The Press.
London, England, 1854-11-25 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

Is the country willing to play this game ?
Will it suffer Lord ABERDEEN to lead it with
hoodwinked eyes into disgrace after crippling
it with disastee 'rho present attitude of Aus-
tria is intolerable ; nor is it possible to exagge-
rate 010 difficulty of our present position, sur-
vey it Avni what point we may. We fight not
only io the dark, but also, from the peculiar
nature of our relations with the German Courts,
with fettered hands, and we are hopeless of
extrication until the whole system of our policy
be changed—till the decisions of our Cabinet,
supported by the public voice, command
respect—till energy ho substituted for vacil-
lation, and principle for that contemptible
shuffling which first encouraged the presump-
tion of Russia, and, through continually grow-
ing complexities, has engaged us in a war in
which all the gallantry of our troops can only
gain victories that entail on them the mise-
ries of defeat.

INCAPACITY OF THE DUKE OF
NEWCASTLE.
THERE is not in all England at the present
time a public character less to be envied than
the Duke of NEWCASTLE. His worst enemies
could not wish for him a more galling punish-
ment than the position in which he has placed
himself by his incurable desire of personal
distinction for himself. Even his own friends
are beginning to join in the loud outcry which
is being raised from all sides at the spectacle
of a mediocre mind being entrusted with
military organisation at the present mo-
mentous crisis. His Grace's incapacity and
ignorance are becoming painfully notorious
through official circles. In the clubs, in
Ministerial coteries, in general society,
authentic anecdotes are rife of the strange
ignorance which he has repeatedly shown in
all that relates to the equipment and furni-
ture of an army. Even that degree of know-
ledge of military affairs which might be
looked for in any experienced civilian seems
entirely wanted by the Minister of War. His
fussy self-importance imposed upon the cre-
dulity of faction, and his incessant intrigues
were absurdly confounded with the inspira-
tions of sagacity. But his supporters have at
length awoke from their delusion. Within the
last few weeks his Grace's public character has
undergone the most rapid collapse within our
political recollection, and, ere long, the
onerous office grasped at in the temerity of
his ambition must, instead of being a post of
honour for its occupant, become the instru-
ment of his public shame.
For it is impossible to deny that the incom
petence of the Duke of NEWCASTLE as a Minis
ter of War is now patent to the world. He
has mismanaged his own department—he has
embarrassed that of others. He has neither
the requisite official experience, nor the com-
manding faculties, which in superior natures
supply the want of regular training. In fore-
sight as to consequences, and in facility of
adaptation to the changing circumstances of
the present contest, he has been wanting from
first to last. Behold the terrible results of
his grievous incompetence ! With prodigious
resources at his command, with all the Militia
to recruit from, and with unlimited financial
means, the Duke of NEWCASTLE never antici-
pated the certain necessity for large resources,
and it is only at the eleventh hour that he
prepares to send reinforcements ! Ample no
tice was given of what would be required, by
the drains on the expeditionary army from
disease and exposure, but, procrastinating at
one time, and vacillating at another, having no
clear conception of the difficulties of the war,
the Duke of NEWCASTLE has drifted on from
week to week until the public feeling is tor-
tured with what to multitudes is the agonising
spectacle of a " remnant of our army " left to
struggle with the myriads of our adversary.
For weeks and weeks the cry has been for re
inforcements ; and with tardy pace, and with
trivial supplies, the Minister of War meets the
demand. Fifteen thousand men could easily
have been sent two months since, and, of the
promised eight thousand, we now see that the

SATURDAY,

90th Regiment were shipped from Dublin only
on last Sunday
Under such circurnst.ances we are not stir-
prised at the caution displayed by the most
powerful supporter of the Coalition. On
last Monday it guardedly asserted that "it was
" no business of ours to account for or to
" palliate the delays" in reinforcing the army
of Lord RaoLkii, words which, from that par-
ticular quarter, contain whole volumes of
serious incrimination. The admission that
the " delays" have taken place, and that they
require being "palliated," are most important
on the lips of the recent supporter of the in-
competent War Minister ; but they only faintly
echo the feeling entertained on that point, and
expressed without the least reserve, by several
of his Grace's more immediate political con-
nections. Within the last three weeks his

Grace has had repeated instances of knowing
the fact, if he never surmised it before, that
political friendship can be both candid and
contemptuous in its comments on Ministerial
imbecility. Indignant strictures from angry
Coalitionists must be far more bitter to his
Grace's ears than the hostile remarks of the
Conservatives whom he deserted, and of the
Radicals upon whom he fawned.
Our own sentiments to the War Minister are
not dictated by private prejudices against him.
We leave others to gloat over the abject
humiliation of this vainglorious Minister.
Our feelings at surveying his imbecility are of
far too solemn a character to be shared with
the cynicism of personal animosity. We are
outraged at the army of England, with its
brilliant general and his gallant officers and
soldiers, being subordinated to a weak mind
infatuated with passionate ambition. We
behold an army overtasked for weeks, at
night toiling like artisans in the trenches, and
by day defending their position with terrible
odds against them. By physical exhaustion,
and not by the weapons of the enemy, hun-
dreds of our heroes have fallen in the strife.
Each noble spirit amongst them has been
undergoing treble duty for weeks, owing to
the want of provident arrangements in the
office of our Secretary for War. Under these
almost tragical circumstances the question is
started—What should be done ?
Many think that the presence of the
Commander-in-Chief in the Cabinet might
considerably prevent the official blunders of
the Duke of NEWCASTLE. With such a Ministry
as we have in office, it would be a security if
Lord HARDINGE were summoned to the Cabinet
Councils to give the immediate benefit of his
experience and military knowledge in presence
of all the Ministers. It would save time, and
prevent crude projects being impotently con-
ceived, ignorantly initiated, and then igno-
miniously abandoned. Most precious official
time of many valuable public servants has
been prodigally wasted to no purpose under
the mismanagement of the Duke of NEWCASTLE.
If the time lost in devising futile schemes,
then cancelling them, and thus confusing the
public service, had been steadily devoted to
the organisation of an army of reserve, we
should not now see a handful of troops ex-
posed to trials, not too much for unparalleled
valour to confront, but far too much for
human fortitude to endure. If Lord HARDINGE
had been in the Cabinet, it is more than
probable that many of these evils would have
been avoided, and one appointed to command
the whole army ought surely have presump-
tive claims to being consulted in deliberations
as to its employment. Nor is it any answer
to our suggestions to say that in some certain
cases Lord HARDINGE has actually been con-
sulted. We urge, in reply, that the whole
Cabinet, and not single departments of it,
should have opportunity of frank and un-
reserved communication with the present
Commander-in-Chief At present Lord lien-
BINGE, the man of experience and knowledge,
is used as a military clerk by the Duke of
NEWCASTLE, while his Grace (whose mere
clerkly qualities we do dispute) is the virtual
ruler of the War Department. Responsibility
must be fixed somewhere, and let it be placed
where the highest official aptitude is to be
found. Save our glorious troops from thrice
too much work—from ruinous exposure
without adequate assistance—from the perils