The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1899-07-06

ANGLO-AMERICANiSM.
The kindred Recess Drawn Together
by Identity of Interests.

| rope or America. who keeps abreast Of
current events can have failed to OBJ
| serve TIE change of attitude and feeling
in the last few years between the Unit
ed States and Great Britain, especially
of England The change has been SO
gradual, though steady, that it seems to
have been sudden, to have developed
within a year or two. But the change
has been coming for more than gener-
alton, mainly through growing respect
from England toward this country.
Previous to our civil war they We're as a
| mass inclined to think us cyclists and
braggarts, and we certainly did talk a
great deal of the American eagle and
the land Of liberty. as if we alone en-
joyed freedom and were capable of APP
| preciating it, The English should have
| known that we were more than cyclists
| and bragyarts by their experience in the
Revolution. But the Revolution had oc-
CURED during the previous century and
| had been to great extent forgotten
| by our quundam enemies
We had not forgotten ii. and we
should not have forgotten it. 1t was
| 1t was ii great trinmpn OF our militia
| and homebred patriots. half armed.
wretchedly equipped, exceedingly poor.
over regular. disciplined soldiers. abun-
| dainty supplied with material of war.
| But the descendants of those heroes may
have talked overmuch Of their achieve
ments and proves. while they them
| selves lived in profound peace and in the
midst of comfort Whether they did or
not they are believed to have done So
and Fourth of Julyism is the name that
was given to their SO called Wanting
from the grandiloquent harangues pour
ed forth by fervid orators on InGepend-
| ence day The civil war. one of the
| greatest, most terrible wars of history.
so eclipsed in proportions and destruc-
tiveness the Revolution, really the more
heroic Of the two. as virtually to put
All end to Fourth of Julyism-
Our own people-those at least not
we'll acquainted with history-have
had an erroneous idea concerning the
Revolution as respects the English. and
have not quite recovered from it yet.
They have supposed and may still sup
pose, that the attempt Of George HI to
| force the colonies to return to their al
| legiance was u popular measure, and
that its failure was to England Il ter
rible humiliation They have not known
that the war was the kings war, and
was opposed by the best and wisest OF
his subjects, who were rejoiced that the
colonies gained their independence.
| ,bo~
in London that in speaking of the CO.
lonial war the English were not humili.
ated by mention of its compulsory ter
mination They would not believe the
| historic facts, nor could they under
stand that what was of so absorbing in
terest and Importance to them should
not be equally SO to those who had been
their foe The Revolution was our first
war The English are nearly always at
war But they have never ceased to re-
greet the disastrous consequences tC
them of George III stubbornness The
rich, privileged. influential classes OF
England sided at first. as is well known,
with the south in the civil war, but the
English people sided with the north.
! As the struggle continued the north
gained friends rapidly on the other side
and at its close the north was Landed
highly by tens Of thousands who had
been inimical to it. Both sections OF
the republic had fought so valiantly,
had shown such fortitude, that the
whole nation. only then strictly such
sprang into transatlantic favor Eng
land and all Great Britain recognized
the fact that even if Americans hat
been boastfui they had good reason fol
boasting, and that we and they are
largely of the same stock. The Britons
notably the English, are prone to finf
in peoples whom they specially admir-,
modicum at least Of their own BLOOD
to account in part for their admiration
The steadily. rapidly growing impCr
tanCe, strength and wealth of the re
public. especially in the last 40 years
have aroused the admiration and aug
mented the affection of Great Britain
It is easy to like people of great and &C
cumulating power. Our restoration o
the Union proved the immensely Of oul
resources and that 40 European stat,
could afford to provoke Us. We have be
come in every sense and in the fulles
sense first class power.
Onr short but most effective and sig
niticant war with Spain Of last yea
again demonstrated the strength ant
admirable fighting qualities of our arm,
and navy No soldiers and sailors Aav'
ever acquitted themselves better Oul
guns and ships stirred the enthusiasm
| ho IF
and gave Us enormous renOwn through
cut civilization
Our achievements in art and litera
ture have made such rapid strides tina
we are now in the front rank. and on
work is known for its distinctive orig
inality. While little more than 1O'
years old. we have accomplished almos
all that Europe has accomplished il
ages. and who shall limit our expansion
in any way or degreeT
Another reason that we like 3.aslan,
better and that England likes MS bette
is that we are today well acquaipte'
with one another; our relations ar
close many of our interests are mutual
even identical We feel quite at hom
there; England feels quite at hom
here We have been intermarrying 70
years We are actually cousins Tn
; English are year by year growing NOR
akin to US We understand them as "
have never done before. What ia a.
cuglishman but an earlier American
an American but a later Englishman
We are all Anglo-Ssxons and likely
D be associated hereafter in deed and i
advancement. Racial afipities will Il,
| sert themselves and continue ia fore
e despite distance and frequent disagree
5 ment America and En2lapd's futur:
| seem As if they must be inserarably il