Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-21
A CONTRAST.
Professor Norton and james Bryce
on Americans.

|
on Americans.
To the Editor of the Dispatch:
| Professor Norton. OF Harvard. is quoted
as using the following language in a re-
cent lecture before the students: TT is
characteristic OF the American people 10
| be trifing; they have acquired a varnish
Of civilized life. but their natures have
| not been refined. The Americans are 70. =
| 10000 OF good-natured people, gifto.. with
a fatal optimism, with no serious thought
OF the grave duties of life. They have no
fine sense of honor. They cannot distin-
guish between what is honest and what is
dishonest; 4 feel. with Horace Walpole,
that could be proud of my country If it
were not for my countrymen."
In strong contrast with the above are
the words of James Brice, member Of Par
Lament of Great Britain, in his book en-
titled American Commonwealth" writ
ten after he had spent several months in
this country studying the people and sur
roundings. quote from his work as fol-
lows: Volume 2. page 2S5: They are a
moral and well-conducted people. Setting
aside the 'colluyies gentium which one
hrds in western mining-camps. and which
popular literature has presented to Eu-
ropeans as far larger than it really is
setting aside also the rabble of a few
great cities and the negroes of the South,
the average OF temperance. chastity,
trGthfulness, and general probity is some
what higher than in any of the great ma
tons of Europe.
Volume 2, page S2: America has still
L long vista of years stretching before
her in which she will enjoy conditions
tar more suspicious than any European
country can count upon. And that Ameri-
ca marks the highest level, not only Of
material welfare, but of intelligence and
happiness, which the race has yet attain
ed, will be the judgment OF those who
look not at the favored few. for whose
benefit the world seems hitherto to have
framed its institutions, but at the whole
body of the people"
a still stronger contrast with Professor
Norton's language is the following tele-
gram, sent by a New York businessman
to friend of his. after the news of Adj
miral CeTvera's defeat had become known:
Il congratulate you on being an Ameri-
can citizen. To be a Roman in Rome's
palmiest days was never so great an
honor. A new dawn and new power
are coming rapidly into view. and other
nations stand gazing in wondering and
GREATNESS silence in an effort to compre-
bend. When fully understood IL will be
a
young giant who was born in the New
World, trained in her public schools, who
fears nothing but himself or a womans
frown, and whose mission is to teach all
people a new lesson in valor. love OF fair
play. liberty. and justice, all compre-
hended by the one word American.
/ was glad TO see that Senator Hoar
took occasion a few days ago, In an ad-
dress before the Clark University, to re-
prove Professor Norton. He said: Poor |
Professor Norton, color blind and music |
deaf. at this day. when the North and |
South are coming together and Mother |
England is learning 10 know her daugh- |
er and love her again. etc. when one Is |
,olor-blind he loses much from failure to |
Zee the beauties which surround him. but |
low much more Is he TO be pitied who |
eels that he was born in country where /
LII OF the people are his interiors. He Is
practically a man without country, and |
We may all well say. Poor Professor Nor
on, think the trustees OF Harvard Col
eye owe 1t TO themselves 10 secure the
ervices OF men whose ideas are known
o be American. JOHN A. INSLEE
Richmond, Va.