The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-03-09 00:00:00

"SO BE IT! SO LET IT BE!"

The stirring words with which Ralph Waldo Emmerson
concluded his speech at the farewell banquet given him at
Manchester many years ago, which were received with a
tremendous burst of enthusiasm, may be well cited at this
juncture. This is what the eloquent American said of Old
England:—

" Is it not true," he said, "that the wise ancients did
not praise the ship parting with flying colours from the
port, but only that brave sailer which came back with
torn sheets and battered sides, stripped of her banners,
but having ridden out the storm? And so I feel in
regard to this aged England, with the possessions,
honours, and trophies, and also with the infirmities,
of a thousand years gathering around her; irre-
trievably committed, as she is now, to many old cus-
toms which cannot be suddenly changed; pressed upon
by the transitions of trade and new and all inzalcul-
able modes, fabrics, arts, machines, and competing
populations—_l see her not dispirited, not weak;
but well remembering that she has seen dark days
before—indeed, with a kind of instinct that she sees a
little better in a cloudy day, and that in storm of
battle and calamity she has a secret vigour and a
pulse like a cannon. I see her in her old age, not
decrepit, but young, and still daring to believe in her
power of endurance and expansion. Seeing this, I
say, All hail ! mother of nations! mother of heroes!
with strength equal to the time, still wise to entertain
and swift to execute the policy which the mind and
heart of mankind require in the present hour, and thus
only hospitable to the foreigner and truly a home to
the thoughtful and generous who are born on the soil.
So be it! so let it be If it be not so, if the oourage
of England goes with the chances of a commercial
crisis, I will go back to the capes of Massachusetts
and my own Indian stream and say to my country-
men, the old race are all gone and the elasticity and
hope of mankind must heneeforth remain on the Alle-
gha.ny ranges or nowhere."

Prince Bismarck on Monday returned the Crown
Prince of Austria's visit, and remained with the •e„
considerable time. This is held to confirm the; tan Pr eSgiom
previously prevalent to the effect that the Crown Prince is
entrusted with a political mission of some kind.
The Astronomer RoYal reports that the duration of
registered sunshine at Greenwich last week was four hours
and twelve minutes. The sun was shove the horizon for 7b
hours. The recorded duration of sunshine was therefore
equal to 5-0 per cent. of its possible duration.

THE EASTERN QUESTION.
CONCLUSIOtt OF PEACE.
(Frora Monday's Times.)
"ST. PETERSBURG, March 3.
"The peace is signed. There are great rejoicings.
An immense crowd in front of the Palace is shouting
' Hurrah !' and, with uncovered heads, singing 'God
save the Czar.'

" LATER.

"The Emperor has driven to the theatre amid the
enthusiastic cheering of the people. St. Peterburg
has rarely seen such enthusiasm.
" MIA, March 2.

"Peace was signed this afternoon, the anniversary
of the Emperor Alexander's accession to the throne
and of the declaration of the freedom of the serfs.
There was a review of 31,000 troops, and Te Deum
was sung amid immense enthusiasm."

ST. PETERSBURG, MARCH 4, 1.0 A.M.
The Grand Duke Niaholas has sent to the Emperor the
following telegram, dated San Stefano, March 3, 5.0. p.m. :
"I do myself the honour of congratulating your Majesty
upon the conclusion of peace. God has vouchsafed to us
the happiness of accomplishing the holy work begun by
your Majesty, and on the anniversary of the enfranchise-
ment of the serfs, your Majesty has delivered the Christians
from the Mussulman yoke."

On the news of the conclusion of peace becoming known
the streets were filled by immense and enthusiastic crowds,
who flocked towards the Imperial Palace, where they gave
repeated cheers for the Emperor. RIB Majesty shortly after-
wards appeared on the balcony in acknowledgment of the
popular greeting, and the crowd then sang the Russian
National Anthem with uncovered heads.

ST, PETERSBURG, March 5.

The Sultan sent the following telegram to the Emperor of
Russia from Constantinople on the 3rd inst. :—" On the
occasion of the anniversary of your Majesty's accession to
the throne, I offer my congratulations, with the desire of
renewing our friendly relations."
- -

The Emperor telegraphed in reply as follows :—" I thank
your Majesty for your congratulations, which I received
simultaneously with the news of the signature of pea,e. I
perceive in this coincidence a presage of good and lasting
relations between us'

The Governor of Sofia sent the following telegram to the
Minister of War on the 3rd inst. :—" The inhabitants of
Sofia and its vicinity request me to convey to the Emperor,
through the intermediary of the local Metropolitan, their
congratulations upon the anniversary of his Majesty's acces-
hion to the throne, and to express the boundless love and
eternal gratitude of the population of the country towards
their deliverer and liberator,"

The Minister of War telegraphed in reply, on the 4th
Inst., as follows :—" I have been charged by the Emperor to
express his Majesty's thanks for the congratulations trans-
mitted by you. Peace having now been signed, it may be
hoped that tranquility and prosperity will be restored to
the country."