The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-10-28
THE CRISIS IN ENGL.iND.

general CONSENSUS oi oplHpn ~ ~ wv EibNl)
Of the crisis-an underlined sense Of apprchon-
sion that tho country is on the verge Of a slope.
and that when once the impetus is given to IT,
tho downward descent will be tolcrably rapid
In all quarters. not alone abroad. hut at home,
the storm seems gathering.
profound distrust regns In commercial
circles. increased by tho recent failure OF
the city OF Glasgow Bank. which has plunged
thousands OF victims into penury and ruin
with its innumerablc branches and rami-
ncatons, the effect OF the crash has been
felt far and wide; among the struggling
fishermen Of tho Islo Of Man. for the
local bank there gave way at once among
the poor wcavers Of Lanarkshire. and the
industrial classes in every small Scotch
town in which there WIS n branch whore the
savings ~ the mechanic were deposited. has
the disaster penetrated. 1t is perhaps too soon
10 express all ono feels OF tho commercial sys-
tenn which could foster evils Of such magni
tude. or Of tho culpHbility which takes advan-
tage Of lax aud imperfect legislation 10 carry on
robbpries on 40 vast u scale. There can be little
doubt that, when the facts become known u the
management Of the bank and of the conduct OF
the directors. storm 81 indignation viii DO
reused against them and rs tho class which
suffers principally il precisely the one which
* accused If socialisiic and communstc ten
doncics 1t is an event not calculated to increase
their respect for the plutocracy. or to modify
their determination to recover at some future
period the property 81 which they believe
they have hacn robbed. Though the work
ingmcn and the rural population nre
silent. they are not the less profoundly
dissatisfied with their lot. and are looking
forward To tho day when general conhagra-
ton may furnish them with the opportunity II
making their power felt. In London itself the
tenrts ~ foreign communism are spreading.
This city has boon for 80 long the refuge of
political emigres banished for their revolu-
tonary tendencies. that the foreign colony Of
Socialists whether French German or Italian
have learnt enough English and made them
selves sufficiently at home TO be able to indoc-
triuato their English friends in their own
tongue with spirit Of discomfort foreign to
the English character They skilfully point the
moral OF such financial lessons rs are conveyed
10y these great monetary failures and the gcn-
eral depression felt throughout all branches Of
industry incline their hearers to accept their
revolutionary tcnets.
In Ireland the foreign complications by which
England Is bcsct are openly glored in and
tho Ameer Of Afghauietan is at this moment a
popular hero in the green isle. and II II were
only physically possible, would find recruits In
any number Hooking to his standard
Meantime Lord Beaconsncd md his Gov
eminent seem profoundly unconscious Of
or indifferent 20 these signs Of the times.
| They have only held one Cabinet council
/ since the recrs4 and none ~ the Min
| STEERS have hcen IN town for more than two
/ months. so that there is n general sensation ~
drifting to the unknown. which alarms those
who arc sensitive To- disturbing forces. even
| though they may for the moment bee latent and
occult. In Germany and Russia these forces
| are more openly active than hero. and tho So
cialist hill still ongrosses the attention - tho
| Rnich-tag. at Berlin. while new rnnsu racios, fol-
| lowed hy new trials, and measures II repression
| are b"ing constantly telegraphcd tous from Rus
| sia. with recurring rumors OF the approaching
nbdirati IN Of the Car In Italy the Government
is striving to distract the attention Of the uurc-
| deemed I.Lly party by claiming 10 stand
m 90 ure a financial expression for any
thing that happens to be going in the way OF
| sro.iu,on Of territory by other powers 1t is
the mcndicant OF Europe. and iealousy re-cnts
the acquisition Of influence or possessions in
which it does not receive II share Al this mo-
mrnt the grievance r.. that both England nnd
| France ara represented IN the Cabinet Of tn,
! khedivc II Egyut the Ministrrof Finance bcine
nm Englishman. while the Minister II Pubi,
! Works il lrenchman. and Italy is not per
mit'ci 10 take her part in the administration of
the country. She derives some consolation
! however from the lat that Austria is In suci
trouble with her Turkish responsibilities an,
h"r cabinet puarre- that the day seems Mp
proarhing whtn she may Put in claim for
share II ;ne plumber when that unhappy en-
rire comes 10 be purtitioned.
Even the most virulcnt Christian svmuathiz
en- are beginning To- admit that the popu
lati1n they hoped TO benefit in tue Turkish
Empire are likely to lose more than they
ran possibly gain 10y the methods which Aay,
| been adopted To reform them. Two Chris.
tnn armies. Violently antagon~ Site 10 each other
ON points ~ dogma-for one IL Catholic. Will,
the other l. Greek are occupying territory b,
O. - which in the language Of Prince Bismarck
they call progress, but which means spolia
ton, and EXPECT thal people are tu hail them n,
ruiormcr- and dcllNerers when tn" Christian
religion they both profess does not proven
them from dcnoun'ng cach others erocd OF
rouuteuan'ins atrocities rs bloody Ms thos,
they come to uvouEe Literally the Catholi,
army ~ Austria j. forcing lis religion upon on,
part of Turkey at The point of tho bayonet. Will,
the Greek army of Russia is forcing its riva
religion Ivy the most anugunnry acts %
reprisal upon another uat e the same ter
rItorv, with the view of preparing il,
illfatcd population fpr the institution,
81 tho West. such. for instance, ia III,
city Of Glasgow Bank. The Inconsistency ane
sham Of the whole performance Is 50 slur
ing that here and there u Christian is begin
ming u turn up who feels that tho uamo Of In,
great founder Of Ais religion Is being prosti
tutcd for political purposes. and identified witt
acts which Mohtmmedan would relulint,
wiki scorn.
II Mr. Gladstone would only .mriov IN.
rhetoric Of which he ie so great % master
TO explode the hypocrisy IL which he is =,
distinguished nm apostle. he might dn som,
good In his day and generation. aud rYs.ihl,
avert the impending catasuophc A~iti- hh
on"r,Ics seem rather directed toward pr"-ipi
iulng tine crisis than Lri hiudrrus il. an,
At appears tu o." bcr' 'uun rr,rn.ini him
snli upon country va iha Lul"d t,nppre
cia;n him that the day may e., como WHOM h,
viii constitute himself the icadorat revolution
instead OF its enemy.
Cautiously enough IN, oa" country which
in the midst NJ all tho-o elements 81 dangc
ana disturbance, maintains an attitude %
dignity and calm. is France. once tho fire
brand OF Europe. lis funrtons serm nov