The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-01-25
AFFAIRS IN EUROPE,
Private Correspondence orthe Herald.
THE CRISIS In EUR0PE--Mr. POLKS MESSAGE
PARIS, Jan. /, 1916.

The English journals having put you in possession
of the result OF the political crisis far as that re-
suit is yet developed, it will not be uninteresting for
your readers TO be presented with resu,nf Of this
evertul month, rendered memorable by one of the
most singular ministerial commissions of which the
modern history Of England affords an example
In my former letters, I informed you OF the signs
and tokens which foreboded the political tempest II
assured your merchants that they might safely order
their measures with view to a new and extensive
market for their bread stufls in the British ports
Events have fully corroborated these assurances,
and fulfilled my strongest anticpations. The issue
OF the present struggle will involve radical change
IN the entire commercial policy of Brtaln-a change
OF vastly greater Importance to the internal prospect
~ and external relations OF the British empire than
either the downfall OF religious intolerance, which
took place In 1879, or the organic change in the
representative machinery which speedily followed
During the month of November, the wide cad
ing rumors OF scarcity nanced by the disease
OF the potatoe, and the deficiency OF the crops,
raised the public expectation tor the appearance oil
an order IN council to open the ports This step
looked for from week TO week, and the frequency
OF long protracted cabinet meetings time when
the operations OF the ministers usually suspend
ed, and when no other conceivable subject could
have engaged their attention, attracted every eye
the London GaSete. Nothing, however, appeared
to satisfy the public anxiety tranqulise the public
apPrehenslons. AT length, the morning of the 4h
OF those announcements by anticipation Of coming
events, tor which the London Times newspaper has
rendered itself conspicuous at several important
epochs, and which, more even than the con-
summate ability OF Its leading articles or the unpar
allied organization of its foreign correspondence,
have contributed to the extraordinary influence OF
| that paper. The announcement, refer to- was to
the effect that Parliament would assemble in Janu-
airy, and that the repeal of the corn laws would be
proposed in the Commons by Sir Robert Peel, and
| IN the Lords, by the Duke Of Wellington The as
tonlshment, keen and unmltigated, which this an
nouncement dlttused through England, rose to the
highest pitch when II was remembered that these
very ministers had obtained their present Offices by
their successful opposition to an attempt of Lord
John Russell and his colleagues, made IN 1S4l, not
to repeal the corn monopoly, but only IN a small de-
The liberal journals and the free trade party SEEM
ed though they could scarcely dare to give entire
credit to udlngs OF such overwhelming benefit yet
none could Imagine tor moment the possibility of
the TINES making such public announcement
without having information OF the most positive and
indisputabe, authority, The government papers
were literally stuPehed and for nearly two days
were unable TO make any coherent reply. AT length
the Standard gave formal and strict contradlc
ton to the statement, pronouncing to be gross
and infamous fabrication OF the Iinles!" To this
the Times condescended no other replication than
to declare that the Standard was lady so tar ad-
vanced In senility as to render her object Of COM
passion rather than respect, and simply repeated in
formal terms Its previous announcement, pledging
the character OF the "Leading Journal for its cor
rectness, and referring to many former occasions in
which similar early announcements of coming
events by the "Tmes," were met by similar contra
dictions, and yet the suemts came after all. The
other London journals, including even the 10wsmg
Post the most stsunch supporter Of the corn monop-
oily, gave credence TO the Times, the authorized
contradiction OF the Standard notwithstand-
ing. The Globe ingeniously showed that there
was nothing really in the announcement OF the
Times incompatible with the terms OF the contradc-
ton OF the Standard Meanwhile the commercial
world was convused corn and the consos fell.
surprise, still greater if possible, was however,
indicated the utmost activity on the part 81 the GO
vernment the couRtry was again convulsed on the
morning OF Thursday, the lltli, by an authorized
announcement in the Herald, that all the ministers
had resigned the day before. and that the Queen had
sent tor Lord John Russell, to commit to him her
commands to form new mnstry!!! II after
wards came out that the announcement OF the Times
was in substance true. That Sir Robert Peel had
declared tor the repeal OF the present corn laws In
the cabinet; that he had obtained from his col
leagues general but most reluctant assent; but that
In the eleventh hour this concession had been re-
tracted; whereupon, on Saturday, the 9Th, Sir Ro-
bert went to the Isle OF Wight, and informed the
Queen OF the impending tall OF his ministry. where
upon royal messenger was sent 10 Edinburg, 10
summon Lord john Russell Immediately. The
ministry resigned on Wednesday in a body, holding
their offices only until their successors could be APP
pointed. Lord John received the Queens COM
mands on Thursday, the llth, and the public
on ptoe expectation OF the result from that day for
ward.
The Queens messengers, now placed at the dis
posa OF Lord John Russell, hurried to and lro
through all parts OF the country TO collect together
the scattered elements OF the Wings, and some
New to Italy with that view. Lord Normandy hur-
red home from Florence, and Lord Bsoughau from
Coronnes. But the scenes OF the panlomiule were
shifting too rapidly to wait tor arrivals from quar-
iers SO remote. Alter few days delay Lord John
offered to SIR Robert the support Of the Wing OPP
position, II he would resume office with his asso-
ciates, and propose repeal Of the corn. This in.
vtduon Sir Robert politely declined, the Torres not
loving to hold Office by the grace OF the Wings.
Lord John continued his daily Toll at Cabinetmak-
ing Tor few days longer, and a formal and semi
official announcement at length appeared in the
Wing journals OF the 18th to the effect that the Cab
met was happily completed, and that the ministers
would attend the Queen the 20th, at Windsor, TO
kiss hands and receive their seals, the retiring Cab
met attending on the same day to resign them All
was settled. The list Of the new Cabinet ministers
was published. The Wing nnderllngs were licking
their lips at the coming sweets Of office. On the
morning OF the 10Th, however, further surprise
greater than any yet experienced, was reserved Tor
the public The official organs OF the Wings on
that day spread CONSERVATION through the ranks OF
their party, by the astounding announcement that
Lord John Russell had waited on the Queen the
night before, and resigned the task OF forming
Cabinet; that Sir Robert Peel was again Summoned
to Windsor and the evening papers OF the same day
announced that the old Cabinet was reinstated
Such was the series of scenic changes-the success
sion OF dlss0vfng views which were exhibited on
the political stage between the 9th and the 10Th Dec,
period OF only fifteen days
The old Cabinet, with the exception OF Lord STAN
ley, has then resumed office. What the exact in
tntons the subject OF the cereal Legislation are,
Ia kept profound secret. All that is known, or
rather what is admitted by all parties, is that an i'm
portant change wii be made the direction of free
trade. The liberals fear that compromise will be
proposed in lieu OF total abolition, or that ii total
abolition be admitted, it will be effected by slow
degrees. This, however, will only provoke and
prolong agitation. Already the league has put forth
most formidable demonstrations, and in fact II seems
probable that the measure which will be proposed
is not yet tentatively settled, but will depend gen.
orally on the popular movement which will be de-
veloped between this time and the meeting OF par
lament and partly on the condition Of the prices at
Mark lane.
The internal condition OF France is more tram
quill, and the public more contented than they have
been at any former epoch since the tall OF Napoleon
The airoclous tendency assassina ion SO frequent