Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-05-30
Mr.. Glacstone's Policy.

have been meagre. Such inteiiigenco
as has come to hand shows not only
that the matter cannot be considered
as settled, but negatives the idea
so much hsrped upon by the jim
goes and some Of our northern con-
temporaries that England is prepared to
concede everything. One of the latest
kilograms, and that from Russian
source, is that Russia insists that Meru-
chak belongs to Pepjdeh, but England
objects and makes the retention Of Meru-
chak a sine qua non. This is straw.
but significant one. Itshows, in con-
nection with what we have been
told the Ameer is willing to do,
that Mr.. GLADSTONE is willing to
concede what he believes it to be right
to concede, and no more. Nor is this
all that the lull has developed that is
important. Sober second thought seems
to be justifying and strengthening Mr..
GLADSTONE, as it had done on several
occasions previously. 1t is not the
least of the proofs of Mr.. GLADsToNE's
craftsmanship that he knows exactly
when to give the people a breathing
spell. Conscious Of his own integrity
of purpose, he calls halt at the OPP
perfume moment, and trusts confidently
that public reflection upon the facts
will strengthen his hold. In the present
instance his confidence has beenno more
misplaced than heretofore. The English
people are none the less determined to
fight now, if English honor and the
maintenance Of English prestige demand
that they should, than they were during
the intense excitement that followed
the Penjdeh incident" but they are
beginning to ask whether or not such
demand exists. They are beginning to ask
whether or not England has made any
concession incompatible with her honor,
and whether or not there has yet been O
casus belh. They are beginning to consid-
er the moral aspect OF the situation as Mr..
GLADSTONE virtually presented it in
his speech on the motion fer vote Of
credit. They are inquiring whether
the civilized world would justify Eng
land in plunging into long and bloody
war on any provocation she has so far
had, and out Of this inquiry has grown
a realization Of the fact that there has
been great deal of loose and wild talk
about and aspersion of the Govern
rnent. This English writers are now
demonstrating, Mr.. ARCHIBALD
FORBES. the war correspondent,
among the number, and he (Mr. FORBEs)
states the situation with great clear
ness, we think. Mr.. FORBES Is any,
thing but sensational writer. lie
deals in facts; and when he says that
England will not 60 beyond limit
already determined upon in concession
to Russia he speaks whereof he
knows. The Russian war party, he
adds, is mistaken if it supposes that
England will yield to any and every de-
mand as to the Afghan frontier. She
has made, declares Mr.. FORBES, all
the concessions she is going to make.
But these are not the most significant
statements that Mr.. FORBES makes.
He not only asserts-and if he is
not posted on that point who should
be?-that England is more willing
to 90 to war to-day than is
Russia, but vindicates the policy Of
Mr.. GLADSTONE. He says in effect
that England, while not counting a con-
flict and not ready to fight without such
provocation as would in the eyes Of
civilization justify war would, neverthe-
less, not be reluctant to accept the gauge
of battle if fairly cast. This, we con-
slider, is the position Mr.. GLAD
STONE has sought all the time to place
England in before the world, and that
he has been successful in that endeavor
is net the least of his many triumphs.