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repel the affections of the child。
Short…sighted and injudicious； however； as the conduct of England
may be in this system of aspersion； recrimination on our part would be
equally ill…judged。 I speak not of a prompt and spirited vindication
of our country； nor the keenest castigation of her slanderers… but I
allude to a disposition to retaliate in kind； to retort sarcasm； and
inspire prejudice； which seems to be spreading widely among our
writers。 Let us guard particularly against such a temper； for it would
double the evil instead of redressing the wrong。 Nothing is so easy
and inviting as the retort of abuse and sarcasm； but it is a paltry
and an unprofitable contest。 It is the alternative of a morbid mind；
fretted into petulance； rather than warmed into indignation。 If
England is willing to permit the mean jealousies of trade； or the
rancorous animosities of politics； to deprave the integrity of her
press； and poison the fountain of public opinion； let us beware of her
example。 She may deem it her interest to diffuse error； and engender
antipathy； for the purpose of checking emigration； we have no
purpose of the kind to serve。 Neither have we any spirit of national
jealousy to gratify； for as yet； in all our rivalships with England；
we are the rising and the gaining party。 There can be no end to
answer； therefore； but the gratification of resentment… a mere
spirit of retaliation； and even that is impotent。 Our retorts are
never republished in England； they fall short； therefore； of their
aim； but they foster a querulous and peevish temper among our writers；
they sour the sweet flow of our early literature； and sow thorns and
brambles among its blossoms。 What is still worse； they circulate
through our own country； and； as far as they have effect； excite
virulent national prejudices。 This last is the evil most especially to
be deprecated。 Governed； as we are； entirely by public opinion； the
utmost care should be taken to preserve the purity of the public mind。
Knowledge is power； and truth is knowledge； whoever； therefore；
knowingly propagates a prejudice； willfully saps the foundation of his
country's strength。
The members of a republic； above all other men； should be candid and
dispassionate。 They are； individually； portions of the sovereign
mind and sovereign will； and should be enabled to come to all
questions of national concern with calm and unbiased judgments。 From
the peculiar nature of our relations with England； we must have more
frequent questions of a difficult and delicate character with her than
with any other nation； questions that affect the most acute and
excitable feelings； and as； in the adjusting of these； our national
measures must ultimately be determined by popular sentiment； we cannot
be too anxiously attentive to purify it from all latent passion or
prepossession。
Opening； too； as we do； an asylum for strangers from every portion
of the earth； we should receive all with impartiality。 It should be
our pride to exhibit an example of one nation； at least； destitute
of national antipathies； and exercising not merely the overt acts of
hospitality； but those more rare and noble courtesies which spring
from the liberality of opinion。
What have we to do with national prejudices？ They are the inveterate
diseases of old countries； contracted in rude and ignorant ages；
when nations knew but little of each other； and looked beyond their
own boundaries with distrust and hostility。 We； on the contrary；
have sprung into national existence in an enlightened and
philosophic age； when the different parts of the habitable world；
and the various branches of the human family； have been
indefatigably studied and made known to each other； and we forego
the advantages of our birth； if we do not shake off the national
prejudices； as we would the local superstitions of the old world。
But above all let us not be influenced by any angry feelings； so far
as to shut our eyes to the perception of what is really excellent
and amiable in the English character。 We are a young people；
necessarily an imitative one； and must take our examples and models；
in a great degree； from the existing nations of Europe。 There is no
country more worthy of our study than England。 The spirit of her
constitution is most analogous to ours。 The manners of her people…
their intellectual activity… their freedom of opinion… their habits of
thinking on those subjects which concern the dearest interests and
most sacred charities of private life； are all congenial to the
American character； and； in fact； are all intrinsically excellent； for
it is in the moral feeling of the people that the deep foundations
of British prosperity are laid； and however the superstructure may
be time…worn； or overrun by abuses； there must be something solid in
the basis； admirable in the materials； and stable in the structure
of an edifice； that so long has towered unshaken amidst the tempests
of the world。
Let it be the pride of our writers； therefore； discarding all
feelings of irritation； and disdaining to retaliate the illiberality
of British authors； to speak of the English nation without
prejudice； and with determined candor。 While they rebuke the
indiscriminating bigotry with which some of our countrymen admire
and imitate every thing English； merely because it is English； let
them frankly point out what is really worthy of approbation。 We may
thus place England before us as a perpetual volume of reference；
wherein are recorded sound deductions from ages of experience； and
while we avoid the errors and absurdities which may have crept into
the page； we may draw thence golden maxims of practical wisdom；
wherewith to strengthen and to embellish our national character。
THE END
。