"NO BIGGER THAN A MAN'S HAND."

Press, Volume XIX, Issue 2707, 3 January 1872, Page 3

"NO BIGGER THAN A MAN'S HAND."

[COMMUNICATED]

As before a stormtheairisrharged with murky vapors, engendering a vague oppressive feeling of uneaxineßs, so at the present time in the mother * nun try tbe social and political atmosphere is dense with shadowy rumors of impending national disaster. For a considerable time past the public mind has been agitated by uneasy apprehensions of a possible Continental invasion. It ia not ho many years ago, when tbe pulse of the English nation beat more healthfully than it does now —when men were more truly patriotic and less mercantile—thatsuchasacriligious idea as that of successful invasion would only have emanated from tbe brain of a lunatic. That feeling of security arising from a sense of power at home — ability, courage, and patriotism at the bead of the statequalities that secured the involuntary respect of every foreign nation, seem to exist no longer. Far bo it from mc

to! underrate the blessings of peace, but oreiaion must pomon'mes inevitably ii rise w'<en nations van only >eitle tin ir ditV- r.MH-.-H by an app.-ul to arms. Since Iho Crimean war, tho peaeo advocates in England have achieved an unduo and Unwholesome influence—an influence which has had h »<tv deteriorating effect oa tho national character. It was this peace at any eoßt principle, that roused the stigma to bo cast upon tiR of having deserted our natural ally Franco (who rendered such good aervice iv the Crimea), in her lato bitter hour of need, and earned for ua tho contempt of every European power. Our defection is scarcely likely to be forgotten, and the day is pr.ihaLly not far distant, when m tho event of England being plunged into a Continental war, France may range herself on the side of our enemies. Well grounded confidence and the asouranco of victory iv a righteous cause aro three-fourths of tho elements of succeso, but a dangerous self-depreciation and a timorous apprehension seem to have displaced those wholesome beliefa. A recently-published pamphlet, " Tho Battle of Dorking," from the pon of a high military authority, has fed this morbid and unworthy feeling, and helped to plant an undefiuable fear in the heart of the British people. Such a damaging exposure of our military weakness, as a nation, ban never before been made public ; and tho worst of it ia that it is only too true. Every disaster therein described with such graphic force by tho writer, is perfectly susceptible of realization in tho by no menus unlikely event of a foreign invasion. Ido not nay that such an audacious attack would bo likely to succeed, but there ia no room for n doubt that if a foreign landing were effected in England, the isaua would be fatal to her independence.

As was the cabe with France, the probabilities nro that such military resources as tho country could muster would be out-genernlled, out-ma-noeuvred, and out-numbered. Disguise tho fact how we may, wo have not had a War Minister hince I'ulmerslon, or a real military leader Mince the " Iron Duke." What wo do possess are but poor substitutes. Wo want a Bismarck and a Moltke. That this belief is shared by the great (Herman statesman and tho Gorman people is very probable, they may have misgivings as t<> their [tower to eti' ct v landing in England, but tkit landing once accomplished, none au to tho final issue of the content. There will >c no real security for Great Britain until the whole military nystein is re-organised, and the nation properly i rained to arms; until, in tact, tho Prussian system of national civic soldiery (so to speak) ia adopted in England, and military service for national defence, if not for foreign service, made compulsory on evory male adult capable of bearing arms. Then indeed, and not before, cmild England, as of old, defy the world—not. until the ineradicable conviction is implanted in the mind of all would-be invaders of Britain, that such a consummation would only be the precursor to their utter extermination in the event of an unsuccessful attempt, will the old sense of thorough security and independence replace the present feeling of timorous, half-hearted apprehension, a feeliug utterly unworthy of Englishmen. '