rman,
Scandinavian, and Irish; but they are all now digested and assimilated,
and they inspire no particular feeling in the breast of Uncle Sam for
the respective countries they originally came from. He asks them to be,
and they are, good American citizens, ready to fight his battles on
election day or, if need be, on the battlefield.

There is no 'most favoured' nation in the American character, which in
this respect is opportunist to the greatest degree.

During the war with Spain the Americans were pro-English, because they
had the moral support of the English, or thought they had.

In 1895, during the Venezuelan difficulty, they were above all
anti-English. Just at present their love of the English is somewhat
cooler, because they wonder whether England was really friendly and
sincere during the Spanish-American War, and because their sympathy was
for the Boers who, in their eyes, rightly or wrongly, bravely fought for
their liberty and independence as the Americans did 125 years ago.

When Prince Henry visited the United States, the Americans regarded his
visit as a great compliment paid to their country, and a delicate
advance and attention on the part of the German Emperor.

Then Germany naturally came to the front, and, at the time, might with
reason have been called the nation nearest to the heart of Jonathan.
Prince Henry was feted, banqueted, liked, and when the steamer took him
home, he was remembered with pleasure and forgotten, and Germany resumed
her position of foreign nation, just like that of any other.

The English, who buy inventions, but seldom make them, are now starting
the rumour that the Prince of Wales has been invited to visit the United
States. The idea is not very original, not any more than that of King
Edward having a racing yacht built in America, and sending his son over
to be present at its launching and christening. That sort of thing may
be overdone.

If, however, the Prince of Wales went to America, he would be received
with open arms, the 'blood-thicker-than-water' business, and the
'kin-and-kith' cry would be indulged in during his visit, after which
everything would resume its normal state.

If the President of the French Republic could be induced to visit
America, the Americans would become pro-French; Lafayette, the
'never-to-be-forgotten helper of the Americans' in their struggle for
liberty and independence, would be resurrected, and this visit would,
perhaps, be the