The Press.
London, England, 1857-11-21 00:00:00

1122

shape whatever the union of these pro-
vinces, to consent only to make such con-
cessions to the Routnan people as may
prevent their larger demands being en-
tertained without endeavouring to seek
a cause for this singular change in the views
of our Government, a change so inconsistent
with those great principles which should regu-
late our foreign policy, we are confident that
public opinion in this country regards it as
the true interest of England to support and
encourage the establishment of a decided and
cordial union between these two provinces.
Upon the firm ground of principle and prece-
dent we are bound to Use every effort to secure
a due observation of the provisions of the
Treaty of Paris; and we hold it to be the duty
of a British Minister to take advantage of
every legitimate opportunity for the advance-
ment of the cause of Constitutional Govern-
ment. To obtain these results, and to pre-
serve the national honour, wo must support
the union of the Danubian provinces, and
respect the wishes of the Moldo-Wallachian
people. Such a policy we are confident would
prove not only consistent with the true inte-
rests of this country, but it would form a firm
foundation for the peace of Europe.
We do not believe that the peace of Europe
must necessarily be broken by the great
Powers if a contrary policy be pursued ; but if
the provisions of the Treaty of Paris are not to
be considered binding on each and every
point, it is binding on none, and the peace of
Europe, if it be not broken by an infraction of
the Treaty of Paris, may be very seriously
imperilled. There are but two possible
destinies for these frontier provinces. Either
they must be politically united and self-go-
verned, independent and powerful, or, separate
and disorganised, they will become impotent
and absorbed. There is no intermediate
course to be pursued, and no intermediate
result will occur. Separation is impotence
and ultimate absorption : union is immediate
strength. It is for those European Powers
favourable to real progress and to the develop.
merit of peoples to make their choice between
these alternatives. For the last forty years
Europe has witnessed the ill-effects of the
separation of these provinces. Foreign in-
fluences, foreign protectorates, tyranny, and
corruption have wasted the resources
of these countries, and placed their people,
helpless and impotent, without an army, with-
out fortresses or a defensible frontier, with an
exhausted treasury, and an undeveloped com-
merce—in fact, without a moral or a political
existence—at the feet of every oppressor. It is
this state of things Lord PALMERSTON seeks to
perpetuate. We warn him, if he does not ter-
minate it now with wisdom, he will find it,
sooner or later, ended by violence.
There is in all countries a servile crowd
who find their " private benefit " in the
"public disorders," and who prefer the cor- I
ruptions of tyranny to the inexorable equality
of just laws, but here voxpopuliissuprernalex, and
no argument can impose a settlement 'of sepa-
ration upon the understanding of any one who
has watched tho transactions ibetween Turkey
and Austria for the last few years as either
sound policy or sound honesty.
As a rule of policy, interference in the
affairs of other nations should be decisive in
its character, and effectual in its end. The
interference in the affairs of these pro-
vinces is practically to ameliorate their con-
dawn, but the separation will perpetuate
those abuses and that oppression it was the
aim of the Treaty of Paris to abolish. That
their complete union can alone insure the in-
auguration of a new and healthier system we
firmly believe, and we are supported in this
view by the proof that every other form of
organisation and government has failed to
achieve a single creditable result.
With respect to the conduct of England,
we maintain that in this instance it is her
duty to give the great moral force of her name
in support of constitutional government, not
disorder; and that her Ministers, under these
circumstances, should assist, not obstruct, a
people in their endeavour to achieve
for themselves the right of self-government
and the means of self defence. The
emery act of exter ding constitutional liberty is
the best security for social order; and it is the