The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-17
As Emissnry OF the Kaiser, He Trav-
eIed Through This Country to
study Native Character.
THINKS Us ONLY HALF BAD
is LIBERAL ENOUGH TO RECOGNIZE
OUR GOOD QUALITIES.
Points Out Faults and FoibIes, and
Says We KnowiHow to Make Money,
but Not How TO Enjoy 1t.
corr.,Dondenoe eff ths Indianapolis Journal.

Correspondence ef ths Indianapolis Journal
BERLIN. May .I.-Somebody has called
America 1.-The Land OF unlimited possibili-
ties" In my opinion there is limit to all
things. even 10 admiration for the United
States. but mas much as Germany and
America may hght some day 1t would be
foolish TO underra,.e the enemy as 10 give
him credit for more than he can do.
The more I saw of America the less I
sympathize with 2ur German jngoes. but
co hope that tho United States may some
day be forced to fight for her very life. The
victory over decreSit old Spain was far too
easily won. The national heroes that un-
pleasantness set UP on the public pedestal
never went through the fire baptism of real
danger ard real r,isery. AS consequence
j:ngoism and empty Dragging are more
alive thar aver.
The foremost american characteristics
originally came from the oak forests of Ger
many. the boglan6s OF Holstein. the villages
and hamlets of England and ireland, from
the lonely Scotch snountains. But four hun
dred years of persistent warfare with ma
ture and elements wonderfully developed,
enlarged and Influenced them. The village
Is the nursery OF She race everywhere. The
Americans, too. used to be people of farm
60 DC merchantss indrstrials and world
fnanciers. Unless ] am much mistaken
about the temper the ambitions and the
political destiny OF the Americans their ad-
mirable talent for assimilation and for at
tracing other peoples and countries will
result I'm the ANNEXATION of Canada, Mexico
and all the neigftboring island world. AL
ready they have achieved commercial and
I'd, +rfo L. Tt
TO be che missior of the United States to
create an empire radically different from
any Europe ever produced.
The excellent aid even education offered
BY the public schools to all makes true
Americans of bots and girls alike. They
learn hardly any nistory aside from that of
their own country. and as a general thing
an American boyf or girl does not care to
know the classic ages and the middle ages.
A COMPARISON DRAWN.
In Germany tha army officer represents
the highest type bf manhood; England has
her gentleman America-her captains
of industry and smart men, If the ex-
preston be permissible The smart is
q near relative OF the gentleman, only that
he is descended from the aristocracy of
business instead of birth. Germans are
very apt 10 pictute the American as cold,
calculating BUSINESS person. a brutal egotist,
bereft OF all finer sensibilities trained only
to chase after tile dollar. As a matter of
fact, the American people is capable of a
degree of enthuss asm and hopefulness that
Germans might go we'll to aspire TO, while,
generally speaking, the sense of justice and
propriety is mors highly developed in the
American masses than with in Ger
many. In American playhouses / have
often seen vast taudiences acclaim virtue
and raise cutlery against persons and
scenes depicting, vulgar, mean and bad
characters or situations.
The Americans ideas about women are
peculiarly his own To him woman is
neither an ange, nor a domestic animal
His Angio-Saxoh self-consciousness pre-
vents his falling victim to feminism, his
love is superiorI to that of the old-time
.rninnesinger" DR. the hysteric French
man. His wife IL supreme ruler of an en-
pire most appro4 riate for her talents and
iaclinations-the house, the bringing up Of
children, ethics and beauty. He thinks it
mans first and Isupreme duty to protect
woman because Ishe is physically weaker
than himself. but in all other respects he
accords her the FULLEST equality.
America will ihake off European influ-
ence more and rsiore as her sphere of Gull
ture spreads toward the West and gathers
strength in the 3outh. The West, with its
untold riches, hidden treasure-hoards far
excelling those OF California, gravitates to-
wards Asia, the new South towards South
America.
The American Is born optimist but his
optimism is of a, sterner kind than that Of
the Slav nationsi which is little more than
straw fire. In TIE American character en-
thusiasm and perseverance are happily bal
anced. The Gel man is more original and
scholarly than tile American, but the latter
excels in many-jdedness, in quickness and
alertness. The American temperament is
best portrayed BIZ the national humor. the
pepper and salt OF the country's great
newspapers. a budding politician without
humor might as well give up. Humor is
the magnetism that enlivens banquets and
the lecture platfSrm, even the pulpit.
In Germany patriotism is the distinction
of the few: \ merica is general. self
evident. Unpatrfotic parties, such as We
have in Germa by. would be impossible
across the watch American patriotism is
aIl-comprehensivA; the American loves his
laws, his institutions. the faults OF
government-forbs and parties. "If it's
American it's gbod." is his motto. The
American is a Iiatriot waking and asleep,
at his meals. whAther he drinks water only
or INDUCES in stimulants The first cry OF
the newly born is triumphant hymn for
America
SENTIMENT AND CHARITY.
The American becomes sentimental in the
face OF sickness, where the weak or I'M
protected are concerned Nowhere in the
world are asyiuIas, homes for children, the
blind. the deaf lind dumb. the aged, etc.
so well provided and easily accessible
as in the United, States. Nowhere is char
fty so generous, $50 free and all-compre-
hensive. Americas poor need not humble
themselves. or profess virtues they do not
have, in order % gain aid There a man
need not profess! religion IL he wants to go
70 a hospital: 10 what denomination he
belongs has nothing 10 do with his mo-
u,entary wants. And whether or not be is
: church mensbtr In any sense. manner or
<,-~-< fa r1of,odvssf business In a good MANY