New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-05-09

friends. An English officer who has quite lately
been over the ground has written home that, so far
he See there is nothing to stop the Russians.
One Of the Ball I'm roads is well fortified the Others
weakly or not at all. The Government are in pos
session of this and Of much other information Their
purposes NAV be influenced by it. They may really
believe COnstantinoplc to be, in military point of
view, in danger. But that does not touch the real
question, and will not be the deciding argument
when they make up their minds what England Is
to do
On one point they have come to decision which
only a week since Lord Derby was still hesitatng
about. Hobart Pasha has been informed that he
must choose between the English and Turkish
services if he remains in the latter he cannot re-
tain his rank and receive his pay in the English
navy. To have permitted him TO do it would have
been 10 affirm the principle that an officer Of the
Queen may lead the forces of Power at war with
the Queens ally-fOr such Russia is, at present.
This was so steadily pressed upon the Government
that at last they gave way, though most reluctantly
Lord Derby, indeed, has never retraccd his opinion
that Hobart Pasha's position was matter OF lmpe-
rial policy. This could only mean that he agrees
with those who look upon the Turkish fleet ~ the
first English line OF battle TO eXtort compliance
with the rational view of such question is one of
those services which a persistent Opposition can
always render. But it must be persistent.
The unremittng efforts of certain sections Of the
Liberal party TO induce their leaders to move vote
of censure on the Government has at last been
abaudoned-or suspended. There is not the slight
est prospect of carrying the whole Opposition in sup
port of such a motion. There never has been. and
that the leaders of this agitation admit. What they
urged was that such n motion would unite q suti-
cient number of votes to make tle desired impress
sion on the Government and the country. They
wanted Ia make il impossible for the Government to
90 further than it has gone toward an alliance
with Turkey. And they wanted to rouse
tho country to a due sense OF the dan
ger Of such a policy rs that which they
believe Lord Bcaconsfed is secretly pursuing. But
they have had to admit the result Of long confer
ences that the Liberal party cannot he brought to
act together. 1t was understood that n least one
third of its nominal members would support the
Government on a motion of ccnsurc from their own
side The pcace-at-any-pIice party further comFH-
Gated the situation. All the criticisms upon the
Government have pointed to the possibility of En-
gland interfering by arms against Turkey. No"
Mr. Bright and the rest of the Manchester school are
opposed to war as war and. of course, 10 any policy
naturally Leading to war. They have done AZ much
rs anybody else to tie the hands Of Their Radical
friends in this matter.
This decision however has not prevented Mr.
Gladstone from giving notice of motion respecting
the future policy of the Government. This is only
in pursuance of the wc-known constitutional doe
trine which imposes on the Opposition the duty OF
watching the Government during crisis and OF eX-
pressing its own views if got rendering MS advice.
This was Mr. Dsraelfs frequently declared opinion,
and Lord Beaconsfed cannot complain if 1t Is acted
upon now.
OF the Moltkc scare il is hardly necessary to say
ANYTHING now that Count Moltkc himself has rcpu-
dated the construction put upon his words, rs wen
as the most alarming words themselves. lie never
said that the time not far distant when every
Government would he compelled to strain every
nerve TO secure its own existence And he never
meant to advocate a warile policy ort fortSI''oW
the near approach of war. There was no menat" IN
what he said. That the French shoHid be cXciled
by the remark upon the rapid reorganization OF
their army is natural. The comments OF
their newspapers are, indeed more prudent
than usual, but there was panic, and panic must
he the result from time 30 time Of such situation
rs that i'm which France finds herself She has an
almost equal dread Of war and longing Tor revenge.
For anything like aggressive war she IS moi ready
and cannot he ready for many years to come. Ay
belief is that the great majority OF tins generation
are willing tc leave TO the next the task oil reaee-
ing the military supremacy oi France. but 'hey are
aiming, as they have a right TO- and they AL mean
that the ultimate use of their rcorganzcd forces
shall he against Germany. At every word uttered
by a German which indicates German knowledge OF
this fact, France starts like a guilty thing. she
knows that the military party in Germany always
most powerful would gladly preciPltate the cohn'e'
while the chances are unequal. She does NOT seem
10 know that she owes her immunity from attack
and destruction largely to the man she most ha'e'
ola,
among other things for Count Moltke to die, ana an
unexreced sign OF the vigorous life still in the old
warrior has been most unwclcome IT, W. =