New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-10-04

fcats." he attributes tho lack OF in
terest with which the British regard
the war for American independence;
really he insists. putting aside the
partially which Americans feel toward
it. owing 10 the fact that they were vic
torlous, an event Of high Importance
as. and this is something which /
feel II would hardly be possible 10 de-
scribe as parochial. modern democracy
began with the American Revolution
This war, he reminds us. turned on a
question OF law, and was forced on
by dull and narrow minded King.
The bitterness Of feeling which Of
course it left on both sides, he main
tains. could have been quickly and
easily overcome If right methods had
been pursued. In this both sides
failed. English statesmen. unfortu-
nately. did not deem it worth while 10
bind her former colonies closely to the
mother country. And it is not sur
prising that the people of England
thought little and knew less about us
during the closing years of the eigh-
teenth century. the period Of the
French Revolution.
The author. in the light Of posterity.
always blessed with that unerrlng
wisdom which comes after an event"
traces the course of enlargement
which led 10 the War OF 1S12. II
need not have been III England had
only seen fit to make the United States
friend instead of a foe" Thence.
succinctly. on through various treaties,
very pretty quarrels," narrow squeaks,
Misunderstanding enmities and ocea-
sional expressions of friendship. he fol-
lows. always with an eye vigilant In
the service Of his country's honor. the
story of the succeeding hundred years.
great deal OF attention is given In
Textbook To the injustice and folly
Of the abuse of the American people by
English writer's during the period OF
the commentators and the critics
Though "in point Of taste and good
feeling there is little to choose between
the English attacks upon the United
States and those Of Americans upon
England. we had the great disadvan-
tage of feeling much more keenly about
II than our adversaries." And;
The regret which one feels as one looks
hack over the writings OF that period
trimming over with bitterness and anger
is enhanced by considering the good when
might have been done by more serious
works conceived in different spirit.
The writer recalls with gratitude the
kind, wise words Of Coleridge,' and
dwells with feeling upon the two sweet,
charitable spirits Of the time, irving
and Thackeray. De Tocqueville. TOO
was Of this period: "he both warned
and criticised. but he took America
seriously, and he was studied and ad-
mired.' And Senator Lodge pays deep
tribute to the distinguished English
statesman of our own time whose
American Commonwealth" Americans
regard with admiration and as high
AUTHORITY
This study closes with an apprecia'
ton of Mr.. Balfour and Lord Lans-
downe. TO whose action we owe the
good relations which now exist De-
tween Great Britain and the Unitod
States, the first English statesmen
who not only saw but put into effect
their belief that the true policy Tor
England was 10 he friends WIN the
United States and that friendship
could be brought about by treating the
United States. not as had been the
practice in the past, but as one great
nation should always he treated by an
other"