The Washington herald., 1909-05-24
An Attitude Of Insult.

From a special cable from London. It
appears that rather embarrassing dis
cussicn was begun IN the English press
last week over the attitude that America
might take in the threatened struggle be-
tween Great Britain and Germany.
The New York correspondent Of the
London Times explains. on she authority
Of the Springfield Republican. that the
United States could only remain sternly
neutral in such a crisis. and that America
could regard only with suspicion the as
sumption Of q certain section OF the Eng
llsh press that IL could be reckoned even
as a moral ally OF Great Britain. These
Representations moved the Spectator 70
devote its leading article 10 this subject.
concerning which the special cable tells
Us:
II usss hnE1aEe which Il ftsef declares nay
ssem taat Of blunt and b-ataI franknsss The
osinary American journalist Il asssrs souastiraes
shows astonishing ignoralcs q foreign affair Like
al igno-ant people these journalists are very ss-
Tie0us. ard especially Cf friendly expressions Of
oELnion which they do rot u1dc-stsnd- They are n
The condition Of Farmer Hayseed vhen he cones %
town He assumes that ese-ybody who Is decently
eiT % hin IS tryirg 20 suindls him ard cc1rte-
o-s word throws hin i1to a safe of anxiety
II the Spectator had taken the trouble
TO dtvest itself Of that dense ignorance OF
American geography which too often mis-
leads our sUDercllious lnsular critics. It
would have ascertained that the Spring
field Republican, one Of the eldest and
most respected OF American newspapers. is
published not on the confines Of Alaska.
but in the heart Of New England. It's
opinions are not therefore. 10 be put
aside with contempt, even BY the Spec
tator, a. those Of Farmer Hayseed. ''
who Is supposed 10 be notable for an as
tonishing ignorance Of foreign affairs 30
It may Is that the Springfield Republican
is entirely mistaken in its Impressions as 10
the attitude which this country should as
sumo toward a new. condition IN the politics
OF the world which is the most profound
and far-reaching that has occurred since
the battle OF Waterloo It may be that
the Spectator Is right when Il says that
the statesmen Of America realize at this
moment. and that later on the bulk OF the
American people VIII realize, and, last os
al not imposslbly even the Springfield
Republican. that it would be little short
Of national disaster II the command Of
the sea were lost by Britain and were TO
pass into German hands. America. IN
spite Of her tremendous coast line and
her possession Of the great archipelago Of
the Philippines. and stil more in spite
of those great interests in Spanish South
America and Brazil which are defined IN
the Monroe doctrine, has always been
able 70 acquiesce with easy mind IN Brit
ish command Of the sea. The reasons are
plain"
It may be that BY far the greater
part Of the American people clearly per-
ceive the force CT that argument which
has for q long time been the undertone OF
that silent and unreco-ded Anglo-Ameri-
can alliance that has really controlled the
relations OF the two countries since Lord
Salisbury was wise enough TO accept, in
1885. President CIeveland's definition OF
the primacy Of the United States IN the
New World For that reason Il Is su-
prenely unwise at this critical time. when
q change OF attitude might be Of mo
mentous importance. for an English jour
nai, with e brutal tactlessness conspicu-
ously English. 10 assume an air OF su-
percilIous and insulting condescensIon in
dealing with those who may happen
70 dissent from its conclusions. The time
has arrived when English journals must
bo made 20 understand that neither the
American people nor the American press
viii tolerate that kind OF offensive and
patronizing condesconsion which Is SUD-
posed 70 have expired with Dickens and
sydsey Smith. The world power on this
side OF the Atlantic Is perfectly conscious
OF its position in tho family Of nations
and perfectly capable Of maintaining its
dignity and seIf-respect. Il IS quickly re-
spousIve 70 the touch OF seIf-lnterest, and
It knows how to appreciate an argument
that points in the right direction. But it
must be approached with perfect respect;
It must be addressed upon a plane Of per-
feet ecgality. and. above al, Il must not
be told IN advance that 1t IS a Farmer
Hayseed who Is astonishingly ignorant
ef foreign affairs.
The bungier who thinks Il wise to ap-
preach delicate international problem
In that attitude OF insult should be
promptly transferred from diplomacy 10
tho prize ring.
The remains or George Meredith are not
to repose IN Westminster Abbey, the dean