The republic., 1852-01-14
The British Ministry-Lord PaImerston,s
Resignation.

|
! Abridged from London Correspondence of North
| american
| Inc resignation OF such an able statesman as
Lord Palmcrston at this particular crisis in Euro
pean affairs IS loss to Great Britain which she
will deeply feel. The Times rks that it would
not be easy to overrate the Importance OF such an
event, both to the stability Of the ministry and TO
the foreign interests OF this nation at time uni
versally critical in the affairs of Europe But the
step was rendered Indispensable as difficulties had
arisen in the conduct of affairs with foreign States
and In the transaction Of business connected with
| the foreign policy at home, which had shaken the
confidence Of ministers In the Secretary for For
eign Affairs, and weakened the power of the Prime
| Minister. The tory Standard copies the article of
the Times, because it was written in Downing
street, and says that the apology for Lord Palmer
stons uncourteous dismissal is the reverse of sat
lsiactory as right or wrong, the foreign policy of
the country since 1916 has been uniform and con
sstcnt, and as such must have obtained the appro-
baton OF the whole cabinet But the STANDARD docs
not believe one word Of the pretence that il 10 the
foreign policy of Lord Palmerston that has been the
cause OF his dismissal, retirement-is ia the ire
concilabe hostility between Lords Palmerston and
Grey which has distracted the cabinet from the first
day OF its formation. Looking at the whole matter,
the Standard concludes that the end of the present
ministry is near at hand
The Daily Netcs attributes the retirement of Lord
Paimerston TO, first, an old fcud between Palmer
ston and Grey-also, to Lord Palmerston's answer
TO the flnsbury depuaton, respecting the liberia
tion OF kossuth-and finally TO the late ministers
policy towards Louis Napoleon The court die
approved of Lord Pamerston's language to the
finsbury deputation, as insulting TO Austrian and
Russian come xion and it equally deprecated any
close, or even any insincere, alliance with Louis
Napoleon against the leogucd absolutem of the
continent. Earl Grey participated in these feel
lngs, and became their exponent in the cabinet.
But another circumstance occurred to comphcate
Lord Palmerstons position. The police agents of
Louis Napoleon discovered, on the night Of the I'd
Of December, voluminous correspondence, in
which the British governm' MT, or its representa-
tive, Lord Normandy, had freely recorded its ad-
miration Of and hopes in, the French republic, and
the utter contempt In which IL held the pretensons
and character of Louis Napoleon! "ficre then was
the influence of England and Of its Foreign Office
completely destroyed in the councils Of the very
powers." The Ne,cs says: 'Sbould we discover
that Lord Palmerston has been sacrificed 10 any
tenderness for, or to any fears Of the despotic
courts Of Austria and Russia, should be much
alarmed for the difficulties likely to assal his sue
cessor. II, ne the Times represents, Lord Palmer
ston has been elected from office for displeasnr
Prince schwarzenberg, and for not opposing Louis
Napoleon, is IL thereby implied that his successor
ia 10 ally with Austria, with Russia and with
Prussia, against the government Of Francc3 Any
such policy this would scarcely be acceptable to
theEnglsh public That public condemns Louis
Napoleon and his hbertcide acts but it condemns
likewise the treachcry andthe tyranny OF the Aus
trian Emperor" The Nsrs expects that a Bona
parte phoba will be excited through England, and
that the army will be raised 10 a war footing,
whilst thousands will be spent for the sole purpose
Of alarming and provoking the French.
The Morning Post speaks Of :" the great minis
teria event. and Gays that IL will be understood
by the public generally that even such a loss and
hazard to this country arc involved in the occur
renee, arc very greatly deepencd and increased by
the causes which produced it," that England, in
the present critical state of European affairs should
osc the official services Of a minister W hom histo-
ry will place, as we do, in very highest ranks of
craftsmanship, lie in iself misfortune, the extent
OF which IT is Impossible as yet to estimate bu,
even of this II is surely serious aggravstion that
the organ which announces the fact should add TO
IT, by way OF explanation, series of causes which
involve the loss of Englands independent position
with reference to the other powers Of Europe"
Z" We cannot but think that the experiment pro-
posed TO be tried on policy and ution ia in
itseli as degrading as AZ is original; and we
sure that the moment chosen for its introduction 10
calamitous in the extreme" The Post spcaks OF
the amiabilty of Lord Granville, but says that hiA
talents are scarcely guarantee for the energy re-
qurcd to direct, or for the knowledge TO embrace.
the immensely complicated and threatening ap-
pcarances in the present relations abroad aud OF
nome between governments and their people. "At
time when every State in Europe is looking
iously TO England the centre OF peace and order
VIC believe that no friend to the true principles on
which their preservation depends can hear without
very serious alarm that the name of Eoglapd has
ceased, TOR the present to be identified in her po-
Icy with that of the first constitu iona statesman
now living"
The Chronicle, although prepared for certain
changes in the cabinet, was nevertheless startled
by the formal announcement that Lord Pamerston
had dcfntiveIy ceased TO be q member of the gov
eminent Both the event it.clf and the precise
time chosen for lite contamination, arc fra with
matter for grave reflection, if not with grave and
most important results." The Chronicle cannot
imagine what explanation be offered for it that
will not most seriously compromise both the honor
of the government and the dignity Of the country
The Chronicle has been consistent and persever-
ing opponent Of the Palmcrstonisn policy; yet il
says that the minister who was popularity and
rightly regarded as the keystone Of The arch was
the Foreign Secretary. "Hc was in sItrcspccts more
popular truly and cordially liked both by
friends and opponents-tban Lord John Russell
himself;" 'In word, he was the only reality in
the Russell cabinet"