, 1877-09-15
THE FUTURE OF ENGLAND,

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THE FUTURE OF ENGLAND,
A number OF English journals have latciy
entertained their readers by prophesying tbs
aeciino Of british influence. Tl,oy havo
made tho subject interesting, and have i'm.
parted to It All air Of romance. There is al
"ASs certain fascination in studying tho
cadses OF an empires dscay. Moreover, the
En8liSh people feel that they 1nay aafety
take part In my discussion Of this nature,
inaslnuch NJ tho period Of decay is made,
W common consent, fenote. one writer
assumes TINT the chief cause Of English
sapreioacy-thc cheapness Of fuel-will
nos u'8"ppear Tor two ccnturics, and another
'naa'gea only in vaguo .pecn1atfons as 10
~nas may happen IL tile population is at any
ia'afe aay roducod to 100000. Roaec-
s'ons nasca on theae premises are scarcely
moro than iancy sketches, mud 1t is doubtless
occaose tile Engl'sh people feel them to bo
so LINT toey are enjoyed 30 Aoonly. We nre
rrol'arcd, howeTor, to go farther than any Of
tas hng''sh writers, aud to maintain that
nsi'isa lhhnenco Will begin visibly to decay
no' Two centuries hence, but within half n
century; indeed, tho beginning has alroady
oeeh u an"dc. ana though 1T il not 1arger than
tne gap IN tho ayko which chllds hand
coo'a stop, It IL important to those who ap-
psce'aeo tho forces in operation and the
me"us OF resisting them.
eoal anu iron nave made England great.
Inc Afst mateFial IL essential to tho pros
peF7ty OF Aor manufactures. Without an
apuaaaht anu cheap supply Of fue1, the Man-
oAester prints cannot maintain successful
competition with tho prints OF Lowell shef-
Aelu cuslory must give why to tho cheaper
md botter wares Of S1eriden; an.1 the WOOL
ens OF Lectls be superseded by thoao of
ffoT1aence. Coal has become Of late yoars
hotlceaoiy moro difficult to get, Tic miners
hive gone deeper and found loss. Fi1o-1amp
and water have Increased with tho depth be.
low tue surface, aud tho evidences of OK
haustion ut MI carly day arc multiplying.
Every addition to tho prieo OF coal,
otl'sr things boing equn1, adds to
tho cost OF all manufactured articles.
Eugland has no watcr-l'ower to compete
with ahat which may be found In such
favored countries aa our own. Moreover,
Sue cannos look to tho Continent for sup
ply OF the fuel which ahe 80 badly needs.
tnnco and Germany are short of coal.
Italy Inns not pound OF her own. Spain
has long beon peiistoner on tho rest of tho
world. Austria has not moro than enough
fur her own consumption. Only Russia anl
Turkey claim to have vast possessions, and
these 0T1 1lnflaTnl0nn1. f4ont>ffouu
gu, anu IN no event moro than sufficient to
supply tho increasing want Of countries ad-
1acent to them. bealdos, England cannot
hopo to bring her coal from distance aud
Then undcrsoll al competitions in tho markets
of the world.
The experience Of tho English fron-Eniners
las boon much the samo as that of the colliers.
As 1t ia no longer m unhoard-ot thing for
'oals 10 hc carried to Newcastle. 80 1t III not
Tor American cutlery to bo sold in
.no'nola- our stool Taila compete with
nose OF English manufacture in Canada, al-
'hou8n American ro'ling.mills lnbor under
ho a1"aa'antages imposed by pornIoious
af1h System. Our supplies are practically !
he3hausslblo' while those of England arc
aos only failing, but In some instances havo
anoa. American tools aro famous the world |
'ses' as well Tor their excellent quality AZ for |
aoir eheaphess. Tho mixture OF small |
saanuty OF lilo En8uHa or Swedish iron with |
'ur own produces material that is unriyalet1
OF many purposes Of manufacture. and Tia
Cicicncv ~ mr. 1nbor nj co,,,.~.a lii. nL-4
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