The New York herald., 1878-07-08
claas.on. and Bsaeonsn cid.

Gladstone and BeaconsH eld.
England's representatives in the Interna-
tional Congress have maintained at Berlin
the policy they denounced while in Lon
don-the policy which was urged as wise
and just by Mr.. Gladstone and a few men
more extremely liberal than the professed
liberals-a policy which seemed SO opposed
to all the earlier relations of England with
vocate it as a party, however any of them
might look upon it as individuals. But
Gladstone, holding himself apart from any
responsibility for party success, urged that
England should do that which the moral
sense of the nation might approve even
though it were not politically or COM
mercially expedient, but urged also
that even the views of policy Of
expediency were always eventually best
served by course that did not vio-
late nations sense of moral rectitude
He urged. therefore, two years ago, that
England should agree with the other gov
ernments Of Europe to do with Turkey sub
stantially what has now been done at Ber-
lin-deprive it OF the power to continue
the oppression of those populations of Eu-
ropean and Christian countries which re-
mained in it's possession as the spoil Of
former conquest deprive it, therefore, of
sovereignty in the greater part of those
countries, and SO limit its sovereignty in
the rest that it might be always subject to
ali easily applied corrective. IT there is
any difference between what Mr.. Gladstone
urged as just at that time and what has now
really been accomplished it is that the re-
suits actually attained proceed further in
the direction Of the policy proposed than
was urged by the liberals to whom we
refer. Lord Beaconsfeld has outdone
Mr.. Gladstone and all others in his con-
cessions to the Russian policy for the
disestablishment of the Ottoman Empire
in Europe 1t was asked at the time Mr.
Gladstone proposed that England should
honestly assent to these changes as newt
able and as beneficial what he thought
England should do if the Turk should re-
fuse to accept the programme. He re-
sponded that England should join Russia
in enforcing on Turkey the will Of Europe,
by war if necessary. How all England
hooted at the notion that British troops
should fight beside Russia against Turkey
But if that policy had been acted on what
would have been the difference in the pres
ent relation of the Powers ? England, in
stead of asserting now to the actual oblit-
Grafton of Turkey in the whole Danube
Valley, and to its holding on by the eye
lids ut the crest of the Balkan,
could have greatly limited the reduction
and would have been one of the dictators of
the law, not a Power against which it is en-
forced, and which feels proud in the mere
power to secure some small limitations of
its effect Will England, when it sees all
the points Of this queer history, continue
to cheer over Beaconsfield and hoot at Glad
stone? Beaconsfeld did not comprehend
the powers in operation, drifted with the
vagaries of opinion, and accepted ut last all
the points Of the policy he had denounced
as cowardly, feeble and mean. Gladstone
saw through all that was on foot-saw what
was inevitable as the end Of either course.
and boldly advocated what he thought was
best for his country. His perceptions were
those of statesman, and the small igno-
rance of common opinion hooted at him,
and Beaconsfield played pretty little pranks
that pleased the people, and they cheered
him. And the habit of cheering certain
men and hooting others is tenacious. and
will keep possession of the people even
when any conviction it may have is reversed