British Liberalism and the United States: Political and Social Thought in the Late Victorian Age

331 Pages·2001·1.375 MB·English

by  Murney Gerlach (auth.)

British Liberalism and the United States
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British Liberalism and
the United States
Political and Social Thought in
the Late Victorian Age
Murney Gerlach
Director
The Rhode Island Historical Society
USA
© Murney Gerlach 2001
Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition 2001 978-0-333-79009-0
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Copyright,Designs and Patents Act 1988.
First published 2001 by
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Gerlach,Murney,1950–
British liberalism and the United States :political and
social thought in the late Victorian age / Murney Gerlach.
p.cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
1.Liberalism—Great Britain—History—19th century.
2.Great Britain—Politics and government—1837–1901.
3.Liberalism—United States—History—19th century.
4.United States—Politics and government—1865–1900.
5.Great Britain—Relations—United States.6.United
States—Relations—Great Britain.I.Title.
JC574.2.G7 G47 2001
320.51’0941’09034—dc21
2001021872
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
10 09 08 07 06 05 04 03 02 01
The England and the America of the present are probably the two
strongest nations in the world. But there can hardly be a doubt as
between the America and the England of the future, that the daughter,
at some no very distant time, will, whether fairer or less fair, be unques-
tionably yet stronger than the mother.
O matre forti filia fortior
And for the political students all over the world it will beyond any-
thing curious as well as useful to examine with what diversities, as well
as what resemblances, of apparatus the two greater branches of a race
born to command have been minded, or induced, or constrained, to
work out, in their sea severed seats, their political destinies according to
their respective laws.
William E. Gladstone, ‘Kin Beyond Sea,’
North American Review, vol. cxxvii
(Sept.-Oct. 1878), p. 181
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Contents
List of Abbreviations x
Acknowledgements xii
Preface xiv
1 The Formation of American Relationships and Interests 1
Introduction 1
The American Civil War 5
Fenianism, the Alabamaclaims, and the Geneva Treaty,
1865–74 11
British Liberals and their early American interests 13
Charles Dilke: an American trip in 1866 17
John Morley: an American trip and early interests 21
James Bryce: early American impressions 26
Conclusion 29
Notes 30
2 Liberalism and the United States: Expanding
American Activities, 1874–1880 38
Introduction 38
Lord Rosebery: America discovered 40
William E. Gladstone and ‘Kin Beyond Sea’ 48
Young Radicals and the United States: Dilke,
Morley, and Chamberlain 57
Conclusion 63
Notes 64
3 The Liberal Ascendancy, Ireland, and Henry
George, 1880–1886 71
Introduction 71
British foreign policy towards the United States,
1880–85 73
American protectionism and tariffs 76
Anglo-American accord 78
Irish-Americans, Fenians, and violence 81
Henry George and land reform 94
The American Constitution, federalism, and Home Rule 101
vii
viii Contents
Conclusion 108
Notes 110
4 Gladstonian Liberalism, Home Rule, and American
Politics and Society, 1886–1892 121
Introduction 121
American federalism reconsidered 124
American protectionism and tariffs reconsidered 133
American currency and bimetallism 139
Anglo-American copyright 142
Gladstone: American activities and political issues 145
Conclusion 152
Notes 153
5 Liberal Ministries, Ideas, and Andrew Carnegie,
1892–1895 163
Introduction 163
American foreign policies 165
Irish Home Rule: American federal and constitutional
experiences 170
Silver, bimetallism, and currency issues 176
Liberal attitudes towards American labor, society,
and democracy 185
Andrew Carnegie: a transatlantic liberal 197
Conclusion 201
Notes 201
6 Venezuela, Silver, and Rapprochement, 1895–1898 211
Introduction 211
Anglo-Americans and international arbitration 213
Silver and bimetallism: final reconsiderations 217
Liberalism and informal diplomacy over Venezuela 219
The Venezuelan Settlement and Anglo-American
arbitration 227
Silver and the Presidential election of 1896 235
Studies of democracy 238
Silver and bimetallism defeated, 1896–97 241
Conclusion 244
Notes 246
Contents ix
Conclusion 257
Appendices
III Biographical and American Notes 265
III Dinner Engagements of William
Hoppin and Henry White, 1870s–1890s 272
III Letter from Gresham to Rosebery, 1895 275
Bibliography 276
Index 305