On every side, look where we may, we see an almost brutal dominance of wealth. We see the Yankee Trade-octopus, stretching out greedy tentacles in every direction, striving to grasp British shipping, British industries, and British interests everywhere, in that devouring and deadly grip, which, if permitted to hold, would mean mischief and loss of prestige to our country, though, no doubt, it might create rejoicing in America. For America is by no means so fond of us as certain interested parties would have us suppose. She would dearly like to “patronise” us, but she does not love us, though at present she hides her hand. In a case of struggle, she would not support the “old country” for mere sentimental love of it. She would naturally serve only her own best interests. As a nation of bombast and swagger, she is a kind of “raree-show” in the world’s progress; but her strength is chiefly centred in dollars, and her influence on the social world teaches that “dollars are the only wear.” English society has been sadly vulgarized by this American taint. Nevertheless, it is, as it has always been, a fatal mistake for any nation to rely on the extent of its cash power alone. Without the real spirit which makes for greatness--without truth, without honour, without sincere patriotism and regard for the real well-being and honest government of the majority--any national system, whether monarchical or republican, must inevitably decay and perish from the face of the earth. Unblemished honesty is the best policy for statesmen; but that such has been their rule of conduct in these latter years may perhaps be open to question. The late Mr. W. E. H. Lecky, whose broad-minded, impartial views of life, commend themselves forcibly to every literary student, writing of Cecil Rhodes, whose funeral service was celebrated with such almost royal pomp in St. Paul’s Cathedral, gives us a sketch which should make the most casual “man in the street” pause and reflect as to whether those solemn public rites and tributary honours from both the King and Queen were not somewhat out of place on such an occasion.