Arnold and Harrison.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6695, 7 November 1889, Page 4

Arnold and Harrison.

ENGLAND AND THE UNITED STATES. Sir Edward Arnold, in a letter printed ia the Daily Telegraph, gives an accotuit of an interview ho had with President Harrison, afc tho White House, Washington. He says : — President Harrison was sitting in debate with certain of hi 3 Ministers. On receiving my card he did me the signal honour to receive me at once in the inner Council Chamber. Eising from a group of Secretaries of State, comprising Mr Noble, Mr Morton and others, the President approached with a cordial welcome to Washington on his lips— a courteous, kindly, shrewd, and business-stamped gentleman, of middle height or less, with light hair, beginning to "catch the snow," simple in style, as were his surroundings. After some very friendly words our dialogue took some such shape as this : — "You are ©leased, I hope, with the States?"' "Who could fail to be pleased, Mr President, having eyes to see and mind to appreciate ? Any reasonable Englishman must be proud and glad, I think, to be able to wander over so splendid a country, and never feel himself otherwise than at home in this your Transatlantic England/" "We know you have always been and are a true friend to America." " I consider myself half an American. My children bear the American names of 'Emerson* and • Channing J j my lats wife was an American. I represent in a very humble way the bond of common blood and language which I hop 6 will grow ever stronger and closer between the countries." "We hope that, too,' most sincerely; and my son, who has just returned from England, assures me tnat goodwill and good wishes towards Americaare more and more felt in England." " Iventure to say, sir, that that is so. A constantly-increasing number of Englishmen — and I trust and believe of Americans also — ardently hope that no question will ever again rise between us which cannot and will not be settled by Reason and by Eight; tho only proper arbiters between two such peoples/ "That ought to bo bo, and will be so, if we make proper mutual allowances for each other. What has impressed you chiefly in your journeys here ? " v The '• magnificent distances,' Mr President ! I see a large terrestrial glob© standing by your chair. It makes me think rather ruefully of Dr Oliver Wendell Holmes' line, when ho describes the western giant as Twirling tho spotted globe to find us." "Ah! we do not measure Great Britain by her acres ! She also is so large that we never could have remained under one Government even if the War of Independence had not happened." " Yes ! Still it is sad to -think that that Btupid' affair of the Boston tea-chesta was caused by a majority of a single vote in the House of Commons." " Well, if we had remained one people geographically, you would have had to be governed from Washington; perhaps, as we are preponderant injaumbers and area." "As to that, sir, you must put Canada and our Colonies in the scale, and India, j However, I hope that together England and America will some day dictate peace, in the interests of universal humanity, to the world, and that the language of Shakespere will become that' of the, globe." I 3?residentHarrisonsmiled,andssidgently that he hoped such a day would arrive ; quit fcfl* 61 Boine further general remarks, the pleasant interview terminated.