New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-05-06
FAJNEHEIRTED DIPLOMACY.

Mr. Gladstone has succeeded in averung War'
rrb;o ia a victory ON the side of civilization.
Americans with their pacific instincts VIII ho'
think the worse of the British Prime hi'nS'o'
for loboring strenuously 10 prevent the out
break of hostilities between two powerful I'm
hires. They may unite with his critics IN Eng
land in eondemning his craftsmanship as snort
sighted and deficient in practical wisdom oUt
their svmpatbies will go out to the eloquent
anostle of arbtration who abhors war as an I'M
obr;s,ian and unenlightened method of settling
oua,rels between Nations. They can wei
afford to be lenient in their Judgment OF num-
for unless all signs fail, he will be- exposeu W
mereiless criticism ut home and on the Con
tinent for surrendering every important posi-
ton occupied in the CONTROVERSY over tnc
Afghan frontier.
Lord Randolph Churchill is not perhaps to be
considered n serious Statesman, but his armagh
mn of the Government cannot be easily an
swered. When he declares that the history oil
Russia's negotiations with England has been
record of treachery, fraud and falsehood' ana
that it is impossible TO provide security Tor
India by diplomatic agreements with rival 81
perfdious in purpose and so inscriptions I'd
methods. he tells the trGth. No intelligent ob-
server who has mastered the lntricaeles OF
Rpssian intrigue in Central Asia, Will be de-
luded bv the present prospects OF peace. War
has moi been permanently averted. IL has only
been deferred for a brief season; and while
Lord r ,ndolph Churchill may exaggerate the
effects of impaired prestige in India. it is certain
that when the irrepressible conflict is at last
fought out, England will be- weaker ON both
sides of the Indus ia consequence oil what ne
considers a base, cOwardly surrender Honor
ing as we do Mr.. GlrdstOnes persistent efforts
TO avert the catastrophe OF European war oil
tremendous magnitude, we cannot deceive our
selves with the hope that anything more than n
temporary armistice has been agreed upon.
Probably there are few Englishmen outside the
II ,dIcal coterie devoted TO peace Mt any price
who do not to-day consider war with Russia
question of the near future. Fresh intrigues
will involve new encroacf ments OF territory,
another boundary dispute, and campaign OF
stealhy military approaches aud diplomatic
assembling. War must ultimately come IN
Central Asia. " hen it begins III earnest, the
retrospect of Mr.. Gladstones foreign states
manship will not be one OF tho inspiring tri'di-
tions of English Liberalism.
In one Of his eloquent denunciations OF Lord
Beaconsfelds Administration, Mr.. Gladstone
exclaimed: England, which has grown so
= great, may easily become little through neg
slecting realities at home tn ainnse herself
everywhere else in stalking phantoms." lie
cannot, in his turn. be charged with neglecting
realities in domestic legislation, as the Reform
bill. the Redistribution of Stats and the Irish
Land acts attest But has he not exposed
himself TO the criticism of having stalked
phantoms in the Soudan and neglected realities
in Rgypt and Afghanstan2 And is there not
much practical sense in Lord Randolph
Chcrchills reflection that n Nation that is in
credibly strong in India while ii shows itself
capable of ruling may become incredibly weak
when it gives indications of relaxation OF
power The group OF Liberal statesmen, OF
whom Mr. Gladstone is the central figure, have
solved many domestic and economic questions
during the present generation. and established
ali the recent landmarks of English progress.
But il il a serious question whether the influ-
ence of the Government abroad and throughout
the broad expanses of the Empire has not been
greatly impaired by Diplomatic policy of con-
ciliation, intervention and effacement 1t
was indeed, Liberal Government that gave
support to the Italian movement in 1859, and
that concluded treaties for the defence OF
Belgium. But by the inaction of the same
group of Liberal statesmen in the Danish and
Franco German wars, by their blunders during
the American civil conflict, by their neglect to
recognize the consequences of their own acts in
the Nile Valley and by their persistent inability
to discern the dangers of Russian aggression in
Central Asia, they have steadily increased the
feeling OF National insecurity.