New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-07-18
DNcrAND TN FIGHTING MOOD.

The English people are loyal to their tradi-
TONS An era of successful trade and COM
merce has promoted pacific disposition, but
the martial instincts still remain The shop
keeping spirit as it has been cOntemptuously
termed by the cavilers of the Continent has
shaped the habits of thought of an inten sely
practical people, but it has not affected the
characteristic impulses of combative and
high-splrited nation. The England of the past
was proud aggressive nation, which was
fighting half the time and took part IN all the
European campaigns. The England of to-day
is a commercial empire, which has prospered In
trade and profIed by peace, without forgetting
its achievements in diplomacy and war. Ma
tional pride and historic traditions have not
been sacrificed for sordid ends. Englishmen
have been constantly reproacbed for their de-
votion to trade and their military decadence.
Continental irony has made them unduly sensi-
tive, SO that whenever there is any opportunity
for decisive action in European affairs the
Ministry of the day can count with absolute
confidence upon the support of the country.
1t is this sensitiveness that explains the exul-
taton with which the first news from Alex
andra was greeted in London. England Lad
not waited for Europe to give the signal but
had led the way as IN the Olden time. While
diplomatsts were chattering at the CONSTANT
NOBLE Conference the Admiral of the British
feet had sent out his ultimatum, and when
he was defed, he had enforced it with broad
sides from his floating batteries. The few
croaking moralists who could not wholly
coed in justifying the arbitrary ultimatum that
was sent to Alexandria. and who were disposed
to belittle the destruction OF few earthworks
by the most powerful ships Of war modern
science has been able to devise, could not make
their voices heard. The country was conscious of
the prominence which the action OF its Gov
eminent had given it in Europe. Even when
the catastrophe came, and the city was plum
dered and burned and 30 many of its inhabitants
were butchered, England was not disposed to
regret what had been done by its fleet While
the Governments lack of foresight was de-
plored it's vigorous action had added to its pop
ularity. The country revelled in the renewal
of its ancient prestige.
The world has accustomed itself to think of
England as pacific nation. IL the evangels of
the Manchester school were premature in pro-
claiming new era of free trade, common
brotherhood and universal peace, they pro-
NOTED belief that England had ceased to be
fighting nation. This belief implied rad
zeal change in national character. In the eli gh-
teenth century England was more than half the
time at war with her neighbors She fought
for twelve years to prevent a French prince
from becoming the King OF Spain, for five
years to secure successor To the Austrian
throne, and for seven years in general Euro
pean war for no definite purpose which hlsto-
rians have been able to discern. With Spain
she was at war no fewer than seven times, and
after two civil conflicts with the partisans of
the Stuarts and the protracted campaigns in
America, she entered upon the circuit of Ma
poleonic wars which was completed at Water
loo. The economists asked the world to be-
lieve that this fighting nation had changed its
nature-that En- gland, during The forty years of
peace which followed her browning victory,
had not only renounced the habits of war, but
had even forgotten the historic traditions,
which gave her so conspicuous place in the
European state system. When our London
correspondent telegraphs that bulletins are
read in the streets of London by cheering null
titudes amid pouring rain and bitter cold, and
that few indeed are the Englishmen who
wish that Admiral Seymour had deserted the
Khedive and sailed away duped, insulted and
"defied," he proves that race traits and national
| traditions have not lost their force-that Eng
land is still an aggressive nation, jealous of her
position and not unwilling to fight on land
| and
| But there is one distinction which we must
not fail to make. If England is not unwilling
70 fight, her sober judgment warns her against