New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-01-29
BRITISH POLITICS.

WITH MR. FAwCETT-sIGNs OF HARMONY AMONG
TnR LIBERALS.
TFRoN THB REGULAR CoHREsP6NDESr OF THE rRIDUNE'l
LONDON, Jan. 1O-Yesterday a field day for
the Liberals. Sir William Harcourt and Mr. Chtty
spoke at Oxford Mr.. Fawcett and Mr. Holms at
Hackney Mr. Chamberlain at Leeds, and Sir Charles
Dixie az Chelsea With the exception of Mr.. Cham
berlans these were all political addresses, and all
dealt with the Eastern question Ifthe Liberals, as
there is reason to believe, mean to adopt Sir VIII
liam Harcourts Tone there is 10 be hot work in Par
lament His speech is careful and powerful
attack on the conduct Of tho Government III Turkish
affairs, built up in precisely the way which LORD
Beacons6eld likes least, on a basis OF undenlabe
facts, in support Of u proposition which eau
not be disputed unless the facts can be denied.
al will undertake to prove to yOu," says Sir William
Harcotrt "thst up to the time of the expression OF
public opinion in August, the fixed and determined
policy of the Government has been 20 decline All
interference in the affairs Of Turkey TO discourage
any attempt at such interference on the part OF the
European Powers and to incte the Government OF
the Porte to resist the action of Europe, with an
ntmation that in and Of such resistance the counte
nance and oven the material support OF England
yould not be wanting" 1t Is not necessary 10 lol-
low him into the proof. l take tsthe cNlilzeu
world has pretty much made up its mind on TINS
point-that tie English Government has pursued
most yaeillatng and inconsistent ana DISASTROUS
course Sir Charles Dixie boldly SAID last night
and il does require bOldneSs TO say these thhgS
in England. where only the Conservatives are per
mitted TO abuse their oppOnents-that LORD DERBY
has neither the energy the force of character 10
6t him for the post Of Foreign Secretary lie might
have added that Lord Derby has comparatively little
responsibility in this matter, and thai lord Beacos
field who must bear most of it, is as much wanting
in accurate knowledge of Eastern politics as his
lieutenant is in vigor. 1t may perhaps be said that
Lord Salisbury has both, and it would be curious TO
know what is Sir Charles bikes authority for his
statement that Lord Salisbury went 10 CONSTANT
NOBLE with oNleTs from the Government to settle
the question for Them before Parliament could meet,
on any terms ne chose. There Is at any rate no
doubt that he has reversed the policy previously
followed In Sir William Harcourts words, En-
gland has consented TO take part in diplomatic IN
reference which it had declined; it has coOpcrated
with the Powers whom it had refused to JOIN IL mas
propounded to Turkey conditions which 1T had pre-
viousy rejected; instead of encouraging Turkey to
resist it has insisted its acceptance OF terms
which il had formerly disapproved. Nor can there
lie am doubt that the Government were the authors
of the first policy sndt their opponents who have
dictated the second. 1t is easy to say that England
will condone Mistakes and that the success of the
Conference will take the sting out OF such attacks as
these But il is not yet certain that the Conference
will succeed "-whatsver that may meal-nor
even that Lord Beaconsheld can educate whoie
nation into fcrgetfuness of bluIders which almost
amount 20 political crimes
Throughout the speeches Of Sir William HarcOurt,
of Mr. Fawctt and of most Liberal orators IN these
days runs note of confidence which Is significant
enough If it does not mean that the Liberals
likely 10 be strong enough to turn ont the Govern
ment, it does mean that they have grown strong
trail us acts is n Ia
nitcness in the warnings given The one thing mad
MISSILE. says Sir William Harcourt, is that the
Government Of England having made distinct de-
rands bv the mouth of Lord Salisbury, should allow
Turkey to Tcpudiate them. MI tawcett says That IL
The Conference means ything, 1t means that
Furope has combined to obtain from the Porte
effectual guarantees for the better government of
the Provinces, and that if Turkey treats Eurol"
with contempt by refusing, it will be time for the
English people to speak out. Even Sir Charles
Dixie whose mind is far more occupied with the
possible evils of Russian conquest than with the
actual evils Of Turkish dominion, declares himself
prepared TO support any measures for securing re-
form on which Europe is agreed. He would gladly
see a European ultimatum enforced by an English
fleet at CODstantinople.
Perhaps the worst thing TO be said about Sir
Charles Dilke's able speech is that il has Incurred
the approval of the Ministerial press. Things may
he taken to be g good deal " mixed Wich we nhd
the leading Tory organ mailing the once Radical
member for Chelsea as an ally. There must have
been some change oil both sides, and the Tory must
be hard pushed for Sir Charles Dkts speech is not
wanting in criticism Of the Ministerial policy. He
crtises II 50 sharply that 1t is all the mse strange
he should be willing to bring ii help. Yet that IS
what he does. The burden of his speech ls an III
yectivc on Russia as a cruel and treacheTous Power
and a warning to England against putting any trust
in Russian promises or policy. He protests against
being taken as a friend of Turkey; he is only the
enemy Of the enemy of Turkey; which, for practical
purposes, will seem to most people the same thing.
People don't Judge speech by particular passages.
TheS Judge it and judge its author by the general
drift and effect of it, and tie effect of Sir Charles
bikes speech is to give aud and comfort to the
Turk and to the English Tory who is sustaining the
Turk do not say it was meant; Sir Charles
Dixie himself may be surprised to find II so. But l
take his state of mind to be one Of such cX-
IRENE hostility to Russia that he Is
little careless whom he may help provided
he hurts Russia That must bea miSchIeVOuS speech
which The telegraph recommends to aInable ell
thusasts" as powerful exposition of the forgotten
side of the Eastern question: and which The Standard
apoauds as far-seeng and statesmanllke. The
truth is that, this question, Sir Charles Dixie has
separated himself from the party with which he
usually-though by no means always acts. lis
view is largely French view and tho French view
is, as all foreign matters, merely the opposite Of
Prince Bisnarcks | don't, of course question the
right of the representative Of Chelsea to take his
own llne on such matter. He is responsible 10
body but his constituents, and it is not foreign
question that they are likely to quarrel with him.
In the House his position that Of an independent