New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-01-25
HE WAR ALARM II ENGLAND.


TIE PRO-ruRKI,u PARTY BAFFLED-LDRD DEA-
coNsFlrLp As MAN OF EEs0UBCEs--IHE RI
CENT CABr,ET MEEuNGs-A MALIGNANT CHARGE
NADh AGAINST RUSSIA.
from TuE REGULAE CORRESPONDENTS or THE TRIBUEI.l
LONDON. Jan. 12.-Two days ago | said that the
care was over; and 80 il The fear Of n leap
in tie dari. or q stab in the dark, which had OPP
pressed mems minds ever since the insdious pro-
po,al by Lord Beaconsiied of mediation between
Russia aul Turkey. had been dispeed by Lord Car
uarvon's speech aud by the popular protest which
cane up from all parts of England. The Prime
Minister'S organs confess d their defeat; Lord
Derby confessed it; the Government itself con-
f scd it by its swift acquescenco in the resolve Of
Russia TO treat with Turkey directly, and with
Turkey only. 4 calm came over the country,
which, nevertheless continued to hold meetings,
and 10 pcr,cverc ia th.t policy Of distrnst which
Mr. Gladstone himself, he OF his
triumph. ihonght il safe to discourage.
To-day proves once more the wisdom Of Ialley-
rand's slyirg-who borrowed Il from Noltaire-that
everybody is WISER than anybody. The Liberal
party has proved more sagacious and farseeng than
It's former leader. are already in the midst OF
fresh alarm, due-as 50 many before it have been
due-to the silent, vgilant, treess resolution of the
mysterious Oriental whom an lDscrutabe Proyl-
dence has appointed u preside over the dest.mes of
this country. Lord BeacOnsicld Is English in one
point If in no more: lie does not know when he is
beaten. He Is un-English in the extraordinary
hexiblty which .labcs min to seize on every fresh
incident and Use it for the help of his own policy
NO matter at how low gasp his enterprise may hap
pen to be at the moment. This is the quality he has
once more shown in striking way; and it is this
elastic courage which has prompted him to one more
desperate or almost desperate, effort, which bids
fair TO keep the country in suspense for the next
few DAYS The event OF which he avallS himself Is
precisely the event which would have disposed
less supple conbatant 10 abandon the struggle al
together-the defeat and surrender of the Turkish
Army at the Shpka Pass.
Two versions are current of the proceedings at the
last Cabinet Council, held the day before this news
came. According 10 one, there was a hot debate,
each party maintaining ITS view with hrmness and
yaor according the other there was more or less
complete collapse of the war party; Lord Derby
siding with Lord Salisbury and Lord Carnarvon,
and the majority or their colleagues showing Il dis
position to uphold them in thcr opposition to the
taking of any decisive step before the meeting Of
Parliament. | cannot say which is the true story,
nor whether either of the two is substantially accu-
rate. | have said before now that all accounts of
what passes III Cabinet meetings must be received
with caution and that the most positlYe man Is hot
likely to be tho best informed Inc latter
version. however, the one winch comes
from Tory sources; from those who are least
disposed t. believe in IT, and hence least likely TO in
vent it, or to accept il unless on very good evidence
indeed. But there is an agreement between the two
stories on one important point neither of them sup
ports the theory that Lord Beac0nsield was having
his own way. Ii Isagreed also, that the next meeting
was appointed fer Monday neXt but 1t is now known
that "A fresh summons was Issued yesterday for
meeting to-day, and that meeting Is actually IN
session at this moment. 1t IS the uncertainty
about the resolution which may be taken at this
council which gives rise TO the fresh apprehension OF
which spoke at the beginning OF tins letter.
TO make out the grounds of it. turn for moment
TO ono of the Ministerial organs. Over this one,
which has long been the leading Tory journal, but
which has been relatively moderate during these
war discussions d remarkable and unfavorable
change has come of late. 1t was clearly yester-
day; il is openly declared to-day. l don't wish to
Law too much stress the declarations or tergiver-
satons of Tory papers, but they cannot be neglected
wholly. There has, perhaps, never been time
when the press has been fused " for more specific
purposes, or when the relations betw.~n certain
papers and the Ministry, or some members or the
Ministry have been more close and constant tnah
now. What the French call oiiicious" Journalism
has been carried to greater extent imam ever oeloIe
during the last few months. he result mas Deen 10
discredit the journal which has passed for Lord
Beaeopsleds organ; or perhaps should say that
the methods which that organ has adopted OF push
ing its masters cause have brought both the cause
and the Journal into dScredit Hence the effort to
find another Older, Nnd more respectable chan-
mel through which to reach the public ear. Hence