New-York tribune., 1895-12-28
WHY ENGLAND is SURPRISED.

DISPATCHES from London report that English
men are greatly surprised at what they consid-
cred 10 be evidence Of strong and prevalent
feeling of hostility in this country toward Great
Britain. 1t is not improbable that such aston
ishment has found pretty free expression there
though general sentiment in the United States
may not be much better understood in England
now than it was prior to President Cleyeland's
sudden demonstration. In revising Il former
erroneous estimate Englishmen seem to have
gone to the other extreme. We must admit that
they have some excuse for this perplexty and
confusion. For many years American Ministers
70 England have been telling them on all pos
sible occasions that they and their institutions
were objects of peculiar love and veneration TO
the peoDle of this country. owing 10 community
of race and language and laws; that no serious
disagreement was conceivable in the presence
of this deep sentimental attachment, and that
it was an inestimabe privilege to be means
of uniting the bonds still more closely. Eng
lshmen are capable of absorbing an enormous
amount of hattcry without grimace and with
out discrimination; they have complacently ac-
ceped the fcrvent assurances Of our Ministers
at the Court of st. James, and they have drawn
therefrom conclusions which, while perhaps en-
trely natural, widely at variance with the
facts. Now, being suddenly convinced that they
have cherished an exaggerated estimate Of
American affection for them, they exaggerate in
turn American resentment. and form new con-
ception which is as erroneous as the oltk
The truth, as it seems 10 us lies about half
way between the two extremes. The people of
the United States want to be at peace with all
the world, and especially perhaps with England.
They respect English vaor, though English AFRO
gance is as offensive to them as ii is to men OF
other races. They recognize the fact that Eng
lands power has grown out of Ensands ca
pacty for doing many things extremely well;
but they are not jealous on that account, know
ing that they have brought similar original
endowment TO a higher state of development
They do not undervalue English civilization,
from which their own is largely derived, but
they do not altogether like the way in when that
civilization has been extended in various Parts
OF the world. And so far at least as they them
selves are concerned, they think it is high time
that England ceased both to dOmnecr and to
patronze A stcadfast friendship between the
two countries based on grounds OF morality ana
convenience, is certainly desired by a great ma
iority of our people. and into such friendship
the facts Of relationship and resemblance must
always and inevitably introduce fraternal ee-
ment. But we cannot say that we think there has
been, is now is likely to be hereafter in this
country anything Ike SO tender and deferential
a feeling toward Great Britain as some interna-
tonal orators including nearly all American
Ministers in London, have loved to express.
We do not allege or suppose that the official
representatives Of the United States in Eng
land have consciously employed their opportunl-
ties to disseminate a false impression; yet il
such an impression is prevalent there, they are
largely responsible for it and for its conse-
quences one Of which appears to be sudden
straining of amicabie relations. If American
convictions and the American temper had been
better understood in England the present com
plication would in all probability have been
avoided Mr. Bavard and several Of his prede
cessors have made it principal part of their
mission to deliver public addresses. Sometimes
their topics have been ichosen, and sometimes
excellent topics have been itreated. If men so
placed were nfallible, instead of being peculiar
" liable to indiscretion and misinterpretation,
the gift of fluent speech might possibly be reck-
oned among the most valuable qualifications for
the office of Ambassador to England. our ora
torcal ENJOYS have unquestionably given much
pleasure through the amable exercise of their
agreeable talent. and that in itself is TO Their
credit. But, unhappily, they have concurrently
produced other effects, at home and abroad and
upon their own reputation. for which brief ap-
plause and popularity in England have been
wholly inadequate recompense.
Consideration of Mr. Bayards recent perform
ances and of Il situation 10 which lie and some
of his predecessors have probably contributed,
suggests the inquiry whether it would not be
better if American Ministers in England were
TO initiate the reticence Of English Ministers in
the United States We have no doubt that Sir
Julian Pauncefote would always he listened to
with interest in this country if he were to fail
into the habit Of making a public speech every
two or three days. and especially if he showed
a partaliy for dangerous topics But we do
not believe that he would be more highly re-
spected here. or that he would be permitted to
make prOtracted test of his popularity with
American audiences.