The French Government may discourage the German
language in Alsace and prohibit Eisteddfods in Brittany; but the
Journal des Debats never treats German music and poetry as
mischievous lumber, nor tells the Bretons that the sooner all Breton
specialities disappear from the face of the earth the better.
Accordingly, the Bretons and Alsatians have come to feel themselves a
part of France, and to feel pride in bearing the French name; while
the Welsh and Irish obstinately refuse to amalgamate with us, and
will not admire the Englishman as he admires himself, however much
the Times may scold them and rate them, and assure them there is
nobody on earth so admirable.
And at what a moment does it assure them of this, good heavens! At a
moment when the ice is breaking up in England, and we are all
beginning at last to see how much real confusion and insufficiency it
covered; when, whatever may be the merits,--and they are great,--of
the Englishman and of his strong sense and sturdy morality, it is
growing more and more evident that, if he is to endure and advance,
he must transform himself, must add something to his strong sense and
sturdy morality, or at least must give to these excellent gifts of
his a new development. My friend Mr. Goldwin Smith says, in his
eloquent way, that England is the favourite of Heaven.
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