New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-12-27


in maintaining possession of Constantinople whereby
she is enabled to close it. Whyf Solely because
England has possessions in India, and her road 70
India is through the Mediterranean, and the safety
of that road might be impaired by the unchecked
access of Rlssian feet to the Mediterranean Sea-
But there is already French fleet there, and an
Italian feet and an Austrian feet, and spanish
feet and Turkish fleet. II the Russian fleet came
in there would be one feet MORE no doubt. but
suppose there were. What would happeni Would
the British flag be lowered or dishonoredf Would
the British right of way be impaired England has
the biggest feet in the world-bigger. perhaps,
than all the fleets of all the other
Powers combined. Will her maritime su-
pfemacy be imperiled by the opening OF the
Dardanelles' IL it win not, England has no interest,"
in the Eastern question:; no excuse for maintaining
the Turk in Constantinope, and for blockading the
Russian within the Black Sea- The sole oasis 1or
the policy of the Government is basis OF fear; no
should say, basis likely to be heartily approved by
the English people, From that motive of English fear
Russia is to be unustly debarred from the use OF the
Straits which nature and the situation OF her terri
tory make it right and necessarashe should have.
From that motive alone England lends hand to
sustain the foul tyranny of the Turk Christian
lands.
One of Mr. Brghts critics calls this an appeal 10
religious animosity, quoting in proof this me
passage:
Why 100 years ago people OF this country witn as
history tells u.s. Of their heroic kings, lonSa .oe
ing the holy places from the possession OF the
and the Mohammedan. Well, now what DO We dot we
OF this Turkish Government We give Bethlehem and Cal;
vary and the Mount OF Olives through the blood ana
treasure OF England and the power over all these vast
countries, which almost wilderness ana aeseIs
under the Turkish sceperwe do all TINS or 1ne
war from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean
Well if the feeling which inspires these words be
religious anmosity, it is feeling which Mr.. Bright
shares with scores Of millions of people who speak
his own language and some other languages In
fact it is far less question of religion than ques
ton of morals, and nothing in Mr.. BrghTs speech
was more loudly cheered or will be more heartily
approved than his declaration that he has no WISH
to be partner in any craftsmanship which Is dlssoci
ated from morals. And as to the patriotism OF Mr..
Brights view, his own words are sufficient indica-
ton of what he thinks patriotic:
II conld show and believe sm entitled to try 10
which affects the interest OF England as your Govern
ment and some OF your [gsS ac in be face Of my
Irymen than TO them from these constantly recu
ring pancs and from the peris when tney Gs sap so
strengthen your views that you Will no longer uelpie
ths hobgobn langhter then shall nave dOn non my
Eastern question.
The question there raised is for Englishmen, not
for u.s. but don't think the accusation that MI.
Bright is wanting in love of his own country has
made much Roadway. Heretofore the force OF MS
speeches against any particular war has been weak
ened by his supposed hostility to all war; IL 49, per-
haps partly to meet this objection that MI. Brlght
now tells us that though he never stands forward as
the defender Of such sangunary struggles as the one
imminent between Russia and Turkey, he KNOWS
not how in some cases they are to be avoided Even
arbitration is not of universal efficacy. Ihere can
be no arbitration, exclaims Mr. Bright, between
such Government as that which reigns at Constan-
tinople and that suffering people of whom we have
lately heard so much. And he avows that he has
sometimes thought during the past year that Her
Majestys Government were rather too much In favor
of peace if not at any price, at least at price
which some of us would scarcely wish TO pay for 1T.
"They are willing TO sacrifice the interests, the
happiness and the freedom of millions OF the Chris
tan population of the Turkish Provinces, and am
afraid they would make another great sacrihce-
namely they would sacrifice the fair fame and the
honor of this country in binding US in perpetual
partnership with the worst and the foulest Govern
ment known upon earth" Mr.. Bright, however,
makes, as most persons make, discrimination De-
tween the head of the Administration and its special
ambassador to COnstantnople. There are perhaps no
two men in England more unlike than Lord Sails
bury and Mr. Bright; which gives an additional IN
terest to the portrait of the one drawn by the other
Lord Salisbury is a man against whom good deal may
DO said lauglterl and good deal might honestly De
said In his favor Hear Perhaps that Is true OF most
OF us [I.aughter1 But with regard to his policy at
home think have observed In 1t for many years-ahd
have watched him and sat opposite to him for many
years in the House OF Commons-what should call
hearty unwsdom daughter that was unfortunate and
mschieyous On the other hand have seeu In his con-
duct as Minister for India, great iberality and great
disposition TO do that which he believes to be Just;
IHear can only hone that he leaves his unwisdom for
home consumption loud langhtef ana that when ne ar
strong Toa intellect viii have fair play lHear, hear
hope he will do his country the highest service and nm
self the highest honor by the duty which ne mas under
taken
"a hope based on the expectation that Lord Salls-
bury will rest on his strong sense, and not act
as the subseryient representative of his chief Lord
Salisbury has discovered on his Journey and will
hear In mind thinks Mr.. Bright, that England is
wholly without an ally save Turkey alone The
supposed interest of England i'll the matter Is an IN
terest with which no other European Power has any
sympathy and which none will support. Therefore,
SAYS Mr.. Bright " l look upon it that boastng at
the Guildhal how many campaigns we can bear be-
fore we are exhausted, before the workingmen OF
England are in the condition that they were during
the great wars in past times-l look upon all that
sort of Boosting out of place. The Prlme Minister
NAV be a great actor, but, somehow or other, he
seems to me as if he always played rather to the gal
leries" Indeed if should describe the feeling that
performance of Lord Beaconsfelds at the Guildhall
has excited by so strong a word as disgust, don't
know that it would be too strong. Mr.. Courtney,
one of the very ablest and most thoughtful OF the
younger English Liberals-a candidate for Mr..
Horsman's vacant seat at Liskeard-used still
harsher language last night III speech to the people
of that borough. more nefarious deed, said Mr..
Courtney, was never done by any statesman than
by Lord Beaconsfed when he made his Guildhall
speech-to call it an act of infamy was not too
A., Lo enid Inv candidate for parlia-