The New York herald., 1877-12-16
Politics, Literature, War, Music
and the Drama.
MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC NOVELTIES.
Movements of Americans
in London.
80 RUNS THE WORLD AWAY"

troubles IN France tho health oil the Pope and tho
crisis In the Eastern question. Poor England sways
ono way and the other, backward and forward, now
Russian, now Turkish. with spasm OF fcaY day
lest the Russians should overrun the Crimca fears
about Austria and Greece and the Empire In the
spring the Czar was "ggantic aggressor,n another
Attila or Alexander. whom only Bismarck could con-
trol, and England on its knees 10 tho German
Chancellor, who was to rule the storm. Then alter
Plovna the Gar collapsed. Ho was only "a bar.
biriau" after all; his people corrupt and
cowardly and tho 'pious Ottomito" was showing the
true quaiities OF the patriot and soldier Now that
kars has fallen and Plcvna be It's last gasp
and Scrvia proclaims independence and Greece has
moved into ine and Il becomes and moro evident
that there Is understanding between Austria Russia
and Germany, u new panic has soizsd the people
''Brnsh interests" one tho quack terms invented
BY Lord Bcaconsaed, are again menaced, and unless
the government ntoreres Russia will ba on tho road
TO India. Somo consolation is found in the fact that
the Channel squadron has been ordered to Gibraltar
This looks like vigor." and the RUSSIAN will s.sec
that England will not submit 10 ami hation." Ninc
tonths of the average Engllshmen-the buying. sell
ing ana church-going Engshmen--beieve that II
Lord Derby were really to send M iron-clad to tho
Dsrdanees tho Gear would recross the Danubo A
good many OF them are surprised that obart Pacna
and Baker facha huvo not ended the war
already. You this GOOD ard in cvory
respect valiant and rcsoiuto people have boon
fed on such books Southcy has written
about Wellington ana Kinglake about Lord Raglan.
They accept as nm undisputed axiom that one
regiment OF the Guards could handlo any
In tho Russian service Mr.. KinSlakc has told them
IN his masierly rhetoric OF what marvellous things one
or Jwo men did In the Crimea ana how Russians would
run from one '.ustyn Englishman, and they believe
It Why should they believe IL when they hear no
less person than the Lord Chief Baron In public
speech rank Wellington the greatest military COM
mander except Cesar; speak Of England ssalonen
breaking down tho nrst Napoleon, and intimate tha.
tho Czar may be compelled 70 pause 10 his mad.
murderous carccrY
ILLUSIONS HOUR.
Thcsc illusions rule the hour. There Is we'll
directed, free sentiment under the inspiration
logical result and has thus far hold Eng.
land out OF embarrassing complications Blu,
the truth TO- a. any see, that England Is in nc
condition TO mako war. She has an immense navy
but tho one thing ships cannot do to fight on DRY
land What good did the navy OF France do wber
Germany had her by the throat2 England has tai,
army, but In numbers II does not equal the grca,
armies OF the Continent, who In material there is 40
comparison. Nor do / say this to reflect on the
English soldier. On the Continent the armies arc
composed OF tho bono OF the people, uss as
1t was in the North and South during our civil war
In England the army Is enlisted, ana you
know tho kind Of men any society will yield
TO the recruiting sergeant. England cannot rank
as u great military Power until she accepts the
condlons which havo made great military Powers OF
other nations. And vet II any Minister were 10 pro.
pose general arming as In Germany or CON-
mi a va IN Eran In
out Of power England will pay money for alliances,
she did In other aays She will hire Austrians to
ngnt Ito Russians,-ss sho hired them to fight Bona
parte.
BRITISH PRESTIGE. .
This is what is meant by .'British prestigc.w n
phrase oftcn hears ana which roaliy means max
ing tho world believe you stronger than You arc
and hiring other people TO fight aud be killed vhic
you 60 making money. But the conditions OF mod
ern Europe changing. Austrians aud Hessians do
not want TO bs hired; they nave their own
lighting to do, and II England has any
fear for her empire she must do as tho
Germans and Americans did fight for II. And II Is
because here is real disposition for war, no prcpa
raton for It and Willingness tho part OF tho
people to endure It's inevitable consequences that
these alarms about Russia, and tho mcnaces :nat fli
the air, and tho Dragging speeches OF men like tho
Lord Chief Baron and LORD Bcaconsold arc so out Of
place or course IL England went to war she would
demcan herself great and gallant nation, but snc
has really nothing to fight Tor and no disposition TO
fight And this th ing thcy call "Brtish prestige, il
passing INTO the limbo OF othcr humbug phrases like
Cotton Is king" and the empire is peacc,n and
quackerics o! the same school.
OF course people have right TO their illusion
AS a very great said in heated dispute ON
the Papal iniab,ty. III the Pope thinks no Is In.
ialAbc why shouldn't ho and why shouldn't any other
man ?" And II England thinks that without an army
Is tho greatest military nation In tho world tho
Illusion Is her only hope she will not be called
upon TO put It to tho test OF experience.
BULGARIA. AsD RUSSIA
Thus far tho has ongcndorcd only discussions In
England. OF you havo road Forres' article IN
the Ninecen,h Century, In which he denounced the
Russians ns corrupt and tho Bulgarians as an
cnete. cruol, cowardIy race. The article crea,cd
profound Impression, because Mr. Forbes had boon
with tho Russians, and supposed 10 have Russian
sympatnics, and is rs all men know, master In his
calling have been interested In noting the re-.
spopses 10 his article. and It shows tho extreme value
oil the free press have II la England and Amer.
lea, and OF tho national dcsiro for truth First Mr.
Gladstone answered Mr.. Forbes In lecture which az.
sailed his political nernzations and his analysis
Then camc Freeman, the historian, and as historian
and critic without any living superior, who assailed
Mr. Forbes deductions IRON history. Now comes q
military correspondent OF tho inns who shows
that he saw more OF tho campaigns than Forbes,
that he also was soldier, and could SEQ with
a soldiers eye without challenging any one OF
Mr. Forbes statements he piles up mountain Of ov.
dcnce, showing the reverse OF his conclusions 10 bo
true The result Of the discussion s that Mr. Forbes
fails TO win reputation as . critc--that who as
correspondent describing military events ho is unsur.
passed, as historical critic he fails. am glad OF
the result OF tho discussion. for with all my respect
for Mr. Forbes, his article nssang the Russians and
Bulgnrians was nasty and crude and mischievous II
has brought forward, however, such defence OF tho
poor Bulgars and their Russian protectors that thor
cause IS stronger than before
is LORD MAYO MADs
To pass from the upper to tue under world let US
wha, people are whispering Ia thus vast London
town. You must know that In our reserved society
the rcal news IS never printed but whispered. But
modern enterprise Is trying to remedy tho want, and
very soon London will have the news rs fully tho