"HYPHENATED AMERICANISM."
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR.'] SIR,—The Kaiser's remarks upon German-American politics are, as you say, "well worth studying." It is very interesting that this newest phase of "hyphenated Americanism" should be already recognised in Berlin as of first-rate diplomatic importance. The Democratic National Committee was in Session at Chicago during the last days of July, and I had many opportunities of talking over this question of the German relations with politicians from all sections of the country. The hyphenated vote, particularly the German- American, and to a lesser degree the Irish-American vote, will, I much fear, make "expansion" difficult. The Federal system of government is a system slower than another to absorb the racial distinction. A German who settles in the State of Illinois recognises under the Constitution a divided allegiance. The shirt of his "State right" is nearer than the coat of his American citizenhood ; and if to what he considers is the balance of local advantage to Illinois there is added the interest of the Fatherland overseas, under such condi- tions the German vote is likely to solidify. These conditions are to be found to-day arrayed in opposition to" expansion." Dominion in Asia, it is recognised, involves sea-power,- involves an alliance with Great Britain. A number of important Republican newspapers (notably that admirably edited paper, the Washington Post, which is on the table of every Congressman) have been indiscreetly outspoken ever since the Diederichs episode at Manila, and their anti. German utterances have been no less pro-British. The result is a menace to Republican electoral prospects next year, albeit the cloud is perhaps no greater than a man's hand. It is also worthy of notice that the Afro-American vote may be alarmed; the word is going round that "black brothers" discovered somewhere in the Pacific are being shot down. The negro voter, being infinitely ignorant, is very easily stampeded.—I am, Sir, &c., Innishannon, August 14th. MORETON FREWEN.
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