Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-12-17
From Our Regular Correspondent
Our European Letter,
LONDON, Eng, Dec. 8, 1879

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The peculiar method by which free
trade coupled with protection has been
extended over the United States has a
good deal more than "a speculative inter-
est for Europeans at the present moment.
For it is quite plain that an experiment CT
precisely the same kind is about 10 be
tried in Europe on very large scale.
| Whatever else be the character of the
Austra-German whatever
the ultimate form it is destined to take
it undoubtedly has for its basis the project
customs union. All the authorities agree
that this union is to embrace tho Austrian
and German empires; and there is gen.
eral belief that provisions will be made
for inclusion within it at no distant time
of all the small continental communities
speaking languages having an affinity
with the German tongues of the Scandina-
Wan states, of Holland, and it may even
be of Switzerland. Within the boundaries
thus marked out there will be absolute
free trade, far more complete than has
ever existed between any two of the coun-
tries composing the union. But the whole
will be surrounded by an iron ring of
protection. The system will be that of
the United States; and though it will COW
er n smaller territory, it will operate over
much larger and more compact popula-
ton of much more settled pursuits. 1t is
further remarkable as having the same
origin rs the mixed free trade and protec.
ton CT the United States. Whether it be
good or bad, expedient or inexpedient. it
does not owe its adoption 10 any diffused
popular conviction of its advantages. No
one fixed economical opinion prevails
over the great territory TO be included in
the union. The source and cause of the
arrangement will be the authority Of at
most four men in high positions, all of
them having far less concern for fiscal
considerations than for long train of
farrcaching political consequences. There
is, again, no question that the progress of
the new system will go hand-in-han
with the growth of a new spirit in the
populations brought under it which can
scarcely be distinguished from a national
spirit. The populations thus knitted to-
gether will become more uniform and
homogeneous; they will be animated with
common ideas to II much greater extent,
and they will be united with far more
ease in resistance to aggression from with,
out. They will become more and more
like fcllowcountrymen, while all who
stand outside the circle of brotherhood
will become more and more like strangers
and aliens.
1t is announced that his sable majesty
Cetewayo is coming to England, not as a
captive chained to the chariot wheels of
his conqueror, in the high old Roman
fashion, but rs the nations guest, and to
study civilization. Some wag of the En-
gish press suggests that the African lion
should be exhibited at the aquarium. and
that the proceeds be applied to the Zulu
war budget. lie is said to be greatly
pleased with himself in his European
clothes and stove-pipe hat, although his
movements are made somewhat awkward
by the restraint imposed. His appetite is
in proportion to his size, and he goes into
raplurcs over the English cuisine, eating
two pots of jam before dinner as an appe-
tizer. OF course Cetewayo will be FORM
ally presented to her majesty the queen,
and put through all the sights of London,
from the house Of lords to the Judge and
jury. What card he will be for the
theatres, and what rivalry among mana
gers to secure him for the first night! 1t
would be las good as play to watch
his unsophistcatcd countenance at the
opera, or at the Alhambra ballet. If
Cetewayo could only have foreseen the
attentions his enemies would lavish on
him, the lion they would make of him,
and the good things they would give him
to cat, he would doubtless have sur
rendered long ago.
A chip thrown overheard at sea will not
float further than a simple paragraph
quietly placed on in the calm ocean of
journalism. Some months ago I was the
first to tell you that the famous Mrs.
Langtry intended paying a visit to the
United States, and that she and her party
had elected to travel by the " White STAR
line. Circumstances altered tho plans of
the lady in question, and the journey
stands over until next year; but the para
graph was copied from your paper all
over the English speaking world. The
New York papers quoted it and penned
their leaders " on the probable results of
the visit Of a rcigning British belle. saw
the paragraph in papers in the eastern
states in papers out west read it in the
California journals, and now it comes
back 10 nc from Australia.
ALPHA