AMERICAN REVERENCE FOR ENGLAND.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 207, 30 September 1878, Page 4

AMERICAN REVERENCE FOR ENGLAND.

The "San Francisco News Letter" of a recent date, in referring (0 the crisis in Europe, makes the following remarks upon the attitude of Britain and Russia, and the relationship existing between America and the Mother country. The "News Letter" wiites : — "As regards the present situation in Europe, it must be evident to ell that Russia is giving way before the inflexible attitude of England. One by one the objectionable clauses of the San Stepbano Treaty are disappearing, and it is doubtful whether before loog the framers of that preposterous instrument will be able to recognise their own bandiwoik. The Czai's Iroops, it seems, are shortly to withdraw to Adrianople, end we now hear that England demands that they shall retire beyond the Balkans. The cession of Betoum appears to depend more upon the permission of the British Government than of the Sultan, while the surrender of the fortresses is contingent upon the willingness of the Tuiks to give them up, rather than the ability of the Russians to take them. The illness of Prince Gortscbakoff ie not unlikely to render a peaceful solution of the matter practicable, for though we have little faith in what is called " the well-known peaceful disposition of the Czar," yet Alexander is less blindly obstinate than bis sick Chancellor. He has also more at stake; and now that the administration of foreign affairs rests entirely with him peace is possible. And peace, with the Treaty of San Stefaoo torn up, and the future integrity of England's Empire assured, would be a most desirable consummation. There has been more than enough of blood and butchery, Bud we do not wish to see our brothers across the water break their long and glorious peace if it can be kept with honor. But if they do fight, our hearts will go with them into the battle-field, and we shall hope confidently for the success of their arms. True, we have been sneered at aB " Anglophile," but such sneers we take as compliments, for were we ten times American we should retain honesty enough to acknowledge that England is the mother of our race, of our country, of our vaunted civilization ; that the halo of her ancient and untarnished honor, the glories of her unrivalled past, are our her.tage, if we only claim it; that her Chaucers, Shakespeares, and Bacons! were the brothers of our forefathers ; and that her golden memories are ours. JFor these reasons we might well be "Anglophile," for the sake of Bentiment alone ; but when we compare the steadfast structure of England's institutions, the pure and manly administration of her government, with our own tawdry and corrupt political edifice ; when we contemplate the wealth that her own energy has amassed, and the mighty empire which her prowess and statesmanship have formed ; when we regard the veneration accorded her as the modern mother of art, science, and culture ; and, finally, when we observe the respect paid to her strength, wisdom, and justice by elders in the community of nations, then we are indeed England-lovers, in the sense that a son may be proud of a mother acknowledged by all the world to be noble, chaste and beautiful.