The New York herald., 1878-01-11
ENGLAND'S WAR FEVER.
0minOus Chips That Float on the
Political Current.
SADDLED WITH THE TURK.
The Cars Defiance to the
Tocsin Of War.
ri
SADDLED WITH THE TURK
STARTLING RUMOR FROM INDIA.

Another interview with the Queenl Another Cab
met counciIi Tendency TO panic on the Stock Ex-
changc relapse into depression IN the various de-
partments OF trade and industry Merry Christmas,
indeed with rumors OF war evcrybody's
tongue. with q nation divided and distracted 10
what Is going 70 be dono, one party breathing out
thrcatenings and slaughter, the other shouting
'sPeace" .Peace!'' The air is heavy with rumor; !;
the ''Guards" are under orders; Parliament will be
dissolved Immediately after its mbing the Mn
istry have determined resign in body, beng un
able TO agree among themselves; the War Office has
completed a scheme tor the despatch Of an army OF
$4,000 meD to the East, and the troops which are 10
compose 1t and, also reserve army, are all told on
the Queen will make point OF opening Parliament in
person. and subject unforeseen contingencies alter
the disposal OF the business for which they
have Il 1cially been called together The houses
will adjourn for month; the government has invited
tenders Tor 800, 900 pairs OF boots Such low Ut
tho omnous whisporings which have mado tho
country frantic and caused the sa!utaton, "Merry
Christmasl" TO become sounding brass and
tinkling cymbal. Some OF the journals do conde-
scend merely to guess at tho meaning OF the Cabinet
Councils but boldly print the declaration that, tho
event of Russia pressing the demands she is under
stood to have made on Turkey, 1t hps been already
resolved by the Ministry that this country shall do
clare against her. and, by way OF rubbing well
IN, paragraph concudes:-"It is impossible this
event may occur before the opening oil Parliament"
SLOW xoAN''
The reticence and mystery the Cabinet the
meetings OF the Minister'S the ncessant attendance OF
tho Primo Minister upon the Queon have gwen rso
npprehe nsons OF coming trouble. "Aready there is
what in happier days Mr.. Disrae used TO call the TOW
moan being heard:n pubic meetings are beng hold
and announced; an anti-rurk demonstration IN the
East End is to be followed by anliRussian gather
Ing in Trafalgar square, private and clubs
the Eastern question. now more burning than ever,
is discussed with erceness anu bitterness which in
cooler moments must surprise the disputers them.
selvos. Two documents have been issued this
which will convey impression of the SLOW moan'
which Is now rumbng, deep and with increasing
strength, the country. The first emanates from
the Eastern Question Association bears The sigma
lures of Tho Duke OF Westminster, Lord ShaltesDury
and Mr. Mundella, among others II Is considered
here as very powerful address, and, as you may
think it wofth quoting in u, give the whole text
The course taken by Her MaJosty's government in
moning Parliament to meet three weeks before tho
usual period is one which, In s,he present disiurbed
state oi Europe, has gwen rise To much anxiety aid
apprehcnson both at homo and abroad me an.
nouucement Of that stop has been accompanied BY
authoritative declaration OF the neture and objects OF
such an unusual proceeding. The pubic mind Is Iet
In uninfOrmed condition, at the mercy Of the
sinister interpretations which are placed upon tho lu
tcntons OF the government by persons who. for moro
to goad TO beguilo the country into Tor tho
maintenance of the Turkish Empire. This mischev-
party has already seized upon an act which may
possloly be innocent enough itseli, and employ
10 the belief that the object 10 which their
incessant, Efforts are directed Is at length the
point o; iuhlment Their purpose Is not
doubtful; IT y 10 induce Europe 10 believe,
10 lead the English people to suppose that reso
luton already tastn ana preparations about
be made 10 embark this country ia war; Tho effect Of
tins conduct will be equally disastrous at home and
abroad. The governments OF Turkey VIII be dssuaded
IRON maxim peace by the hopes held OF English
irtervcntou, and thus the sanguinary war which is
being waged Will DO indefinitely prolonged. At
home the CONDITION OF uncertainty and alarm thus In
splrcd III prouuce-indced has already produced
many OF the evils inherent to d OF actual war
The Chambers Commerce at Manchester and olse-
whore have already raised voice OF warning and pro-
test against the injury which the present state of
affairs uilics upon Industry and commerce. Tho re.
sources Gu winch the employment oil the people
leuds are threatened with a depression greater
that winch already weighs heavily the mass
o the population. We are Ienaced (possibiy without
just clsc with Increased taxes, dearer lower
wages. IL may DC that the poIIcy and iIlentions OF
the government are now, as Lhoy have bocn often
BEFORE msrepresentcd by those who pretend, without
authoriy, speak Oh its behalf But, II il be so,
should be lost in dispellng iase and
chievuus deluson The government have pledged
themselves to rarlmmont ana TO the country 70 Oh
serve policy OF neutrality, subject To the necessary
safeguard British interests. There 10 no ground
Whatever assuming that those INTERESTS defined
Wy the governments, are IN any greater imme.
peril than ut the time when these official declar
lions were made. From the nrst tho COVER mt
have proclaimed that IT was not their intention
lend the Turks against tho attacks Of Rus
STA. Arc We, then. at this moment In
The prcseucc of an altered state of facts or of a
change Of polcyg Ii the facts are altered wherein
CONSISTS tho alteration? When Lord Derby last de-
clared tho neutrality OF tho government Kars had
fallen the surrender OF Plevna was immiDent and
foreseen. But II the policy OF the government is
changed, what are the new principles when It IS
bascdY These questions Which IL Is not tolor-
able that tie nation should be lett doubt Tor
three weeks.
Inc country had rested tranquil and satisfied with
tho declaration made by Lord Derby to the most ro
cent deputaiion What has occurred since that date
TO call ior or 10 JUSTIFY un unusual and unexplained
proceeding which inevitably oegeis Suspicion OF a
change OF purpose? In the absence OF any official cx
panauon of this transaction ANA IN The presence OF
tho ntcrpretaticns placed upon II by the enemies OF
peace IL seems necessary that ihc government should
be strengthened II they adhere 10 their policy or
neutrality, ana deferred, 1t II be possible that They
contemplate war; by cicur ana decisive exp cssiou
o the mind o tue nation. 1t cannot DO alleged that
sucn an expression OF opinion car weaken or cmbar-
rass the administration. AS Lord Derby stated
last year, 'rho FIRST object oil MINIS
ter Is 10 know tho will oi his employers.u
1he country have accepted policy oI neutrality and
they VIII resist policy OF war No matter by what
spocious or plausible pretcxts sucn policy may DO
recommended II is necessary 10 take irm stand and
~ declare that upon no prctence whatever SHAH Eng
ind be embroilcd in war Tor the maintenance Of tho
Turkish Empire. sucn war ~ one in wyich IL is
notorious We should engage without ally. 1t Is a
war which would kindo hostllitios throughout tho
LEM I'll ana breadth vi Europe 1t is war IN which. II
we were even succcsslul We should render ourselves
hereafter responsible Tor the good government OF
Turkey--a responsibility which recent events have
suiiceutiy shown ~o have no power To discharge IL
British iGterosis are To be projected they must DO
protected In somo other way than by or through the
TURKS.
1t ~ not necessary TO reopen old controversies or
enlarge well worn hcmes. The issue Is a simple
one but II Is one oil the most mentous nature. Is
England ~ DO involved IN the Russia and
iurkcyf No such wtt can DC uDGertakcn by auy gov
ernmont IN the lace OF divided nation In order 10
1t, all those who believe such war 10 DO a
uAJusl and unnecessary should take ali lawful means
10 CONVINCE the government that policy OF Is
wbicl. the Engish people DO not desire and ~ III
not support For that purpose every method should
be employed By which the public opinion OF a ireo
pcopc DO uttered IN order to countcract the
InaChinatons OF those who are aDorng TO force Tho
administration INTO 50 fata; a course.
WIN that OBJECT we venture TO urge upon you tho
expcdiency OF obtaining from all sections the COM
munny " which your influence may extend a clear
declaration Ia favor OF neutrality, and a decisive
protest against war iOr the support OF the Turkish
Empire, since nothing seems TO have yet 10
alter the wiso declaration OF the Foreign Secretary
that oi ali British interests tho greatest Is tnat Of
poacc