THE BOUNDED HORIZON OF THE YANKEE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2757, 16 January 1907, Page 82

THE BOUNDED HORIZON OF THE YANKEE.

By Maorilakda. (For the Witness.) [All Rights Reserved.] "Why — when we sre IT — should we care to know what tha (rest of the -world is doing?" asks the average Yankee in puzzled surprise when t-he Antipodean, in unguarded moments, be rays his astonishment at the- circumscritsd state of mind of the man in the street Mention Egypt, and the thoughts of six out of nine socalled Americans turn directly to Southern Illinois ! Speak of Troy— "Ah, Troy ? Fine city that. I'm from New York State myself," someone will cheerily respond. Magazines and newspapers team with articles on American life — "American Humour," "The American Boy" or "Girl" or "Woman," or "American Business Methods' — wherein the of the people and the nation are duly emphasised, while the affairs of the world outside the States are practically ignored, except when making movements likely to effect the export trade of the country, or when the integrity of the Monroe doctrine is threatened. The Monroe doctrine is like the trailing tail of the Irishman's coat. Wanting in patriotism indeed who does not swel' with importance and look out for covert insults when the Monroe doctrine is mentioned. It seems to bear much the same relation to the States as a whole as Mrs Potter Palmer does to Chicago. It is practically impossible to be three days beneath the shelter of the Stars and Stripes without hearing the Monroe doctrine touched upon. It is difficult to pass 24 hours in Chicago without being asked if you have eeen Potter Palmer's castellated mansion on the lake front. The very niggers was-hing the shop windows will pause to tell you that they once washed those of Potter Palmer's privite residence. These people are certainly spoiling for a king ! When the friction between Russia and Japan was at its height, and the great nations waited tensely for the first shot to be fired in what might mean a world's War, I asked an American what he thought of the situation: Would they fight? He shook his head doubtfully (a true American never admits that he does not know everything). "I have not seen the sporting papers this morning," he responded at length. "I — cr — I meant the countries !" I ejaculated in amazement beyond expression. "Oh, I thought you meant the prizefighters," he responded unconcernedly. And this is the typical attitude of the Yankee towards the far-distant world. "Why should we care when we are IT?" America does not compare herself with Canada or Australia — the island Continent is an unknown quantity to her. She challenges compaiison with the oldest nations of the earth, and her sublime ignorance of the history of the world outside the States, save for the superficial knowledge gathered by the time-pressed traveller, and her impatience and ridicule of criticism, help her to place herself yet more firmly or. the top-heavy pedestal on which she believes the universe considers her to be enthroned. - But it is not altogether the fault of this young giantess among nations if her view of herself be somewhat lacking in proportion. Her citizens have been so repeatedly praised for then- maivellous progress, "for th* speedy, if irresponsible, manner in winch they guarantee to turn out machinery, erect buildings, and engineer great enterprises, that their language has naturally become inflated. Every newspaper of any pretensions at all described itself as the "greatest newspaper in the world." Every store that stretches up to the smoke-dimmed sky is "the most colossal the world has ever seen. Every city with a population approaching the second million is "the wonder city of the world." The school teachers teach this doctrine to the children ; the preachers tell it to the parents ; the business men repeat it to eaoh other. Sam Davis, the boy who chose death when offered liberty if he would but betray his friends, is "the greatest hero ever known," and "the bravest man that ever lived." Secretary Hay was hailed as "the woild's greatest diplomat," and so on through the scale. Give an Ameiican an inch, he taues a mile. Congratulate him on any American achievement, he immediately jumps to the conclusion that you are repeating the hackneyed statement that "America leads the world." An excellent illustration of this extraordinary want of perspective in viewing themselves was given by the invitation 6ent out by the Illinois Manufacturers' Association 'addressed to Mr Chambeilain, asking him to come and talk before them : this was dispatched when his gie.it fiscal campaign had just commenced. It was not .in international or even an inter State association that proffeicd the acquest, but j nieielv the nianufa' turei> of Illinois They could" not le.ilibe that the binding together i of thi- colonies and the Mother Lind Mas moie important than a \isit and a reception temloiod by thorn. The answer was. expected daily.'and bew lMeiment grew when no prompt void of acceptation and thanks came. At length, on Chimbei lain's resignation, which .<-ome took to be but the prelude to an extended tour of "God's own country," they could wait no longer, and a cablegram was dispatched pointing out that the invitation still held good, "def.pite the fact that he was no longer a power in the Government," was understood, though not added. This fetched the laconic statement that "Joseph Chamberlain is unable to leave England at present." All America felt that "Joe had lost the time of his life." For would he not have htayed at the Auditorium — is theie an hotel" as high in all Europe—an d seen Chicago, the marvel of the West, queen of The inland seas, in which, to o^uote a, local preacher, "There is more

valuable commerce than was ever known in Venice, Carthage, or Tyre, and a higher average of intelligence than other cities could boast of in the days of Pericles"

The American confuses the word "wonder" with that wider word "admiration." The "wonder" for the country and people alike for their achievements and their amazing failures, all must feel. But admiration is rarely felt by those who live among them aoid learn to see all round. The stranger marvels at the top-heavy skyscrapers, one of the highest of which was condemned five years ago, but is still standing dedicated to business and to pleasure. Thousands are still streaming daily through its doors, though its foundations have sunk 6in in as many months. The citizen boasts that nothing so immense can be found elsewhere throughout the entire length and breadth of the universe — he heeds not that the foundations are unsound.

The native points to colossal fortunes gained in few years by his fellow countrymen. The visitor aska how, and learns that these vast sums have often been amassed in defiance of all law. He sees that both lives and souls have been lost in the piling up of these uncountable millions.

The citizen points with pride to the naturalisation of the multitude that swarm to America's shores. The Btranger finds statements proving that as nyiny as 15,000 have been naturalised by a single "justice" in a single evening, despite the restrictions ; few of these can have procured legal papers and taken the ordained stpps. Other things are to be seen — criminals rich enough to purchase immunity walk unpunished, prisons yield up such horrors that one can dispute the right of the Americans to call themselves a "civilised nation." The average citizen turns a deaf ear, and points instead to the gaols, where physical culture is taught the prisoners to help them pass the weary hours. And still the traveller watches. He sees how "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" is translated by the working multitudes, who almost prove that perpetual motion is no idle dream. He watches the factories in which men, women, and little children are toiling for their sustenance the 12 hours round, sometimes for seven days in the week, while the owners are amassing millions in competition with properly-restricted labour. He sees the corruption of public Mfc and private life, the vice rampant in the cities, the brutality and rottenness of the whole fabric, and he learns to believe in the necessity for a hell.