The Statesman.
London, England, 1824-02-04 00:00:00

THE STATESMAN

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The CII.A NC ELIAMI, of the HICHSQUIRR said,
when the period arrived for making the statement, which
he should shortly have to lay before the House, of the
financial arrangements which his Majesty's Government
had it in contemplation to propose, he trusted that state.
ment would be found perfectly satisfactory. In the mean•
time he trusted tiro House and the Hon. Gentleman would
not attribute it to any want of respect,or failure of courtesy
on Lis part, that be declined answering any questions on
that head, or entering into any particular explanation of
the plans, which he hoped at no distant time to lay before
them.
The question was then put on the Address. which was
agreed to rum. con. and the house adjourned at twenty
minutes after seven o'clock.

Strangford, in composing the differences between Russia
and Turkey, we cannot so readily appreciate the value.
According to our view of the matter, it is of very little
consequence to England, to Europe, or the world, whether
Russia and Turkey are friends or foes. A war between
these Powers, is merely an affair between the kuont
and the bow-string, with which civilized man can
have little or no concern. It is very natural that
Ministers, in glancing at the war between France
and Spain, should laud their wise system of neutra-
lity. To others, however, the wisdom of that system is
not quite so obvious, nor the course pursued the best evi-
dence of ministerial consistency. For thirty years of ca-
lamitous war, the same ministers, or nearly the same, who
had not only been the constant and active allies, but the
recruiting serjeants for all the despots on the Continent—
that such men should all of a sudden become enamoured of
neutrality, and at a moment too when liberty in Spain bid
fair to triumph, is a circumstance too suspicions
to allow any claim to the character of sincere and consist-
ent neutrality. It may be prudent to remain neutral,
where right is equally doubtful on both sides; but where
tke oppressor and the oppressed are arrayed in hostility
against each other, humanity and honour admit of no cold
medium. Such was the character maintained by England
in the brightest period of her history. The state of our West
India Islands, to which the speech alludes, is indeed a deli-
cate subject, which requires to be fully and calmly discus-
, sed. Of the nourishing state of the revenue, and the payment
of the Austrian Loan we rejoice to hear, as government or.-
der.such promising circumstances, can now have no excuse
fur not reducing taxation, and greatly lessening the
crushing burdens of the people. As to indications of
amendment in the state of Ireland, until something like
satisfactory explanation is offered, it is but candid to con-
fess our ignorance. We see that unhappy country con-
vulsed and rent asunder by the feuds of faction. We ire
it ruled by a divided Cabinet—by provincial Magistrates,
some of whom, by their oppression, woulddri7a s man mad,
and though last, not least, an ignorant, half-starved, des-
perate population. These things we do sr.e ; but till we
receive the much-desired Ministerial new Lights, we can
see no indications of amendment in the state of Ireland.
Upon that, however, and upon all the other doubtful mat.
tern contained in the Royal Speech, we must wait the dis-
coveries of time ; which though slow, is after all, the best
Commentator on human events.