The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-06-16
England Abt1ieatcs.

Ner York Tribune, 1871
England Abt1featcs.
One of the most surprising and
important events of modern times,
says the New York World, is the
voluntary surrender by Great Britain
of her position rs one of the great
powers of Europe. The change has
been so recent that its full signifi-
canoe is as yet hardly recognized in
Europe, while on this side OF the
ocean we have failed to appreciate
the important results likely to follow
from the non-intervention, peace
policy which England has determined
to pursue hereafter. The best part
OF the great debt OF England was
created by the wars in which she en-
gagged to uphold her position as a;
tirst-class power in Europe; but since
the close of the Crimean war, Il
change of policy has been determined
upon at variance with all the tradi-
tions of the nation, nd which, if
justified, condems nearly all the wars
she has undertaken for the last two
hundred years, and stamps the ma
tional debt as being a costly folly.
The following extract from a long
and able article in the London .S,,t,5-
day Rerie,c tells the story of Eng
lands willingness to give up a first
position in the deliberations Of the
great powers of Europe:
If war is to come, England may
reckon confidently on keeping out of
it. She will not only bc neutral. but
the war will be Of kind that is ex-
ceedingly unlikely to raise any of the
difficult questions which sometimes
; involve neutrals in embarrassment. 1t
is scarcely probable that there should
even be blockade, and all the COM
batants will want near homo the few
ships they have got, and will not
come to create embarrassment to the
authorities of English ports. No re
suit of the war is likely to affect us
much, and We can afford to let the
/ Continental powers settle Low the
map Of Europe shall be rcmodelled,
so far as it is likely to be altered.
This makes it very easy for us to be
calm and impartial ut this critical
time when war may break ont any
day, and any suggestions We may
offer have the Recommendation Of
being disinterested, and of not having
been dictated by hope or fear. But
on the other hand, We cannot hope
ID have much influence, and it is very
much to be desired that our diploma
tisIs may not have been pretending
to have an influence which every one
knows they have really not got That
we should do what we can for the
maintenance Of peace is very right.
and England has sufficient claims on
the attention of all the cumbatants
to invite them to consider with her
whether their differences cannot be
adjusted. But this is the utmos.
that she can ask, or that she need
wish to ask. She is rapidly ceasiny
TO be European power in the sense
IN which she was European power
i'll the days Of Wellington. She is
now an Asintic power, u maratimc
power, All oceanic power, much more
than European one. The affairs OF
Burmah, of afghan, Of Nepaul, are
of no more Importance to her than
the affairs of Wurtemburg, Hanover
and Ressc-Cassol. To keep the road
to India open through Egypt is far
more necessary to her than to insist
that this or that little Rhcnish strong
hold shall not belong to France Her
chief interest III resisting the aggrcs-
sions of Russia on Constantinople is
not to protect the mouth Of the Da-
nube, or to neutralize the Euxine, Oh
to help the Rayahs of Turkey, but to
empress on the Mahomedan popula-
tons under her rule or adjacent tc
her territories that her strength is
unbroken, and that she can rule them
with rod of iron if necessary. II
makes exceedingly little difference to
us whether we are lightly spoken o1
and our prestige is pronounced to be
at an end i'll the beer gardens OF Mu.
Mich and the cafes Of Florence; but
it is of vital moment to us that al
Lucknow and Peshawur we shoul(
still be thought quite sure to win in
, struggle, if struggle is forced OF
MS We are rich, because we trad.
with every nation, and carry tn.
!, goods of all the world Some of the
greatest nations Of the Continent are
, i'll this respect, Of the least importanc.
to rs