Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1875-10-02
OFFICE IN "JEFrERsoN BUIbprNG.'
Saturday, October 2, 1875.
The England of To-Day.


ith large majority Of Americans the
opinion has become current that their Cd
mniAer-country ont at last with the
dazzling power and grandeur Of centuries
has entered on her decline. They affect con-
tempt of her institutions, believing them to be
only remnants Of what may once have been
worthy subjects for imitation. aud, having
sundered her on-stringS-would, in every
way. cousign their old parent TO entire Oblivion.
Let us glance for few moments at the ret
facts of the case aud see how Ear they disproyr
this general illusion. Mr. Hrace White, for
merly Of the Chicago Tribune, and who is now
travelling in Europe, writes his paper, from
Wiesbaicn aueut this topic, giving some pleas
ing information on various points England.
he saws does not maintain a standing army 4;
indeed. she needs none As We keep suili
ciNtnt force to uverawe Red Cloud, SO does she
menace the King of Burmah with an array Of
military strength numerous enouGh-but u"
more-to continue her only pugnacious sub
iect on his good behavior While the CONT
mental powers, even to little Hungary, persist
; in supporting, each, its army on a solid war
/ footing. England, with that shrewd sense
which characteristics her every movement, rcle-
oates the sinews Of her military service to the
sources whence they came and thus, in q time
Of Heightened peace with all nations, retarnS
to the professions aud trades, their many fol
lowers Her army being thinned out, the re-
tired military element seeks again It's former
peaceful ayocatious and the accumulation OF
| Wealth bv Labor is continued Supp"siug n
war-cloud suddenly to arise on the horizon
England il prepared Her people submit.
more readily than we, to the draft, for the rea-
son that. virtually, they hold the power Of g.
vernmeut in their own bands. (And of this
farther ou.) Noother country could thus raise
a larger army, proportionaly, aud, by reaS'r
/ of tie Industry cited above. 10 other country
/ could prosecute longer, the war once entered
upon. As Louis XIV observed that the laS'
gold piece would decide the Spanish succession.
So Eughna-hrr public Golfers tceniug with
the wealth produced from labor properly d.
e.tel-couId whilst holding the last dollar,
dictate her own terms.
Though not So in form, Great Britain to-
day is more republican in fact, than are we
Her executive is not hampered by any pre-
,crihed term IF oilice or any number Of terms
Official lie exists only So long as it satisfies
the people. and not an hour more. Royalty.
with its attendant train Of Court Nobility Is -
mere form-a fsure-heal. The King, Lords
and Commons are all in one, and that one l.
the C mmous, or, in other words, the people
Were this not really So. Royalty would scarce
ly be given such long lease of life. This 90
vernment is indeed the very hest for England.
possessing two grea, and requisite qualities,
Elasticity aud Durability.
With regard To education, England has made
general progress within the past ten years
Public Schools, no longer rarity, are found
scattered throughout the realm. and, having
thus provided means Of education tor her youth,
their wise old parent-garnering experience
these many centuries --charges her courts 81
Justice with seeing these " means availed OF T.;
aud declares Compulsory Education to lie the
law.
Pauperism with its eutailiug eyis-shows a
sensible decrease, under the wise Enlargement
OF the humane associations; there Is less Of
envy manifested towards the rich, aud OF Com
,nuui,m. than ia our own land OF free iustI'u-
tious. THIS coulented spirit among the poor
er casses, is, perhaps, best accounted TOT by
the economy practised uy tie rich. Wealth Is
not regarded tor What 1t bRys-as with US
but solely tor the >euse OF security aud dignity
which 1t guarantees lis possessor The million
aires of EpsIaud reside in less stately houses
than we: are surrounded with less costly COM
forts dress less extravaganlly 1--we 10 sampt-
uuusly-aud ia eve way aihere to the frugal
principles which have borne their part, We
must admit, in developing race Of sturdy
seli-reliant people, among whom dishonesty Is
less known than with Us.
Taxation is merely nominal; Trade, with the
exception OF some ten articles, Is entirely free
Agriculture, under wise system Of land-ten-
ure. which interpuses bar-were any needed
between Labor aud Capital, has reached d
state Of perfection unequalled 10 the United