The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-11
But the Dislike Is Mingled with Re-
spect for Our strength.

E. w. L., in Pittsburg Dispatch
The fresh agitation in Germany in regard
TO the admission of American fruits. Ameri-
can plants and American horses, is but new
evidence of the dissatisfaction which the
present tariff policy of the United States
mas created in the European mind. The 'iso-
lauon OF Great Britain from friendly alli-
ance with other European governments is
not to be spoken of in the same breath with
the isolation of the United States. On the
Olher SIDE OF the ocean they are lying
awake O. nights inventing new oaths with
when 10 Consign the all-cOnquering Yankee
10 what they consider his proper place in
the divine economy. During my visit in
France, England, Belgium Holland and
Germany last fall ] heard not one sincere
word of friendship for America. The oniy
compliments were from the French, and
that merely as a matter of typical French
courtesy to foreign visitor.
But let me say that this denunciation i'm
cludes no element Of contempt. Every critic
mingled good deal of half-suppresSed
spect and admiration with his damnation--
the admiration the lesser fellow has for the
larger fellow who has walloped him. and
VINO ne Knows Is able to WallOp him at any
time in the future. They all realize that the
tariff policy of the Republican party has
accomplished more than all other measures
to build up America at the expense of other
countries. They realize it and rebel and ex-
hibit their wrath in such weak ways as sug
coil upon their own heads. AS a cosmopolite
and philosopher, l am a free trader; as an
American, | am for revenue and protection.
and I have always been the more deeply
penetrated with the idea when / have hap
Dened to meet foreigners on their own soil
and have listened to their condemnation of
all things American, simply because the
tariff hits them where they live
sat in a hotel in London one evening
with a lot of typical London young men
cockneys of an intelligent grade, every one
of them For my benefit they launched into
Il most offensive TRADE against what they
sailed the -swinish1 propensities of the
bloomin' Yankees" They were coarse and in
sulting. as the British are by nature Such
qualities are inbred in them, are passed on
from generation to generation. If you find q
gentleman in manners in Great Britain look
for an infusion somewhere in his veins of
Latin blood. 1t is impossible he could be
wholly Anglo-SaXon. Frenchmen in a pub
lie place would have Wed with me in polite
ness. These EngliShmen, of good families,
had the manners of the stable. | accepted
pleasantly all they said of America, adj
mitted that competitive commercalism al
ways suggests the habits one finds in re-
public of pigs, and then smillngly suggested
that of all the commercial hogs of the
world, of all brigands upon land and pirates
upon seas, of all thieves of all time, the
least decent the most colossal in the great
grab game of human life. The boys were
shocked. Their feelings were really injured.
One VINO was a little tipSy wanted TO fight
and when ] assured him that it patent
to the world that in these days Englishmen
fight no more. he burst into tears at thought
of this insult to the Queen. You really could
not make those fellows believe that ii is not
right and just, and gentle, and sweet, and
wholly Christian for Great Britain to play
the role of the most gigantic hog of the
universe. and that it was a nameleSs crime
for the Yankee TO try TO beat him at his
own game.
That is the feeling toward America in all
European countries. They resent the impu-
dence Of this country in playing that game
which is sure to win the largest number of
shekels for America. That is their preroga-
tive All this is a sure sign that the tariff
being a bad thing for Europe, is a good
thing for America.