The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prevalebit. THURSDAY, MAY 21, 1885. America’s Failings.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1546, 21 May 1885, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prevalebit. THURSDAY, MAY 21, 1885. America’s Failings.

The Rev Joseph Berry is a gentleman for whom we entertain the highest respect, and the distinction he has attained in the church to which he belongs is evidence that the esteem with which we regard him is shared by a very large and important section of the community. But Mr Berry, like 1 many other earnest and good men, and particularly like earnest and good men following his own profession, forms an opinion hurriedly, clings to it tenaciously, and pronounces it dogmatically. Last night Mr Berry delivered a lecture at the Oddfellows’ Hall upon what he had seen in the United States during a visit made to that great country five years ago. The address, as might have been expected from the reputation of the lecturer, was remarkably able and entertaining, the descriptions were graphic and truthful, and the anecdotical illustrabon was pithy and appropriate. Had the reverend gentleman confined himself to a recital of his own experience and impressions of America, we should have had little fault to find with his remarks. We might have disapproved of some of his strictures upon the social circumstances and condition of the Americans; we might have dissented from his very gloomy predictions in reference to the future of the States, but we should not have protested upon mere matters of opinion. But we do protest, and that most emphatically, against a too prevalent tendency to deprecate America and things American. We protest against an inclination to regard America as hostile to British interests, against the disposition of some public men —happily the number is daily growing l ess —to raise an antagonism, commercial and national, between the two great sections of the English-speaking people. We, too, have travelled America; we have seen San Francisco, Salt Lake City, Chicago, New York and some other places, altogether about as much as would be covered by a threepenny piece on a good sized map. The country is one of almost inconceivable vastness and variety. Of its extent we obtain some faint notion by looking at its dimensions upon a chart of the world, but of the variety of men and manners, of soil and climate, we obtain but little idea. The States have had great social and political evil? to cope with. They have neglected politics and allowed adventurers to occupy positions of power, and they now feel the want of honest public men. The lower classes, composed to a large' extent of emigrants from Europe, people with no stake in the country, and whose past careers, in numberless instances, have been in the haunts of vice and turbulence, have exercised an undue share of power, and they have opposed the establishment of an army or a police force to control them. There is the continued friction between the National Government and State rights; there is the burden of Protection. But Americans are now turning attention to the politics and the future of their country; the working classes are recognising that they are not less interested than other classes in the preservation of order and are adapting themselves to the necessity of making sacrifices to maintain it. Local government is a problem that will be solved as readily in America as elsewhere; and the death knell of Protection has already sounded. For the rising generation of Americans we have little fear ; the only evidence we have noticed of that precocity, of which we read and hear so much, is found in the early manifestation of common sense and self-control. In the matter of early independence both sexes are equal: it appears to be a principle of American education to impress upon the smallest children a sense of responsibility and independence. Neither in home life nor at school are children dictated to as they are in British households. An American mother will appeal to and reason with the smallest child, treating it at once as if it were a reasonable and responsible being. The position taken up by American women is perhaps un-English, but the status of an English woman is not perfectly satisfactory. In America the greatest respect is universally paid to women. In travelling, a woman is universally treated with consideration, and it is the pride of Americans that a woman, unaccompanied, can travel from one end of their country to the other without being subjected to any unpleasantness or to a vestige of impertinence. Doubtless the independence of American children and women is frequently carried to excess and leads to evils of its own; but it possesses numerous and striking advantages. In conclusion, while lamenting many evils apparent in their social and political systems, we submit that the many excellent qualities—the energy, the ingenuity, the sobriety—of the American people entitle them to our sincere esteem, and we again protest against any ill-advised word or action that could delay the consummation of the great English-speaking confederation to which we look with the utmost confi dence

A number of new advertisements, of special interest, appear in this issue.

The well known steeplechase horse Mousetrap, a Grand National winner, will be offered for sale by Mr Bullock, at the Arcade, on Saturday next. Mr John Holmes, M. H R,., delivered a lecture in Christchurch last night to a crowded audience, under the auspices of the New Zealand Protection Assoc adon, on the best means of supplying the working men of New Zealand with employment. At the conclusion of the lecture the following resolutions were carried unanimously—“ That the subject of furnishing employment to the workmen and youths of the colony has become of vital importance ; that in consequence of the low price of wool, grain and other farm productions, it has become necessary that a larger number of the people should be employed in manufacturing, and so make a home market for the farmers, and thus become more self-reliant; that to give an impetus to manufacturing thewfovernment be respectfully requested to revise the Customs tariff, with a view to the fostering and encouragement of the industries and productions of the colony, ”

Intense interest was taken by the people of the United States in scanning the hourly bulletins issued in reference to General Grant’s illness when the disease was at its height. Some of the Republican weekly papers delayed their iesuts a day, as his life was despaired of, and histories of his life were in type ready for use. The usual weekly meeting of the Star of the Bast Lodge, No 62,1.0.G.T., was held at the Orange Hall last evening, and was fairly attended. One new member was admitted. The subject of Local Option was mentioned, and attention drawn to the approaching day for voting on this question, and the importance of the members who were entitled to vote in its favor using their best influence in this direction. Attention was also drawn t.. the approaching amiivarsary of the establishment of the Lodge, and notice of motion was given on the subject. It was resolved that another open Dodge be held in about a month. Previous to the ordinary meeting a Degree Lodge was held, at which two members were initiated in the second degree. L.D. Bro Mullaney assisted by D.G. Bro Cook, conducted the ceremony.

At the Resident Magistrate’s Court this morning, Edward Honey wood was charged witn the larceny of money and rings, the property of Charlotte Coulston, which had been entrusted to his keeping, and which he had appropriated to his own use. The accused was remanded till to-morrow. — For drunkenness a first offender was cautioned and dismissed.

The death of the Bishop of London was what the racing folks term h “ nasty knock,” for the Lite Insurance Companies which had written his name in their books for L 43,000 ! His might be termed a most valuable life from every point of view.

Mr John Grigg, M. H. R , will address his constituents, the electors of VVakanui, at the Town Hall this evening at eight o’clock. A private coursing meeting will be held at Rakaia on Monday next. A large entry c£ dogs for the event has already been received. Mr M. W. Green, who by the way labels himself in all public announcements as ex-M H. R , is now engaged in a lecturing tour in the interests of temperance. At Southbridge the other day he stated that “ it was not his intention to abuse those known as publicans. His war was not against individuals, but ! against the traffic in intoxicating drink." Mr Green is to be commended for his moderation, which is in rather striking contrast to the drastic measures Mr Booth advocates. Mr Booth’s proposition is to close by law all the public-houses, give the proprietors no compensation for the loss of their businesses, and lebjhetn work for an honest living by the sweat of their brow. We greatly fear that such intemperate counsels as this will do the cause of temperance infinitely more harm than good. Like manv another good movement, it has suffered fully as much from the hands of its friends as it has from its enemies, and we are sure that there are now, as there always have bean thousands of the best class, and the most intelli . ent of abstainers, who will stand aloof from all public participation in the movement it its advocates indulge in such rabid and foolish talk as this. Mr Julian Jackson has been re-elected Chairman of the Mount Hutt Road Board. The Oamaru election took place yesterday, and resulted in the return of Mr Hislop by a majority of 61 over Lord Reidhaven. The numbers polled were Mr Hislop, 439 ; Lord Reidhaven, 378. The Ashburton Hounds met at Windermere this afternoon. Owing to the distance from town there was only a small attendance of followers Mr and Mrs E. G w right extended their usual hospitality to the visitors. Speaking of Russian soldiers, Mr G A, Sala, in the course of a lecture at Parramatta, said they wore not to be despised as opponents, although their military knowledge was flogged into them It was calculated that it took 500 lashes to make an efficient private, 850 a corparal and 1.200 a sergeant; hut despite this treatment they fought doggedly and blindly,

neither asking nor caring why or whom they fought, and loyal to the death. He considered it a great pity that Great Britain had not in the past engaged in some decisive struggle with Russia, and it would be well if the struggle were to come now, for come it must, and ho was certain that Great Britain would be the victor. Much had been said in connection with recent complications of Russian cruisers , but if war came England would checkmate them by covering the sea with cruisers alike to protect her own shores and her possessions abroad.

A young man, representing himself as the second son of an English lord, but locally known as “boots" at a leading hotel, appeared at the Resident Magistrate’s Court this morning charged with the embezzlement of certain property entrusted to his care by a fellow employee —a barmaid. It appears that this promising branch of the English aristocracy became enamou el of the fair lady behind the bar, and, having aupported his suit by references to his high lineage and his immediate monetary prospects, his affection was reciprocated. The lover induced his fiancee to abandon her employment at the hotel and to take sequestered lodgings in a highly respectable part of the town. The happy day for the consummation of their hopes arrived, the wedding cake appeared, and the breakfast was in course of preparation. The bridegroom left the house avowedly to secure the attendance of a clergyman to tie the mystic knot, hut he did not return at the appoints! hour, and was seen no more by his fiancee until, on her information, he fell into the hands of the police. The accused was remanded until to-morrow, when he will appear before Mr Baddeley, R.M.

August Flower.—The most miserable beings in the world are those suffering from dyspepsia and liver complaint. More than 75 per cent of the people are afflicted with these two diseases and their effects; such as sour stomach, sick headache, habitual costiveness, palpitation of the heart, heartburn, waterbrash, gnawing and burning pains at the pit of the stomach, yellow skin, coated tongue and disagreeable taste in the rpoulh, coming up of food after eating, low spirits, etc, Go to your druggist and get a bottle of august fl.ower, This valuable medicine has cured thousands and thousands of sufferers, and is known in all civilised countries. Two doses will relieve you. It costs only 3s dd a bottle. Samplf potties, M.-JAOVT. !

A practice of the Western Fire Brigade was held at the Brigade Station last evening. Single man drill and other exorcises having been performed under the direction of Captain Fooks, a meeting of members was held, and it was resolved to call a meeting for Wednesday next to appoint trustees of the Brigade’s property. A concert and dance will be held at the Kyle School to-morrow evening.

A sale will be held at the Hinds to morrow, when Mr Bullock, by instructions from the Official Assignee, will dispose of the whole of the furniture of the Hindhope Hotel. Mails for the United Kingdom, Contineqts of America and Europe, etc., via San Francisco, will close at Ashburton on Saturday morning at 10 o’clock.

An extraordinary practice of the Ashburton Volunteer Fire Brigade was held last evening. There was a good attendance of members, and the different exercises were performed in a 'satisfactory manner.

The Ashburton County Council adver tise that water-races C and D and branches between Drotnore and Chertsey will be closed on Tuesday, May 2G, for four days. Mr R, T. Booth’s Reception Committee and others willing to assist at *he G spel Temperance meeting on May 29, are requested to meet at the Templar Hall tomorrow evening at eight o’clock. The shoemakers’ strike in Christchurch was finally settled yesterday. Messrs Lightband, and Co, the only wholesale firm who have, resisted the demands on the men, agreed yesterday afternoon to practically accept the revised schedule of wages submitted by the men, who resumed work to-day. Parents do not use vile drugs or nostrums in your families, but use pure Hop Bitters, made only by American Co. See and read. “Staying” Powee. —lt will be interest ing to athletes, and to all who valua the p iwer of physical endurance, to know that at “ home ” and in the sister colonies an article has of late years come into general use, which is very strongly recommended as being an exceedingly pleasant beverage, and which yet imparts, in an unusually large degree, what is expressively known as “staying power, * —in other words, nutriment and strength. We refer to Cadbury’s “ Cocoa Essence.”