New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-06-30
"lHEPTCAN' is RIGHT.

/ Somebody periodically challenges INC
p,onriety cf calling the embassies, lega-
tions and COnsulates IF the United states
american" on the alleged ground that
/ they have no more right TO that titlc
| than similar offices Of Canadians or
Mcxicans would have. Thus CORE
spondent in The Tribune recently eX-
pressed establishment that tue State De
partmeut should have put in force a
rule that is as absurd as il is illogical
and must make us laughing stock to
"the civilized world" TO which it is TO
be replied that tie rule is neither ab-
sllrd nor illogical but I'm accord with
long and authoritative practice, and that
if the civilized world laughs at 1t IT
laughs at its own customs.
Even before the War of tie Revolution
it was customary both in this country
and in England To- speak Of these colonies
a. America and OF their inhabitants rs
Americans i'll distinction from Canada
and the Canadians and from Louisiana
and its inhabitants. Samuel Johnson's
famous tract Taxation No Tyranny
was described Icy him AZ "an answer 10
the American Congress- Inc
next wear came Prices observations
on The Justice and Policy Of the
"War with America" Such expressions
aboundod in speeches and prints, i'll OF
fetal and unofficial utteranccS, in Eng
land as much rs here When our urSuc-
., 10 tt
William Fadcn in 1716 published in Lon
don plan Of Quebec with Its
Siege by the Americans And 4 hun
dred years later Lcsperance published at
Toronto bis "BostOGnais: \ Tale of the
American Invasion Of Canada. That
usdge of the words America, American
and Americans has been all but universal
for nearly century and half.
There are other authorities. That
usage abounds i'm treaties. particularly
ia those with Great Britan-which are
most significant-but also in those with
other countries. our first treaty of
peace in 1883 spoke of "American' fish
ermen rs distinguished from Canadians,
and of the ratification Of the treaty "in
America Our treaty of commerce and
navigation at the end Of the War of
1872 had the same usage. The Webster
AshburtOn treaty Of 1912 spoke of "the
American and Canadian shores Of the
Detroit River Many other treaties,
with various countries, speak of Ameri-
can citizens, American territory, Ameri-
can vessels. American forces, the Ameri-
can flag and what not. There are still
other official authorities. British Adj
miralty maps show what they designate
as 1.-THE boundary line between British
and American possessions" in North
America. Aud there is, of course sgd
ney Smiths famous demand, "Who
reads an American book"
Logic and analogy might also be III
voked II is not always enough 10 call
this country the United states for
there are other united states. If We
should insist upon United States 1t
America, why has not Brazil MS good II
title 10 il: Or why had not Mexico!
Would if not bc as arrogant 10 call our
selves the United States of America,
when there are other united states in
America. as 70 call ourselves America
when there are other countries on this
coniinentt Again, The United States Of
Brazil comprises all Of Brazil, politically
speaking. So the United States of Co
lumbia and Of Mexico. when those cOun-
tries were thus called. comprised all Of
Colombia ana Mexico. politically speak
ing Iu like manner, politically speak