New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-04-26
ENGLAND AND THE WAR.
EAKNESs OF BRITISH LIBERALS.

,no, THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF TIE TRIBUNE.l
'Ioypox. April Alt has beer what is called
lively week in Parliament winding up with long
sehate last night on the Protocol and the Eastern
ouestion generally. But what has come of it all
The one satisfactory incident is the debate and
division on Mr.. p. A. TaylOr's motion to abolish
sogcing in the navy. The motion was not carried.
indeed, but it was defeated by majority so narrow
that its future is assured, and its success
next year is probable The agitation against this
surviving barbarty has already produced its effect
nv rendering il uncommon instead of common. Only
ii men were ogged last year; seven ofhand. seven
BY courts-martlal.
Mr. TAYLOR, in this as in other matters. has shown
no much tact and good TO cOncilate the
House. the majority of which is almost always
AGAINST him. The House dislikes what are called
annual motions. 1t diSlikes MISUNDERSTANDING. 1t
dislikes radicalism. It's most influential and MI
merons body of members, considered without refer
cnce to politics. dislike espe, ally any attack upon
the privileges Of landowners. Nj. Taylor, how
ever has managed to run steadily counter to all
these prejudiees, and acquire at the same time
steadily -increasing popularity and reputation.
To come to the debate on the Eastern question,
there is sufficient reason for its bauenne6s. The
Liberal party Is in the amentable condition of not
knowing its Own mind nor the mind of the country
Ii has 10 policy, no cohesion, no leader. mean 10
do no injustice TO Lord Harrington He has shown
himself an ADLER man than he was believed 10 DC
when he was lifted into the place he now occupies
lie is certainly quite competent TO hold his own
against Sir Stafford NOrthcote, whose reputation
has on the whole, declined little since ne took up
the mantle which Mr.. Dsrae dropped on his pas
sage 10 the House of Lords But Lord harrington
is. at most, tacticiaD. lie maneuvers according 10
,rle and with some skill ON the actual field of
"a nlsnrec Of Iyar
agrand scale he has given no proof of fitness. The
real leader OF the Liberals so far as they have
had one during sfhe past six months, has
been Mr. Gladstone. 1t is he who reused
the opinion of the country against the Turk
ish policy OF the Government and made war
IN behalf of Turkey impossible Unhappily, he con-
tented himself with this negative Iesuit-a result
which leaves his Cheats, the BugaTians, as much at
the mercy of their Turkish Oppressors "a ever III
may be doubted whether Mr.. Gladstone, had he
been n Office would have frankly adopted the only
pohcy which would have been really eflicacous-the
polcy Of coercion. The opinions OF tie lhoeIaiS'
even of so mild a Liberal as Lord Harrington are
perhaps in favor of coercion, but they have not the
courage of their opinions What reason is there to
suppOse they would have, if in power, imposed Their
will on the Turks, when they dare not even attack
their own Government in the House Of Commons for
,upportmg the Turs7 Efforts are made TO induce
Lord HARRINGTON and his comrades OF the 'front.' bench
TO propose direct e.of censurc. Ono or two Oh
the late Ministry were themselves IL favor OF such
n course 1t would have resulted, so FAR as the
House itself is concerned in defeat; but II would
have inspirited the auti-Turiish majority IN the
c,uptrv and mt some heart into the Liberal party
ANY good general would rather endure de-
feat from lime to time than see his troops rust III
ramp The Tories perpetuaily haunting the
Liberals that they won't come out from behind the'r
works and accept battle. think the taunt is just.
No direct vote of censUro On the Government has
been movedt Mr. Fawcetts motion of last month
cannot be called such; and such as it was, vote on
if was shrlnk from in a way TINT was most humii-
,finc. Sir Charles Dixie did himself honor last
night by his declaration that Ac regretted that a
censure had not been proposed But no other voice
was heard in support of policy as sagaclous as
bold.
II is the fashion to. say that the country, which
last Summer drove lbe Government out OF Its IN
tended course has changed its mind. That do ho'
believe II is less dcmonstratye it may perhaps be
called acquicscent, but Of any active sympathy with
the Government there is no proof But what can
the country do9 1t is used TO being led, and there IS
no longer anybody who will lead Speecl-maklng
and pamphleteerng were all very well so long as
Parliament vas not sitting. But when the practical
Tng}ishlnon secs that the men who fomentcd agita-
tion are not ready 10 propose anything in the House,
he doesn't understand it. The people have done
their part They can't invade the House OF Com
MONS 1t is not probable that majority is, or mas
been il favor of war TO cOerce Turkey into decent
government or 10 drive the Pashas across the Bos-
informs. But a majority would have supported
no6cv which might have attained one OF those OBJ
eets without drop of blood. Mr.. GladstOnes fatal
weakness in foreign policy 50 often shown has been
shown once more His policy is policy OF words'
But the only man who can govern this
great empire when imperial questions are at
Issue ia a man who can act. DR.. Gladstone
has vet TO prove that he can do that The courage
and eapacity he has displayed in carrying internal
reforms in confronting hostile classes. and
tramplng on interests that had grown into abuses,
count for nothing when the place of England IN
Europe has TO be fought for. Lord Beaconsfield is
Mr. Giadstones superior in this, that his resolution
in the pursuit of wrong policy has distinctly IN
creased the European power and prestige OF Great
Britain for the moment His refusal to accede to
the Berlin Memorandum was a surprise to the Con-
tnent In every point of view but one the decision
was wrong but il was taken and announced IN
manner which doubled the weight of England IN
continental councils So of the sending the Medltcr-
ranean fleet to Besika Bay. There was something
Of the spirit of Pamerston in the doing OF BON
these acts. But why is it that no Liberal seems to
understand the English feeling in such matters
Mr. Gladstone will go to his grave without conpre-
bending it.
That is all care to say about last nights debate
II you had entered the House while it was going on,
you would have seen on Que side compact and trl-
umphant majority cheering its speakers to the echo
81, 4. and "a