The Sunday herald., 1881-03-06
7Y1E F.NGLISX PEOrLE.

Not satisfied with morbidly cXaggeratng
the temporary troubles in Ireland, Afghan
istan, and Africa, some American newspapers
go on TO draw the time honored inference
that tho British Empire is falling into
"docRy.' This is still more unworthy of
any but the jefferson Bricks of journalism.
1t does not hurt the British Empire especially,
and IL perhaps gratiiics certain number
who hate that name as bitterly as irration-
ally; hu, it tends to produce in the minds of
the impartial many who read to learn, a
state of muddlement which is distinctly
noxious consequence. Why is the British
Empire, or, to put it more concretcly, Eng
land, falling into decay The symptoms
adduced TO prove the assertion show in those
who rely on them either gross ignorance of
the facts of history or lack of power to put
this and that together and draw decent in
ference. parallel IF England at the pres
ent day with Rome, Spain, Babylon, France,
Persia, or any other powers, ancient or mod
ern, rs they existed Just before their Decline
simply results in absurdity and incongruity
1t would take far too much space to point out
the discrepancies in such n theory in the most
summary manner. Suffice it to say that ma
tions sometimes fall back from a leading or
even prominent place in the affairs of the
world, because they have, as the French say,
exhausted their mandate and there
seems nothing for them to do just then but
improve and strengthen themselves at home.
In such a case they come to the front when
other powers have likewise exhausted their
mandate and left the field clear again.
Spain, Austria, France, the Netherlands
even Sweden and Norway, have played such
parts i'll turn and none of them is so oblit-
Grated but what its chance may come again.
nation only goes TO pieces utterly, like the
Asiatic powers and their successor, Turkey,
when both physical force and moral character
have alike departed. Those who think
Macaulay's New Xealandcr is already on his
way to sit on n broken arch of London
Bridge and sketch the ruins of St. Paul's,
forget one thing, and that the great thing of
all-the English people! A race which has
in its comparatively brief history pcopled
TWO continents, America ana AuStfalla,
amassed the greatest wealth the sun ever
Bhone upon, and combines free govern
ment at home with despotic but humane
sway around the whole globe, has not sud
denly lost its stamina or the characteristics
that gave il victory and success. 1t has
passed through great crises and perils in the
past, and will no doubt do so in the future,
but it needs only the most cursory study of
history to see that it is not external but in
ternal causes that determine the fate of EN-
pres. The true course of the commentator
who wished to be instructive would there
fore be to inquire whether race and nation
which is still producing splendid list of
poets, philosophers, and historians, which is
bustling with life and energy, spreading
popular education, reforming its civil ser
vice, its suffrage and its church, has lost
any of the original impulse that made it
what it is. To confound with inquiries
such as these the question of Gen. Colley's
failure in the Transvaal or the retreat from
Candahar is as absurd as to argue the fate
of the American Republic from the Modoc
massacre or the negotiations over the
Isthmus Canal.