New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-28
Joseph Chamberlain on America
and Great Britain
= tbc Tditor Of The Tribune.

10 the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: The following letter, written TO me IN
July. 1898, by Joseph Chamberlain, then Co.
lonial Secretary Of Great Britain, is interest
ing at this time, showing as it does, not only
n, difference between the German and Eng
Iss attitudes toward US during the Spanish
War. but the active friendship Of Great Brit
ain actually exerted on our side against Ger
man intrigue for Intervention. Any one VINO
Lnew Mr. Chamberlain must regret that he
could not have. lived to sec his wish come
.rp. 70 sec England and the United States
standing" as he says, "side by side in des-
rerate fight for liberty
House Of Commons,
July Z, 1898.
NV dear Morton: I duly received your
kind letter Of June Is, and have been car
rying it about ever since with the hope Of
finding time to answer it. But I have been
very busy, and it is only to-night-in the
course Of a dull Irish debate-that find
the opportunity.
First, / want you 70 tell your father,
whom am very sorry never TO have met,
how much appreciate his verses, and still
more the liberality and breadth of mind
which is able at fourscore years to recog-
nize new truths
say new truths" although the truth
Of Anglo Saxon union is as old as the Rev
olution, which only marked the lines on
which union was in future to be sought
and did not really divide the race.
But an cold truth" is often forgotten
and becomes new" when it is redscovered.
We English and Americans are one people,
rot merely because of blood and religion
and literature and history, but above all
because our root ideas are the same, be-
cause we approach every question from
the same standpoint, because we are alike
in all essentials and only differ in minor
characteristics.
dare say that like brothers we may
quarrel in the future about trifes, as we
have often done in the past, but hope to
God that we may stand united against all
the rest Of the world 1t will be a good
thing for both Of US, for humanity and
\ civilization.
u ! wish that some occasion could arise to
test the sympathy which is apparently so
strong. wish it because l am certain that
the sympathy would stand the strain. Be-
leve me, nine out of ten in this country
would like nothing better than to stand
side by side with you in a desperate fight
for liberty, and, failing this, would be de-
lighted to make common cause for some
common interest.
The statesmen whom Victor Hugo de-
scribed Gun homme d'etat c'est une GER
tame mediocrite superieure') are timid
They will not take occasion by the hand;
but the people are all right, and sooner or
later the vor pop1ti will prevail.
OF course we follow the war with the
keenest interest, only moderated by the
fact that the end is certain, whatever the
vicissitudes may be. Spain does not seem
to be capable even of a look in" and com
mits every mistake that is possible.
But in spite Of this, and in spite Of all
that is deplorable in the loss Of life on both
sides, believe that the sense of sacrifice
will raise the tone of the American people.
II they do not lose many lives, at least they
have shown that they are ready to risk
them in a noble cause, and the longer the
war lasts the greater will be the evidence
Of the grit, the Potentially, of your branch
Of the Anglo-Saxon race.
You will have learned some lessons.
War, even with Spain, is a serious matter.
Newspaper enthusiasm is little better than
penny-a-lining, and newspaper prophecies
are even less true than other predictions.
wonder what the immediate future has
in store. OF course you will win, and will
be able 10 dictate terms TO Spain. The
Continental Powers will not interfere, be-
cause England will not join them. ! am
certain that IL opinion here had been diff
fcrent TO what it is you would have had
to face EuPpean coalition
L fortnight aga tae German Emperor