GREAT BRITAIN AND AMERICA.
[To THE EDITOR or THE " SPECUTOR."] Siu,—Possibly it will be conceded that one born and reared in England, but who has for long been a citizen of the United States, has some claim to an impartial opinion.
Undoubtedly England possesses a more truly democratic, if only because more flexible, form of government than the United States. Many prominent persons of American birth have made the like assertion. May not this fact, however, combined as it is with the English mania for " washing dirty linen in public," possess also its drawbacks, in critical times at least? The Englishman's exaggerated horror of " swank " is deplored by French papers and by individual Americans as peculiarly misplaced and unfortunate. England's valour, her unexcelled record during four years of struggle and sacrifice, are pushed into the background so far as may be, while her fault-finding, self-depreciatory spirit is dragged into the limelight in the public prints on every possible, nay, impossible, occasion. It has even been affirmed by Americans that their "national crime of brag " is less mischievous than the Englishman's snarling and squabbling! According to the letters in some newspapers, Great Britain is going fast to the dogs instead of " doing herself proud " after a fashion calculated to make the heart of the exiled British-born leap within him.
Now for the reverse side of the picture. The strongest allure- ment this country has ever held for the present writer and for countless others is the allurement of intellectual freedom—not licence, but freedom—the large and amiable tolerance extended to divers and diverse opinions. Rarely or never, in what, for want of a better word, must be called " cultured " circles, is anyone, however insignificant, snubbed for holding views adverse to those of the majority. This is American good nature in its highest and noblest manifeitation—distinctively American, in short. Hence the reason for this country's attraction when at its best, and given the imported citizen who prefers to do his own thinking. Yet—and nevertheless—we to-day behold an entire nation, com- posed of innumerable apparently alien races, submitting with only a modicum of rebellion to restrictions. or at least modifica- tions, of speech and expression for the country's good—that is, the Government's actions must not be " hampered" even if citizens disapprove, espionage and other evils must be guarded against, and so forth. Of course, many citizens dread the possible results of hurried legislation, infringements of the Constitution, and ills, real or imaginary, but the majority have taken the hint, and for the most part avoid overmuch criticism. It cannot be said that the citizen is enjoying himself, but he submits, more or less. "We are in a state of war!" And nothing has served so well towards reconciling the independent thinker to the existing and un- American condition of affairs as the constant growling of the loyal British subject! Far from being able to use the typical English paper in " missionary work," as English war-books are used, the average ill-advised English paper must be concealed, or read and destroyed, lest neighbours and friends should think indeed that the British lion is under a cloud! Lamentable, in truth, in such
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