The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-07-25 00:00:00

tht gotoutbribge Obscrbtr.

SATURDAY, JULY 25, 1874.

GREAT BRITAIN AND HER

NEIGHBOURS.

That "streak of silver sea" which set a.
rates us from our Continental neighbours
divides us from them in more senses than
one. Without following the too common
feature of belauding ourselves at the expense
of less favoured nations, it is impossible to
look abroad at this moment without being
thankful for the mercies which have been
extended to us as a people. There is no
need to be pharisaical, or to adopt the over-
bearing tone which foreigners tell us is the
common weakness of Englishmen when they
travel upon the Conti wit. We are told
that at such times there is an air of lofty
superiority about the native Briton which
seems to say " Stand by; I am holier than
they." We expect the best seats in the
railway carriages—those nearest the windows
the better to view the surrounding scenery,
and we grumble if we du not get tho best
places at the fabfe if liok. Why should a
wretched foreigner obtrude whore an Eng-
lishman wishes to go ? Now there is no
necessity a hatever for the manifestation of
such a spirit as this. Where a nation is
truly great, its people do not require insol-
ence or affectation to convey an adequate
impression of their greatness upon others.
Still there is no doubt that we unquestion-
ably enjoy very considerable advantages.
For the time there is an almost total absence
of political agitation in our midst: our par-
liament is occupied a ith legislation of H use-
ful and practical character; our public men
are prominent in works of social reform.
Our Stock Exchange is undisturbed by fears
of commercial panic; our army is engaged
on a ploasent series of summer tuanamvres
at Aldershott; our Channel Fleet is visiting
the princii.al ports of the United Kingdom,
and its officers are everywhere entertained
with hearty hospitality by the local authori-
ties; our Volunteers, instead of being called
out to defend their country against an invad-
ing force, have been winning honours and
rewards at Wimbledon. Then look at our
middle and trading classes. Business in
some branches of industry may have lately
fallen off, but upon the whole there is no
reason to complain. Just now large numbers
of them are arranging for their autumn ex-
cursions—some up the Rhine, admiring the
heaven-pointed arches of Cologne; others
away to Wiesbaden and Jugenheitn ; many
over the battle-fields of four years ago; to the
snow-clad mountains of Switzerland; to the
banks of the Italian lakes; to the fjords of
Norway; and to the wine-growing districts
of France. Then at hie we have crowds
of persons off to the Channtl Islands; to
„ Orkney, Shetland, and the Hebrides; to the
solitudes of the High-land glens; to thecalm
• retreates bordering the Lakes of Cumberland
and Westmoreland; across St. George's
Channel to the Giant's Causeway and Kil-
larney ; or in England it,434 to the watering
places of Kent, Sussex, a.d Vork,hire, to
L ,neashire, to the south coast of-Devon, and
to the North of Cornwall, where the vast
Atlantic itself is outspread to the gaze. All
these places are, or soon will be, to use a
conventional term, "full." People are hurry-
ing away from town its fast as the locomotive
can carry them, bent only upon recreation
and enjoyment. No cares concerning the
honour, the interests, or the security of the
nation disturb their rust. If the national
expenditure is heavier than it formerly was
the wealth of the people is proportionately
greater, they can better afford to meet the
demands of the taxgatherer ; while the work:
ing classes argue that if prices have gone tip
so also have wages, and if they strike a
balance Is tween their increased receipts and
their augmented outlay, they will find the
advantage to be on the side of the former.
So much for the state of mind in which
the people of Great Britain find themselves
just now. It certainly presents a contrast to
• r immediate neighbours across the Channel.
There we see a great and noble notion, whose
will a few short years ago was law upon the
Continent of Europe. What is its condition
to-day Prostrate at the feet of a con-
queror, and burning so to avenge the defeats
of 1870, that instead of developing their
splendid resources by an undivided devotion
to the arts of peace, expending immense sums
upon the reorganization of their military
forces, strengthening their fortresses, and
accustoming their people to tlitsound of the
battle while it is afar off. Legislation is
paralysed, for the National Assembly is split
into bitterly hostile factions, elvii striving
for the mastery ind to compass the political
extinction of the others. Then, looking
across the front ler, we see Gertna. y uneasy
iii tb., of her conqueate, constantly
keeping her hand upon the hilt of her sword
Suit ,• ~.-ed that in ease of corn-
prising. between her and a foreign
powe.., Franc, .vonld inimediatel:,- seize the
,itt 'opt to r .•• her lost
province... 'I :tilt of vonti.lenee in the
future keeps the entire potation of
the Empire under arms, and this
withdrawal of attention from eve-iy depart-
ment of industry is most injurious to the best
interests of the courtry. As to Spain, it is
only to mention its name to recall memories
of civil war and discord which seem to be *
chronic condition of 111,tt. til i!,,.1.py land. We
think, then, that although campariaone are
~diona, we have said enough to convince our
readers that we have much to be thankful
for as a nation.

tANI