, 1876-11-15

cumStances. IhIs Intelligent and pOten-
tial exponent of British opinion screams
"over the housetops Of the world" that
the peace of Europe is imperilled, which
everybody knew very well before, and
appeals directly to Germany to come to
the rescue Of the peace of Europe and the
British investor. Does the Times seri-
ously believe that the conduct of o great
government like that of Germany is ever
influenced or determined by obi urgations
of this nature? If the Times believed 1t
could scold Germany into the pursuit of q
British policy it had as erroneous an
opinion of Germany as the British For
eign Office seems to have of the rest Of
Europe. But If the utterauce Of the
Tunes represents the thought Of the Minis
try, as seems TO be limited, it must be con-
ceded that this is the most remarkable ofthe
eccentricities that distinguish the history
OF the present government. Is this the
end of "the vigorous policy of Palmerston''
which the tory organs lauded but o few
days since in the conduct of the Turkish
negotiations? Palmerston got the govern
ment Into many q scrape, but he did not
get out OF them by pitiful appeals for help;
and the present difficulties in the situa-
ton, and this war, that is certain and so
lnlmlcal to English interests-all these
are the creations OF the British Ministry
by Its dealing with the Berlin note,
by that note the difficulties in the Turk.
ish provinces would have been remedied,
and Russia, Prussia and Austria were
IN agreement in support Of it. England
alone opposed, and the project failed but
the war that has followed, the massacFes,
the negotiations, the appearance of Russia
on the scene-all these are but the neces-
sary consequences of the defeat of that first
wise project, and the British Ministry was
the sole and only cause of that defeat.
Russia, OF course, means to fight, and is
ready. Russia has intended war ever
since the obstructive policy of England in
regard to the Berlin note showed plainly
that no peaceful remedy was to be had
tor the oppression Of the Slavic people in
the Sultan's dominions. Europe proposed
to guarantee to those people a good 60
Vernment, and Russia was ready, as their
natural supporter, to accept that guaran-
tee and remain as peace !; but England
stood In the way, prevented the guarantee,
and thus the people were to be once more
lett to the tender mercies Of Ottoman
rulers, with promises of reform-those
promises which have become the %farcical
element in European politics. All the
Cabinets then saw the imminent necessity
OF a war, to determine by force that which
England would not permit to be determined
peaceably-all the Cabinets except that of
England. for Lord BeaconsfieId and his
associates seem to have fapcied that they
could play at Palmerston till they were
tired and then stop, with the applause Of
England in their ears. At the same time
that a war was made logically necessary
by England's attitude it was evident that
England was isolated in regard to ii.
Every civilized Power that was in the case
at all was in agreement against her.
Between Russia, Prussia and Austria there
was q definite alliance. Italy was assured
by her desires in regard to Tunis France
. was England's natural ally in such o case,
butt the history of the Crimean war is
not to be repeated now. But for Frances
participation In that war Russia, perhaps,
might not have preserved her tranquility
In che Franco-German war but that course
onyths part of Russia then preserves her
against the repetition of an Anglo French