The Evening Star THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1873.

Evening Star, Issue 3289, 4 September 1873, Page 2

The Evening Star THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1873.

As the social and commercial interests of the Colony widen, less attention is given to Home affairs, and one effect of the cable telegrams is to render Home papers of less importance to us because of the continual droppings of news received at intervals of a few days. Yet the fillings up of the gaps that remain between events thought important enough to telegraph, with bits of gossip of doings in the Old World are pleasant reading. For instance, that visit of the Shah of Persia to Europe, and the record of his trottings about from seeing one sight to seeing another, the expressions of wonder and admiration at the manifestations of art and science, applied even to the amusements of European life, have more than hj passing interest. It is the birth of an Asiatic into a new world, on the magnificence and beauty of which he gazes for the first time, in wonder, admiration, and amazement. No thoughtful person can read of the transactions now taking place in Asia without feeling that gradually bub surely a great change is at work through European influence. Vast as are the populations of several Asiatic countries, they have been for many centuries stagnant in civilisation. Caste and superstition have proved impassable barriers to progress. British influence in India is breaking- up these trammels, railways are opening the way to external influences being brought to bear on these sleepy peoples, and European activity and modes of thought are commending themselves where hitherto all has been exclusiveness. The Shah of Persia professes, as the Home News has it, to “ desire to comprehend our system of national resources,” whatever the writer may mean by the expression, “ with a view to obtaining ideas for the improvemeat of his own country.” Whether his Shahship will succeed in his object by the process of visiting the nobility, being flattered by the Queen, chaperoned at the Opera, bewitched at

the Crystal Palace, feasted at Guildhall, reviewing the troops, and thundered at from ironclads may be doubted. Here is a list of doings, as summed up by the Home Hews :—

We may briefly say that he has been shown everything we had to show him, and in fact that he was rather mercilessly worked. He has seen the Queen and Court at Windsor, the Army, the Navy, the Cathedral, the Abbey, the Bank, and some of our most remarkable manufactories and machinery. Ho was shown Manchester and Liverpool. He was feasted in Guildhall, and a noble ball was given there, the chief feature of which was a Royal Quadrille. He was conducted to a State performance at the Opoia. Ha was shown, perhaps, the most imposing and suggestive sight of all when he made a River progress, and beheld our mercantile marine, and our grand docks, and the London millions that crowded every point under his eye. Ho was taken to some of our exhibitions. He visited Parliament, and the Commons actually got up a division for his gratification. He was the centre of a superb fete at the Crystal Palace, with which he was so enchanted that he insisted on making a second visit. Ho was gallantly feasted by the Heir Apparent and by the Duke of Sutherland. Of his numerous other amusements let our chronicle speak. It is pleasant to add that he was lodged in Buckingham Palace, and that everything that thoughtful and lavish hospitality could do was done to ensure his comfort. Finally, he went away, escorted, as he had been received, by a noble ironclad fleet, whose thunders were simply awful as they Lade him farewell. For this time, England, with a hearty good will, put forth her whole strength to honor a King. It will not be her fault, should he ever forget the extraordinary demonstration of welcome. It is not. however, likely to be effaced, and we read that the Shah alieady contrasts our hearty treatment of him with the cold reception he lias received from the Parisian masses.

It is a pity all this lavish hospitality, apparently so generous, should have such hollow foundation in the national mind, as is attributed to it j and we are bound to believe there is something in it when the public journals give expression to such statements. We trust, for the honor of Great Britain, no enemy will open the Shah’s eyes by translating a copy of the Home News in his august hearing. The editor must have written his article in the “ Palace of Truth ” when he told the world that this outward show of hospitality was not to aid the Shah in his laudable desire to gain a few notches regarding the best way of improving the condition of his people. It was not tor the purpose of teaching what cultivated intellects acting upon matter can achieve in diffusing happiness and comfort amongst the masses. It was not dictated by the genuine hospitality of good fellowship that leads a thorough-bred John Bull to give a stranger a hearty welcome ; no such thing. There was a ghost in the closet that has haunted John and led him into numerous wickednesses and absurdities. The Emperor of Russia was there in spirit, and J ohn’s object was to work upon the baby intellect of the Shah, and show him how much better a godfather he would prove than that grasping Czar. Such says the Home Ntws was England’s object:—

Our object in receiving the Shah with an extraordinary hospitality which has not been tendered to any royal visitor since the lata Emperor Napoleon came in all his glory, was to impress him with a sense of our tremendous power and inexhaustible resources, and to make him feel that to cultivate our friendship, rather than that of Russia, is the very wisest thing that a not potent monarch can do. There is not much doubt that we have duly impressed him, and that we have greatly pleased him he himself proclaims everywhere. He has been specially delighted with our Queen, with her dignified amiability, and with her leaving her favorite seclusion to do him honor.

For our own parts, we view these openings up of communication with British populations as having an important bearing upon the future of the Australasian group. Years may elapse —perhaps a century—before direct commercial intercourse is established; but that New Zealand is destined, at no distant day, estimated in the lifetime of nations, to profit largely by the Eastward march of European civilisation is certain. How far it may be hastened by wcll-conducted enterprise, it is impossible to say.