Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1885-06-04
Our Foreign Correspondence.
England's Loss OF Prestige. --Glad
stones Power Of 0raiory, but
Lack Of Spirit and
Decision.
BORDEAUX, FRANCE, MAY 90.

of the recent Anglo Russian conflict,
since Tar seems likely to be averted,
comes from the United States. One
of the Chicago papers sums it up
tersely in three lines-as follows:
Ultimatum No. 1.-Go back this
moment, or III fight.
Ultimatum No. 2.-Stay where you
are this instant.
Ultimatum No. 3.-Take all you
want and God bless you.
This is England speaking through
her "grand old man" to Russia. l
happened to be in England the other
day when the times were most por.
tentous, just when Gladstone made
his famous speech (it will be an his.
torical one) in. the House of Commons
on the vote of credit for $55, 600. 900.
The atmosphere then was charged
with war. It was quite an accepted
fact; and the speech, coming from
the source it did, only went to sol.
emnize the impression. The Lion had
certainly raised himself up, stretched
and pulled himself together again,
prepared for hiuwork. We were two
days at sea coming back to Bordeaux,
and all on board expected confidently
to hear the announcement, the first
thing on reaching here, that the two
countries had declared war. On the
contrary, however, there were sur.
prising rumors of peace. Now, wheth.
er peace comes from Russia's fear to
cope with England 9 might and money,
ready to be thrcvn forward, as on
one side it is claimed, or whether it is
to be attributed to the peace.at.all.
prices administration now managing
Her Msjesty's Government, or from
whichever of the many theories and
-auses now forthcoming, this one thing
there can be no cavilling about: That
Russia, aside from the victory there
was in the slaughter of the Two or
three hundred Afghans, the go.be'
tweens of the issue, and the wards OF
England, has whipped England all
round in the diplomatic field; more
than gained what she was after, in q
considerable concession of disputed
territory; and even received from
England the benediction, we'll done,
good and faithful servant" >England's 8
prestige has received severe shock
the world over, and her interests in
that especial neighborhood stand men.
aced to an extent that would far over
balance the dire effects Of an honest
trial at arms. For che could beat
back Russia in square, stand.up
fight, and check her so effectively
now that the matter would rest if not
for always, in abeyancs for years to
come.
Nobody certainly can disclaim at
war ande"red ruin" being averted,
but when a country like England,
with such issues involved as she has,
permits another to make dangerous
enoroachments with sinister designs
on bes~rrovincial confines, and allows
=NT--~-rH5-o d e'A---
of fight, there SCENE to be no excuse.
She creates for herself influences so
bad in their tendency that it is like
piling up wrath against the day Of
wrath. day simply prolonged, when
for her immense possessions she will
be torn by domestic faction within,
discord and dissension without.
Not only is it natural, but there i'd
much justification, to visit the decline
of English prestige upon the ministry
of Mr.. Gladstone. Thei course has
been one Of many contradictions, in.
constituencies, even vacillations. They
came to power asopposed to the strong
policy Of D'Israeli, committed to in.
sure reign Of peace. They have had
more vexatious foreign complications
and. useless wars and have managed
them more wretchedly than perhaps
any English Cabinet Of modern times.
They went for the Beers in South
Africa, got a big thrashing and with
drew. They descended into Egypt,
sunk there millions in money, lost
hundreds of brave soldiers, sacrificed
the gallant Gordon, and are now with,
drawing, as fast as available, every
vestige Of her suzerainty, leaving the
Soudan not a whit better perhaps
than before she entered, now to be
taken in charge by some other power,
very likely Italy. Seeing all this,
for the timid, concessive policy Of
Gladstone has now become proverbial,
the strong war party in Russia, prin.
cipally amongthe army men, think it
an opportunity not to be lost, to inch
up close to the apple of their eye
India and her rich possessions. in
the performance of their mapped out
the Russian war party
dare not stop to consider decisions Of
Boundary Commissions, or to treat as
serious or finding agreements with
but march with firm step
in the direction Of the coveted prize,
to gain which they say is the mission
Of the Russian Government.
England did all that could be ex.