Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-04-22
p,s.,. ia IN, p,..l.h parliament.

It's clear and comprehensive view of the questions
connected with the war, and Of the opinions OF lead
ing English Statesmen in reference thereto Inc In
tcrest already felt in this great European cones-a
contest which may, in the end, powerfully affect or
own country-must continue. to increase with every
arrival Of fresh intelligence from tho scene of con-
Dict and nothing therefore, contributing to clear
conception of the causes, objects, and probable re
suits of the war can DO considered uniniportant or
embarrassing
- Mr.. Bright followed Mr. Layard in the House Of
Commons, remsrkng that, he felt very much for the
Turks, hut still without seeing that it was the duty
of England to enter into war their account As to
the opinion that Turkey, nation had progressed
of late years he said he found the same opinion
pressed by some member of the name of Stanley, GO
years ago. But how he asked, could it be said, the
Turkish Empire was progressingH Had not Turkey
Of late years lost the Crmea, Bessaraba, the Dauu
bian Prncipaltes. Greece and the provinces of AL
gierss And had she not also been nearly conquered
by her subject, the Pasha Of Egypt Did this look
like progresss And did not the consular returns
and the official dispatches prove her weakness and de-
cayf Was il not n fact that Constantnople was the
seat of all kinds OF faction and intrigue for every
country in the world-of England OF Austria, of
Prussia and Of Russian He considered, he said,
that the demands Of Russia had always been assum-
ed to be moro important than they really were, and
almost purposely misunderstood. What Russia really
wanted, he said was bona tide treaty with Turkey,
and protection with reference to such treaty against
the well known and too.often proved vacillaton of
the Turks. Lord Russell, he said, admitted that
Russia bad reason to complain-that it had certain
rights by treaty and by tradton-that il had certain
claims on Turkey therefore, it to the ques-
ton, what was the form in which those claims were
to be made, rather than what was their extent and
it was in consequence of that question Of form that
the whole Of these unfortunate differences had aris
en-. This war, he said, ought to have been avoided
by the consent of Turkey, either the last note Of
Nenschikoff or to that of Vienna; or, if Turkey
would not consent, then, that she should have been
allowed to have entered into the alone, and Eng
land and France should have stood aloof till there
was some evidence Of danger that the war would
be destructive Of the balance Of power and then they
might have come into assist in the settlement Of the
dispute. i~
He proceeded next to argue the balance of pow.
err" doctrine. 1t was, he said, hacknied term-a
phrase to which it difficult attach any dcinit,
meaning In 1871 the whole Wing party repudiatct
the proposition that the Turkish Power had any thing
10 do with the balance Of power. Nc. Burke in 1871
used this language ''Hebad never heard il sail be
49, .,rat ue Turkish Empire considered 81
any part Of the balance Of power in Europe. TIL ,
had nothing to do with European pol cy; they con
sidered themselves wholly Asiatic. What hat
these worse than savages TO do with tho Powers o
Europe but to spread war, destruction and pesGenc,
among them. The Ministry and the policy which
should give these people any weight Europe would
deserve all the bans and the curses of postcrity Al
that was holy in religion, all that mora and hu.
name, demanded nm abhorrence of everything which
tended to extend the power Of the CRUEL and waste,
empire. Any Christian Power was to be preferred
to these destructive savages" Such was Mr. Burke.
opinion, and late 1925 Lord Holland Expressed
similar sentiments. ...i .s-y W
The balance of power, he said, was really the cues
ton upon which the war res ted; but why, be asked
did not England go to with France when France
seized on Algers2 That was n portion of Turkey,
although perhaps not so distinct tn. provinces on
the Danube. Turkey had tangible sovereign rights
there, I'd when France seized it, was not that max
ing the Mediterranean n French lake and was it not
shown how disadvantageous Turkey it was for an.
other nation to have command Of Tuns and Tripoli
But England had the good not resist and the
result had not been dsadvantageous to Europe lie
might take another case-thc case Of tho United
States. The United States carried on war which
WIS held to be udefensiblc and aggressive against
Mexico; and might it have been rs Justly argued
that f Engand allowed the aggressive attacks of the
United States u1on Mexico her insa table appetite
would be turned subsequently to the North, toward.
the magnificent colonies OF the Canadas which would
be exposed 10 all the attacks OF a most rapaciou:
PowerY But such arguments, he said were not uset
and it not thought necessary to involve England
in for the support Of Mexico, although the Pow
er that was attacking that country lay adjacent 1T
own dominions. r..a ,r.
But il, he continued, the balance of power is to b.
used as an argument for war, the pretence for wa
would never be wanting. II the balance Of power
phrase that no man could dissect or comprehend
were to be always brought forward, ,and,by persons
high in Office, for the purpose OF stimulating tina
country to the hideous dangers of war, he say n,
chance Of permanent peace long as il might sui
the objects interests Of any cabinet or ministry
involve this country in war with n foreign Power gu
there was balance Of power, he said which EnglisI
Statesmen might well take account Of for if the,
would look beyond the old nations Of Europo, if the
would turn their eyes far westward as they wer
now looking eastward, they would find there powe
which Was growing up, and which beforeiong wou,
teach them where the balance OF power resided
England he sad had seven years Of this infatuo,e,
struggle with Russia, and ifthe United States remain
ed at peace during those seven years the conseopen
premaeygand to her supremacy in the deyeopnep
Of mechanical resources. All those, he remarked
who had seen the report Of the commissioners. VIII,
had visited the United States to inspect the Exhibitor
at New York, must have been struck with the won
derful progress that country had made not ONLY II
exports, imports and manufactures but in the deve
opment Of all their resources and their mcans f,,
transit the like Of which bad before been seen
The people Of England, he said, might depend upon
II that the United States would DO benefited to con
siderable extent by the very cslamities which would
bcfall their own country, while under the miserable
and lunatc notion that they were going to set tho
Turkish Empire upon its legs, and permanently to
sustain II against the aggression of tho Emperor :
their trade would diminish and decay, the poor !,
would suffer, discomfort would arise as in former
times, irritating ceiling would spring up auc ny thon
aud their population would be cmigratng in still lar.
Ger numbers than at present the U. States whose
policy was to keep itself free from the cnlanglements