New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-07-21
AMERICAN INCIVILITY.

II Is n hcalthful sign that Americans are more
and more coming 10 see their own faults. The
criticisms Of foreigners are no longer resented
as they were thirty or forty years ago. Indeed,
II the truth must be told. we are just little bit
ashamed Of our wrath over the structures or
CAPTAIN Basil Hall, Mrs. Tr0llope and Dickens;
for. although those writer's were guilty OF gross
exaggcration, II not worse, In what they said OF
us there was. nevertheless. n substraum or
truth I'm their criticisms which II would have
been wiser 10 have recognized. But oil that Is
changed to-day We have learned that blus-
tcring and explosive assertion OF perfection ID
sign OF weakness. not Of strength. 1t belongs to
the era Of National childhood, and Is an obstacle
to true growth and progress In the era we
speak Of foreign criticism, however just, filled
us with splutterlng wrath. To-day, when there
Is SO much less in our NationaVlife TO criticisc,
we not only listen with camness to the crit
icisms Of the foreigner, but go into the business
OF criticism ourselves This change OF attitude
Is the best possible proof OF healthy National
growth; but even more than that, 1t Is evidence
that our National character has reached the
period OF Intellectual manhood.
This willingness to recognize our own faults
has lust been striklngly Illustrated In the letters
Of two wellknown newspaper correspondents
referring TO the incivility Of many Americans.
one Of these gentlemen. Mr.. Charles r. Murray,
has recently been visiting Ottawa. the capital
OF Canada. and after meeting a number OF
Canadian Government officials he makes this
suggestive admission:
In tho treatment OF strangers miss the offensive
arrogance OF petty officials the impudence or
pages and democratic insolence or once seneraiy
In.
and courtesy such as characterize gentlemen In
private intercourse meet va halfway on every
hand have been about Congress for twenty nve
years md the contrast makes me smart In my
inmost democratic soul.
The writer Of this Il n man whose American
ism viii not be questioned; but he does not be-
llcye that patriotism should blind his eyes TO
the truth. however unpalaiablc the truth may
be. Tho criticism which no makes In not new
one 1t has frequently been made In the col
umns ~ The Tribune, and It's justice will be
acknowledged 10y all who have been brought
into contact with American officials The rude
ness. inciviIity and downright brutality OF many
II our petty jacks In office would be incredible
were II not 30 well authenticated. The for
eigner who said he was glad TO hear that Amerl-
cans were agitating for n civil service. because
they had the most unclvil service In the world,
unconsciously hit the nail pretty nearly on the
head The servants OF the public need TO be
taught manners as well as morals. We believe
that Americans will not long endure the dis
credit Of such comparison as that made by
Mr. Murray. The time Is not far distant when
they will demand Of their own officials as much
courtesy at least as that which they receive
from the officials Of foreign countries; and when
they get 10 the point Of demanding II they Will
receive It; FOR the incvty Of our officials gains
much OF It's strength from our good naturcd
tamencss In submitting to 1t.
The other newspaper man TO whom We re-
fcrrcd IS Mr. T.. A. Barron. the London CORE
spondcnt Of The Chicago Times Herald" who
contrasts the almost universal clvllity OF trades
men In London with the incivility OF so many
petty tradcsmcn In this country. Indeed. he
goes so far as 10 say that the only exception to
the rule OF civility In the English metropolis Is
TO be found among those who have been spoiled
by American visitors. In speaking OF London
generally. he says
civllity f. the keynote OF tho whole. II
does not matter where you turn. the civility here
is much the same everywhere You hnd II In tho
little shop OF the staioner where you 20 for your
ink: YOU find II In the large establishment where
YOU 20 10 replenish YOUR linen. etc; your cabman
has IT, II ne has not been spoiled by the wrong
sort OF American patronage.
This Is what an American sees In London.
What American. however partial To his coun-
try. could say the same thing about New-York?
Ia Justice 10 ourselves. II should be said that
much Of our incivllIty Is due TO ignorance and
thoughtlcssncss: but TO those who suffer from
f. II is not one whit more cndurabe on that ac-
count. Americans are essentially n generous
and kindhearted people. They respond nobly
when any great emergency calls for the mani
festatlon Of brotherhood and goodwill. But in
their every day association with each other they
are too often deficient In that gracious courtesy
which not only sweetcns social life, but cnnobles
those who display 1t.