Washington sentinel., 1900-02-10

on the sea. An unforeseen tempest,
strandings and other maritime nlishaps,
or the well directed manoeuvers OF a
score Of torpedo boats on a dark nigkt'
and the British armada IS done for. as
was the case centuries ago with the
Spanish fleet.
An Englishman wrote THE Battle
of Dorking," While In the description
Of this national drama he ioresaw the
probability OF a landing of EuroDe's
forces in England, he did not dream of
an army Of Ioo, 600 Russians forcing the
passes of Afghanistan and seizing India.
He did not think ot another army invad-
ing China, of the reorganization Of an
army Of liberators in Ireland, or of a
Franco Canadian movem Mt similar to
that of the Airikanders, OF two or three
European regiments sent to Egypt,
Should England be at war with CONT.
mental Europe she would best be
compared with Carthage without the
genius OF Hannibal. Besides, Carthage
had powerful African. Spanish aud
Gallo allies who could vie with the
Romans, while the English mercenaues,
Sepoys and others. would not be able to
hold their own for an hour against the
national troops OF France, Germany or
Russia,
Let us further consider that the empire
OF the seas depends on an invention; that
if the submarine boat should prove
practice bic thereign OF the cruiser will be
at an end. The battle of CrecY reminds
us how new arms can decide the fate of
war. With plenty Of small cannon,
causing more noise than harm, the
English Overpowers ed the best cavalry
in France. Though the English have
greatly improved on the ancient war
enc ines Of Crecy their land forces are
Insignificant, They must acknowledge
that they have not more than 10000
regulars, which is as nothing compared
with our European armies.
These reflections, which cannot fail to
come to the minds Of the intelligent in
England, must necessarily inspire bad
humor, despite the everlasting clamoring
that they fear nothing and defy the
whole world. It is the expression of
patriotic anguish. The disrespectful
caricatures and offensive verses in
French and German papers have greatly
increased the anger oil our stOlid neigh
bors. To them Queen Victoria is
almost a sacred parsonage, and regret
that there are French writers and artist
who will sacrifice their talents to such
ribald satire. They do not repres- mt
the French people,
We caution more discretion IN public
criticism OF England and her rulers. But
how have the English acted in the past
in this respectf Have they a right TO
complain, to even menace US on this
account Before the breaking out OF the
French revolution the most ignoble
pamphlets, directed against Marie An
toinette. the Count d'Artois and the
Pohgnac, were scattered broadcast |
have some ofthem in nay library. Their
purusal would suffuse the cheeks OF the
modern correspondents with shame,
Later the most lTightiul libels against
Napoleon and the French were edited
and propagated in London. Even during
the reign OF their useful ally, Napoleon
III. they refused to pursue, to deliver
or to expel the notorious accomplices
of the men who attempted to assassinate
the Emperor.
II was no better after the Commune.
Even in 1879 the anti French caricatur.
lists IN the English papers knew no
bounds. II the English now assert that
three fourths of the French people
sympathize with the Beers, they are not
+ deceived. They might add that the
entire civilized world sympathizes with
, the Beers, though international politics
may render the expression of that sym
pathy less open in this or that country
Should this surprise the English. oi
4 have they a right to complaint Rich anC
I powerful, the British Empire hhi
e attacked a modest, thrifty and br av'
e people, which asks for little more thar
Y to be left in peace in the Transvaal, an'
n which seeks quarrel with nobody. |
Il has presumed to interfere with th
S internal politics OF a free country.
e would not permit a nation 10 deien'
d itself against those who menace II
d national existence. II wanted TO fore
IT an independent republic to thorough
n change its laws. which are less drastl
,e than those which were imposed upo
IS Ireland