The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-06-05 00:00:00

SATURDAY, JUNE 5, 1875.

OUR FOREIGN POLICY.

The recent discussions in he British Parlia
went upon the action of our Foreign Offi...e itb
respect first to the cleansed of the German Go-
vernment upon the kingdom of Belgium, and
next to the relations between France anlPrussia
have revived the recollections of a time when
it was customary to speak of our influence upon
the Continent in very slighting terms. That
was the natural result of the reaction which
followed an interference in the affairs of other
nations that was often indiscreet and uncalled
for. Lord Palmerston owed a great deal of his
personal popularity to the fact that the glory of
his official life was to conduct a " spirited for-
eign policy." Wnen the Aberdeen Administra-
tion fell to pieces in the crisis of the war with
Russia, Lord Palmerston was the Minister
called by the voice of the people to the head of
Affairs, he had earned a reputation for being
jealous of the honour and dignity of his country
Again, in 1857, when the House of Commons
pronounced a vote of censure upon his policy in
China, he disolved Parliament, appealed to the
constituencies, and returned from the country
with a large majority, thus showing that the
people, as a whole, thoroughly believed in him
as a patriotic Minister. From that time, how-
ever, for several years afterwards, there gradu-
ally came over the public mind an impression
that nationalities were best allowed to manage
their own affairs, and member after member was
returned to the House of Commons pledged to
a policy of non•intervention abroad. Then the
pendulum took rather an extreme swing on the
opposite side, and the result was seen early in
the year 1854, when Denmark was invaded by
Austria and Prussia, and the duchies of Scyles-
wig and Holstein were taken from her. Lord
Russell, then Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs, had said in a despatch that in the case
of an invasion by the two greater powers, Den-
mark would not stand alone, no European nation
stretching out a finger to help her. It cannot
be affirmed that our foreign polict, on that oc-
casion met with the unanimous approval of the
people. seven years bcfrire, Lord Palmerstoi.
had been censued by the /least, et commons for
his high-handed treatn.ent of the Chines ; h
resolution was now introduced declaring that the
course pursued by his Government had" lowered
the just influence of this country in the councib:
of Europe." It was defeated by a majority of
eightLeu votes, Parliament thus deoatin_ ;J
weep: not place upon recon: an expressiois
opinion which woutd have registev,s.. she nationa.;
humiliation to all time.

The Lien that Great Britain was disinclined
to go to war unless actually at acked, prevailed
for many years after Lord Palmerston's death,
and accounted for much that appeared in the
foreign press representing us as an old and
effete nation, living solely upon the memories of
our past glory, and travelling down the steep of ,
time almost to the brink of extinction. It
accounted for the language of the American
newspapers during the tedious dispute over the
Alabama claims—a dispute set at rest after ali
by the payment of more than three millions
sterling. When France and Prussia were pre-
paring to rush into war in July, 1870, neither of
the intended combatants paid much attention to
the remonstrances of our Foreign Office al-
though there can be no question that Lord
Granville made every effort to avert the
calamity which soon afterwards swept over the
fairest land in Europe. The Germans were so
elated with their victories, and so annoyed at
the sympathy shown by the English press for
prostrate France, that the more ardent spirits
amongst them declared that in a few years they
they would possess a fleet, and then let England
look to it, for the Teutonic race would serve her
upon the seas as they had served France upon
the land. This of course was excusable in a
nation flushed with conquest and gigantic
successes upon the battle field which were
unparalled in modern history. It was no care
of ours to point out to the Germans that fleets
were of no use without seaman to man them,
and that while a nation might be very great in
soldiers, her sailors might prove exceedingly
p. or creatures. We only refer to this as showing
that the German press rejoiced in what they
described as England's effacement—an expression
w„icb, it may be remembered, was taken excep-
tion to in the House of Commons, and repudiated
by Prince Bismarck.
Recent events have. however, shown that tbe
luiltruce of this country in the councils of Eucup:
ia not quite so small as for p-,tri4 we 11,vo been
asked to believe. It is well-known that since
the crushing defeats of 1870 and 1871, France
bas been reorganizing her army, so as not again
to be caught is such a whirlpool of misfortune
Ai then for the time overwhelmed her. This, as
au Independent nation, France had a perfect
riL;nt to do—as much right, indeed, as we have
Le construet an ironclad or to bni,d a fort. But
toe military party in Gerrnau CIIUSE to regard
;liis as a declaration that at the first opportunity
France would seek to renew the conflict of live
years ago, and the Government was urged to
lose no time in attacking Frsnce and annihilate
her as a separate Power. The Roman Senate,
after a long and desperate struggle with their
hereditary foe, once decreed that Carthage
should be destroyed by fire Carthage accord-
ingly was. The German military party would
have meted out the same measure to France ;
and when it was known that the Emperor of
Itussia was to meet the German Emperor at
Berlin, it was feared that the question of peace
or war was trembling in the balance. It was at
this crisis that our Foreign Secretary stepped in.
Lord Derby deemed it his duly to address a
despatch to the Prussian capital, speaking in
strong terms of the necessity of maintaining
peace, and pointing out the enormous responsi-
bility which the licrman Government would
incur if they wantonly and without provocation
broke the peace of Europe. A similar com-
munication was made to the French Govern-
ment, different, of course, i 1 terms, but alik
in effect. The despatch has been well receive.i,
both at Berlin and at Verssiles. The German
Ministers, so far from affecting to be angry by
the interference, have professed to he impressed
by Lord Derby's representations. The French
press have referred to the British Cabinet with
much swisfaction, and England is praised for
having iaised her voice in the interests of
European peace. People without distinction of
party aid rejoice if the intervention of our
Cabinet should prevent the awful calamity of
war. That is a convulsion which affects peoples
far removed from the scene of actual strife, and
it is the business of all non-combatants to en-
deavour to render it unnecessary. That has
;leen done by Great Britain in this instance ;
and let us hope th ,t in any future crisis, what-
Pver Government may happen to be ie power,
, their efforts will be equally prompt and equ illy
succt. ssf el.

Good rteurfor ntortey is desired by a.l, *all articles
that. c ,nno, he judge, of by appearal.c+.., careful pur-
chasers rely on the high standing of those with whom
they de.). For SO year+, Horuiman's Pure less in
packe+4 have siren general exceedingy
of uhiforni good quality, and truly els-al; .i%ent :
Stoorbridge—Clarke,llsl, High t.itreet; Biki, 124. High-
.ii wit. arls-ct Place; Morris, 136, H street,
Brirriey chemist ; Kidoerrniuster, But+
; Flak .owen, Adam. chemist; Ly.. Jones. chemist,
Worits,ey, 1 urner, chemist; Kingbwinford, Pearson,
Nr.tr.t chewist; Thrwinghani. Bake,
Pa sag.
Tux TFIROAT AND WINDP/PX pre especiady liahl to
can‘on,:, ,O.CLI • S :1,41 Cekliig
and irr.t.ition• inducing cu gh avni ail..,„ting the vo,cu.
For these symptoms use glyc,triLe in the form of jujuLLt.
Ui ccii [le IA the:.e agrecable eonfee.tior,:,, being ii proxi.
mi to the g.”71,;14 the moinent they are excited by
v
o' s.cLing becomes actively haling. 6d and Is
the:(c.
(hir post d or 15 stamps), labelled " JAMES E 11.3
& till2CeOpg:.h I C fjhethi.ta. 48, Threadneedle St.
and 170, Piccadilly, .Lonuon."—Soid in Stuurbridge by
A. P. Morris, Chemist, and J. H. Bland, Chemist.