The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-10-13
Lord clnrcndon's crous speech.

LORD Clarendon, the British Secretary OF
State for Foreign Affairs, delivered lately a
very able, comprehensive and significant
speech to the West Hertfordshre Agricultural
Society. Onthis occasion he may be regarded
as the mouthpiece of the Ministry, and his
speech was made, no doubt, with the view OF
defining the general policy Of the government
both on domestic and foreign questions. Like
the oracular declarations on particular occa-
sons of the Emperor Napoleon, Count Bis
marck Beust and other great statesmen
Of Europe, it has remarkable significance,
and foreshadows tho future. II is speech
not merely for tho Hertfordshire farmers but
! for the British nation and the world Lord
| Clarendon stands in the first rank Of European
| statesmen, and, while he is the highest type of
| the English aristocracy, his mind is broad and
liberal enough to comprehend the progressive
spirit and necessity of the age.
On the Irish land question he shows that
the government is intent on making reforms,
| and that it is absolutely necessary 10 do so.
While he compliments the House of Lords on
its ability, he Is severe on its excessive and
|
his own order in the House of Peers that they
must learn aud conform to the spirit of the
age. The House Of Lords, he tells them, has
been reproached, and that with reason, with
not going fast enough; that it did not, in
fact, seize the realities of public opinion,
and was not alive enough to the enor-
nous progress-the astounding progress-of
intellectual activity in everything which
distinguishes the age in which we
live, and which makes us live century in
thirty years" This is remarkable language in
peer of the realm, and, looking at his posi-
ton in the government, indicates that England
Is about to make great strides in tho way Of
Improvement and progress. We need not
recapitulate the language Of his lordship. That
was given in the columns of the HERALD yes
terday, and it is only necessary to call atten-
ton TO it. There is, however, one other sub
ject which may be noticed particularly, and
that is the political situation of Europe gene
rally. 81 have beea," he says, ''for some
time on the Continent, and returned last week.
| had there tho opportunity Of collecting
oplhlon5, anu L nave seen tlerc some persons
who exercise no little influence on the destinies
of Europe Gan evident alluson to his inter
views with Napoleon), and although l have
not the gift Of prophecy, though do not pre-
tend to see further into futurity than other
men, yet | cannot help, on this occasion,
expressing my belief that at no time within the
last three years-at no time since the war
between Prussia and Ausria-have we had a
fairer prospect of maintaining the inestimable
blessings of peace" Lord Clarendon was
fresh, as he says, from the Continent where he
had prolonged interviews with the Emperor
Napoleon, and therefore we conclude he is
well informed as to the prospect Of peace. He
was not likely to be deceived, and his opinion
on this subject ought to have great weight
with the public. Taking this speech altogether
1t is one Of the ablest and most significant
that has been delivered by any European
statesman for some time past.