Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1897-12-03
AMERICA AND ENGLAND.
An EngIishmnn writes Homo About
Our Attitude.

Mr.. Amyas Stafford Northcote, writ.
ing from Chicago, says that he is
struck by the general feeling expressed
In England that Americans as a whole
are hostile TO Great Britain. AS to the
rejection of the arbitration treaty by
the United States senate. Mr.. North
cote says that on every hand one heard
the principles of the treaty applauded,
and on its final rejection general re-
greet was expressed, though there were
many, including some senator's, who,
while approving of an arbitration
treaty, did not approve the form of
this one. The action OF the senate
had been expected, however; 1t was
only another instance of its opposition
to general popular sentiment. No one
can read daily paper in America with
out realizing how unpopular and how
little representative the senate is, Re-
garding the so-called hostile teachings
In the schools, Mr.. Northcote says!
"The early histories read by Ameri-
can children recite the ancient wars
against Great Britain, but it is diff
cult to see how children could be laugh
the history of their country without
this. The United States has only
fought three foreign wars, and Of these
the two most important were against
ourselves. 1t is also true that the at
titude of the British government dur
ing the war Of independence is still
held up for condemnation, but it is
not true that the British people of to-
day are so condemned The fact il
that the vast bulk of the American
people regard us with Indifference. A
few Americans regard us with the
greatest admiration, considerable
number more (quite large propror-
tion) regard Great Britain as q coun-
try whose aims are kin to their own,
whose past is their own up to a certain
date, and with whom friendship should
always, If possible, be maintained. On
the other hand, there is a small class,
mostly Irish and demagogues seeking
that nationality's support, to whom
| ehc 'Si htihS VI Olcdl lorltdlu IL OU-
noxious, and still another class, which
while not hostile, is perpetually ready
to suspect our motives. Between these
two groups of classes stands the great
bulk of the people, to whom Great
Britain is merely one of the effete
monarchies of Europe These people
regard us from an ignorant, not hos
tile, standpoint. Believing their owl
country to be the greatest, the wisest
the most progressive and the strongest
on the face of the Earth, they recognize
the fact that Great Britain is tn,
largest customer for their products
and recognizing this fact, IL no other
they are not willing to quarrel will
their bread and -bptter. Americans
like others nearer home, are easil,
swayed by faddists up to certain
point, but at the bottom they posses
Anglo-Saxon common sense, and thi
quality is likely to save them from
being carried away by any vague the
cries of British hostility. For be i
recollected that the basis Of all possibl
American enmity toward us is vague
uniformed idea that we are, or hav
been, hostile to the United States. TIL
case is one of mutual mistrust, and IN
apology for this letter is that it is m
small contribution toward the task O
bringing about a mutual understand
ing."-London Times.