New Britain herald., 1918-12-10
PAYS TRIBUTE TO ENGLAND.
Reader Deplores Criticism of Past
and Conjecture ON Future.

Editor New Britain Herald:
There are no governments existing
In the world today whose people have
q larger measure of liberty than those
of the English speaking people. Such
being the case why do we hear harsh
and unmerited criticism of England
from SO many whose names indicate
q purely English ancestry?
Saturday morning, speaking of the
parade in honor of English accom-
plishment in the great war, one of
these men said: THE English had a
parade once from Boston to L1exing-
tom Well, so they did. Why should
that affect ones feelings now? We
certainly had the best of the argu-
ment. 1 had three ancestors who
fought in that war against the red
coats. l hold no spite on that score
I do not see why any man living now
should do so. That quarrel was set
tied long ago The descendants of
the losers generously celebrated our
commemoratiOn of the event last
Fourth of July. Another man with a
good old English name says: why
England wants the lions share of
everything. You watch out, she will
get all there is coming in the peace
settlement Well, my friend, what
ever she sets don't you honestly think
she has earned it? IF the shedding
of blood counts for anything she has.
If the saving of the world for
democracy is of any value, she has
BY this statement do not belittle the
service of any other allied participant
in the struggle. They have all done
their share-nobly and well. But the
fact remains that had it not been for
the great sea power welded by Eng
land defeat would surely have come.
Another man says: why all the
Englishmen I know are an overbear-
ing self-assertive lot / think this
depends on the individual you meet,
and somewhat on your own state of
mind. So far as my own experience
goes they seem very much like. other
men. l have yet to see a, man, what
ever his nationality creed or color,
who has not some flaws in his make
up.
The spirit shown by the criticisms
mentioned above, whether they come
from the man you meet in daily life,
or emanate from members OF the ma
tional congress, are stumbling blocks
to the establishment and perpetuation
of good feeling. They are a menace
to the spirit of helpful friendship
to dwell among US here on earth
Why can we not be gen
erous with each other? Why
can we not sink past offenses
out of sight2 Why can we not will
ingly acknowledge benefits received?
Why must we always look for some
concealed selfish motive in every
friendly, well intentioned act? Eng
land today is our friend. She will
remain SO if we will permit it. Eng
land Will deal as fairly by us as we
do by her. TO doubt it is to reveal
OUT own narroW-min dedness.
England is the motherland from
which we as a people derive our ORR
gin 1t was Englishmen who 800
years ago planted on these shores the
germ which has developed into a
great free, enlightened nation, which
stands in the forefront of progress
today. These Englshmen went out
into an unbroken wilderness and built
themselves homes. They were none
the less Englishmen because they left
England to escape the tyranny of the
house of Stuart And the germ of lib
erty which they carried with them
bids fair to encompass the whole
earth. 1T was this same desire for al
enlarged liberty which q, little later
under the leadership OF Ol1Ver Crom-
well caused the revolution in England
itself and sent the reigning King
Charles Stuart to the headsman's
block It was Englishmen. both in
England and America. who protested
against the tyrannica1 acts of the
German King of England, George
III. and his ministerial tools
The first beginnings Of real liberty
in modern Europe were gained by
Englishmen when they wrested the
Magma Charta from King John.
III Is the English language we speak