The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-03-07
DUB POLICY TOWARD ENGLAND
BY REV. R. F. JoHoNNoT.


meant so much and nationality SO
little. In the stage of barbarism one
could be safe only within his own
tribal limits. The outsider was by that
fact alone an enemy; there was no
law to protect him; law was for the
benefit of members of the tribe. The
word stranger" or foreigner" orig
inally meant an enemy. That was
the normal condition; the outsider
was an enemy. 1t is far cry from
that stage to the present when one
can travel in any civilized country
with safety; when the foreigner can
invoke the protection of the law as
we'll as can the citizen and finds its
fold ample to cover him. Yet we
are long distance from the Chris
tian sentiment that holds every man
of any nation or tongue as brother
and cherishes towards him brotherly
feelings. National antipathies are
yet strong. The Frenchman and the
German are ever ready to fly at each
Others throat. The Italian and the
Austrian are hereditary foes. The
Spaniard and the Hollander still
cherish the memory of their old wars.
The Irishman still longs to be re-
venged on the Englishman the afro
cities of Cromwell and welcomes
with cheers any reverse to English
arms or any fall of British prestige.
Happily our country has inherited
none of these old world enmities with
one exception we may be said to be
practically free from all antipathies
toward the nations of the old world;
but disguise the fact as we may, | be-
lieve it to be true that there exists
among us strong, yes an intensely
strong prejudice against the English
nation, prejudice almost amounting
to hostility. To be sure we live to-
gether in peace; we carry on an ex-
tensive trade with each other; we
visit each others nation freely and in
large numbers; between individuals
of the two nations there are ties of the
strongest attachment; yet, neverthe-
less, it needs but the broaching of
any question upon which there is a
difference of national policy or inter-
est to bring out display of hostile
feelings on both sides of the Atlantic
which is astounding. Every roar of
the British lion is met half way by
screech of the American eagle. The
recent issue as to Venezuela has
shown how ready we yet are to fly at
each others Threats.
Despite all our respect for Great
Britain as truly great and noble ma
ton; despite our belief that she is
leading the vanguard of European
nations in the march toward freedom
and true democracy; despite our
knowledge that she is the nation in
Europe most like ourselves; despite
thousand ties that bind us together
and should make us most fraternal,
true fraternity does not exist. Some
how there is a natural antipathy
which seems bred in our bones; even
the schoolboys have it. Though by
every reason of language, commerce,
polity, religion, interest, England is
the last nation of Europe against
which the storm of war should be
raised, it is in reality easier to excite
feelings of hostility against her than
against any other nation.
In regard to national antipathy
of this widespread and settled char
acter it will be we'll for us to harken
to the wise words of Washington.
quote from his farewell address,
written as he took his last leave of
public office after eight years of the
presidency, when he had no interest
to subserve but his country's. He
said: "Observe good faith and JUS
tice toward all nations. Cultivate
peace and harmony with all. Antipa-
thy in one nation against another
disposes each more readily to offer
insult and injury, to lay hold of
slight causes of umbrage and to be
naughty and intractable when tria-
ing or accidental occasions of dispute
occur. Hence frequent collisions,
obstinate, envenomed, bloody con-
tests. The nation prompted by i'll
will and resentment sometimes i'm
pels to war the government contrary
to the best calculations of policy.
The government sometimes partici-
pates in this national propensity and
adopts through passion what reason
would reject"
The danger which Washington
here pointed out is real one. With
such national antipathy existing,
weak administration or hasty and
impetuous administration, or one
seeking cheap popularity by appeal