The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-08-09

fashionable squares in Belgravia they
perceive, plainly enough, that more than
half their troubles are due to the blight
ing influence of the aristocracy: yet, with
these things under their very nose, they never
dream Of revolutions, or, indeed, of any trou-
BILE which squad Of policemen cannot put
down. For the type of calm self-conadent
conservatism is John Bull: and whatever he
tries, he feels he will do it, not because it is
possible, but because he is John Bull.
Descending below the surface, and Analysing
the feelings of the various classes Of society in
England, we find different feelings at work.
The Court is believed to lean to the Russian
side, with portion of the aristocracy, both
landed and moneyed. There is not little SYM
pathy between the British peer and the Rus
sian boyard. OF late years marriages have
taken place in great numbers between them
and the natural affinity between the Russian
and the Englishman has been increased. But
after the Prince Albert expose, the British no
bility have not cared to make any public dis
play of their feelings. Mr.. Bright on behalf
of the moneyed classes, openly denounces the
war; but he is allowed to bear the brunt Of his
unpopular stand alone; the merchant princes
and the peers will only come to his aid when
the nation is ready to follow.
The people at large are in favor of the war.
Many reasons may be assigned for the fact In
the first place, John Bull is quarrelsome ami
NAL. He had been forty years at peace, with
nobody to leather but q few beggarly Chinese.
Not l1v aDouvh ho wac Olo1 IF chapcn ~
getting into row. Then again, having been
thrust into the war, his pride and self conf
dence forbid his wanting to get out Of it, ex-
cept as victor. Other reasons operate, SINH
lar to those which affected the American peo-
pie during the Mexican war. The Russian
campaign is conducted at distance from Eng
land. 1t does not disturb the commercial re-
lations of Great Britain. The small retailer
pursues his trade just as usual. The grocer,
the tailor, the shoemaker, the "navvie," the
potterer in word six out Of every ten in
dividuals in England, need not necessarily be
aware that the nation is at war at all. 1t
weighs SO lightly on their pockets, and inficts
SO small an amount of injury on them indi-
vidually, that there is nothing to counterpoise
in their mind the native pugnacity and Unborn
pride of the Briton. All that they know of the
war is that rare fighting" is going on in the
Crimea; their opinion may be summed up in
the emphatic assertion that "the Rooshians
must be licked, that's ALL"
Another cause Of the strong war feeling
which prevails among the masses of the people
in Great Britain is the bellcose spirit of the
press. 1t is true that to some degree newspa-
pers reflect public opinion; it is certain that
newspaper could not thrive if it pursued
course diameterically opposed to the sentiment
Of the community where it was published.
It may appear incorrect therefore to say that
the British press is the author of the war feeling
among the people. But it must be remembered
that between black and white there are at least
seven distinct shades of color; that the readers
Of a journal do not usually adopt an extreme
opinion en- masse; and that it is very easy, by
observing gradual progression, and keeping
within sight Of your public, to lead it even
against its own tendency. The British press
have been great gamers by the war. The cir
culation and business of many Of the great
journals have doubled. War news-news of
battles, in which ones friends have fought and
perhaps fallen-is far more interesting than
the best novel ever penned. Hence, since the
war has broken out, and especially since the
Crimean expedition-the weekly journals pub
lished in London, and containing tales and
stories, have almost dropped out of existence,
and the press proper have gained what they
have lost 1t is understood, for instance, that
the receipts of the leading illustrated journal
have doubled within the past year. No wonder
in these corrupt days-that the British press
should be bellicose, and that what influence it
has should be exercised to keep the nation up
to the fighting point That it has been SO exer-
cised-that very often the tagging spirit of the
people has been reused by stirring leader in
the Times-and the last chance Of peace des-
troyed by fierce anti-Russian articles in the
same organ-is known to every one.
From what strange causes public opinion
often springs