The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-22
OUR RELATIONS WITH ENGLAND.

The talk of an alliance with England has
aroused the protests of a good many Ameri-
can citizens not of English descent near or
remote. They argue that as the so-called
"Anglo-Saxon" element does not predom-
mate even in Great Britain, and that in the
population of this country the proportion is
very much similar, one writer-an Irishman
putting it as low as three per cent, it is
absurd to discuss friendly union on the
basis of race. They assert that the Celts
Germans, Scandinavians, Hungarians, Poles
and other European races have an equal
Importance in the makeup of the American
population and that the proposed alliance
does not represent the prevailing sentiment
here These DIRECTORS are no doubt right as
to their figures. The "Anglo-Saxon'' is a
somewhat mythical being, and it is undoubt-
eddy true that an inconsiderable percentage
of the people of the United States can trace
their lineage to this source 1t is not in the
restricted sense Of actual descent from the
union of the Angles and the Saxons that
the term 'Anglo-Saxon" is commonly used,
however, and it certainly has not that lin
tied significance in this case. The secondary
meaning as given in the lexicons makes it
applicable to all English-speaking peoples,
and it is in this general sense that it is used
when the alliance is spoken of. Whether
one strain of blood predominates over an
other or not in the American race is a ques-
ton not worth while to discuss. All the
races of Europe have become Incorporated
in it until they have, in measure, lost their
aI,o
them with acquired traits that they are no
longer Celts or Germans, or Scandina-
VANS, but Americans. AS proof of their
homogeneousness they speak the English or
American language, and not the one that
they or their ancestors SPOKE when they
landed here. Moreover, they think as Amer
leans, not as members of alien race. They
may retain a sentimental regard for the
fatherland, but they are loyal to the insti-
tutions of the new country and in sympathy
with its aims and undertakings. AS Ameri-
can citizens, then, and not as former Ger
mans, or Irish, or Swedes, they must ac-
knowledge that the aims and purposes of
that other English speaking nation, Great
Britain, are in closer harmony with those
of their own land than with any other
Whether it is the common language, wheth-
er the Puritan traditions, making England
the morther country, still control, or
| whether the Saxon strain really does pre-
dominate does not matter. The fact re-
mains that British civilization stands for
| the same that American civilization stands
| for, and however resentful we may be at
| times of Britains domineering ways, and
| however we may jeer and gibe at British
traits we are secretly conscious of liking
| for the country and of a sense of own
ership in it. Its traditions are ours, its lit
| erature is ours, it's great men are ours in
real sense. The quarrels we have in these
| days and are likely to have in future are
| family quarrels-the kind in which an out
slider will interfere only to his hurt and
which end in inevitable reconciliation. AS
we understand each other better these
wrangles will become less frequent, and if
the friendly spirit growing out of this war
with Spain does no more it will bring about
better acquaintance, and a very real al
lance, the stronger, perhaps, because it will
be one of sentiment rather than of politics
will result, and no one should object