The Press.
London, England, 1855-11-17 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

in keeping up a state of war—the borough-
mongers, those who vaguely and blindly dis-
like all that is called, or calls itself," progress,"
and those who, less honest but more far-
sighted, find in the prospect of futuro mischief
a set-off against present inactivity. Add to
these all who have expectations from Govern-
ment, and therefore desire its stability ; and
all whose seats are " shaky," whose pledges of
1852 have not been rigorously observed, and
who hope in their devotion to the new popular
idol to find absolution for past offences. So
much for the war-interest in Parliamont.
Now, let us look out of doors. Is the
newspaper press altogether unbiassed?
[Observe, in this as in every other case, I am
not accusing any set of men of known, wilful,
self•conseious partiality. I do not presume,
in any single instance, to decide how far
individuals or classes are influenced by in-
terest as against patriotism. I only wish to
show that the interest is there. Let judges of
human nature settle the rest.] A newspaper
deals in news. The demand for newspapers
increases with the demand for news. The
demand for news increases enormously in war-
time. Need I push the argument further?
And further—setting aside the question of
interest in its broad and direct form—it would
seem to be in the nature of things that a
public writer, who in the exercise of his voca-
tion must find or make subjects of discussion
for every day in the week, should instinctively
sympathise with whatever is going on in the
form of movement or agitation, be it warlike
or merely pacific. By feeding the popular
thirst for novelty, he comes to share it.
But if tendencies such as I describe exist
in the Cabinet, in the Commons, and in the
profession of journalism, is an antidote to be
found in the good sense of the community?
Among the general public, the largest class is
that of the farmers. How do they stand
affected ? War in their minds is associated
with high prices ; they think themselves
gainers by it—and so, for the time, they are;
of subsequent burdens and the perpetual load
of taxation laid on the shoulders of posterity,
few have the providence to think. True, the
recruiting sergeant interferes to some slight
extent with the labour-market; but the injury
thus done is not serious ; the best men, for
their purpose, do not enlist ; it is not the
steadiest, most plodding of the peasantry that
volunteer with greatest eagerness for Crimean
service. At any rate, the palpable, unmis-
takeable benefit of high prices turns the scale,
and many, perhaps most. believe that with
peace these high prices will cease.
From the farmer I pass on to the labourer.
Considering what the state of our working
classes is, it would be unfair to rely too much
on their judgment to whichever side it might
lean; all I shall point out is, that as war gives
high prices to the corn-producer, it gives em-
ployment and high wages to the working man.
Taking into account the extra enlistment for
land and sea service, the demand for ships,
guns, weapons of all kinds, stores and supplies,
we may reckon that more than half a million
of hands are directly or indirectly employed
by the State to carry on hostilities over and
above the ordinary demand of the services in
peace time. Unless, therefore, bread rise to a
famine price, and unless the labourer learn to
connect this scarcity with the existence of war,
it is not likely that his voice will be raised
against its continuance, although, in the long
run, no class will suffer by it more certainly or
more severely.
Lastly, take the trading or commercial body.
Here, no doubt, peace is more popular; and of
those who support war many do so with a full
knowledge that they are acting against their
own personal and pecuniary interest. But
even here there is a class (and not a small
one) to which the return of our armies and
fleets will bring a cessation of the most lucra-
tive business in which they have ever been
engaged. Has not the Transport Service alone
in one year cost ten millions? Have not other
expenses been proportionate ? Already, in
the great shipping towns, and notably in
Liverpool, the rapid rise of some private for-
tunes under the artificial stimulus thus applied
to trade is matter of comment. No doubt a
corresponding period of collapse must ensue ;
but futuro perils, which moreover will be

SATURDAY,

shared by the entire community, do not
greatly disturb a trader's enjoyment of pre-
sent gain.
What, then, are the immediate effects (I lay a
stress on that word) of the war as it concerns
all classes? To the Government it gives
strength and security at home ; to Conserva-
tive and Whig M.P.'s present respite from
Parliamentary Reform ; to Radicals hope of
wide spread chasige hereafter ; to the press
circulation, which is both influence and wealth;
to farmers high prices; to labourers present
employment; to ship-builders, and all who
supply the materials of war, an increase of
business, which is temporary, indeed, but very
lucrative while it lasts. In one word, a war,
regarded as it affects commerce and finance,
and assuming it to be carried on, as in these
days it must be, by the aid of loans, implies an
agreement on the part of all classes in a nation
to live beyond the national income, trenching
on the capital which supplies that income, and
which no sane person ever expects to see re-
placed. Can we wonder that, with the un-
thinking and improvident, war should be
popular? Can we wonder (and yet by writers
and speakers who must know better this is
put forth as a marvellous and unhopel-for
proof of success) that as yet no sign of dis-
tress or weariness should have shown itself?
No ; the English public, unmerciful to its
generals, indulgent to itself, has so managed
matters as to have the excitement and the
glory now—the suffering hereafter. But that
" hereafter " will arrive. and with it wisdom,
but too late. Meanwhile, when such plati-
tudes are heard as that—" No one loves war
for its own sake," " Everybody is for peace if
an honourable peace can be had "—and such
is just now the language of many—let the facts
I have here set down be borne in mind. Dis-
puted they cannot be—they ought not to be
forgotten.
E. S.

THE KING or PRUSSIA, it is said at Berlin, in.
tends to present Baron de Manteuffel with a large
demesne, composed of three fine estates, which will
be erected into an hereditary niajorate in his favour.
He will be also raised to the dignity of ,count, and
have an hereditary seat in the First Chamber.
THE ARCHDUKE FERDINAND OF AUSTRIA, in his
late accident at Trieste, did not sustain such severe
injuries as was at first feared. He is expected to
recover shortly. The Emperor returned to Vienna
upon finding his brother out of danger.
GENERAL ESPARTERO being lately questioned on
the subject of a Western alliance, is reported to have
made the following verbatim reply :—" There is not
at present any alliance. But Spain is a Latin nation,
and if the war goes on she will certainly take part in
it ultimately on the side of France and England. I
incline to think that the war will become general in
the spring. Should events compel Spain to draw
the sword in this quarrel, you may be assured that
the manner of her doing so will be such as to sustain
the old Castilian glory, and that she will not accept a
ship, a man, or a crown piece, from any power in
the world."

COUNT PROKESCH-OSTEN, who succeeds Baron
Bruck as Austrian internuncio at the Porte, hay
formerly served his Sovereign diplomatically at Con-
stantinople, and several years since published a work
on Turkey. He embarks at Trieste, in an Austrian
war-steamer, the Elizabeth, and is to call at Athens
on his way to Constantinople.
SCHILLER'S BIRTHDAY will be celebrated on its
.Liftieth anniversary at Leipsic by sending diplomas
of honour to those who by the pencil, dramatic art,
criticism, translation, or otherwise, have distin-
guished themselves in extending and advancing the
fame of the great poet. The names of Carlyle, in
England, Adlerqviesnard and Hase, in France, and
Maffei, in Milan, are among the names mentioned as
entitled to this honour.

THE CI-DEVANT PRINCE LEO OF ARMENIA, i 8
about to be given up by the Prussian police from
want of sufficient evidence to detaih him. 1► is be-
lieved that he is a political agent of Russia.
A CONFERENCE on the subject of the Sound dues
is positively announced as being about to take place,
and the powers invited are stated to have accepted
the invitation. France and England will be there
represented, and it is certain that the United States
of America will also send a plenipotentiary.

EGYPTIAN ANTIQUITIES, of great rarity, and a large
number of coins of the time of the Ptolemies, have
lately been discovered at Rancla, near Alexandria, in
Egypt. The Egyptian Government have taken
every precaution to prevent their being pilfered.

NOVEMBER 17, 1855.

TII E WAR.

ME campaign for the autumn may be considered at
an end. The English expeditionary force, with part
of the fleet, has returned to Balaklava from Kinburn ;
the whole of the cavalry, French and English, is to
be sent to Scutari and Constantinople for the winter;
the French Imperial Guard is en route for France ;
the allied fleets are leaving for the Mediterranean ;
and everybody, on our side at least, seemed settling
down for a comfortable winter season. From Eupa•
toria, General d'Allonville has not attempted any
further reconnaissances. The Turkish Contingent
had arrived at Kertch, and it is expected that an
attack upon Arabat or Kaffa will be attempted shortly.
Upon the part of the Russians, it was stated by de-
serters that Prince Uortschakoff meditated a grand
attack upon the allied lines, and that the Russian
army had received orders to hold itself in readiness
for an advance. Their movements lately bear a sus-
picious appearance ; clouds of Cossacks are seen hover-
ing about the hills, the furze has been burnt oft ; their
line of advance, and everything, indicates, in some
measure, that a great scheme is about to be executed
by the Russian General-in-Chief. In Asia, Omer
Paella has inaugurated his command by a brilliant
victory on the banks of the Ingour, and is now rapidly
advancing on Kutais.

The following tele7raphic despatches have been
received during thew k vi& St. Petersburg from
Prince Gortschakoil; and from Nicolaieff
-

The Crimea, Nov. 5.
The allies continue to occupy the valley of Baidar with
two divisions.
Nothing more to report from the Crimea.
THE FLEET AT THE DNIEPER.
Nicolaieff, Nov. 2.
Of all the enemy's fleet there remain but the following
vessels, viz. :—At sea, near the embouchure of the liman
of the Dnieper, two screw.frigates of 50 to 60 guns, and
two steam-corvettes ; in the same liman in the roads, two
ateam•frigates of 30 to 40 guns, two steam corvettes, three
floating batteries, two gun-boats, two transports, and one
merchant vessel ; near the confluence of the Bug and the
Dnieper, seven gun-boats—making in all twenty-three
Teasels.
The following despatch was receivel at the Foreign-
office yesterday .---

Therapia, Nov. 15, 1855.
At noon Omer Pacha forded the river lngour on the
sth, at the head of '20,000 men, and defeated the Russians,
computed at 10,000, including militia, and partly in-
trenched.
The enemy lost about 400 in killed and wounded, sixty
prisoners, and three piocea of cannon.
The Turkish loss was upwards of 300. The British
officers did honour to their country.