The New York herald., 1870-01-29
British PeIitics-Tne Questions Of sse Hour
The Approach Session Of Pariianont.


II ia now many months since we had any
thing to do with the British Parliament or,
until very lately, with the speeches OF British
statesmen. The recess, as they call It in
England, has been more than ordinarily unin-
teresting. Mr.. Disraeli has been dumb. Mr..
Gladstone, n.spite Of his natural disposition to
express himself, has been silent almost to dis
appointment. Latterly Mr.. Bright has broken
the ice, and, although we have no reason to
say that he has absolutely satisfied his col
leagues, we cannot deny that he has sketched
an admirably able and honest programme for
Ireland. The present British Ministry has
good reason to rest upon the laurels it won in
the last session Of Parliament. II did great
things things, especially, for Ireland
1t did, also, make great promises, and the
great promises had Ireland for their object
Mr.. Gladstone lost his chances in the great
Reform bill movement; but he saw great
field in the removal Of Irish grievances, and
it must be admitted that up to the point OF
opportunity he has done well.
On the Sth of February the recess ends and
Parliament will be again in session. The
Queen, personally or by proxy, will open Par
lament. In any case we shall have another
Gladstone programme. The Queens speech
will touch upon the great work that has
been doae, upon the happy relations sus-
tanned towards foreign countries, upon the
Alabama claims difficulty, upon the divided
sentiment of France on the commercial treaty
carried out mainly by the perseverance and
honest convictions of the once contemned but
latterly honored Richard Golden, upon the
great and troublous question of the colonies,
made fresh and more interesting than ever by
recent manifestations, and chiefly upon the
homes. policy still to be pursued in the matter
of Irish grievances.
1t will be a good Queens speech, at least as
good speech as kings or queens or emperors
usually make. II will be full enough to cover
the great questions of the day, liberal enough
to sustain The position of Mr.. Gladstone and
his friend Bright, and just enough to command
the honest support of the tories. Among
foreign questions the two most important are
the Alabama claims and the expiring French
commercial treaty. The Alabama claims nego-
tations, we are told, have again been sus-
pended. When were they in any other con-
dition? Prince Arthur, we suspect has settled
the whole difficulty. Is he not now the honored
guest of this nation? Has he not made Mrs.
President Grant feel that live prince is some
thing more than any other ordinary mortal?
Has he not by smile or a touch impaired a
lifelong joy and pride to many Of our Washing
ton bellies? Has he not made fortunes for all
the Inilliners and dressmakers in the neighbor-
hood of the Capitol? That the Alabama claims
negotiations should be suspended is no matter
of wonder. A question Of honor is best settled
by an honorable apology. Since we make so
much Of princes we cannot blame Great Britain
for making SO little Of the Alabama claims.
The French commercial treaty, now about
to expire, is to the mercantile classes of Great
Britain very important and, indeed, a very
serious question. We could name towns in
England, Scotland and Ireland that have suf-
fered by it very severely. Some of the Oldest
centres of manufacturing industry and skill
have suffered to the point Of ruin. Old towns
have almost died and old manufacturing
firms have been reduced to poverty. But we
could name other centres which have gained
by the Golden treaty. Little hamlets have
grown into towns, towns have swelled into
cities, and manufacturers, honest and able,
finding field for their wares, have swelled
into dignifed merchants and portly aldermen
What has taken place in Great Britain has
taken place in France. Some centres, some
individuals have gained some centres, some
individuals have lost; but in the one country,
as in the other, the Golden treaty has been
public benefit. Free trade admirably illus
trates the New Testament precept-"It It is
expedient that one man should die for the
people"-a precept which covers principle,
and the principle is as old as the Flood, per-
haps older But as the love of self is stronger
than the love of humanity, protection, in COM
munities selfish and not fully enlightened,
will always have chance. II is possible that
some British manufacturers have gained as
compared with some French manufacturers /; it
turers have gained as compared with some
British agriculturally, it is undeniable that
France has had the advantage; but the re-
turns, which we have more than once published
in the HERALD, show that both countries have
gained immensely by the free trade policy.
1t is scarcely to be doubted that the feeling
now prevailing in France will lead to modih-
cation of the treaty; but the modification will
be more a seeming than real logs to Great
Britain, while it cannot be gain to France
The colonial question is one which now Sc
riously agitates the minds of British statesmen.
II has already taken shape that may break up
the existing political parties. For some years
past men of mere ideas, men like our friend
Goodwin Smith, of Ithaca, have been advo-
eating course Of policy which was fine in
theory, but which, as it was totally wanting
in the practical direction, has already begot-
ten n nnyyerfnl reaction--a reaction SO strong