第20章 THE SKETCH BOOK(3)

There is a general impression in England, that the people of theUnited States are inimical to the parent country. It is one of theerrors which have been diligently propagated by designing writers.

There is, doubtless, considerable political hostility, and a generalsoreness at the illiberality of the English press; but, generallyspeaking, the prepossessions of the people are strongly in favor ofEngland. Indeed, at one time, they amounted, in many parts of theUnion, to an absurd degree of bigotry. The bare name of Englishman wasa passport to the confidence and hospitality of every family, andtoo often gave a transient currency to the worthless and theungrateful. Throughout the country there was something of enthusiasmconnected with the idea of England. We looked to it with a hallowedfeeling of tenderness and veneration, as the land of our forefathers-the august repository of the monuments and antiquities of our race-the birthplace and mausoleum of the sages and heroes of our paternalhistory. After our own country, there was none in whose glory we moredelighted- none whose good opinion we were more anxious to possess-none towards which our hearts yearned with such throbbings of warmconsanguinity. Even during the late war, whenever there was the leastopportunity for kind feelings to spring forth, it was the delight ofthe generous spirits of our country to show that, in the midst ofhostilities, they still kept alive the sparks of future friendship.

Is all this to be at an end? Is this golden band of kindredsympathies, so rare between nations, to be broken for ever?- Perhapsit is for the best- it may dispel an illusion which might have kept usin mental vassalage; which might have interfered occasionally with ourtrue interests, and prevented the growth of proper national pride. Butit is hard to give up the kindred tie! and there are feelings dearerthan interest- closer to the heart than pride- that will still make uscast back a look of regret, as we wander farther and farther fromthe paternal roof, and lament the waywardness of the parent that wouldrepel the affections of the child.