[TO TIM EDITOR OF TiE " SPECTATOR. "]
. Sin,—It takes some time for a Spectator to reach all parts of the United States, but your editorial of November I3th has finally reached my eye. You speak of the " American Note " as " harsh and unsympathetic." About ninety per cent. of the American people, who are largely English in their language, origin, and sympathies, will quite agree with you. But they probably recognize the fact which is imperfectly known to you— namely, that there is a Presidential Election pending, and that this same harsh and unsympathetic language may do the present
Administration some good. While the " hyphenated Ameri- cans " are not numerous, they exercise considerable influence, and that element combined with the radical Irish constituency may swing the pendulum in the wrong direction, I doubt very much whether the very man who penned tho Note ex• pressed it in the way which he would individually have preferred. Of course our interests in the United States rather influence us to believe that in the pressure of the international exigency the " Mother Country " has not been strictly just in this matter, but most of us would far rather suffer this injustice than have her fail in her attempt to down German militarism in Europe. Please say to the people of the " Motherland," and say it in such a way that they can clearly see and read it, that this is a great English Republic with an English heart, and the people are with Great Britain in heart and sympathy. As much as we love peace and dread the horrors of war, I believe if the question were submitted to the highest intelligence of the Ameri- can people they would condemn the action of the present Adminis- tration, and urge an appeal in favour of armed intervention. We are keeping very quiet because the President has appealed to us to exercise restraint in this matter, and the people generally are loyal adherents of the Government while in power. Never- theless, however, as I travel to and fro I hear rarely any other sentiment than strong sympathy for the Motherland " and bitter condemnation of Germany and her mothods.—I am, Sir,
WM. M. WALT()
Archdeacon of Arkansas, U.S.A.
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