IS OUR JUDGMENT OF AMERICA TOO HARSH?

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6993, 20 August 1929, Page 8

IS OUR JUDGMENT OF AMERICA TOO HARSH?

Address to Rotarians PROF. HEWITSON URGES SYMPATHETIC OUTLOOK An appeal for a more sympathetic relationship between subjects of the British Empire and the United States was urged at yesterday’s meeting of the Rotary Club, when the Eight Eev. \Vm. Hewitson, 8.A., Moderator of the Presbyterian General Assembly, gave an address and insight into the mixed

problems which occupy the attention Of the United: States of America. Mr. L. H. Collinson occupied the chair and presided over a good attendance of Rotarians and their wives, it being ladies’ day. A brief welcome was extended the ladies present, Eotarian J. Murray then introducing the speaker of the afternoon, stating that Professor Hewitson had his name writ large in the history of Dunedin as a great church worker and educationalist. At the outset, the speaker remarked that he had chosen as the title of his address, “I’m willing to love everyone in the world but an American. This needed an explanation, especially from a churchman who held the view • that ono should have no enemies but i he had read a book called “Keeping Friendships in Kepair’’ by Samuel Johnson, wherein it had shown the necessity for proper relationships. The writer had appealed to him as a typical Englishman of the eighteenth century and he felt sure that if ten typical Englishmen of the twentieth century were chosen to give an opinion of this authority, they would all pay tribute to him, despite the criticisms of Macaulay. England and America. There was a very unstable equilibrium existing between England and 'America at the present time and though he was not going to deal extensively with the reasons for the widening breach, he would briefly enumerate the salient factors. The late entry of America into the Great "War was one of the reasons, while the initiation of the League of Nations by one of their own countrymen and the subsequent failure to link Up with the movement was another. Additional to this, was the question of . the war debts of Britain, which if exacted in full, would jirand the country With infamy. In this last matter, however, our own Allies did not take the same point of view and no doubt some of us were greatly shocked at‘the references, contained in glaring Continental newspaper headlines, in regard to the proposal for the revision of reparations as outlined by Mr. Philip Snowden, British Chancellor of the Exchequer. Another factor that could be included was the way in which America was alleged to be cutting into our trade. It had been maintained that we were jealous, he said, and probably we had every right to adopt this attitude when the taxes were not levied according to our viewpoint. Establishing Friendship. Notwithstanding, all this feeling against America must be tempered with friendship. In a book dealing with this subject, Dr. Jefferson had cmphatically declared that friendship was indispensable between England and America and ■university men had endorsed this opinion, adding that if we lost our individuality we would lose our place as a nation. The question as to what we must do to promote the true spirit of friendship Was the next question and in this regard, the speaker maintained that we should endeavour to abolish war. It . was necessary for our welfare and for the good of the world in general that the peoples should live on terms of amity and pacific intentions would promote such relations. To secure this, we must obtain a knowledge of facts concerning America not only in its present condition but data regarding the history of the country and its people. “It is extremely difficult to form a sound judgment of the feelings of the people and their vast problems,” proceeded the speaker. “The cables don’t represent America, for you esn’t put the United States into a three-incli paragraph.” In'citing an example, he had told a Chicago man that he had road of the residents of that city as gunmen, thieves and robbers. “People probably like to hear and read of those things,” replied his friend, “but this afternoon I sat on a committee that distributed 100,000 dollars to philantrophic work. . You heard nothing about that?” Personal Association. If one were to have a knowledge of a country one must have personal association with its people. A traveller, moving through a place, went into a limited, area and restricted himself to meeting only those in his line of life, thus narrowing his views, while a business man could not be regarded as an authority on the impressions gleaned unless he was widely read and openminded. It was a strange fact that the best books written on America had . been penned by foreigners and these opinions were balanced presentations of all the problems. Our Harsh Judgment. “Don’t take our standard of judgment with which to sum up another,’ irged Hie professor. “We cannot learn Koon enough that each nation has its standard of ideality. Because they Hlo not do things in the way we do them, hate them; and that is the reason are hated on the Continent.” Wh\ Bhould we talk about the pronounciaHion of an- American when.there was disparity in the language in than in the whole of the United of America? lie asked. In connection with educational matwe were prone to talk slightingly the American tuitional schemes and H bad been said that the best thing its research work, which was learnt Germany. Authorities commented Hghly on this particular branch, howand it was generaliy admitted there was no country which offered a widely diffused scope in educa-

tion and there was no place where the people worked harder for the privileges. Vocational Training. There was also a tendency in our country to stress vocational education and therefore we were gotting a tradesman who was not an educated man. There was a great danger in this regard and_ the Americans had recognised it (is such. Our system was inclined to give facts and not inspiration and it should be remembered, that to inspire was the basis of true education.

It was recognised by authorities that America made no effort to hide the state of affairs existing at the prosent time and the evils were spoken of as plainly as the good. It must also be taken into consideration that the racial problem was a vast one. There were more negroes in America than all the other foreign classes in Canada, and more than tho number of white people in South Africa, Australia and New Zealand together.

The question had been asked whether the United States of America would shatter itself with its diversity of problems and the people who trembled for the unity of America had every reason to be worried at the outcome. There was enough in the country to make the true American patriot’s heart stand still and there was no country so complex or where so much good and evil were present. If we knew more of that country’s problems and its peoples, our judgments would be more kindly, said the speaker in conclusion, and we would not indulge in cheap sneers whore vve did not understand.

The professor was accorded a hearty vote of thanks by Rotarian J. Wallace, on behalf of the club, the speaker remarking that not only had the gathering listened to a most inspiring resume of the state of affairs existing in America but that Mr. Hewitson had done much to break down the great wall of prejudice that existed in New Zealand against that country and he had shown that if we said the wrong thing we were likely to hinder the good being lone in the United States of America.