New-York tribune., 1877-05-17
ENGLAND'S ATTITUDE.
THE ENGLISH PEOPLE AGAINST WAR.

LONDON May D. Morning, noon, and night tor
the last three days, politcs-nothing but pohucs
has ANYBODY heard or talked. Politics. domestic and
foreign the hopcd-for or dreaded collapse of lur-
kew the apparently more imminent collapse OF the
Liberal party at home, the future position OF Mt
Gladstone the possible resignation Of Lord HartIng
ton the relations of the Liberal chiefs TO Their party
the conflict going in the Cabinet tie influence oil
the Liberal division on the fortunes OF the two
wings of the Ministry, the fresh agitation IN tle
country-all these things and many more are
debated with an eager interest as unlike
as possible to that fugd indifference and
nothug-much-matter tone which Is, in or
dinary times so Characteristic of the well-bred
EnglIshman. Al other topics are neglected-eyen
the Grosvenor Gallery, which began the week, and
the ROYAL Academy which was expected to end It,
are hardly mentioned. The east wind itself has
ceased TO be a staple Of talk, and blOweth where 1t
isteth, no man regarding whence it cOmeth. 1t VIII
give you a notion Of the hight to which excitement
is rising when say that some of tho most extreme
Radicals have already considered the prop1ety OF
taking a resolution-in a certain event-to block
the wheels of Government. There is 4 real and
constant apprehension that-as have before hinted
some scheme is in contemplation TO commit En-
gland to war for Turkey whether she likes 1t or no
to take step suddenly from which there can be no
drawing back-tO pledge, as it were, the honor OF
the couutry-to do all this so swiftly and secretly
that an rreyocablc act shall bavo been completed
before a protest can be heard, before the House can
be consuted-still more before the country can be
heard in protest. Then the Government would come
with the tyrants plea, necessity, in ITS mouth
asking all at once for vote Of five or ten
millions to meet the expense which instant
urgent outlay for army and navy would
require. Then would the Radicals-not less
than hundred strong, as they believe, in such an
emergency-stop the way They would refuse to
allow a vote to be taken in supply, and TO prevent
it employ all the dilatory forms OF the House. Re
cent experience has proved them to be singularly
eiicacious for such purpose 1t IS calculated that
weeks must eapse before rcsOlutc minority could
be wcaricd out or any money be obtained
remarked to the friend who outlined this plan that
lie could hardly deceive himself oi real puEport
and rii.ct-that it would mean nothing less than a
revolution. He asseuted at once and seerlcd in no
wise disconnected by the suggestion. In any event
be was ready to 90 on till the country had time to
declare for or against the Goyernmcnt-for or
against the war thus wantonly provoked by reck-
less personal ambition.
don't say this is probable-far from 1t. Des-
pcrate courses forescen advance are seldom per-
severed in. If the Goyemmcnt-that is, if Lord
Beaconsiicld-serousy contemPlates what would
amount 10 n coup ddat the knowledge that it would
meet with serious resistance would probably pre-
vent rhe attempt being made. But the mere fact
that such talk is heard is significant. 1t shows to
what 2 pitch mems feelings are strung. As yet it IS
confined to certain circles. The multitude is con-
tent TO discuss the facts known to the multitude,
Which. indeed are themselves also serious and sig
uiGcant enough. II is surely no light thing that
men should be gravely considering the dissolution
Of great party as an accomplished fact, and that
each of tire two bodies into which 1t divides shoud
he doing it's best to shoulder on to the other The
responsibility for the catastrophe.
What the opinion OF the country is on the point IS
plain enough from the meetings, of which reports
come from all quarters Once more the country IS
awake to the fact that its honor is impcrled.
Within the last two days more than fifty meetings
have been held. It was said last Autumn that the
otot,on against the support of Turkey by the Gov
was due TO the efforts of the Liberal Orgaui
zaton-that all the machinery Of the party was put
in motion from its headquarters in London. 1t was
not true them bus what can be sad now when The
Liberal headquarters are hostile, aud yet most
numerous and influential meetings are everywhere
coming togetherY / never saw or heard of an out
hurst of popular feeling that seemed more genuine
II is confined to section Of the country IL reaches
from Aberdeen to Portsmouth, from Greenwich to
Rristol. If springs from great commercial centers
like Newcastle and Liverpool aud from great manu-
featuring centers like Manchester Sheffield,
bradford. and Leeds. While Greenwich i'll
stautlv offers its support to Mr. Gladstone,
its own member, rebukcs to his opponents
hcein TO come in from their constituencies
and fellow-citizcns Tho Liberal Association of
Rr,dford the borough for which Mr. Forster sits,
have sent word to him that they warmly approve
Mr. Gladstoue's resolutions. The Reform AssOcla-
t;on of Rochdale where Mr. Bright lives, have unan
imously expressed their hope that all Liberals will
Give Mr.. Gladstone hearty support. Meetings III a
dozen different parts Of the metropolis pass similar
resolutions. which may be commended alike to Mr.
Goschen who sits for the City, and to Mr. Lowe, who
represents the University of London. The meetings
are of every description meetings OF citizens sum-
rnoued by the Mayor meetings of Liberals called
bv their local committees; meetings OF Liberal
dissertations and councils which represent the active
energetic. working element OF the party. Inc ST.
James Conference is once more called together under
tbe Presidency OF the Duke of Westminster. There
have been meetings in addition to those already
named in such important towns az Bath, Blrhen-
Iood Rrigbton. Cambridge, Coventry, Darlington
Uartlcpool Hull, Ipswich, Leicester, Mddesbor0ugn
Norvieb. Hastings. Worcester, Stamford, York, Not
tIurlain, KeduluE, Culutllliuj "lI" '''+''N' 'N'N
have been. besides all these, considerable number
of unusual expressions of opinion from ecclesiastical
bodirs. and from trades and worllmgmen's aSsocia-
tions. All these within two days, aud almost with
ont notice for it was only Tuesday that the reso
lutions were published and on "Wednesday that the
refusal of the Liberal leaders to support them was
known. and the meetings began ON the very next
day. -,
OF course cannot attempt to give anything like
detailed accounts Of these demonstrations. Con-
densed reports of them-a few lines only to each