The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1885-04-03
ENGLAND'S ALLIES.

Our London correspondent confirms
to-day the previous and less detailed re-
ports of the temper of the English peo-
pie. The belief that there will be war
is general. The acquiescence IN that
belief is equally general. Perhaps &C
uuiescence is too weak word. Ihe
Englishman is pugnacious animal, and
the Russians, since the Crimean war,
have taken the place in the popular
English imagination of the French as
natural enemies" 1t is two genera
tions since Englishmen and Frenchmen
have been arrayed against each other.
l. is barely one since England waged
the last European war in which she has
been engaged, with Russia for her ene-
my and France for her ally. Since the
tragical farce of the siege of Sebastopol
was played out, the Eastern question, in
one or another of its phases, has been
the chief question of foreign policy for
Great Britain, and all the designs of her
statesmen have been confronted by the
opposition of Russia. 1t was against
Russia that the "Jingo" enthusiasm
was kindled by Lord BeacOnsfield, and
a war With Rnssia would be more pop
ular in England than wal with any
other power whatsoever.
1t is is curious illustration of the
mutations of politics that Mr.. Glad
stone, who was driven by the exigeIcles
of opposition TO assume the character of
a philo- Russian and the instigator of
new crusade against the uuspeakable
Turk, should now find himself forced
by the exigencIes of Office to seek the
alliance of the Turk against the Russian.
As our London correspondent points
out, Turkey really holds the key to the
situation in Asia. and this fact is in IA
vor of the English if they make skill
full use Of it. a Turkish alliance is in
the highest degree desirable for both
England and Russia. England is the
more likely to win, simply because she
has more money to spend than Russia,
and it IS likely to go to the highest bid
der. An alliance with Turkey would
be more humiliating to Mr.. Gladstone
than to almost any other English states
man. 1t is not only because he has eX-
pressed the most unfavOTable opinion of
Turkey, but because Turkey will be apt
to insist, as part of the price of her al
lance, upon the virtual retTaction of
MI. Gladstone's Egyptian policy. 1t is
true that this policy has resulted In
mere disaster and disgrace, and that a
decent opportunity to retract it would
be a real boon to the English people.
But Mr.. Gladstone is so thoroughly
committed to it, and to all its disastrous
and disgraceful episodes and results,
that his retraction of it cannot be made
to wear any semblance of dignity. That
he must and will make it, if it will be
effective, there is nevertheless not any
| doubt.
The attitude of Turkey is thus an ele.
ment of the first Importance in the
struggle that seems to be coming. We
pointed out yesterday another element
| hardly less important in the final out
come of the struggle, and even more sc
in it's early stages. Our cable letter
shows that it is gradually dawning upon
the common English mind that 1t has
perhaps been rash in taking the friend.
ship of the Afghans for granted, merely
on the ground that it has waged wal
upon them, and put in the place of their
depose1 ruler a subsidized servant OF
/ England. Afghan!stan has been talked
of as if it were the outer line of the
English defense ard trusty buIwark
against Russian encrOachments. In
point of fact, the whole of Afghauistan
appears to be debatable ground, and its
southern, not its northern boundary to
be the outer line of the English defen.
ses. When war is actually declared the
Afghans are likely to give some unpleas-
ant surprises to the British confidence
in their Loyalty. " Y. Times, OF
29tb inst.