New-York tribune., 1916-07-19
WHY NOT "ENGLISH"?
Those Who Object to the Title Have
Perfect Right to Adopt Il!

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Upon reading your editorial under the
above caption, | asked myself the question:
What is the dominating factor in the makeup
Of the British Empire? That there are Scotch
mon and Wclshmcn and Englishmen on the
island Of Britain we all know; but since the
son of King Edward was born on Wei lsh SOIL,
and hence the first born Of the Kings of Eng
land assume the title of Prince OF Wales,
and since James vi of Scotland came to
London and reigned in England as James l.
the nationalities have so blended that
their interests are identical. And as there
are, roughly speaking, about ten times as
many Englishmen as Scotchmen, and larger
proportion when compared to the Welshmen,
nobody on the island of Great Britain thinks
of asking the question whether the general,
the statesman or the merchant is English,
Scotch or Welsh They are all proud to be
known, in a general way, as Englishmen. The
blending is about as perfect as it well can be.
1t is with outsiders to make the distinction
when jealousy is aroused, not in the minds of
the Scot or the Welshman, but in the minds
of those that are envious of the all-round
reputation acquired by the English people. 1t
is not found in England or Scotland or Wales,
but it is found in some quarters in the United
States of America
| was just about to write "in America" in
stead of the United States Of America" Here
is an illustration which explains the fact that
England and English" are so much more
used than "Brton" and British" The United
States is the dominant factor in the makeup
of the people of the North American Cont
nent. "But the makeup" is not by any means
so homogeneous as that Of Great Britain.
There the three peoples are under one gov
ernment, and all are perfectly united under
one system of laws and one language ana
one religion. The variety is but infnitesimal
in any of these respects. Here. on this contl-
nent, we have to the north Canada, with a
tract of land as great as or greater than the
States, and a different government. To the
south we have another Independent country
of wide extent territorially, with different
language and different laws. with a vast diff
ference in education and civilization. Never
theless the people of the States have AFRO
gated to themselves the use OF the word
America" and American" Such use has
been sanctioned not in official documents or
records, but among the common people all
over the world the question is "Are you an
American Dlu you ColHe rum hHtiiNo'
etc Nobody thinks Of objecting to this and
starting jealous feeling among people, be-
cause the States are so much greater In
wealth, population and influence than the
other countries of the North American Conti-
nent that such language is well understood.
SO with regard to England" and English"
versus "Briton" and British" The English
people most readily accord credit to Scotland
and Wales for every good thing they do and
every good man they produce. We all delight
to honor Lloyd George and the two Scottish
generals, one at the War Office and another
at the front in France No jealousy exists,
no stinting of praise because of the particular
spot of the island in which they saw first the
light. The thought is ridiculous to an Eng
lishman, and it is not in the best of taste that
a foreigner should make suggestion, and
arouse race jealousy, when in point of fact 1t
is in his own bosom that the jealousy has its
home.
If the United States Of America have any
right 10 the exclusive use of the words Amer
icar and American" how much more have
the people of the island of Great Britain, If
they so choose, to use the name of their doml-
nant partner, and speak of England and
English" in referring to that wonderful en-
pire upon which the "sun never sets?
SAMUEL II. HODGES.
Crawford y. j., July II, 1916