The New York herald., 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 cah alten.
tion to the position OF England relation TO the war
and to the OF Europa II then ridiculous
Even then there was only too much to believe
that England was reduced to irlpoence-ccrtain that
her government was slipping into thc lowest dceps Of
humiliation. But the spectacle We presented then
almost noble IN comparison TO that which we now
offer 10 the world. About tnat time the government
seemed 10 havc plucked up u little spirit, to have
really come to some sort OF conclusion to what
the ,nor and interests OF the country demanded: or
So at least We hoped wo might believe reports OF
certain communications to tho Czar's government un-
derthc guse OF mediation So on 1t appeared, however
that these communications themselves had been made
matter OF fresh humiliation; they turned out 10 have
done nothing more than furnish Tor success.
fui jocksying ut St Petersburg and Tor the imposition
oil new burdens OF contumey. But we waited on,
for Parliament WA soon to meet, and the meeting
OF Patiahcnt was thought possible that Ministers
would venture slight measure Of selCasser-
tion and stand to 1t. Parliament met The Queen
was made to address the Legislature In which.
though calm, dgniled and distinctly pacific, clearly
minated that there were limits to The risks
which her Ministers were disposed to run, ana tho
humiations they were inclined TO endure, rather
than expose themselves 10 tho terrors OF Mr. Glad
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
miserable discussions 10 sink the, country
with them, INTO utter impotence and complete mbc-
cility.
HUMLIArixG THE QUEEN
That was less than week ago. What is the answer
OF facts 10 these expectationsY We look at home,
look abroad, and wnat Is that Ministry
The country are sti more deeply involved than
Ia humiliation aud heplessncss whlic the Queen
nerscf-Quitc and
We Will venture 10 say unpardoDably-is also
made ridiculous and dragged down into the
what IIor Majesty was made 10 say by u Ministry
which assurcdly has no right 10 sacrifice her dignity
If tney are indifferent TO their I'll cinn ot con
ceal from myself that should hostiiites be uniortu-
nately prolonged, some unexpected occurrence
measures or procaution. Such measures could
not be elrectuaiiy taken without adequate prcpar-
ment to supply The winch may be required for
that purpose" Tho meaning Of this aLguagc was
csWnct oi compromise might ind convenient TO put
uponit was equally from tho arst moment doubtful
The meaning they did choose to give 'rcndcredi IL
absurd; but not so absurd as 1t has since been
made through tho contemptuous Indifference with
which the government has allowed 1t to be treated Uy
Russian ministers and generals. "5hould hostitics
be prolongod!" No doubt that written in a con-
lden, Lecf that our mediation Tor nrmstice which
account to be separate peace had sus.
pended the advance Of the Russian armies. Nothing
OF the sort happened.
DIsGRAcEpuLLY HELPLESS
The contrary thing happened. Whiie the Queen's
speech was bong read while hcr Ministers were talk.
ing IN quite large language tior then), negotiations
were the Russian armies. The war was being pro.
ionged; II s ecng prolonged; l! has already
led, w0 will not say 10 unexpected occurrences.
but 10 such occurrences as tho govern.
ment must have had IN contemplation, unless, Ia.
Deed they meant thai the capture OF Cons.antinople
itsel was the sort OF occurrence that would render
II incumbent on them to make preparations for adopt
ing measures Of prcc.ution Tno phrase Is scken.
ing in its ieebleness aud cowardice, but yet more
sickening is the fear, which really seems 10 be Iust
one that had not even the little read pith In
Tint It seemed 10 have. Is It truo that, the
terms OF separate peace being all the while debated
tho Russians are pushing on TO Gallpon? And II So
is that or Is not one oi the 'occurrences' which,
resulting from prolonged hostites, would Justly
preparation Tor precautions week ago the question
would have been thought absurd. Nobody
dreamed OF any occurrence in the whole range
OF possibility that would more gravcly de-
mand preparation for pre0aution. But how
occurrence should happen, but We did prepare
There Is strong reason Tor apprehendng that hap.
pcn or when a Russian force has got near enough 10
tho place to be beforehand with US II we dare TO
move, some Judcious Minister, speaking on behalf OF
his colleagues, will doubtless ask whether IS worth
while DONG anything at all. Altogether, ne cannot
conceive any position Of affairs moro disgracetully
helpless
NO CONFIDENCE ABROAD
But even now, we believe, II tho governmcn chose
In action to the Austrian government, honor aud
safety might be retrieved. without such pledge,
worthless from tho hands OF a Ministry with such u
history as tnat Of Lord Beaconsnclds; and 80, we
fully believe, the Aus,rians say-and rightly
Perhaps something that occurred yesterday
may rouse tho government u sense OF tho
condition TO which the weariness Of dissension has
reduced thom. Sir Stafford NorthcoIe had TO face a
large and well backed depuiaton OF his party who,
without seeking answers W questions pointed vut
him Mr. Cross declaration that ConslAnt tinoplo must
neither be occupied, nennced nor approached further
calling bis attention TO the fact that great majority
OF The House Of Commons was ready al any time 10
supply means oi vndicating the honor and sustain.
ing the Interests OF the Empire. Not too soon.