New-York tribune., 1903-07-19
MR.. CooKRAN'S VINDICATIoN.

Mr.. Bourke Cochran has vindicated himself; on
at least one point. For years, while citizen
of this country, he has been a conspicuous po-
litical antagonist of Great Britain, roundly de-
nouncing that country for its alleged oppression
of Ireland, and exhortipg his fellow citizens of
Irish origin to maintain implacable hostility to
British rule over that island. At the same time
he has been equally vehement in opposing the
American tariff system and in advocating the
English system of sOcalled free trade. In that
apparently seIf-contradictory attitude he has
agreed with innumerable other Americans of
Irish birth or ancestry, who have persistently
talked against England and as persistently
voted for her. and have strt1en TO impose upon
this country the English fiscal policy. which. as
they themselves have borne Witness has proved
so ruinous to ireland. We have frequently re-
marked upon this strange and stultifying atti-
tude Of Irishmen in America. and have been
unable to explain it upon any creditable or COM
plmentary basis
But Mr.. Cochran, a prominent example of
that element of population, gives his
own explanation and his YindicatiOn 1t is that
he is sincerely persuaded of the superiority Of
the English over the American system. He
voted for the English system here not merely
because he was a Democrat, but because he
believed iii it as matter of principle and con-
viction. So now in England he processes the
same faith, and tells his English friends how
much better off they are than we poor Ameri-
cans AS our London correspondent reports, he
has signalized his advent in England by making
what is described as one of the most eloquent
tributes ever made to the superiority of the
British fiscal system. He did not speak as a
mere politician, but from the higher plane of an
academic statesman. Yet his speech is re-
garded as a powerful contribution to the free
trade side of the controversy which Mr. Cham7
berain has aroused, and British Cobdenites are
lamenting only that Mr.. Cochran is not a men,
Der of Parliament, so as to do battle with Mr..
Chamberlain from the front Opposition bench.
That regret of theirs recalls the recent report
of Mr.. Cockrans intention of giving I'd his
American citizenship IN order to become Brit
ish subject and to enter Parliament Whether
that report is true or not is not at this writing
known. But such course would seem to be
entirely hitting for Mr. Cochran to pursue. Sew
eral other American citizens have become nat
uralized BritOns for one reason or another
They have, it is true, been somewhat bitterly
criticised for so doing especially by Mr. Cock
rams racial compatrotS. But really an Ameri-
can would seem to have as good a right to be-
come a Briton As Briton has to become an
American. Why not? Surely he has that right
d
of conscientious principle. If man is really
convinced that the British system is better than
the American, he ought to become a Briton
rather than remain American Such a step
would be the crowning proof of Mr. Coclxran's
sincere devotion to principle, Of which indeed
he gave so strong proof at the National Lib
eral Club the other night.
AS for Mr.. Cockran's antagonism to England
on other grounds that is detail which need
give no embarrassment While an American he
was an aggressive advocate OF anti-American
policies. In Ike manner British subject he
might with no more inconsistency take the lead
in the anti-British campaign of the irreconcil.
able Irish. True, he might and probably would
find himself in a hopeless minority. But that is
where he is bound to be anyway. He speaking
from observation of American affairs testiies
against America and in favor of British free
trade. But against him. and against every one