The Press.
London, England, 1856-12-06 00:00:00

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No. 188.—VoL.IV. LONDON, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1856.
STAMPF:I)....SJXPENCE.
UNSTAMPED—FIVEPENCE.
Wiftemwmem. ,
(Zp Vress. These encroachments all concern England. intercourse to render any such arrangement
in every case the encroaching Powers are practicable.
brought nearer to her actual territory, or to The Administration of Lord PALMERSTON
_ States where it is desirable for her interests appears to have determined on an entirely
that her influence should be paramount. different policy. The expedition to the head
LONDON, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1856. From the United States she may apprehend of the Persian Gulf, and the opposition
danger to her American possessions ; from to the French Government at Constantinople,
Russia she may fear interference with her mark the commencement of a sytem which,
Indian empire ; from France she may dread though highly imposing and boastful, must
THE constitution of Lord PALMERSTON'S Ad rivalry in Egypt, as it is now essential that involve our foreign relations in great em-
ministration, and the attitude of its foreign she should secure safe passage through that harrassment.
country to her Indian territories. The Persian Court, as we learn by an extract
policy at the present time, compel us to con
If she suffers these apprehensions, more or from the Teheran Gazette, is in great doubt as
eider whether the late war with Russia is to less remote, to influence her policy in such a to the light in which it shall regard the British
inaugurate a reign of peace, or whether it is manner as to induce her to take up arms to expedition. It is uncertain whether the ships
to be the commencement of a series of contests prevent the danger from coming nearer, or are coming on a peaceful embassy or a hostile
in which this country is to put forth all its assuming a more threatening shape, she must mission. The best we can hope for is, that
prepare for a century of desperate wars. How when the expedition arrives at its destination
strength to impose a check to the advance of far it is wise to advance to meet a peril, must the Persian Government may be induced to
rival nations. • -
always depend on the circumstances of the yield the points in dispute, whatever they may
~.4
Assuredly, if our policy is to be a policy of case. It may sometimes be prudent and be. Should it refuse to do so, and should it be
war,fwe shall never want occasions for carrying courageous to do so ; it may at other times be supported, as there seems some reason to sup-
- :
most impolitic and reckless. Mere wars of pose it may be, by the power of Russia, we
it into effect. It would not be difficult to pick " +
rivalry—is wars to check the growth of other shall then be engaged in a great war in Central
a quarrel with Russia, with the United States, nations, or to secure an ascendancy of in- Asia, with Persia as our nominal antagonist,
or with France. It requires the exercise of fluence—are indefensible in principle, and backed by the arms and resources of the Court •
infinitely more sagacity and discretion to pre- should never be engaged in except from the of St. Petersburg, The war we have just con-
serve peace than to drift, or to rush, into war. clearest conviction of necessity. eluded will break out like an old sore, in s
So long as nations exhibit healthy activity and We must recognise the fact of the growth of fresh place ; but the seat of war will in this .ti
enterprise, are jealous of their reputation, other nations; , nnot hope to arrest this cake be most unfavorable to our arms; sad . :- .1
and are desirous to extend their powerj4erWotedgits Wit ' ' "vilramut destrog% should the affair take the turn which Owe .
e.
must always be a probability of collision be- their vitality end& we should re seems reason to expect, we shall have to fiest
tween them, only to be averted by mutual their progress wkhots jealousy or alarm. Persia and Russia on their own ground, with-
prudence and good feeling. This probability While they areielleanettiewe are not likely to out's single ally. We are about to repeat tam
is greatly increased at the present day by the stand still. Whether our colonial empire is to experiment of the Afghan expedition with a
encroachments which the most powerful nations be strengthened by further acquisitions, or by more powerful nation, and in a locality where "-• iii
of of the globe are making on the territories of the consolidation and improvement of those the forces of Russia can readily be brought to '4
their weaker and less civilised neighbours. In vast territories we already possess, we may aid our antagonist. t
the course of these encroachments great feel tolerably secure that our progress must be Is it proper that our Government should
nations are brought face to face; and if they at least as rapid as that of our rivals. commit us to such a contest, without the
are actuated by a hostile spirit, or show any The forty years of peace which this country sanction of Parliament, or without any official
determination to resist, on one side or the enjoyed were not unfruitful of conquests. communication to the country? From the
other, that expansion which is characteristic During that period our Indian empire has time when the expedition lands en Persian
of the great leading communities of the mo- risen to its present colossal proportions. soil, the honour of England will be committed. A
dern world, they must close in desperate and British North America, from being a poor and. to the contest.
mortal strife to determine their ascendancy. unexplored region, held to this country by If enterprises of such magnitude can be
It may be that the warlike tendencies of the feeble ties, has risen into a magnificent pro- undertaken without consent of Parliament,
world are stronger than its pacific tendencies— wince, rapidly increasing in every element of nay more, without consultation with it, what
that the desire to acquire territory is a greatness t while the Australian continent, has become of its authority? It is a delusion ; /1
Passion of nations, overmastering every other— only known to us from its convict settlement, we have a promise of self-government without
that the course of events is verging towards has become the seat of several distinct and its reality. The responsibility of the acts of
some such tremendous collision as in the most flourishing colonies. These are great Administration are thrown on the Legislature
ancient world arrayed empire against empire achievements in the space of forty years, and while the latter has in effect no controlling
in the deadly animosity which leaves no mean may help to reconcile us to the progress of other power.
between victory or destruction. We rather nations. While this demonstration is taking place in
hope that the influence of Christian ideas, the If peace is to be preserved, we must con- the Persian Gulf, the aspect of the Eastern
wider distribution and balance of power, the cede to the other advancing Powers of the question becomes more perplexing. We
higher civilisation which has been attained, world that latitude of encroachment which wait the assembly of the Congress at
and a knowledge of the dreadful destructive- we claim for ourselves. They have their sphere Paris with anxiety, not because we think it
ness and utter wickedness of mere wars of of activity—we have ours ; and even when possible that England can interfere in the t
rivalry, may long preserve the world from such boundary lines meet, there is no more reason affairs of the Continent with much effect (an
lil
contests of extremity. But they are possibly, why they should not meet in amity than why old-fashioned policy. rendered superfluous
and more than any other Power is England in Prussia should not live in peace with France, since the loss of our continental possession,
danger of engaging in them. or Austria with the empire of the Czar. and the immense extension of our colonial
There are four great growing Powers of the The chief danger of disturbance arises from empire), but because we nope it will show that
world,—England, France, Russia, and the the unsettled and powerless condition of those England and France are still cordially united
United States. These Powers are all stretching countries which interpose between the ad- on all essential points. To that alliance we
forth their arms in various direltions, gaining vances of rival Powers, as Persia in some sort must look as the most effectual barrier against
accessions of territory, and preparing the way interposes between the Indian possessions of dangerous encroachments of Russia in the
for new acquisitions, by bringing under their England and the Asiatic provinces of Russia, East, and of the United States in the West.
influence the States or tribes beyond the limits and as Egypt interposes between the African If that alliance be dissolved, there is no seen-
of their actual possessions. France is in this possessions of France and the English settle- rity against the floods of war being unlocked,
Ai
manner making way in Algeria, and is thus ment on the Red Sea. The point to be deter- and what should be the generous and peaceful
approaching nearer to Egypt. Russia, de- mined is, whether there is no way short of rivalry of nations being turned into bitter
scending from the Caspian, is moving into actual hostilities of determining rival preten- animosity and unrelenting strife. -
Central Asia. The United States are rapidly sions to influence in such countries. An To that end the course of Lord Pauninfrros's
making the whole northern continent of arrangement to secure their independence foreign policy is tending. Meanwhile, his
America their own; below the boundary line of would seem the most natural and politic ; but Liberal supporters look on and applaud, so
British America. the rival Powers must be on terms of friendly true is the observation of Lord BBOUOILIX,