The Sun.
London, England, 1868-11-20 00:00:00

were viewed with suspicion and distrust, and that sruspi-
-Hon and distrust was occasioned by the mismanagement of
our affairs by Lord Russell, in the cases of Denmark, of
Germany, and of Russia. By the line which he took
with reference to Denmark, to Germany, and to Poland
he estranged this country—it required great skill to do it,
but he did do it—he estranged this country at one and the
same time from France, from Germany, and from Russia.
Our relations with those countries now, and with all
countries, are not relations of estrangement, but of con-
fidence. I maintain that this is something to have done."
Mr. Disraeli here explained that the non-interference
such as he advocated did not mean unsympathising. The
Government had the greatest interest in the affairs of
Europe. England had successfully stepped in between
France and Prussia in the Luxemburg affair, and had pro-
cured peace. He also claimed credit for the successful
carrying out of the Abyssinian expedition. In the nego-
tiations with the United States, too, they had been suc-
'cessful. When they acceded to office their relations
with that country were relations of great difficulty and
vreat danger, and it was impossible for the most sanguine
to examine them without apprehension. "What are our pre-
sentrelations with the United Statesof America? We know
very well that there is more than a prospect of our coming
to a settlement with the United States, a most favourable
and friendly settlement, not merely of the difficulties and
dissensions which arose out of the great civil war in that
country, but of all those difficulties and disagreements arising
out of circumstances that occurred fifteen or twenty years
ago. I say, then, these are acts which a Government need
not be ashamed of. I say, gentlemen, with great
respect, whether you look to our European policy, to the
disastrous position in which we found ourselves with re-
gard to Africa, or to our existing relations with the
United States of America, there is not a point of simi-
larity between the condition of your foreign affairs as admi-
nistered by the present Government under Lord Stanley,
and the state in which we inherited them from our
predecessors three years ago." The Premier closed his
speech by a reference to Ireland. He reiterated the com-
plaint put forth in his address, that instead of—after the
Reform Bill had been passed—being allowed to wind up
the Parliament in peace, Mr. Gladstone, for the purpose
of uniting his party, brought forward the Irish Church
resolutions. Mr. Disraeli then described the state of
Ireland twenty-five years ago. "Twenty-five years
ago the condition of Ireland was deplorable. It
was this. There were more inhabitants upon a
square mile in Ireland—not only more than in
any Euporean country, but in any Asiatic country,
except, I believe, China. Well, this immense population
sustained itself mainly by sticking by a single root, and
that of a very precarious nature, and therefore they were,
as a population, as miserable as millions herding together
could be. They were scarcely clothed, their dwellings
were not fit for the lower animals. It is not at all wonder-
ful that a people in such a state should be a discontented
people. Had they not everything to make them
miserable—no clothing, no shelter, and insufficient food?
In such circumstances men would be discontented
with any form of government, although it would
not be the least responsible for the economic
condition in which they found themselves. But
what is the condition of Ireland now? A greater power
than man produced an effect upon the condition of
Ireland. That happened in Ireland which was infinitely
greater in its effects than any political or social revolution
which has occurred in any country in the world. The
population of Ireland became reduced. The people have
better raiment, they have better dwellings, and are better
fed. ("Three cheers for the famine I') Well, well, you
have given three cheers for things before this that have
not done so much good as the famine. Well, if that be
the case, if we find that a country has made this progress
—if we find that that was occurring in Ireland which was
most necessary for her complete redemption, namely, the
entrance of British capital to a great extent -if we find
such a state of circumstances, how can we say with
justice that the condition of Ireland—which economically
is a condition of immense importance—can justify a
violent political measure such as was brought forward
at the end of the session of an expiring Parliament ?"
Mr. Disraeli went on to ascribe Fenianism to Irish-Ameri-
can adventurers, and declared that the Irish Church dis-
establishment was wrong in every way, and not calculated
to diminish the evil. It was calculated rather to diminish
the security of property, to increase the discontent and
religious animosity, and to stir up efforts for the propaga-
tion of religious faith, from which, he thought, they were
entirely free. " Therefore, I see before me a future of
religious discord—a future of social disquietude and dis-
turbance. Any violent dealing with the religious settle-
ment of this country that has established the supremacy
of the Queen will ensue in consequences which we
must look upon with apprehension, and which many
of us will live to deplore." Mr. Disraeli concluded
as follows :—" No one knows better than myself that in
the course of an agitated and now, I am sorry to say,
a long political career, I have done many things which I
regret, and said some things which I deplore; but a
man's career must be judged by its whole tenour and
character ; and I can say this of myself with the utmost
sincerity, that I have always studied to maintain the
greatness of my count: y ; that I have never had any
thought of a base and sinister character of self-interest;
and there is no reward which I more desire and which I
more prize than the good opinion of my countrymen, in
whatever political party they may be ranged."