The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-05-09
The Position of England.

The Position of England.
While popular government has its advan-
tages, there are occasions when the voice of
the country had better bc hushed II is i'm
possible not to feel that England is now
passing through a crisis pregnant with the
most momentous consequences to hor future
destincs, and that the men most qualified
to steer her amid the rocks and shoals which
surround her, are not those who meet in St
James's Hall or Trafalgar square. The con-
flderatiOns which decide "A national policy at
such luncturcs, are not such as popular as
Bemblagcs can appreciate, for in most cases
they derive their Importance from facts
which are known only to the Government,
and cannot be divuged. The public UNI
able to follow the delicate shades of diplo-
matte question, have a tendency at such
times to adopt broad distinctions, and 10
make their favorite leaders the representa-
tives Of their own ill-dehned views.
Thus the whole English people are
now agitated over peace or war, and the
debate in the House Of Commons has
taken the form of discussion, which as
sumes that the Government are allowing
the country to drift toward war, while
MIR. GLADSTONE is in favor Of keeping the
country out Of 1t. The people have not
yet perceived that the war so far has
been brought about by the encouragement
which the peace party gave to Russia, be-
cause it is the fashion to say that the
Sultan would never have gone to war were
II not for the support which the British
Government gave to the Porte. This asser-
ton rests upon an entirely false esti-
rnafa of NJ ia ptnaluu ohm m 81 ar MI r,.l
and an entirely false assumption Of the facts
So far as the English Ministry is concerned.
So at this moment the logical consequence OF
the GLADSTONE policy would be to force Eng
land into a war in alliance with Russia
against Turkey, which would lead
to the most serious European com
plications, while the effort Of the
Government is to keep out Of war altogether.
without neglecting those preparations for
possible contingencies which, in the pres
cnce Of such important European events, it
would Ice criminal to ignore.
1t is manifestly for the interest Of
England at this moment to abstain from
all interference in the question aud
to wait until such complications arise
on the Danube as shall force Germany and
Austria TO assume n decisive attitude. Those
powers are holding back In the hope
that popular agitation in England may
commit that country to denuit.
policy Of Interference. The effect OF
Mr.. GLADsTONEs agitation has for its OBJ
jcct 10 force the Government to declare
Itself, which it is Of the utmost consequence
il should not do. Up to this time, if that
eminent but most Restless and dangerous
Statesman had been the paid agent Of Prince
GohcHAKorF, he could not have played the
gam" of Ru--ia To greater effect. lie now
seem5 - have passed into the service Of
Prince BISMARCK, for German policy is held
III SUSPENSE While England remains silent.
and the power that can maintain "A non
rommittal attitude the longest wins
point in the contest. Meantime.
the British Cabinet finds itself forced
into Il defiant position which it desires to
avoid, hoy he fury with which its opponents
call upon it to repudlate policy Of defiance
The opportune publication Of Lord DERBYS
singing rcplyto the circular If the Russian
Chancellor, On the day Of the discussion in
the House Of Commons. is an Illustration OF
this, and the gage thus hung down by the
Gu''tun"nt was eagerly seized by Mr.,
GLADSTONE, who USES it to prove its warlike
t"niencics, when in reality 1t is a perfectly
sac document, 80 far a. Russia Is concerned.
That power will certainly decline u answer
II, and no better proof could be required of
her Isolated position ON the Continent than is
affOrd,dby thisf fact, In other words, IL show,
that unless the Ministry are carried along
by Internal forces upon warlike path, there
Il no occasion just now for them to interfere
Since II Russia did not fear Germany and Aus
tria, she would not have accepted 50 tlmoly
the rebuke Of the British Cabinet. II, as we
believe will he found to be the case, Russia
does not resent this note, it will practi-
oally remove the doubt which has been
dorsthndng between Germany and Russia
II no such understanding exists, the one
great danger which England had to fear
vtui-hos. If That danger yani-hcs, it is evil
dent she m0y stand f0r n timcani see Ger
many and Austria pull the chestnuts cut of
The fire fur her
1t Is, therefore, clear that this is the very
Nalst moment that could be chosen, aud il
49,, therefore. naturally selected by MI.
GLADSTONE, to divide the British public
into a war and a peace party There
th1ll be no war and no pence party
H. trnee IN England at this crisis, but
panty ui uhsorlatiun, aud az the pub
IL are certainly not fitted to observe 50
wei h9 VA" Government, they should. as they
u. ''nn''dly viii de-, leave tho conduct of
"H'lfr IN ia" hands = the Government. i'm
fiteol ihe eff lrts Of the Liberal, To d.-trnv
tAe -oAAlehce VI the people in their policy.