New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-03-04
GREAT BRITAIN.
THE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE ON THE WAR.
IFROM OUR own CORRESPONDENCE

House reflects aS well as anything cal' inc
general opinion about the policy Of the Govern
ment with reference TO the war. Nobody is
entirely satisfed-not even Mr. GladstOne-with
the line taken, but nobody has any very dis
tnct or practical proposal to make to what should
have been done, or can now be done. Mr.. Auberon
Herbert who brought ON the debate belongs to that
small but courageous band of University Radicals
whose function is independent criticism. He wanted
the House TO declare it the duty of the Government
10 act in concert with other neutral Powers TO OBTAIN
moderate terms of peace, and TO withhold all acqul
essence in terms which might impair the lndepend-
ence of France. If Mr.. Herbert had been called on
70 critioise his own resolution he would have found
fault with it, think for its vagueness, which IS the
burden of his accusation against the policy OF the
Government. When the war was in its early stages,
Mr. Herbert was one of those who went out under
the red cross and it is natural that his
sympathios should have been worked upon by the
sufferings he witnessed He thinks, and says, that
England ought to have stopped all the misery, and
might have stopped it. Reviewing the Blue Book
lately published on the war, he complains OF Its
"ooloress pages" and affrms that there was not a
single act done not single word spoken not single
influence exerted throughout the whole of the warto
bring about reconciliation between the two bel
hgerentsp But when he came 10 say what might
have been done, OF might now be done, we hnd MI.
Herbert contenting himself with the suggestion that
an appeal NAV be made to Prussia, and that 1--WE
should express openly and clearly how strong was
our sense of the great evils which would arise II the
terms of peace were extravagant or immoderate"
So much | suppose Mr.. Herbert and those who
think with him would do by way of easing their
minds but the most sanguine partisans OF the moral
influence policy can scarcely suppose their exhorta-
tions would much affect Count Bismarcks determl-
nation.
Tho kind of discomfort with the Government felt
by the country was after ALL very imperfectly ex-
pressed by Mr.. Herbert, whose criticism was hest
tating rather than aggressive. much more dam
aging attack followed from Sir Robert Peel. whose
very lrst sentence however, unintentionally sup
plies an explanation If the ineficiency of all En-
glish action. 81 have read this Blue Book says
Sir Robert Peel "socly with the object of consider
ing the interests of England, and what as great
European Power should be our influence" That is
what the Government did They considered first
the interests of England; secondly and at q great
interval her influence as a European Power. No
blame to Them perhaps but since it Is the interest
of England and not of Europe or of any particular
country in Europe which she considers wonder
her place in Europe is secondary. Nor need any ag-
erieved Frenchman care to say harsher things of
English policy than Englishmen themselves say.
"Wherc are the Government" asks Sir Robert Peel,
"to find friends in Europe to act with themY PTus-
STA despises our Government and laughs it to scorn
France our active ally and neighbor is drinking the
bitterest cup Of national humiliation and sorow
should much like to know if, under these circum-
stances our policy of isolation of selfish isolation
has been productive 10 us of any advantage"
He denounced the flight of Lord Lyons from Paris as
"unRenerous and unmanly," contrasting it with
"the credit which the Minister of the United States
has gained for himself by staying in Paris during
Ae to tha latf Gladstone
heartily concurred with Sir Robert Peel admitting
that MI Washburne "was most useful, and per-
formed most honorable and advantageous part by
remaining" Sir Robert Peel it may be observed,
though Conservative is not party man in the sense
Of being follower of Mr.. Disracli. He speaks the
sense of the average English mind on such question
as this. The people Of England, so far as foreigner
living here can judge them, do not feel that they
have played creditable part during the last seven
months. They probably agree-speaking of foreign
ahairs-wth Sir Robert Peel in saying that, " if we
had had a strong Government. we should have had
Tesolute policy" But the Government may have
credit for one thing. One great difficulty, at all
events they appear to have grappled with, with the
most complete success. allude to the success which
has attended their efforts in bringing about in the
period of twelve months so much of humiliation
10 the character and credit of this country.
We talk of our national pride and OF the
moral influence of England, but the right
honorable gentleman at the head of the Govern
mont has advised us, in the opinion Of the
Prussian Government and of Count Bismarck, to
accept a policy of CELEBRATION. / believe that this
country has lost CASTE and that in the of the
last two years this country in the councils of Europe
has achieved more unpopulauty than was accom-
plished by the policy of any other statesman within
the last 30 OF 40 years."
Sir Robert likes the language of the Government
as little as its action, want of action. 1t al
ways venturing" TO say something and it is curl
GUS to remark what number Of passages can be
quoted in which this unlucky word occurs. We
ventured" to do this, /" we ventured to do that
We ventured TO disapprove the demand made by
France upon the King Of Prussia for prospective
gagement respecting the oandidature OF Prince HOhen
zoiern for Spain but then it misfortune TO
fail. 1--WE yentured llaughter TO appeal TO the
Treaty of 1856 to reference to some competent tbu
nal for settlement OF the disputes between France and
Prussia hut did not obtain hearing" This is the
Language Of the right honorable gentleman at the head Of
the Government lHear, hearI now observe this
1--WE expressed in language SO respectful nuch laugh
hope that Prussia would have to the
IRENE Of bombardment Of Paris" hlr. Glad
isES6terj Again,3'we venturod to favor'-the
calling together Of an assembly fully authorized
using the literal expressions OF the Government Hear,
hear Again I'VE yeng l to point Ont that te
stract declarations with reference to the terms OF
sbaWi1r now how yenturesome" the Govern
1nent have been. General laughter and cheerng I'm
the next place ventured to suggest TO the Govern
ent of Germany that 1t would he conducive TO the gem
eral welfare IL they found themselves III condition TO
deemed 10 be required" This expression I'VE ven
tured occurs throughout the whole o the correspond
which is Characteristic of the Government submit re-
specially to the House that II is not me anguage winch
Lord PalnerstOn would have used. LOUD cheersI
The hit was palpable, and the supporters of Mr.
Gladstone felt with his opponents that one Of his
weak points had been touched. The allusion to