Punch (72.1877)

PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI. [July 7, 1877.

sardonically interposed Common Sense. " I began by saying we live in an age of Examinations. I propose to examine you.
Wbat makes the Strength of Nations ? "

" National Health and National Wealth."

" Enumerate the hading symptoms of National Health."

" Diffused Education, wide-spread Comfort, a well-balanced Political Constitution, Reverence for Home, Loyalty to
National Institutions, Sobriety, Respect for Truth and Fair Dealing between man and man."
" Which of these do you find in Russia ? "

" Not one. I find, instead, an almost utter want of Education ; a thin varnish of Luxury, but no Comfort; a Despotic
Government; Communism in the villages, Affiliation to destructive Secret-Societies in the towns; Drunkenness and
Falsehood generally prevalent; Dishonesty in private dealings, and Corruption in public offices."

" What are the chief conditions of National Wealth ? "

" Widely-diffuse^ and intelligent Industry, and labouring Anns at commaud, with accumulated Capital and sound
Credit to set them to work ; a fertile Soil; Commerce ; Manufactures ; abundant Raw Material; and Free Trade to turn all
these to the best account."

"Which of these do you find in Russia?"

" Not one. I find, instead, a poor, pining, and protected iudustry; labour scarce, ill-trained, unenergetic and largely
reduced by the constant drain for military service ; liitle accumulated capital, heavy indebtedness and exhausted credit; a soil
barren over by far the larger part of its enormous extent, and where it is productive, with the trade in its raw material
exposed to an overpowering foreign competition before which it dwindles yearly ; next to no healthy commerce or manu-
factures, and a rigidly protective system."

"What makes a nation formidable to its neighbours?"

'; Aggressive intentions, backed by effective force."

" Do you find those united in the ease of Russia?"

" No. Admitting the intentions, I fail to find the force that should be formidable to a really formidable opponent?"
" [low, then, do you account for her conquests round the shores of the Black Sea, about the ridges of the Caucasus,
and in Central Asia beyond (he Caspian to the borders of Afghanistan and the confines of Chinese Tartary \"
<: Because in these cases she was dealing with barbarians weaker than herself."
" Do you not fear what Russia can do to endanger our rule in India ? "

" No ; for 1 think our basis of defence about the strongest, her basis of attack about the weakest, in the world. If a
thousand miles of waterless deserts and impassable mountains, and more than that distance between even the border of
these and the sources from which all Russia's supplies must be drawn, and that by a nation whose European credit, as I am
assured by those who are loudest in their fear of her, is exhausted, and whose internal system is honeycombed by the secret
workings of discon'ent and disloyalty, be not sufficient defence of a power rooted as England is in India, with her communi-
cations secured by her command of the sea, her soldiers and sailors well trained, well officered, and animated by the high
courage of our rare, and the wealth and credit of Great Britain's vast empire and world-wide commerce at their back, then
fac?s and fancies are one, and Punch has read History in vain."

" And, worse still, has studied in my schools and worked in my service to no purpose ! " exclaimed Common Sense, as,
with a sudden explosion of impatience, he shut down with a snap the Russian Old Bogey into his Box, while Toby rested in
peace under the shadow of

And Britannia was calm, knowing that, if Toby slumbered, she might sleep secure,