The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-11-23

Inc united states are trying the big
gest experiment in government that the
world has ever seen or Is ever likely to
see. 1t has been going on now for we'll
over hundred years. and I do not sup
pose 1t will be completed for at least q
hundred years more.
The experiment Is to find out whether
tract of populated country so vast that
It takes five days incessant travel to go
from one end of 1t to another can be made
into nation; and il SO. under what form
OF government. People in Europe, and
for that matter in America, too, are apt
TO conclude that the experiment Is com
plete and has succeeded. / do not think
so. 1t has, indeed, been astonishingly
successful, but It is not yet moro than half
complete"
Mr.. Stevens description and analysis
or the anti-English feeling In the United
states are Interesting. He SAYS
The Americans, have said before,
nave very keen feeling for their past
history; II Is far moro alive to them
than to us, The Crimean war Is to us
an incident Of long ago, which we have
long ago got, as we think, into it's proper
focus. We may love Russia or we may
not; but the Crimean war is no factor in
our disposition either way. Here the Rev
dictionary war Is as much matter of
personal right or wrong as It was hum
dred years ago
1t must not be supposed that every
American Is Itching to be at our threats;
nothing of the kind. But even that would
be nearer the truth than to believe that
there Is any sentiment OF the kind that
we have long entertained toward the Uni
ted states, and which still survives In part
the awakening of last December. We
talk Of this country as our daughter and
OF war with IL as unnatural, unheard Of
impossible. To the American, the champion
OF aroitraton. war Is always a present
possibility with anybody at any moment
This seems a paradox, but 1t Is easily ex-
plicable. The memory of the civil war is
kept alive by every possible devlce-histor-
zeal articles, official publications, clubs OF
veterans, clubs OF veterans sons, monu-
ments to every leader and every regi-
ment. celebrations of every battle at ev-
cry anniversary. 1t Is hardly an exagger-
alton to say chat no American newspa-
per Is published any day of the three hun
dred and sixty-ive which does not con-
tain at least one allusion to the war The
very political demonstrations are organ
lied on a military model; no nation In the
world is more fond of playing at soldiers
War therefore, to the present generation
Of Americans is not far enough off to be
inconceivahle while 1t is just too far for
the personal recollection of Its horrors
And to these twin facts. as well as to
certain impulsiveness and responsibility
in affairs, may probably be assigned the
bellicose spirit which unquestionably
comes over this country from time to
time. Now, granted the bellicose disposi-
ton, why should II not be directed against
US? We may call this country daughter.
but 1t does not call us mother. We were
a stepmother at the best, and are no lon
ger even that"
one tremendous factor in the resources
of the United States for defence or agrees
sion Mr.. Stevens points out which no
oil lie haa l.
remarks:
'At present the United States govern
ment pays s13S, 100000 a year to pensioners
of the civil war. AS the men die these
pensions fall in at the rate of five to eight
million annually; In twenty years or so
the pension list will be white sheet of
| paper. That means over EGG, 900 900 a year
| paid already for "A military purpose, which
| can be diverted to ornaments without a
| cent of extra taxation. In twenty years
this country will be easily able to turn
| out dozen battleships a year without
taking a cent out of anybody's pocket. And
| that means the naval supremacy of the
world. If we started the United States
IN this course by some bungling attempt
| 10 get our coaling stations half fortified
then 1t was the worst days work we ever
| did in our lives. But since the mischief Is
dtre, and apparently done irremediably.
| we had better face the situation squarely
| and at once
Food and drink In the Land of the
Dollar have inspired Mr. Stevens to SUI
Dlime nights of enthusiasm and condem-
nation. 1t is over the products of the
| PASTRY cook that he waAes most eloquent
| Even pumpkin lie, he says, presents a
yellow. saccharine succulence that soothes
| and distends." Like all male Brltons
over twenty who have mastered the art Of
smoking, he explains, he despised all
sweets when I've went to America. Now
he owns his fall. As for custard pies,
| cream pies and all the rest of them, he
confesses that they tempt a man to forget
his manhood. The he goes on:
! But the American breakfast is the
| thing. Americans rise early; you seldom
find man who is not through his break
fast by eight The life-givlng air makes
you hungry an hour or two before you
| could look at food In Europe. First you
| have fruit-wonderful pears that look like
green stones and taste like the fruit of
the Tree of Life. and peaches. In this
| country, you call your sweetheart, not a
daisy, but a peach. Then mush--so they
call oatmeal porridge-a noble food, with
| the nectarous American cream, Then
FISH and meats, sausages, and bacon and
eggs. Then strange farinaceous foods
which you marvel to find yourself swal-
lowing with avid gusto-Graham bread.
soda biscuits, buckwheat (or griddle)
cakes, with butter and maple treacle. II
Is magnificent; but II is indigestion. All
the same, l look forward to the day when
America shall produce an invention that
will let me go across the Atlantic for
breakfast every morning. l shall take a
season ticket"
OF course the ice water habit excites
his horror as II does that Of all English
men. He says:
lice water is more indispensable at ia
Bile than a napkin and the waiter who
will keep you waiting ten minutes for
bread will rush wildly for the bottle II
your ice water sinks half an inch below
the brim of the glass Ring bell at any
hour OF the day or night; a painting atten-
dant dashes In with Ice water Sip. sip.
sip, men, women, and little children 90
pouring the noxious stuff into their in
Sides The effect OF this Ice water habit
on the national constitution can only be
most disastrous. Water is an unwhole-
some drink at the best OF times; 1t is
doubly unwholesome In many American
cities where municipal government Is
largely left to the friends OF contractors,
and trebly and quadruply unwholesome
when iced. do not suppose that ice wa