New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-05-09
THE BRITISH WAR ALARM.
CHANGES IN PUBLIC OPINION.

| LONDON, April 27.-Princc Gortschakof has had
m attack of govt Prince Bismarck has also had TO
stand by on account of sickness, told so but
| little progress has been made in the situation.
Things are in pretty much the same position in the
diplomatic arena, though rapid progress is being
made in the military preparations by both England
and Russia. People continue to discuss in an ex-
cited the chances of war or peace. We still
have our days of depression and our days of hope,
and yet the figure presented is England and Russia
III fighting attitude each fearing TO strike the first
blow, not because the is afraid of the other, but
because each is making q show of regarding the
good opinion of the rest of Europe which would be
! forfeited in case the first cOmbatant had not
good cause to show for commencing the fray.
is it really TO be peace wari That a question
have heard asked hundred times this week, but
it seems the answers given are about equally di-
vided between the one and the other. Russia can
not afford to fight" says one party; THAT is tho
mistake you have made all along replies the other;
and so any one attempting to gauge the chances of
the future from the talk OF those who generally
among the well-inforned, finds himself utterly be-
wildered. There are, however, all sorts of stories
afOat to Lord Beaconsfelds intentions. the SUBJ
stance of them all being that he intends to pick
quarrel with Russia if he possibly can. II is being
said that after all. even Lords Derby and Car
naryOn have gone, he is still unable TO do exactly as
he peases for Sir Stafford Northcote and Mr. Cross
are showing signs of detection from their leaders
policy of "War at any price," Lord Salisbury, how
ever is apparently pliable and thoroughly docile.
Theman who Enthusiastically described him only
a few years ago as ga master OF gibes and 6outs
and sneers," apparently bears him no i'll will now.
The Premier has been on visit to the new Foreign
Minister this week at the historic home of the Sails
burys at Hatfield. There is certainly no outward
indication of animOsity between the two men.
But how is all this explained II is impossible
that Lord BeacOnseld should long retain the
Premiership. The rumors Of bis resignation arc
as frequent as ever and one day, which cannot be
far distant. they must turn out 10 be correct II tho
party has not turned itself about for new leader,
! the possible leaders have turned over in their own
minds their chances There are only two men who
could web he called upon TO lead the party in Lord
BeacOnsields place. and these are Lord Derby 8nd
| Lord Salisbury Lord Derby is Gt present under a
! cloud with his party, but Salisbury is triumphant.
| In OF new leader being required at this june
ture there would be no option but To select Lord
/ Salisbury, If only he can keep on favorable terms
/ with the strong section and with the Court party
| who are at Lord Beaconsheld's back.
The war party, however, has had serious reverse,
| by the side of which the South Northumberland
election falls into inslgnifcance. The Tamworth
| election has resulted in another rout of the war
/ party. The election caused by the fact that
Mr. Hamburg, one OF the most active Of the yarike
baud IN the House of Commons chose 90 give up tho
honor of being Sir Robert PeeI's colleague, for a seat
| for the county vacated by Sir Charles Adlerey's
elevation TO the pcerace. IL was fondly hoped that
a borough which had for so long been content to DO
| represented By two such furious ant;-Russians
/ Sir Robert Peel and Mr.. Hamburg, would have al
! lowed SIR Hauburys successor to be of tie
persuasion. so the party put up Colonel Bridg-
man. who seems 10 have been a son Of a
] L. lo,,I-n ouI o1en
"sOund" on the war question. Instead of
allowing the Colonel to walk over "a had been an
! ticpa;cl. the Liberals icthougnt themselves that
they would have struggle for the seat and Accord
| mgly they brought forward Mr. liass, son of the
great brewer of that name. MIR. Bass did not mince
| matters. for hc forward from tue irst az di-
/ rect opponent of Lord BcacoE,iicld's policy. There
! was question about it, tdc election was q chal-
enge Ia the party which four years ago elected Sir
| Robert Peel ami Mr. lianbury. The declaration Of
the poll showed to the profound CONSERVATION Of
the war party tina. SIR Bass had secured l.lSG as
against his opponents dO7 votes. MOItoyrr. this
was NOT case of there being larg,s proportion 81
unpollcd votes for the whole of the electors in tho
constituency, with the exception uf about 200.
cuu,ed their votes. Consequently, by majority Of
/ 90 the Government has been beaten IN one Of its
own strOngEOidS.
| so great a result was scarcely credited even by
the Liberals themselves and one naturally turns
with considerable interest "a see how the Tories
plain It. The ministerial journals have either been
dlscrccty silent the point. or they TAX" refuge
behind the vague plea of local miluenccs' Mr..
Hamburg through whose resignation the Govern
ment have lost the seat, happened 10 be addressing
his new constituency, who, by the way. returned
him without opposition, and he referred to the re-
suit in terms which evidently showed that he was
considerably rulicd. lie said il all 'due 10 beer
and nothing else " and he went on to add that il
donkey bearing either the name of Bass or
Kllsop had been put up it would have been re-
turned am a little at a loss to know exactly what
Mr. Hamburg means by this. Allsop ~ need not
remind Won, Is. like Bass, great brewer; indeed.
il is queslion fairly open To discussion which i tho
greater king of malt aud hop and which Of the two
brcws the best beer. | have nav own opinion, and
doubt not there are many Americans who have theirs
on this question: but not only in trade these two
great names opposed 10 each other-they are ako
of different politics Bass is Liberal; Allsop a
Conservative. There already two Of each house
in Parliament but the Iamworth election gives tho
prcpondorance TO Bass for there are now three 81
that name. Mr.. Hamburg, who, by the way, is a
brewer himself. no doubt speaks WITH authority on
the potency of beer an element ~ ainwOrth cleo
tions. Does Mr.. Hamburg mean that The lamworth
election j. 20 be taken not rs test OF the feeling OF
the people on the policy OF peace or war. Int a. the
eXprrssion of their opinion the rival merits of
the beer brewed by the two great Burton houses
1t is all owing To- beer and nothing else H. then,
TamNorh shows Itself 80 amcnable to beer as It's
late member would have the world believe, how
was il that the Conservatives, who, rs rule, are
hctupllOuS IN electlon hlhlltlNi hll
their battle with an Allsop for there several
members Of that family who could have been found
To do service for their party and Mr.. nanbuTy adj
mits that the one name il as good as the other.
Mr.. TAYLOR has been with us for few days. 10
was at best however, but flying VISIT for he did
not arrive in London till Tuesday aud he started
this Saturday morning for Paris. The eXuberance
of your parting greeting detained him for day,
which. of course. made his arrival day later among
Ms and his stay a day shorter in consequence. AZ