If the citizens of the United States were indeed the devoted patriots they call themselves, they would surely not thus entrust themselves in the hard, dry, stubborn persuasion , that they are the first and the best of the human race.
It was as clear as a day that the author would never consider the United States the best country in the world. First of all, she was too devoted to England to do that. Secondly, she didn’t like assurance of Americans. She believed that their patriotism was not genuine, for if it was real, then “the citizens of the United States” would “surely not” entrust “themselves in the hard, dry, stubborn persuasion, that they are the best of the human race.” It irritated her greatly that they were so sure that “nothing” was “to be learnt” from the old world, what as more Americans dared to believe that they “would be able to teach” others.
Nothing is worth having, which they do not posses.
The author is not impressed with the idea of American superiority. She mentions quite often that Americans believe that “nothing is worth having, which they do not posses.” She believes that “the art of man” could hardly discover “a more effectual antidote to improvement.” She finds the situation in which every “public oration” and every “work,” that is “professedly addressed to the country” elaborates on the topic of their unsurpassed greatness, disgusting and troubling. It seems that the government tries to “impress it on the minds of the people.”
Notwithstanding all this, the country is very fine country, well worth visiting for a thousand reasons.
Frances Milton Trollope is not as prejudiced against the new world as one might think. She tries her best to acknowledge every accomplishment and every improvement, but the problem is that she can’t stop comparing. The woman admits that this country is “very fine country, well worth visiting for a thousand reasons.” “Nine hundred and ninety-nine of these are reasons” founded on “the admiration and respect.” Though she likes the place a lot and is amused, for every little thing has this “newness” there is not much that invites one “to feel at home.”
