New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-01-26

ENGLAND IN 4 EUROPEAN CONFERENCE.
We do not look for any serious demonstra-
ton by England in the present Conference.
The time for an attitude that should give
pause to the Powers which now so cOmplacently
announce their purpose of violating treaties
urged by English statesmen and negotiated by
English diplomatists has passed.
The equanmity with which the English Gov
eminent and people regard such announce
ments has its origin and its justification, without
doubt, in the new recognition Of the fact that
Great Brtain's military position has become
greatly modifed-sO far indeed that she has
become almost incapable of offensive war
fare. Only generation ago England was
the most formidable power in Europe. 1t was
her perseverance, her money, her commanders,
and her men that did more than all the other
resources of the alliance to crush the First
Napoleon. Her navy was the first in the
world; her army was equal to that OF any
continental power; her wealth was still enor-
nous after all the drain of the long war.
Waterloo left her, therefore, at the very head
of the family of nations, and threat from
Downing-street was terrible enough to con-
vulse half the world.
But during the long peace which followed
the Bourbon restoration, England and the Con-
tinental powers pursued very different roads.
France, Prussia, Austria, Russia, and $50 far
as their means would allow the smaller States
also, began the creation of immense military
ornaments Every new scientific discovery or
mechanical invention was applied-if it could
be applied-to the art Of war. An improve
ment in guns, or ships, or the equipment OF
troops, was one of the surest and quickest
roads to fame and fortune. With the develop
ment of railways it became possible to collect
and subsist armies of size that fifty years
ago would have been called fabulous The
invention of the field telegraph made it easy
to direct by single intelligence operations
simultaneously at far distant points. Gradu-
ally the principles of strategy and tao
tics underwent almost a revolution, and
the military strength Of Europe had to
be measured by entirely new standards.
Meanwhile Great Britain took no part in the
terrible and exhausting rivalry which menaced
the peace of all Continental Europe. She saw
France arming against Prussia, and Prussia
double-arming against France, and the Car
building up great fleets and armies, to use
wherever he found vulnerable enemy; and
vet she felt no uneasiness. She had no terri
tories liable to invasion. The ocean was her
frontier, which few stout ships could defend
better than half million of men. Her army, as
brave as ever, was but a handful in COMPARE
son with the great hosts of her nearest neigh
bors but why should she make it any larger
To defend her colonies, keep the peace at
home, and maintain decent reserve for show,
it was all that she needed. Her true policy
was to ego into trade" maintain her naval
supremacy as n protection for her commerce
and sufficient precaution against invasion,
and devote all her energy to the amasslng OF
wealth, the culture of liberal arts, and the So
luton of social difficulties.
Thus the insular and continental systems
got every year farther and farther apart.
England's policy was exactly like our own, and
nobody can question that it was wise ono'
fruitful of prosperity to herself and OF benefit
to all the world. The British Empire has
grown by means of it into more honorable
position than it ever occupied before, and
when history comes to strike tho balance of
national regulations it will be found that Eng
land and the United Satisfactorily are greater-in
the true sense Of greatness-than Germany or
Russia. But the English people do not yet see
that The change in the military equilibrium
has made corresponding change in their In