The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-02-05
ENGLAND'S SITUATION.
WHAT CABINET OF COMPROMISE HAS
BROUGHT US TO"

"wHAT CABINET OF COMPROMISE HAS
BROUGHT US TO-"
From the Pail Mall Gazette, Jan 23l
few days ago we found It necessary to cali atten-
ton to the position OF England relation to the war
and to the rest OF Europe 1t thon rid ulous
Even then there was only too much believe
that England was reduced to irlpotencoccrain that
her government was slipping INTO The lowest dceps OF
humiliation. But the spectacle We presented then
almost noble IN comparison TO that which we now
offer 10 the world. About that time the government
seemed TO havo plucked up n little spirit, to have
really come to some sort OF conclusion as to what
the honor and interests OF tho country demanded or
So at least, we hoped VIC might believe from reports
certain communications TO tho Cars government un-
der the guise OF mediation. So GU appeared however
that these communications themselves had been made
matter OF fresh humilialion they out 10 have
done nothing more than furnish OCCASION Tor success
ul jocksyng ut St Petersburg and Tor the i'm position
OF new burdens OF contumey. But waited on
for Parliament WA soon TO meet, and on the meeting
OF Patlaent II was thought possible that Ministers
would venture on some slight measure of scfasser-
ton and stand to it, Parliament met. The Queen
was made to address the Legislature In terms which,
though caln dignineu and distinctly pacific, clearly
minated that there were limits The risks
which her Ministers were disposed 10 run, and TO tho
humiliations they were inclined endure, rather
than expose themselves 10 the terrOrs Of Mr. Glud.
stones coquencc Immediately altcrward two or
three Ministers made Two or three speeches rather
bold than otherwise; bold enough, at any rate, TO
justify the expectation, both at home aud abroad,
that the government did not mean 10 allow their own
miserable discussions TO sink Them, their country
with them, INTO utter impotence and complete mbe-
cility.
HuMILIATIxG THE QUEEN
That was less than week ago. What is the answer
Of facts TO these expectatousY We look at home, we
look abroad, ana wnat We that Ministry and
The country are stI more deeply involved than ever
IN humiliation and heplessnoss whiic tho Queen
VA
We will venture 10 say. unpardonubly-is also
made ridiculous and dragged down into the
what ior Majesty was made TO say by u Ministry
which assurcdiy has no right ~ sacrifice her dignity
ceal from myself that, should hos,iies be uniorlu.
nately 'pi oonged, some unexpected occurrence
may resdsr !. ro incumbent on me 70 adopt
not be eiTectualiy taken without adequate prcpar.
alton, and trust TO the loeraty OF my ParIa-
ment to supply The means which may be required for
that purpose" Tho meaning Of this language was
obvious al the first glance But what Interpretations
csninct OF compromlse might find convenient 10 put
uponit was equally from tho nrst moment doubtful
The meaning they did choose to give rendered it
absurd; but not so absurd as IL has since been
made through tho. contemp,uous indifference with
which the government has allowed IL to DO treated by
Russian minister's and generals. "Should hostilitics
be prolonged" No doubt that was written in a con-
Adent belief that our mediation Tor armstice which
was on no account to DO separate peace had sus.
pended the advance OF the Russian armies. Nothing
OF the sort happened,
DIsGRACEYULLY HELPLESS
speech was being read while her Ministers we're talk
ing IN quite large language tor them), negotiations
os hs or pence were ESrg on bu.
ionged; II 10 being prolonged; /! has already
led, wo will not say 10 unexpected occurrences.
but 10 such occurrences the govern.
ment must have had III contemplation, unless To-
deed, they meant that The capture
itself the sort OF occurrence that would render
1t incumbent them mako preparations for ADOPT.
ing measures Of prcc.ution. The phrase is scken.
ing in its teebIeness aud cowardice but vet more
al mi Ia Ia fQnr ch rial v ,oa
one, that II had not even the little read pith Ia 1t
lhnt 1t seemed TO have. Is 1t truo that, the
forms OF separate peace being all the while debated
tho Russians are pushing on to Gailpon? And II So
IL that or Is It not one o the 'occurrences' which,
preparation Tor precautlon9 week ago the question
would have been thought absurd. Nobody
dreamed Of any occurrence in the whole range
mand preparation Tor precaution. But how
Is It taken nows We were to have prepared lest such
au occurrence should happen but We did prepare
Ihere Is strong reason Tor experimenting that hap.
pcning but We do not prepare, and when 1t does hap
pom, when Russian force has got near enough TO
tue place to be beforehand with US II we dare TO
move, some Judicious Minister speaking on behalf OF
his colleagues will doubtless ask whether II IS worth
while dong anything at all Altogether, ne cannot
conceive any position Of affairs moro disgraceiuliy
helpless
But even now, we believe, II tho govern cnt chose
to risk an egg or Two, II they only dared give pledge
safety might be retrieved. Without such pledge.
overturcs, hall engagements on paper arc utterly
worthless from tho hands OF a Ministry with such u
history as mat OF Lord Beaconsncld's; and So we
fully believe, the Austrians say-and rightly
Perhaps something that occurred yesterday
may rouse Tho government ~ Of tho
condition to which the wearness OF dissension has
reduced thom. Sir Stafford Northcoio had to face a
large and well backed deputatlon OF his party who
wit Out seeking answers 10 questions pointed out
him Mr. Cross declaration that Constantinopl must
neither be occupied, menaced approached further
calling bis attention TO the fact that great majority
o the House Of Commons ready at any time 10
supply means Of vindicstins the honor and sustain.
ing the interests OF the Empire. Not too soon.