The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-01-29 00:00:00

Eke sitourbribge Obsetter.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 29, 1887.

ENGLAND AND AMERICA.

THE air has been thick for some time past
with darkscme war rumours, arising from
the colossal armament which is taking place
in some rival Continental nations, from
unholy Stock Exchange wirepulling of
gigantic extent, and from other causes.
Within the last few days everyone has been

regarding the possibility of a sanguinary
struggle between Germany and Fraance, and
the war strength of each has been eagerly
conned by the curious. The new 'Austrian
Landstium Bill, which provides for the
calling to the colours at war time of every
Austrian under forty-two, and all who have
heretofore borne arms in their country's
cause up to lixty years of age, also served to
keep the war fever alive. With all this
militant, table-talk, and much more concern-
ing act-vity at the Horse Guards and in our
dockyards the cult ent of public gossip has
na' wally turned in the direction of contem-
plating the conting.2ney of Britain's partici-
pation in a big war. It has generally been
hoped and believed that we should be able to
steer clear of actual participation in hostili-
ties in any eventuality arising from the
present crisis; but whether the correctness
of thst view has been darkly questioned or
not, the gloe miest pessimist has not expected
to have to behold Imy international struggle
in which Urcat Britain would be found in
battle array against her greatest offshoot,
America, whose men and women we delight
to denominate "our cousins across the water,"
and who, in turn, proudly speak of this little
• island as the Yankee's old "home." Some-
thing happened on Monday in the American
Senate, however, which has for a time
rendered the sight of the stars and stripes
less pleasing to the eye of the Blitisher. gr.
Ingalls., of Kansas, whose name is net un-
familhr to those who follow politics over the
pond, ims ungraciously and violently
showered %reform of insulting epithets upon
the lard from which New England sprane-,
Over a paltry squabble concerning fishery
rights between the Government of Washing-
ton and the Canadian Parliament a nide-
un'.erstanding which statesmanship might
easily dissipate, sans friction,—this ill-advised
publicist declared that Great Britain has
always been a "ruffian, a coward, and a
bully among nations ; insolent to the weak,
tyrannical to the feeble, cringing and obse-
quious to the strong," and that its " history
for centuries has teen a record of crimes
against tke human race." That this is mere
clap-trap and the out-pouring of a morbid
personal spleen is patent to the high-minded,
and it will be charitably interpreted as such
here. Yet thou.;ll all but the baser sort of
the Transatlantic press are united in their ,
denunciation of the want of taste displayed
by this precious senator and those who spoke
in kindred vein, it cannot be forgotten that
the vote which followed practically endorsed
the attack upon England, and that there
was none so poor as to do reverence to the
Motherland of America in all that august
assembly. such an7occurrence is as painful
here as it is to the countless myriads,
suneerAl by old ocean from us, who are only
Americans first and Britons afterwards.
Let Amurica purge itself from the offence
91 naivin„e• permitt.al its senators to brag
ballicosely at England's expense, and to
speak from the housetops of a pretended
possibility of actual war between two mighty
Otates of one race, one religion, and one
tongue. Let the great Republic of the
West send forth to all the world the assur-
ance that wl-at was so unwisely said on
Monday was no expression of the true voice
o America, but a mere falsetto note, as
nrauthorised as it is out of harmony with
the good relations between the Courts of
Washington an St. James's. The United
States owes that to itself, and England has
a right to expect it; for even now that this
itaS been said John Bull refuses to distrust
Brother Jonathan. We do not here propose
to discuss the point of difference between
the Dominion and the Republic that has
brought about this volcanic eruption of
abuse, the black ava of which we are now
lamentit.g. 'll at may be left for soberer
discussion and diplomacy to settle; though
Mr. Inga i a empty froth will hardly have
expedited an anacable conclusion. Nv c cer-
tainly hold that there is not the slightest
need of apprehension as to any hostile out-
break between England and America, either
on the ground of Colonial action or other-
wise, and any Eurepean nation, which,
jealot a or British power, is inclined to exult
over an apparent lift in Anglo-American
friendship, will certainly reckon without its
Inst. America will repudiate, we doubt not,
the vapourings of Mr. Ingalls; but if ever
again Britain be called to do battle for right
anywhere in the world, Columbia's war cry
will not be found far behind her own "Rule,
Britannia," in the fray. There is a nitural
alliance between the old and the new Eng-
laad, which the thoughtless words of an
oratorical fire-brand, bowe%eL tt. CiOUS 11t.
May be, cannot sever. The, hearts of the
two peoples are one. We look to
Cabinet at Washington to make the arnAPle
honourable in this matter. Wt.:Lit:ye!. wl-0;41,
Canada may have done over •this wretched
fishery business—and we do not admit she
has erred at all the word, of t7.enator
Ingalls anent England were altogether un-
warranted, and we refuse to believe that
America will set her national stamp upon
them by silence or approval.

A CAND.—To Ril who art, tut, ring from tb. iv ors
NI IL ili.excious of 3outh. Li Tons wtliknebs • y
...y exh.ust!ii ICha of 10.1 r, 0 i
1 Wl.l Pella a Frebeription that wi ILu:e r of
ells/gr. liigrcat re tut dy was (:;s.orerea by a is on.
sr/ W.Ol. ).t3iCO. Bid eddrat.sd stamped exiss'iops
itio sot. Joon' HOLMI IdloonasLary idagaioa
iioaiMit6l7 iisliani.Loidoas Ws Q.