The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1905-11-09

value their own system of law and
order too much to allow it to be
superseded.
There are many more inst ances of
self-deception which 1 might enumer-
ate, but time will not permit. I wish
to draw your attention to the utter
lack of gratitude, on the part of
Americans generally. When an indi-
vidual performs an act, beneficial to
another, gratitude is expected on the
part of the favored one. 1t should be
the same with nations; but it is not
considered so by Americans.
When the war with Spain COM
menced, it was a serious question
whether there would be any interfer-
ence on the part of other European
nations. France and Germany were
both inclined to lend assistance to
Spain. But Great Britain at once in
sisted that the strictest neutrality
should be observed, thereby averting
what might have proven disastrous to
the United States. Had another nation
been involved, the cost to this country
in lives and money would probably
have been qnadrupled. In fact it is a
question what the outcome of the war
would have been if either the French
or German navy had been pitted
against the Stars and Stripes. Had
Great Britain been of a arevengeful dis
position, she might have said to the
other nations: 81 will remain neutral;
but you may suit yourselves, as to the
course you take" 1t would have made
quite a difference to this country.
Shortly after these occurrences Great
Britain became involved in war
herself. Her territory. in South
Africa, was invaded by the Beers OF
the Trsnsvaal and the Orange Free
State. The Beers had been prepar.
ing for this step for fifteen years
Great stores of ofsmmunition and modern
weapons had been accumulated, and
German and French officers had fol
years been instructing the Beers ir
the art Of modern warfare. The
British, on the contrary, had not made
a threatening move till after the decla
ration of war. AS result, they wer,
badly handicapped at the outset.
! Now here is where the gratitude o.
the American people is shown. Will
hardly an exception, the newspaper
of this country advocated, in th'
strongest terms, the lending Of assist
snce to the Beers. At any rate, the,
; were unanimous, in wishing for tn
speedy defeat of their late benefactol
Great Britain. They gloated over tn
news of British reverses, and prophe
+. sled the fall of the greatest empire OF
earth. really believe that if it hs'
been put to popular vote, Great Britain
would have had an American army {
contend with, in addition to the Boert
! But there was level-headed presiden
; at the head of affairs, and all the will
vsporings of the would-be twisters Q
!. the lions tail, amounted to nothing
! Such expressions, to say the least, wer
] hardly creditable to the Americans.
. Canadians view with amusement tn
= abject trucking Of the Americans t
titled foreigners. For a people avov
: edly democratic, to place any valu
upon a title, is rather paradoxical; an
yet foreign duke or prince has onl
to visit this country to be receive
J. with open arms by society.
= Then again, there are American ari
!, tocrats. The difference between thel
= and the foreign nobility, is that tt
latter derived their titles from servic,
rendered to the crown, while bune
!, of money is all that is necessary
make an American aristocrat.
10 / had intended to enumerate sever
8. of the good characteristics of Amer
It cans, but on second thought, will lea,
d that to some loyal Yank, who is pro
4 ably more discerning than I am, al
9, better able to do justice to the subjet
10 In my desire not to be too extravaga
y in my remarks, I have made many 1
ID terations to the original draft, in ia
is this is the fourth paper have write
8. on this subject. II you still think
4 have spoken too harshly, then all
le can say Is, you should have seen &
e first. L. r. J.