The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-07-28
ENGLISH OPINION.
The English Leaders on the War Question
Speeches by Disraeli and Gladstone In the

In the English House of Commons, on July
18th, the day that war was declared by France
against Prussia, Mr.. Disraeli rose and said-
MR.. DIsRAELIs SPEECH.
rise at this moment, not to embarrass her
Majesty's government but, on the contrary, to
endeavor to assist and support them at a moment
of extreme difficulty (Cheers.) The question
which am going to put to the right honorable
gentleman is this-whether he can inform Par
lament what, in his opinion, is the cause of the
present disturbed state OF Europe. 1t seems to
me that the time has arrived when that question
is strictly legitimate. There have been two
causes mentioned by public rumor of this un-
happy and unsettled state of affairs.
The first alleged cause has been that German
prince has been a candidate Tor the vacant
throne of Spain. / dismiss that subject alto
gether as any element of the question l am ad-
dressing to the right honorable gentleman, and
advert to it to render that question more con-
spicuous. l cannot induce myself to believe
that in the nineteenth century, with its
extended sympathies and its elevated tenden-
cies, anything so degrading and so bar
barous can occur as q war OF succession.
But it is said - and before advert
to that point of the inquiry might also remark
in passing that we had an authoritative state
ment very recently from the Minister of France,
on the pretext that any pretension by German
prince to the crown OF Spain can be the cause OF
the present state OF affairs; but there is another
public rumor-at least another cause OF agita-
tion-and it is with regard to this that | wish
to make an inquiry of her Majestys Government.
1t is said that between the two allies of her
Majesty between whom this unhappy miscon-
ception seems suddenly to have arisen, there
have been for long time many causes of mis-
conception and misunderstanding, much jeal-
ousy and distrust, and many questions as to their
mutual relations with other countries OF Europe,
which have been left open unsettled, and that
| suddenly there has been resolution to bring
! about precipitate settlement of this question.
| What l would venture to observe is this: If
there be any truth in this statement, any founda-
| tion for the circumstances to which | allude to
| cause the controversy between these allies of
| her Majesty, is purely diplomatic question. 1t
! has not arisen from the invasion of each others
! territory, or from any outrage which has been
| committed against the national honor OF either
throne. 1t is purely a diplomatic question, and
! the causes have existed for some time.
Now, what / wish to bring before the con-
sideration of the Government and the House is
| the foundation for the question What | am
now going to urge is this-that both these pow
! erful States between whom this misunderstand-
ing has arisen, within very short time, within
only a few years, tsolicited the advice aud
! prayed for the influence of her Majesty to be
exercised on their behalf. They have done
more than that. They have entreated her
Majesty to enter into engagements, and even
| perilous engagements, with view to further
| their interests by securing the peace of Europe
and giving them happy opportunity OF ternni-
mating the questions OF dissidence between
them. Under these circumstances must eX-
press my opinion that whatever may be the
moral and political competence of France or
Prussia at this moment to declare and carry 90
| war-and no one can question that-l say that
under these circumstances which / have recalled
10 the memory of Parliament, neither France
nor Prussia has a right to enter into war with
| out fully and really consulting Great Britain,
| the country to which a few years ago they ap-
pealed for her Majesty to exercise herinfluenc ce
and even to enter into engagements in order to
preserve peace between these two countries.
What | want TO know from her Majesty's
Governments is whether, in any representation
which they have made-and have no doub
made with great zeal. euergy, aud anxiety-te
the courts of the Tuileries and Berlin, this view
of the case has been fully put before them.
think IL is moment when we ought TO have
l brought before these States-this public decla
| ration which, fthlnk, would bavea benefcla
effect at the present moment. Ii is the duty o
the Government TO bring before the cOnsidera