National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-05-06
THEUK1TED STATES AND GREAT BRITAIN

"Rt Hon. He. E. Childers, NJ. P, speak
ing at Pontefrack recently, gave anaccount
" of his American tour He spoke in tones
" of high eulOgy of America. The United
Estates, he thought, was probably the
most prosperous country in the world.
He estimated that in fifty years it would
contain 10000, 600 inhabitants, while
the progress of England was necessarily
90 limited. He forcibly presented the rea-
" sons why England should seek the friend
" ship ard alliance Of tue United States. "
If natural resources be an index to national
prosperity, the above prediction relative to
the United States is certainly true. And
such expressions, coming as they do from
an Englishman, are very flsttering to every
American. 1t may be that while. Ameri-
cans are so bitterly complaining of hard
times and gloomy prospects, it is not so
bad, after all; and that stranger, viewing
our national and industrial affairs from
disinterested standpoint, is able to see
through the present gloom and discover
the bright light of future prosperity and
national greatness beyond the financial
clouds, which Americans laboring under
the load cannot yet discern. No doubt this
may be so. But whether so or not, it is
worse than idle to waste our energies in
gloomy forebodiDgs and childish repinings.
That there is a future for the United
States incomparably greater and more
glorious commercially as well as politically
than that which has ever dswned upon
Republic is Enthusiastically foreshadowed by
innumerable signs and physical indications.
We have a climate embracing that of the
whole world. With this there is soil so
diversified by location and natural circum-
stances as TO render it practicable to pro-
duce all vegetables of any utility which are
grown by any other nation. We have
many millions Of acres Of native forests,
which only want access to render them
capable Of supplying lumber to all markets
which may offer demands. The mineral
deposits already known, and the constant
discoveries of new treasures only confirm
the predictions that the United States
possesses every mineral and precious
"metal known to exist" Our inland seas
and navigable rivers are the wonder of the
whole world. No other country under the
sun is so blessed with natural resources as
America.
Thinking men abroad are aware of this
fact, and TO no people is the truth more ap-
parent, and to none is it of such vital i'm
portance as to Britons. As the population
of the United Kingdom increases, and her
manufacturing and commercial enterprises
are enlarged, she comes to see more and
more clearly the importance Of provisions
in the future for supplying those natural
materials and productions which she can
not supply at home, or from her own de-
Tendencies abroad. 1t is certainly natural
that she should look first and most d.
rectly TO the United States for that sup
ply. and for such reciprocity as will pre-
vent any diminutiOn of her own industries.
1t is equally natural that the United
States should look to Great Britain for
such cooperation as is here needed to build
up and extend our own industrial and
commercial developments commensurate
with our natural and yet undeveloped re-
sources.
To Great Britain the United States is the
most valuable customer country on the
globe. To the United States Great Britain
is the most indispensable commercial ally.
What the one possesses in superabundance
the other needs. What one lacks the other
can supply. Take, to illustrate, few ex
smpIes: Great Britain imports annually in
value more tLan GO, 900, 900 in beeves. The
United States had last year about 25, 900, 900