Had The North gone on giving in TO the
South as Tor years past. should have boen
one, at least In residence. Just rs soon as |
could have got out OF the country. thank
God 1t has been otherwise. and that havo u
country to be proud OF. and which will gladly
suffer for IL need be. With all its weaknesses
and follies land know them WE'LL 90 for my
country. am cured Of some Illusions. We
shall do very well. and the two countries will
be on the best OF terms when we are strong
till then. we must not expect it. II 1t
Is the old question OF struggle for life.
good feeling has not much to do with 1t: the
weak must go to the wall because they can't
help 1t. Blessed are the strong. for they
shall inherit the earth 1t is odd that
you all fail to appreciate that 1t is
simply struggle for existence on our
part and that men will persist In think
ing their own existence Of some consequence
to themselves. though you prove the contrary
ever so plain. md will strike or grasp. or kick
right and left in an undignined way some
times. which the safe and sound bystander
coolly looking on may not appreciate. not shar-
ing his feelings. telling him the world will get
on quite as we'll without him: yet he somehow
does not quite like it."
A month or so later Gray tells Darwin frank
ly: our sensitiveness as to England was the
natural result OF the strong filial feeling on
our part. 1t was very undignifed / dare say.
But think we are getting bravcly over it. and
getting really not to care what the Old Country
may think or say. SO 1t let's us alone" In July
OF 1852 he writes: You wonder that can
think OF science at all in the midst OF war.
Well first we get used to it. Second. wo need
something to turn to. and happy are they
who. forbidden to engage personally In the
war las am ever itching to dol have some-
thing to turn to. If you suppose everything is
pnralyzed and desolate here and the country
greatly put back, read n very sensible letter of
an EnGlishman in the Spectator OF Juno Z. 1t
is very Just and truc. We shall rccupcrate fast
enough and DO better Off than ever. As much
prosperity as Is good for us. and more solid.
more independent. more sef-contaned. which
Is our great desderatum. Free trade DO
blowed; we must needs have high duties on
imports. and it is better that we should. Just
ut present our prospects are looking badly
enough. Mcclellan has been clearly over
matched and driven to the wall, after very OBJ
stinato fighting with very heavy loss on both
sides. We have got to put shoulder to tho
wheel anew. and 1t may be done. we suppose.
more easily. and far more promptly. than last
year. All We ask is that Europe shall let us
alone" Somewhat later in the same month
he speaks in n like determined tone: AS
to the country you will see by this time that
we have not the least idea OF aban-
doning tho struggle. We have learned on
~ that there is no use trying any longer to
pick up our eggs gently. very careful not to
break any. The South forces US at length to
do what it would have been more humane to
have done from the first. !. e.. to act with visor
not to say ri.or. We shall be complained OF
for our savaEeness. no doubt. whereas we feel
TINT our error has been all the other way. But
the Independence. the total Indifference to
English feeling which YOU recommended last
year has come ut length; now We care nothing
what Mrs. Grundy says"