The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-20
English Comments on American Dis
like of England.

1t Ii amusing to observe how utterly Mr..
BAYARD and other American courtiers Of
English society have failed in their efforts
to prove that the American people love
their so-called kinsmen beyond sea. Almost
all the authentic representatives Of edu-
Gated opinion in the London press are now
thoroughly awakened to the fact that such
soft assurances nave no foundation beyond
the interested wish of those who make
them to please their auditors.
The National Reuietc, always we'll in
formed Upon this subject, prints in its jun
number q letter from a Washington CORE
spondent, himself evidently an English.
man, in which the real attitude Of the vast
majority Of Americans toward England is
truthfully reported. 1.-THE average Ameri.
can" says this writer, 1.-THE average Ameri.
can public man, and the average American
public newspaper are, in all honesty, anti.
English. They are at all times only too will.
Ing to extend the right hand Of fellowship to
Russia or Germany or France, and to meet
half way any overtures which may be made
by tn ose countries. but the moment Eng
land suggests something, America looks
upon 1t askance and with the eye OF sus.
piSiohS oho eOhOihudiiy HIN u bho W
riers pensee." To the question why there
should be this tremendous antagonism to
England, the writer in the National Re.
pieso Is frank enough to say that he does not
know. He might have done we'll to stop
there, for his subsequent attempts to fur.
nish ar explanation can scarcely be regarded
as successful. He does not. indeed, accuse
US Of hypocrisy in Directing to England's
foreign policy. for In thus objecting we do
but concur with the rest of the civilized
world; but he thinks that 1t Is because we
know very little about the genius which
has made the British empire. and the mo.
tlves which have often compelled England
to make war on weaker races" that the
leverage American honestly believes that
for q century or moro England has simply
played the role of a bully"
The truth Is that we know a good deal
more about the motives which have
prompted England's ~conquests and petty
wars than decent Englishmen care to re.
member. and that our knowledge has been
derived from the remorseful admissions of
Englishmen themselves. Equally futile Is
the effort to account for American enmity
to England by ascribing 1t to jealousy. That
England Is jealous of US Is notorious; she
betrayed her jealousy and spite In the glee
with which she welcomed the threat
ened disruption Of the Union. Lord SAL.
IsBURY, when speaking as Sir ROBERT
CECIL In the House Of Commons, acknowl.
edged that England could never be a real
friend Of America, because she recognized
In her an Inevitable rival; but why, in the
name of common sense, should the United
States DO Jealous of E%nglandi The com.
parative statistics published by Mr.. M. G.
MULKALL In the North american Retieu
show concluslvely that even in the
matter Of accumulated wealth we have
not only overtaken England with head
long rapidity, but are now on the
eve OF surpassing her. In all the other
~factors OF national safety and prosperity
We arc immeasurably better off. AS for the
final suggestion Of the National Repteto's
correspondent that American Anglopho
bism may be partly due to the fact that
England In monetary matters adheres
firmly to a gold standard, 1t Is prepos
ferrous, tho dislike having shown itself In
Arancorous form long before the battle Of
the standards" broke out, and some OF the
most vehement ~denouncers of Mr.. BAY
ARDS Anglophilism being at this houi
svowed n earnest gold monometallists.
The London Spectator, which discusse.
the question In q recent number, Gomez
nearer the truth, not only when 1t recog
nizes that even among Americans OF Eng