The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-12-10
MISCELLANEOUS FOREIGN NEWS,
ENGLAND.

MISCELLANEOUS FOREIGN NEWS.
| ENGLAND.
| subject of complaint against Mr.. Glad
| stone that in his Greenwich speech he left
the question of foreign policy altogether
untouched. Last week at the Guildhall he
took his cue from the speeches of the for
elgn diplomatsts, and entlcavored, us far
as in him lay, to supply this deficiency
Indeed he talked of little else, but his ex-
position of policy was nothing more than a
,echam0e of tho celebrated article in the
EdtndurgA RccieU. He admits that he has
little confidence in the prospect of lasting
peace on the Continent, but rejnices to
think that it is most unlikely, except by
our own faults, that we can be called or
tempted to take any part in such quarrels.
Our prOvIdentlal mission is to be "the hap
Ply and lofty function of manifesting sym
Pathy and giving that sympathy the form
OF action"-we presume by aid to the dis
tressed on either side" and of aiming at
the noblest of all objects in regard to for
eign affairs namely this, that we should
inspire the people Of the world with the
belief that our policy is not governed by
1he base and narrow motives of selffshness."
Either Mr. Gladstone wished 60 veil his
meaning in q cloud OF words, or he has b
serong case against the reporters. AS to
rary sometime ago observed, it sometimes
takes two to keep out Of quarrel, and
that the most universal benevOlence in in
tention would be no guarantee against at
tack, if it should ever suit the interest of
an unscrupulous statesman to go to war
with us. One would have thought that the
experience of the last few years suffice to
prove that real substantial grievance has
not always much to do with the outbreak
OF hostliitles. But one remark which Mr..
Gladstone made was true enough, aud we
are glad that he made it, for it has already
served to correct some misrepresentation
abroad. He said that he wished he could
believe that if England had said you
shall not fight" it would have averted the
danger of a contest between France and
Germany. 'Rely upon. it," he went ON to
say, THAT there is no Power on earth,
Whatever its position, whatever its resour-
ces, that is in such position of superiori-
ty, under the condition of modern society,
TO the other Powers of Europe, as to be
able by an act of its own to deprive them
OF their free agency in the regulation of
their affairs" This, SO far as it goes, sat.
disposes IF the charge that we
did not wish to prevent war;. Mr. Glad
more common allegation that we might
nave stopped the war after Sedan. He
might have answered it in the same way : |
for If, as is acknowledged, the interference
of Austria would have brought Russia in to !
the heid on the other side, our intervep-
tlon would probably have had the same ef |
feet, and wrapped all Europe in the flames
Of war,
The Social Moremcnt.-At last we have
like an Ineligible account of
the origin and hopes of what has been
called the new social movement. Mr. +
Scott Russell, who was absent at Vienna
when the negotiation Jared up into prcnla-
,nrc publicity, has lost no time after his
'eturn before addressing, nominally to the
members of his two councils, but really TO
nc curious public, statement which no
me can accuse of not being straghtfor-
ward, and which, as far as it goes, is salts
actory. In the first place, he has to dis
pose OF the accusation that the proceeding
vas political manoeuvrc. His reply is,
nat the movement grew out of Gan utter
IN the wisdom, patriotism, or
'tatesmanship =of mere politics." and a
that the great interests OF the
nation are sacrificed while parties are fac
lousy contending for power. He tells us +
nat, II anyone was the originator of it. it
vas the late Prince Consort, who twenty
.ears ago revealed to him "the astounding
act that in England masters, foremen,
Ind workmen were far worse educated.
ind their interests far less cared for, than
n certain countries on the continent.
subsequent travel, and the opportunities
!fforded by letters of introduction from the
'rince, convinced Mr.. Scott Russell "that
While there is no finer breed of working
men than the British skilled workman.
here is no civilized country where his in
erests are 80 little cared for, and in which
he institutions, laws, and customs are so
'nfavorable to his material we'll being and
o his moral Development" But it was
he outbreak of the late social troubles in
france which first set Mr.. Scott Russell
.ctively to work. Repeated intercourse
With all classes and descriptions of work.
men enabled him to classify their griev-
noes, first under twelve heads, and subse-
Iuently under seven. These were: