The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-12-25
BRITISH IsCoNsfsTEsCY
Salisbury is Vow Doing hat which
He Says We Ceannt DO.

Editor Post: Lord Salisbury thinks
it an unwarrantable assumption on the
part of the United States govern1Hent
to thrust itself forward as the cham
pion defender of the rights of other ma
tons with whose affairs it has no POI
litical or other connection. This is the
burden of his recently published dis
patch. But his Lordship appears to
lose sight of the fact that his govern
ment, of which he is the head, is doing
that very thing at this time, and some
thing more. On the international prin
ciples he avows in his dispatch how can
he defend his interpositioD in the af-
fairs of Turkey? What right had he to
force his way with his death-deaIing
iron-clads through the Dardanelles?
In this act he goes far beyond what the
government of the United States pro-
poses to do. The President would in
terfere to protect an independent
young neighbor from the oppression
of one OF the great powers ofthe world.
Lord Salisbury's government is inyad-
ing an ancient and long-established
nation for the ayowed purpose of regu-
lating its internal affairs. The Ar
menians are subjects of the Sultan
cruelty oppressed subjects no doubt,
but on the principles laid down by
Lord Salisbury in his dispatch he has
no right to come to their relief. The
United States vessels of war that are
lowering upon the coasts of Turkey
are not there with any purpose of re-
forming the Turkish laws or the adj
ministration of the laws, but simply
for the protection of American citi-
zens. Great Britain's interference is
confined within no such narrow bounds.
What she purposes is the remodeling
of the Turkish laws and administra-
tion on the ideal of the most enlighten-
ed civilization OF Christendom, and If
Turkey refuses 10 be reformed on this
model her government is to be over
thrown and a Christian ruler, with
Christian institutions, is TO be put in
it's place.
IT was the same sort Of interference
with other peoples affairs that
prompted Great Britain and France,
i'm 1853, to make war upon Russia, in
defense of Turkey. This war of those
Christian powers was not in the inter
est Of the Christian subjects of the
Turk, but in the interest Of the Turk
as against a so-called Christian mon
arch.
But the principle of interference in
the affairs of other nations is the set
tied policy, not merely of Great Brit
ain. but of Europe. The preservation
of the ''balance of power" is something
they all look after. Great Britain
fought Napoleon twenty years for this
itlea-to prevent his ascendcncy in the
European world. And when Napoleon
was overthrow the Continental ma
tions entered into what they modestly
styled the Holy Alliance, in order to
keep the balance of power on their
side Great Britain was left out OF this
Holy Alliance, among whose aims was
to secure a monopoly of South and
Central American commerce. The
British Government determined to
| th>yart them in this purpose, and did
thWart them by forming an alliance,
or an agreement, with the United
States on the basis Of the Monroe doc
trine. TO this end Mr.. Claiming pro-
posed to Mr.. Rusk. the American Min
lister 10 that court. that they should
jointly declare. on behalf Of their gov
ernments. that no European power
ought TO acquire or encroach upGn the
territories of the young states of Cen
| trail and South America Mr.. Charming
| proposed it, ard President Monroe
took. him at his word.
DANIEL II. GOODLOE.
| Washington, Dec. q.
/ Hot weather proves depressing to
! those whose blood is Door. Such peo-