The times., 1898-05-28
SATURDAY, MAY 2s. 1898.
DenationnIized Americans.

DenationaIIzed Americans.
When Edward Everett Hale wrote
''The Man Without a Country he
preached what is perhaps the most
powerful sermon of his life. Certainly
the book viii be remembered and read
when most sermons and speeches are
forgotten. Ii is simple, direct, vivid,
and il any American citizen, in this
present war, thinks that 1t is a slight
misfortune to be man without a coun-
try, he viii do well to get the book and
reed it. altfoua il "fohinp 4>UiaH il no.
g historical character, the details of the
story are so accurate that il was at
first taken 10 be the experience of a
real officer Of the United States Navy.
At fret thought il seems slight pun
3shment 10 be inflicted by court mar
tiaI A young officer in a moment of
anger has exclaimed, Damn the United
States! ] wish l may never hear of the
United States again," He is condemned
TO a perpetual cruise on board one or
another OF the vessels of our Navy, and
for the rest Of his life he is not allowed
60 hear the name of his country, or to
get any information, even word, about
her. But the isolation Of the man be-
comes something fearful. He has his
wish, and his life has become a pur-
Eatory.
But there are other ways of renounc-
ing the United States besides that taken
by Philip Nolan. A late edition Of DR..
Hale's story has a new preface, written
- - .
and il breathes a patriotism as intense
and clear-sighted as that Of the story
itself DR.. Hale says:
1t was the intention Of this parable, which de-
EcTibJs the lie of one man who tried 10 separate
himself from his country, 10 show how terrible
Was his mistake Ii docs not need now that
should curse the United States, Philip
Nolan did. or that he should say that he hopes
De may hear her name again, TO make
d. desirable for him to consider the lessons which
ere involved in the parable Of his life. The man
who iy his sneers by looking backward, OF
by revealing his countTy's secrets TO her enemy,
delays for one hour peace between Spain and
this nation. Is TO all intents and purposes q man
without country he has not damned the
United States IA spoken oath All the same,
be ls . bastard child.
No one can know, of course, whom
DR. Hale had in mind when he wrote
thus Indignantly of the modern traitor
20 his country. But if anything ever
was written between the lines so that
be who runs may read, il is that this
denunciation is aimed at the ultra
educated man, whose education has
gene the wrong way, so that he thinks
that nothing refined, or cultivated, or
learned, can be found on this side the
water; at the man rich in dollars, who
cares FOR nothing except that his for
tune may go on heaping itself noun
tain-high; at the politician, who uses
his country's danger 10 secure his own
position. This type of mantle three
sre alike at heart-will never damn the
United States in a spoken oath, be-
cause oaths have gone out of fashion
in his circle. He will not damn the
Spaniards, either Whether one CEN
EuTes the corruption and mismanage-
ment Of some branch of the Govern
nIent, or seeks language in which to do
justice 10 the atrocities of Weyler. this
individuals reply is always the same:
he thinks there is something to be said
on both sides. BY his uniform oppo-
sition 10 anything in the shape of in
terest in the national welfare, his argu-
ments lose weight, but he does not care
for that so long as he gets what he
wants He is the man who, when he
mentions the mass OF the American peo-
pie, talks about the ''rabble," and when
there is any enthusiasm about the Gu
ban patriots, he elevates his nose with
the remark that they are a lot of ban
dts, while the Spaniards are gentlemen.
The denationalized American. who per-
sists in living In America, is a great
source Of grief TO Americans who love
their country. He is not much better
off abroad. Europeans like people to
be patriotic, no matter where they be-
long, and the fact is, a man who is de-
nationalized is to a certain extent dehu-
manized. Some of these individuals
would be benefited by course of treat
ment such as was administered TO
Philip Nolan. II is doubtful whether
others could be reformed by anything.