A Straight Deal | Page 7

and defects,
and possibly even discern that those who fill our public positions are
mostly on a lower level than those who elect them.
I proceed with two more letters, both dissenting, and both giving very
typically, as it seems to me, the American feeling about England--
partially justified by instances mentioned by my correspondent, but
equally mentioned by me in passages which he seems to have skipped.
"Lately I read and did not admire your article... 'The Ancient Grudge.'
Many of your statements are absolutely true, and I recognize the fact
that England's help in this war has been invaluable. Let it go at that and
hush!
"I do not defend our own Indian policy.... Wounded and disabled in our
Indian wars... I know all about them and how indefensible they are.....
"England has been always our only legitimate enemy. 1776? Yes, call it
ancient history and forget it if possible. 1812? That may go in the same
category. But the causes of that misunderstanding were identically
repeated in 1914 and '15.
"1861? Is that also ancient? Perhaps--but very bitter in the memory of
many of us now living. The Alabama. The Confederate Commissioners
(I know you will say we were wrong there--and so we may have been
technically-- but John Bull bullied us into compliance when our hands
were tied). Lincoln told his Cabinet 'one war at a time, Gentlemen' and
submitted....
"In 1898 we were a strong and powerful nation and a dangerous enemy
to provoke. England recognized the fact and acted accordingly.
England entered the present war to protect small nations! Heaven save
the mark! You surely read your history. Pray tell me something of
England's policy in South Africa, India, the Soudan, Persia, Abyssinia,
Ireland, Egypt. The lost provinces of Denmark. The United States when
she was young and helpless. And thus, almost to- infinitum.

"Do you not know that the foundations of ninety per cent of the great
British fortunes came from the loot of India? upheld and fostered by the
great and unscrupulous East India Company?
"Come down to later times: to-day for instance. Here in California... I
meet and associate with hundreds of Britishers. Are they American
citizens? I had almost said, 'No, not one.' Sneering and contemptuous
of America and American institutions. Continually finding fault with
our government and our people. Comparing these things with England,
always to our disadvantage......
"Now do you wonder we do not like England? Am I pro-German? I
should laugh and so would you if you knew me."
To this correspondent I did not reply that I wished I knew him--which I
do--that, even as he, so I had frequently been galled by the rudeness
and the patronizing of various specimens, high and low, of the English
race. But something I did reply, to the effect that I asked nobody to
consider England flawless, or any nation a charitable institution, but
merely to be fair, and to consider a cordial understanding between us
greatly to our future advantage. To this he answered, in part, as follows:
"I wish to thank you for your kindly reply.... Your argument is that as a
matter of policy we should conciliate Great Britain. Have we fallen so
low, this great and powerful nation?... Truckling to some other power
because its backing, moral or physical, may some day be of use to us,
even tho' we know that in so doing we are surrendering our dearest
rights, principles, and dignity!... Oh! my dear Sir, you surely do not
advocate this? I inclose an editorial clipping.... Is it no shock to you
when Winston Churchill shouts to High Heaven that under no
circumstances will Great Britain surrender its supreme control of the
seas? This in reply to President Wilson's plea for freedom of the seas
and curtailment of armaments.... But as you see, our President and our
Mr. Daniels have already said, 'Very well, we will outbuild you.' Never
again shall Great Britain stop our mail ships and search our private
mails. Already has England declared an embargo against our exports in
many essential lines and already are we expressing our dissatisfaction
and taking means to retaliate "

Of the editorial clipping inclosed with the above, the following is a
part:
"John Bull is our associate in the contest with the Kaiser. There is no
doubt as to his position on that proposition. He went after the Dutch in
great shape. Next to France he led the way and said, 'Come on, Yanks;
we need your help. We will put you in the first line of trenches where
there will be good gunning. Yes, we will do all of that and at the same
time we will borrow your money, raised by Liberty Loans, and use it
for the purchase of American wheat, pork,