Evening journal., 1896-12-01

saw. il has no longer behind It an eXu-
berant nation filled with enthusiasm
and confident IN its own destiny, but
one wearied with the incessant strain,
doubtful OF the future, and corroded 70
the heart with political and social dis
content. The cars visit aud the fra
termination at Cherbourg and Chalons
have been but the outward and visible
sign of the elimination of a process
OF decay and reconstruction that has
long been going on. Twenty-one years
ago Germany could have crushed and
dismembered France, even If the un-
wieldy, disorganized and inefficient
Russian army of that day had thrown
its sword into the balance. She had
the power, but she lacked the nerve,
although the fault, to do him justice,
did not lie with Prince Bismarck. For
many succeeding years Germany, with
her allies could still have placed
France in extreme and imminent dan
ger. To-day France can look her in
the face and say: 1T is too late
We notice that some of the German
papers, apparently weary of that
querelle d'Allemand which it pleases
their paymasters from time to time
to get up against England, have seized
upon the Trafalgar celebration as an
indication of our active and implaca-
BILE hostility towards France. IL would
be difficult even for press renowned
among that of Europe for its lack Of
perception to make a greater blunder.
There is no hatred of France in Eng
land From time to time the clash
ing Of interests. real or imaginary,
leads to explosions of jealousy, and
without skillfu and cOnciliatory hand
ling those outbreaks might have led
may still lead-to war. But the indi-
vidual Frenchman is to-day as popular
i'm England as the German is unpopular,
and if any one had taken the trouble
to elicit opinion in Trafalgar Square,
or in any popular gathering, on We'd
nesday last he would have had a long
search for a man who wanted to fight
France: and if he had taken a plebis-
cite on the question of why we want a
strong navy. he would have found a
hundred men who thought OF Pretoria,
Zanzibar, and the Flying Squadron for
one who thought of Trafalgar or the
Nile. The feeling of the music halls is
not in all respects to be despised as an
indication OF the unconsciously formed
! OUlnlOnh VI Aldt uOAllut llAO9 Nn n1A7
suel" who goes to make up the bulk
of most nations, and no one who has
attended any of those numerous spec
tacles which involve the display OF the
various national colOrs will need to b,
reminded of the kind of reception in
variably given to the French flag anC
its bearers, or of the demonstration
provoked by that of Germany.
And this, to tell the truth, indicates
one of Germany's greatest failures; 70
1t was not always so. Prussia's aggres
sion on Denmark and on Austria hat
not tended to make her popular bu
during and after the great war pOpula
opinion with us was willing to accep
Germany as a nation which had mad
a splendid defence against unjust ag
! gression and had utterly routed tn
aggressor. If France was hardl.
treated, there was a general feeling
that she had only herself to blame
and if Germany had used her victor.
with moderation, we were prepared Il
accept her as an ally or as friendl
| rival-London Saturday Review.