THE AMERICANS

Hokitika Guardian, 4 September 1925, Page 4

THE AMERICANS

THK FABLE OF THE DOLLARS.

<JJy E. J. Ball. 8.A., B.Sc.) The use of the term “Aniereans’’ to describe the citizens of the U.S.A. involves two apologies at the outset, s humble one to the true and original American, the Red Indian, and one .somewhat less humble to the Canadian, wlm can claim a higher percentage of White Americans of several, generations in ratio to population than even his southern neighbour.- Since the term "Yankee" a.s ordinarily used south of Abe equator carries with it- a tinge of disrespect, we must perforce describe the inhabitants of the U.S.A. as Americans; but in no exclusive sense. But eu-n in the States it is by no means easy to deli no an American. There is the Northerner and the .Southerner, the German-Atucrioun and the IrisliAtnericaii, the Bostonian of the sublimated lira in anil the Chicagoan with a punch in both fists who buys his culture in the world's best markets cut off in generous chunks. Wo may define the average American, however, as a fine edition of a good Australian. Common report has it that he is the world’s greatest lover of the dollar, lie will undergo any hardship to add dollar to dollar, bolt- his meals, rush at express speed from one side of the continent to the other, perfect his factory methods and business finesse, and subtract ten years from his allotted span. IVtfvsibly all true, but lie is no hoarder nor selfish spender; by long odds he is the most generous soul on this planet. ‘When a wool baron leaves his wealth in this country for philanthropic purposes the whole State is speechless almost in surprise and admiration; r. is an event of the first magnitude, which will he remembered and qitoL.-e for a generation. In America it passes without notice, for it is universal. THE WAR DEBTS.

It is possible that America's handling of the problem of European war debts is partly responsible for the universal fable as to Iter rapacity and greed. But is not. Britain asking a much higher rate of interest on war loans Imiii Imr own daughter. Australia, than America is asking ol her? If America's is a rapacious rate, what term shall we apply to England’s? But. of course, the Empire can pay hath internally and externally. and would probably insist on payment ; hut look at poor Eranee. Think of her unspeakable sacrifices while America was neutral in everything but. amassing dollars. However, Uncle Sam knows ns well as most- of us that when it- comes to finance sent intent is quite wasted as far as France is concerned. As a matter of fact. Era tire is extremely prosperous. and. unlike England, has no unemployment problem. Also. the Ereneltman is a postmaster in the art o! evading the tax-collector, and the h-nest American taxpayer, when he thinks ol the hidden hoards in the old stockings of thrifty Eranee a multitmlc which no man can i;iiniis-r. naturally says " Wltafi'orv.l.en it t- suggested Hint lie repay the debt. Further it is common knowledge that France is advancing vttsf sunt' in Genual and Southern .Europe tor armaments and linn,il ions to <.-tabli-h her hegemony, over both frontiers of Germany, no wonder, indeed, alter the tragedy of th.- hi t decade that Unde Sam's luitt ms it)) his pockets v.lien Eranee pulls put tlie tremolo slop. When Eranee ,inx i ' show s.etne sign of a change ol heart and that the lessons so recently learned are not altogether for-

gotten, America will almost. <crtainlv do as site did with < lima. Miriviider her claim, provided the money is not use I tor tile relief ot taxation or consumed in munitions of war. The worst thing either Britain or America could do for the peace of the world would be to - (title el the E remit debt. It that Were done we should have a lir.st-ela.ss European war within three yearn. THE BOGEY OF PROVINCIALISM. But- wlmt about the proverbial provincialism oT me American, so bewailed by the visiting Briton who often has to inform the American public that there actually is .some portion of tin- earth's surface beyond the coast of North America. It is certainly true that, ten vein-: ago there wen- two world■; to the American, U.S.A. and ili 1 Rest, hut it is not true to-day. America knows that her Filiation is practically at an end. The radio lias pul In'r in direct eonta. t with the rest of the world; the aeroplane anil airship will hint out her frontiers, as they have blotted out Europe's; and then, of course, the effect of the World war was cataclysmic. .Millions of her men. having touched ihe outer worlds of Britain, France, and Germany, read with avidity the news pertaining to those lands, ami. a- American journalism heap:-, hot I: il long ears close to the ground, it Inis •i.-u-vd the need, and i-

1 prompt !\ -iipplying it Some ol the best attic!.'- on i oit jgn Allairs to-day appear regular!) in American papers - and magazines, and {ha sclf-contain-I ed little .North America has merged at - last ml i the planet, Earth. Some - years ago a friendly pa-a-ge of arms i ; tool; place at a complimentary dinner , i tendered to Lord Bryce in London. A - \ Briton had indulged in he pretty witti- | cism that an American would make ■ i lirst-ratc Englishman if only hi.- proi viucinlxm could he rubbed off. The (lever reply of the American Ambassador of the day was, "1 would make hold t.i say that any fair-brained Englishman might make a. tolerable American , if only you could sand-paper his insularity oil him.” Surely a very witty ; and polite way of saying, “Yoicrc* ani other.” ft the American is provincial I we may hazard a shrewd guess from I whom lie has inherited the trait. Not only is America evincing a keen j interest in the affairs of other peoples, ; hut her understanding also of the old , motherland has undergone a great j change. Thanks to the old American l tcx-biiok of history. England was usuj ally regarded as a greedy monster grinding the faces of poor ■* innocent j colonists, ati-.l I eaten to a standstill ■ at last by a handful of ragged ili-arm-led men. This patriotic blunder has done much harm in the past to the j cause of world peace, and more than 1 once brought the two countries to the j tragic brink of war. Those days are | happily passed now, and the latest histories are making tlio amende honorable. When I first taught history to Americans from an American text-hook in a High school I made an effort at being impartial, which, being neither English nor American. I was in an excellent position to he. I very soon . became the centre of an angry, buz--1 zing swarm of indignant parents and ! it culminated in a strong letter of pro- | test to headquarters in London. to ! v.hicli they naturally paid not the | slightest notice Times have changed. - 1 and America is displaying a very sympathetic understanding amt honest judgment as to Britain’s pkc e and power in contemporary world politics, which is a splendid augury of a new era of amicable relationship, the world's Dost guarantee of peace and Australia’s larger hope. If the war has killed the false histories of both countries, it is bv no means one of its least achieve-

AMERICA’S FINEST PRODUCT. But the greatest product of America n democracy, greater, probably, than even the Ford car, is the American woman. She scintillates with the brilliance and clarity of a diamond, and is vivacity and charm personified. She may appear to wear her heart on her sleeve, or where the sleeve ought to be. and the manner in which she takes the Britisher into her confidence is very Mattering to one accustomed to the reserve and suspicion of the British dame, hut woe betide the miscalled sport who falls into the costly error that this indicates that liberties may he taken. Be will not cease to wonder for. some time what exactly happened subsequently. This warm frankness may lie attributed in some degree to the champagne climate, and soi ial conditions which could dispense with front fences years ago; but doubtless the co-ctlucational system in vogue has also played its part. (iiris tire accustomed to a freedom unknown in Europe, and very often leave the hoys far behind in the annual tests. 'I hits there is none of that pre-nuptial adoration for the male, succeeded by post-nuptial disillusionment which makes many a European home a hypocrisy. The American is not monarch of all lie surveys in his. He is very graciously permitted to provide all the funds necessary to its adequate equipment and conduct, and so long as he behaves himself lie will he most excellently provided for and supremely happy. He will find, also, “l.ove” in plenty, ''Honour” in abundance, hut very little “l ibey.” THE HAVIN' OF A NEW ERA.

In concl.u.sion, it is no exaggeration to say that; the American and the Australian have ns. much in common as any other two people.-* on earth. 'I he diff-er-ence between us is in the veneer and not at the heart, in accidents hut not in essentials. AVu both administer continent . capable of endless development and pregnant with ever-in-creasing potentiality, and tin' qualities demanded hy our environment are identical, self-reliance, quenchless optimism. and boundless initiative. The I’uioic that wraps us about in it' genial embrace throws one arm also around our sister iu the northern clime, and it holds no frontier posts; it unites, not separates us. She i-. indeed, our elder sister, for wo are of the same old mother. One our speech, one our culture, one our laitli. one our institution.'-;. and one our great destiny, 'i'i territorial integrity of Australia '-'.ill some day be as vital to America almost as it is to ourselves, and we shall i e eh h.- a re,d!\ sale country til! that i lay da a ns. Thus it is that the visit PI tire American fleet is the greatest o; p unmily Aeslialia will have fur a generation ot cultivating that mutual respect and lritjnd~hip which is worth more even that treaties in the hour of national danger. I.et us seize this priceless opportunity to abandon once and for all our cheap erili ism. our ill-judged sneers, our mistaken opinions iil the great Republic, anti with all siticeriiv sav to her. in the words of seipt lire, Ms thine tie-art right, as my o-i with thy heart 'l H it he. Mia- "ic thine hand."