The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-10-26
HARTINGTON'S SPEECH.

THE LIBERAL LEADERS REPLY TO THE CON-
SENTATIVE CRITIcs--ENGLANDs DUTIES AND
FUTURE FOREIGN POLICY.
[DY CABLE TO THE HERALD
LONDON Oct. 25, 1870.
At the liberal demonstration in Manchester
yesterday, Lord Harrington, replying to the
criticisms upon the supposed attitude of the
liberals regarding foreign affairs and to the
charge that a change in the government would
unsettle present arrangements, said:-''The
liberals are aware that international obliga-
lions must be respected long as
the circumstances under which they were made
remain unchanged, and we have felt from the
beginning that one of the worst consequences
of our miscellaneous and misguided foreign policy
was that its consequences do not cease imme-
diately with the tenure of the power Of its
authors. We know that the engagements u
government have entered into must be re-
spected, and defy any one to put his hand on
any statement by any responsible leader of the
liberal party to the contrary. We are asked
what our policy will be.
FUTURE POLICY OF THE GOVERNMENT.
at is impossible to describe in its details the
policy of the future, under circumstances of
which we can know nothing certain and of
which we can only make forecast. Engand's
policy should not be an imitation Of the policy
of any other Power. There is no Power in
Europe, except England. which has not known
the horrors of foreign invasion in the present
century. 1t is natural that the foreign policy of
every other State should be greatly influenced
by the dread of u recurrence OF such disasters.
1t is not to be wondered ut that other
States view with suspicion the policy and
every movement of nationalitics, for the
disturbance of the balance of power,
and say that England, which is to a great OK.
tent free from approximations of this kind, may
see unmovcd great deal that passes in Europe
which naturally excites the suspicion and APP
prehension of other nations.
BRITAIN's VITAL POINTS
"But while the heart of our Empire is the
source of all its power and greatness, and
Joys this remarkable this exceptional security,
England is, through her many colonial pos
sessions, and her Indian possessions, more
liable to vital injury-to injury of a
different character, but not the less
vtal--than any other State. The conclusion
which derive from these considerations is that
England is less fitted by her position and the
nature OF her resources than any other Power
for u policy of military administration. The
Prime Minister spoke the truth when he said
that the resources of England were SO great that
II she went to war she would not have to consider
whether she could maintain the war for one or
for three campaigns. That believe to be true ;
but IL is also true that England is less prepared
than any other Power for the first campaign and
| no Minister ought to threaten war or 20 to war
unless he asks himself the question whether the
cause is so just, obviously just in the eyes of
the whole people, that they will be ready to
make those long, those continued, those pro-
tractcd sacrifices which would be necessary for
the prosecution of the war for one or for three
campaigns or for five campaigns
WHAT SHOULD ESGLASD's POLICY BET
"Nor does it follow from these opinions that
the policy of England ought to be one of selfish
and timid isolation. believe the resources Of