The Press. — London, England, 1856-01-19 00:00:00

50 were endangering the French alliance. Many joined in this foolish noise, who from their position, and their opportunities of informa tion, should have known better. Later, we announced that Propositions of Peace had been drawn up, aid were actually under the considetation of the allied Govern ments. Our statement was vehemently denied; it was characterised as a "canard," and some Paris journals could only accoltnt for its ap. pearauce in our columns on the supposition that we were actuated by sentiments of hos tility to Lord PALMERSTON. Whether the negotiation was undertaken by the Vienna Cabinet, independent of any hint or suggestion from Russia, our readers may de cide for themselves. It is enough to know that the Propositions are of a nature which Russia has found little difficulty in accepting. The fact that negotiations were in progress oozed pain fully out from the Ministerial journals, weeks after it had been authoritatively published in THE PRESS. _ _ Last week, in noticing the proposals borne by Cou'it STACKELBERO, we stated decisively, and from the highest information, that " the "prospects of. Peace were favorable," yet up to the very hour on Thursday, when it was all but announced by the French Government that Peace was established,) we were treated to harangues on the certainty of war, and favored by one of our contemporaries with a lecture on the extreme impropriety of our conduct in taking any other view of affairs. They will probably be wise after the event. They cer tainly were not so before it. We spoke from the first in the interest of Conservative sentiment; and we say distinctly now, that the value of our language at that time cannot be justly estimated but by collation with the opinions which had the widest cur rency and were received with the most favour. Russia was to be destroyed, as the anchor to which all the despotisms of the Continent clung in their hour of trial. Italy was to be regenerated by the action of the Foreign En listment Bill ; Poland was to be roused to arms and independence by the embodiment of the unfortunate refugees who have grown grey by their daily begging through the streets of Lbndon. And all the time that these fictions were being propagated by the creatures of our Government, our Government was in secret conference with the Cabinet of Vienna, imploring its aid, or soliciting its mediation. Had the Conservative party joined in the popular clamour for a war of extremity, the fortunes of England and the world might have taken a different direction from that which they have happily done. There are persons in the elevated position of statesmen whose chief skill consists in watching the signs of the times, and in adapting themselves to ex isting circumstances. Had the Conservative sentiment of England been dead or perverted, these men might have found it their cue to play the revolutionary game. They found it vigilant and sound ; they knew that it must eventually triumph ; and, still adapting them selves to circumstances, they bowed to it, and will meet Parliament with that great card, on which THE PRESS had staked largely, and which it has in no mean degree been influential in turning up—A CONSERVATIVE PEACE. THE NEGOTIATIONS. THE acceptance by Russia of the Allied Propositions has greatly simplified the political situation. It is the strongest evidence of her sincerity she could give, and of her desire to bring the negotiation to a prompt and satisfactory close. Had her object been merely to engage in a profitless discussion—to play with ideas of Peace, and to gain a character for moderation without committing herself to terms—other ways were open to her than the frank course she has chosen. The departure of Count EBTERHAZT from St. Petersburg would not necessarily have - ,broken off the negotiation, though it ,might have caused dificulty and delay. The proposals sent by Count STACKELBERO would most probably still have been taken into con sideration by the Allied Governments. THE PRESS. Those proposals were correctly characterised in our last issue as " frank and conciliatory." They were conceived in a spirit not of hostility to those of the A,llids, but of concord and agreement with thorn. . The same objects wieie pronosid, and Russia submitted what she balived Might prove a more clear 04 satisfactory method of ,attaining them. It was admitted by the times, on Thursday last, that Russia had condeded " the neutralis& " tioh of the Black Beg; the abolition of the " Protectorate in Piitlldaivia and Wallachia; " and of all right to ihteffere in the domestic " affairs of the Ottoman Porte." Further, said our contemporary,—" The language of the " Emperor is mild and conciliatory. He seems " to have appreciated the moderation of the " terms proposed to him by the Allies, and to " have been willing to meet them in a corre " sponding spirit.' This is so true, that we have every reason to believe that the Russian modification of these terms was considered satisfactory by the Governments of Austria and France. But Austria had engaged with the Allies that the Proposals should really be an ultimatum ; that she would listen to no dis cussion on it; that she would receive no counter-proposals ; and that she would with draw her Ambassador unless Russia signified her acceptance within a prescribed time. She remained true to her engagement, and Count ESTERHAZY would undoubtedly have left St. Petersburg on the 18th had not Russia pre. vionsly notified her acceptance (pure et simple) of the Propositions with which he was charged. But the negotiation would probably have been taken up at the point where Austria had dropped it, as the belligerent Powers would have felt extreme difficulty in justifying the continuance of a mighty European war for any such narrow—and, so far as they were per sonally concerned, unimportant—object as the rectification of the Russian frontier on the side of the Danubian Provinces ; more espe cially as it was understood that Russia was willing to withdraw from the mouths of the Danube, and from all interference with the navigation of that great watercourse. As it is, we are saved from that period of doubt and perplexity which would have ensued had Russia abided by her counter proposals. Had she wished to place the Allies in a false position, and to embroil rather than clear the question, she might have done so by resisting the full extent of that cession of territory which was re required from her. Neither in England nor in France would the War have been popular for an object which could not in any way ap peal to the sympathies or affect the interests of the people, and which assuredly was not essential to the integrity of the Turkish terri tory. The new frontier line was suggested by Austria, and was of no European importance except as it affected her interests. This was the weak point in the Allied Propositions ; it was, moreover, a new point, and, by yielding it, the Cabinet of St. Petersburg has supplied a strong presumption that she is not disposed to throw any obstacle in the way of a defini tive Treaty. When principles of pacification are settled that Power shows the greatest wisdom which cedes points of no essential im portance, and smooths the way for general agreement. The greatest moderation may then be the highest magnanimity. There is no longer any substantial obstacle to the speedy establishment of peace, though much may yet depend on the spirit in which the belligerent Powers meet to discuss the precise terms to be adoped. The Propositions accepted by Russia are drawn with sufficient looseness to admit of plausible differences, if discussed in a jealous or hostile spirit. The last article, in particular, is so extremely in definite as to admit of any kind of interpreta tion that the Allies may choose to put upon it. Nothing can be made of a Proposition which reserves to the Allies the right of introducing any conditions they may think proper. As a mere formality it would be utterly unimportant ; but if, as is generally understood, it is in tended to refer to a condition that no fortifi cations should again be raised on the Aland Islands, it would have been better to have had the condition distinctly expressed. Against all apprehensions on this ground we have to set the fact that Count EsTzattAay SATURDAY, held confidential communication with the Cabinet of St. Petersburg, and that he proba bly gave frank explanations of those parts of the propositions w were open to d ou b t. We learb by the toteripli, that on Thursday " Coontft . ktEssanabli and ESTERHAZY Signed "at PetersbUrg M PrObocol containing the " conditions propcd by. the Allies, as th e " fohntil4on t prailninaries of peac e " Nothing hut treat owns design (of which there is 'to susnlisiott) or extreme wrong headedness can now prevent the speedy con clusion of a Treaty which, whatever objections may be urged to it in detail, must tend in its general scope to the security of Europe, and to the firmer establishment and wider exten sion of those principles of international equity which restrain the rage of conquest, and com pel the mightiest nations to guide their foreign policy by plain rules of fairness and honesty. It is desirable that no time should now be lost in adjusting and signing preliminaries of Peace. Until this be done, hostilities must proceed—the preparations for War must con tinue—profuse expenditure must go on— blood may be needlessly shed—the interests of commerce must be impaired—and the public mind of Europe be kept in a state of feverish suspense. Even as matter of finance, each day of doubt must cost this country two hun- dred thousand pounds. The time has arrived when the belligerent Powers must place con fidence in each other's professions. There can be no other security fur the maintenance of Treaties ; and, in this case, there is the less reason for mistrust, as neither party can hope to gain any advantage by deception. The pledge of Russia, frankly given to-day, must be as valid as if given three or six months hence. We should have to trust to her good faith then,—why not trust to it now ? As regards material guarantees, the Allies hold sufficient in their hands, and they will only be given up when Peace is formally, us it is already, we do not hesitate to say, vir tually assured. MR. WALPOLE FOR " CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY." WE are heartily glad that the leading mem bers of the University of Cambridge have resolved on supporting the claims of Mr. SPENCER WALPOLE for the vacant seat. Nor are we less rejoiced to learn that the Right Hon. Gentleman has responded to the call. The choice of such a candidate does equal honour to himself and to his friends, and w•e have not the slightest doubt of his being triumphantly elected. Consideration of his merits fully justifies the legitimacy of his pretensions. In Mr. WALPOLE there is a great assemblage of presumptive claims founded on collegiate recollections, professional distinction of the first order, and distinguished services. At the Chancery Bar he rose to eminence by his clear intellect and sustained power of forensic logic, and his first speech in the House of Commons was heard with universal applause. On a brief political experience he was ad vanced to a Secretaryship of State, and if his party had remained in office his reputation would have still further been enhanced. Yet even during his brief tenure of office Mr. WALPOLE showed many excellent qualities at the Home-office. Since then his experience of Parliament is enlarged, his acquaintance with social facts is more familiar, and the concen tration of his talents in politics has invigorated his fine powers. We are also justified in reminding the constituency of Cambridge University of the sacrifices made by Mr. WALPOLE on be half of the Conservative party. The course followed by Si.t ROBERT PEEL deprived the Conservatives of their natural leaders. Wonders were accomplished on an emergency by the united exertions of Lord DERBY, Lord GEORGE BENTINCH, and Mr. DISRAELI. But when a decrepit Whig Ministry fell by its own weak ness in 1832, Lord DERBY found that he had difficulties to encounter from the circum stance of his leading associates not haying had