New-York tribune., 1879-11-13

nm Irishman's stomach nor VIII the ahsuihp-
ton that after certain " large military opera
"tonsr British influence has been fully cs-
tabished in Central Afia remove the popular
impression that wars aud tumults among the
Afghan hills have begun, not ended. More
ilimsy still Is the justification of the iniqul-
tons campaign IN Zululand on the ground
that il "has taught the cOlonists something
of the art of defence. on which they must
" in future chiefly rcly.' Il will be strange
news 10 British colonists in every quarter oil
the globe that the Home Government finds it
necessary to drag them into uniustiabe
wars in order that they may learn how to de-
fend themselves.
1t is, however at the close of this Guild
hall speech that Lord BeacOnsfield's ingenuity
is strained until the logic is worn thrcadbare.
After referring compacently to the restora-
ton Of British prestige in European councils,
he declares that if Englands power continues
to be felt, peace will be maintained for n
long period whereas if she deserts her nat
ural post, war is only too probable. lm-
"perum ct Libertasm he exclaims. "That
"is short programme, but 1t would
mot disgrace British Minister. 1t is
" one on which the existing Ministry viii
always act" Yet is there anyone in Eng
land who does not know that a cOmprehen-
sive and aggressive foreign policy, such as
Lord Beaconsiicld advocates. must be sup
ported by national armaments ? As modern
diplomacy goes, the influence of European
State depends mainly upon its military estab-
lishment. AS soon the principally OF Bull
gara was formed, a standing army was or
nd mn do
pulsory. The principle which the youngest
member of the European State system was so
quick to apprehend, has been learned by
heart in every Continental capital. Moral
force counts for little in the Europe of to-
day. Everything depends upon the force in the
bow. The military armaments are steadily
increasing; each war budget is heavier than
the last; and standing army supported by
nation trained from youth in the rudiments
of military science has come to be regarded
as the only etlectual means of enforcing a
vigorous administrative policy at home and
abroad.
When, therefore, the British Premier strikes
an attitude, and, deprecating I" perverse in
depreciation Of the nations insular charac-
"ter," repeats the celebrated Romans"
magic phrase. emporium ct Libcrias," he
fOrgcts TO add. " ct Arma." A spirited for
eign policy cannot be maintained by nation
which is unable to send single army
corps into the field without straining its
military resources. So long as Germany can
rely upon 100000 men who have learned
to bear arms, and France has rs large a host
enrolled for active and territorial service, and
Russia has twenty army corps in readiness
for n campaign in Europe, and Italy
can put 100000 men on war footing
within few weeks, England lags behind the
Continent. The Turkish fleet was of no
avail in the war with Russia; the naval
armaments OF France were Of small
account In the struggle with Germany /;
and English ironclads cannot take the place
of disciplined troops nor can armies be pur-
cahsed In q great emergency with the re-
serves of capital in the London banks. If
England is to retain the conspicuous place in
European councils which she now occupies,
millions must be expended on her army. the
nation must be armed and some system
substituted for that of voluntary en-
| listments. otherwise, like France under
Napoleon III, she will be beguiled and
betrayed into ruinous campaign for which
she is utterly unpreparcd.