The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-06-19
TnB oEIr Avn rHE ANeLo-s1xoN.
The Great Nsrnes and neeas sr the CeIts in
Artns. Literature ana stateHuaa nship.

Artns, Literature ana stateHna nship.
To EDITOR OF Thu SuN-Sir: As one Of
your constant readers l was very much inter.
ested by the editorial In your Issue Of the 9th
inst. entitled "AnElo.Saxon Superiority" Much
10 being said and written nowadays upon the
same subject, but nowhere do we see 1t admitted
that other races are entitled TO some of the
praise which is so layishly bestowed on tho
Anglo-Saxon. without any desire to detract
from Anglo-Saxon greatness. but merely MS a
matter of American fair play, l would like to
make a few remarks in behalf Of another race, a
race which has always been associated with the
Anglo-Saxon in tho onward progress OF the
world, and which is deserving of moro than the
sighting mention which is sometimes made oft.
The Celtic race existed in the British Islands
before the Anglo-Saxon, and from the very be-
ginning has exercised q great influence upon II.
Otherwise, why should the Anglo. Saxon 10
superior TO his kinsfolk on tho ContincntI As
might be expected, this influence shows itself
especially In our literature, and a vast sub
stratum Of our literature is Celtic. A COMPARE
son of the early literatureS Of the two races re-
yeals the fact that all tho fine metaphor and
coloring are to DO found in the Celtic. These
early Celts had as n common remark: For dull
ness the creeping Saxon" Tho two races In
the course OF centuries became SO commingled
that 1t is now impossible to draw q hard
and fast line between them. There is no doubt
that both races were benefited by this comming-
ling, as each contributed tho very characters
tics which the other lacked. Matthew Arnold
made the statement, "if Celtism had not
moulded England, she could not have produced
Shakespeare" 1t is. therefore, unnecessary to
notice a recent declaration that Shakespeare's
mother was a Celtic lady Of the maiden name
Of Griffith. Neither will space permit us to en-.
al
down even to Tennyson, nor to mention tho
great Celtic names with which 1t is adorned.
To notice a few of the leaders in the other
spheres of life. the greatest Grafton ever deliv-
cred in the House of Commons was by II. b.
Sheridan, and the most brilliant forensic advo-
cato Of all time was Thomas Erskine. 1t may be
stated with some certainty that no single states
man has exercised 80 much influence on British
policy throughout the present century as Ed
mund Burke. From the capture of Canada on
the Plains of Abraham down to the latest battle
Of Atbara the Celts have been foremost in ex-
tending and maintaining the British empire.
and this is not only true Of the private soldier.
but also of the commanders and Generals, from
the Duke of Wellington down to the latest
rising star, Kitchener.
CHANGING at our own country, we find that II
there is any policy to which we have pinned our
faith more than another it Is the Monroe doc.
trine. q name typically Celtic. II 1t should be
said that Canning had some part in originating
that doctrine, we can reply that Canning was al
least as much Celt az Saxon. Mr.. Blaine devel
oped and improved the Monroe doctrine some
what, and II on account of the recent brilliant
achievement of Admiral Dewey at Manila II
should appear advisable to have It changed OF
superseded, we can depend on President McKi
ley to do so. We are assuming our share in the
running of this Anglo-Saxon civilization. II
roes who brought our civil war to a successful
issue, and saved the nation. bore Celtic names
refer especially to Grant, Thomas, Sherman
The isolated instances Of individual heroism
and prowess, which are considered by many tc
on closer inspection to be- Celtic such as LiV
i~nEstone. Stanley, "Chinese" Gordon, r. Cor
be placed beside that Of livingstone is Dr.. q. L
T McK Sogsi 81 F9 9rr19 tiis a GTsduS Is,c Of P ,TI CS,iT
race occupies would require an entire ~ Volume
hut l can only notice a few of the leaders. We
see that the great musical composer is Sir Ar
thur Sullivan; tho great legal luminary. Lord
Russell of Killowen; the great military heroes
Wolseley and Roberts.
journals referred to him as the greatest Eng
lishmen of his time and an example of the pos
siblIit dnot Of the ns9 Anffhlo ss iI96,n character ma act while
purely Scotch. always desired to be so consid
cred. and almost az purely Highland Scotch OF
has its advantages, as it frequentlyiend healthy
emulation and stimulus. and. in any case. while
these distinctions do exist we are bound to en-
nloy the terms by which they are denoted. A
Scotchman is not an Englishman, neither is 6
Celt an A~nglo-Saxon.
We might not object to the general use OF the
term Anglo-SRxon for tho sake of convenience
did We not detect the disposition to arrogate tc
the Anglo-Saxon all the glory while RELOCATING
the Celt 10 a position among the dying races. OF
whom we have heard. II he escapes this SAD
fate. II is only that he may be classified with
other races equally Objectionable. DR.. Lymar
Abbott. in a recent article In the North Ancri
can Rrrirr. declares hat the great forces which
contribute TO our civilization in this country are
not Celtic. Slavic, African or Monaghan, but
Anglo.Saxon. From the very beginning We
have been in the front rank with our Anglo
Saxon brethren and will not be crowded out nj
this late date by any authorities who woulC
Africans and MonEolians. Neither shall we
concode that we have lost our identity. or be
como entirely absorbed, so long as we continue
to demonstrate orr superiority over the Anglo
Saxon ms we did recently at Dargai. We are
told that when the English had overcome theil
fellow SaXons across the border 1t WAS tina
mighty Celt, William Wallace. who stretched
forth his arm and drove the enemy from his
country. We have not deteriorated since ther
and cannot be ranked second to any race. TIL,
Anglo-SaNon may be superior in point Of mum
bcrs, but tho Celt is superior in point Of merit.
JAMES MCMILLAN.
CINCINNATI, June IL.