The sun., 1896-10-11


would like us to forget probably rs speedily as
possible. He did tune his lyre-it is unkind,
perhaps, to recall is-a few months ago To n
feeble and mournful rebuke OF a more virile
bard who bad sought to rouse his cuuntrymen
to some resentment against the 1endish perse-
cuton which WAS being inflicted upon the Ar
menian prot6ges of Great Britain.
Amid all the storm Of Indignation which
the crueltes OF the Sultan have at last aroused
in England. the official verse-maker has been
silent. 1t seemed strange. too, that heart
which responded so fervently to the imaginary
perils Of the women and children OF Johannes
burg should be unmoved by the genuine hor-
rors OF Lonstantinoplc. But IL has all been ex-
planned, and explained with brutal frankness
which must make that eminent diplomatist,
Lord Salisbury, writhe in spirit over the In
discretions of this creature to whom he has
given the power to make his country ridiculous
or worse.
Mr. Austin has published letter in which
he defines his position and duty as he under
stands them. He is good enough to say that IL
the entire nation were not palpitatlAg with
wrath" he would not be backward in trying
to rouse the hearts Of my countrymen by one
OF those appeals 1t has from time immemorial
been the privilege OF poets to address to their
fellow men," The problem of the present
situation. he points out, is to find a remedy for
the inlquities in Turkey. This" he says, rs
the task Of tie responsible statesman, and
have no credentials emitting me to trespass on
his special province"
II he had stopped there, everybody would
have been surprised and gratined by the new
born discretion displayed by Lord TennYson's
successor. But no, Mr.. Austin must needs ex-
plain for the benefit of anybody who did not
know 1t before that the code OF morals which
applies to diplomacy and poiitcs-British d.
plomacy and politics, that ISIS a very differ
ent standard from that which should govern
private life. So he goes on:
This much, however, l may perhaps venture to
say, without exposing myself to the reproach Of
! presumption. 1t often happens In this world that
reason deprecates what sentiment enjoins; and
though have always thought that in private life.
dealing with Individuals, Eiagn nanimity, ami
not calculation, should be the guide Of our conduct
In politics, especially in International politics, rea
should never abdcate Its throne. but should
| have the deciding voice whore conflict occurs be-
tween it and sentiment. The argument, and, as it
me- the conclusive argument, in favor Of
this ID that generous Impulse In politics is
rarely. ever. appreciated, and Just as seldom re-
| cprocated. but, on the contrary, is dextsrous!y
turned by the unImpulsive To the detriment or the
| enthusiasts who indulge In It.
/ True. every word Of 1t, as regards British
! policy in all International relations; hut Mr.
/ Austin is the first Eng!ishman of consequence
/ who. so far as have known. confesses it
thus unreservedly. It is easy to put his arEu-
! ment into words little plaiuer and blunter
| without distorting or straining his meaning.
For instance:
A generous impulse" should not he INDUCED
unless there is fair prospect that it will be
appreciated" and "reci 2rocated.'
The object of maGnantmty in private life Is
that 1t may be repaid in kind.
Generosity should always demand its price.
Virtue is never its own reward
Christianity may pay in private life; there
fore practise it. In public life, it should have
no place.
Observation-Disclosures the promptings OF
conscience-should be sternly silenced in poll
tics. Especially in international pilttics," and
reason" otherwise. self-interest-sho sh ouid
never abdicate It's throne"
An eminently practical and widely prac
tissd code of morals in these islands. but no
Englishman Will tn ank the Poet Laureate for
proclaimlng it. In fact, numerous class or his
fellow countrymen will be inclined to write
Mr.. Austin down an ass.
Prince 3ismarck's letter to Gov. Culberson.
indicating apparent sympathy with the dnan-
ciaI doctrines OF the free silver party in the
United states uampniKn, has been read with
a good deal of surprise and mystlncation
throughout Europe. 1t would he unSind and
ungenerous 10 rank Prince Bismarck with thost
OF the extreme monom-tallists in Europe. who
would be secretly glad TO see the silver party
triumph in America in order that tho world
might have example OF the disastrous FOLLY
| OF the free-coinage idea. II Is, however, i'm
possible TO reconcile Prince Bisnarcks recent
declaration with MS record as responsible,
2 he mi
none other who first established the exclu
sive gold standard in Europe. 1t is not neCes
sary to recall more than the bare outline OF the
story.
The International Monetary Conference
which sat just before the breaking out OF thu
Franco tierman var resolved that the desired
result, monetary unircntion. Is attaina sle OF
the basis and condition OF adopting tae exclu
siye gold standard" -" Prince Bismarck acted or
the suggestion and brought about the dIsloca
ton in the relative prices Of the precious me tai
. which had been adhered TO with only Sigh
notifications for three guar .ers of a century
1t was possibly u war measure in part. o
rather IL was urged on by the power which
uaye Bismarck to take gold from France. TIL
, next conference sat AZ Paris soon after the wa
was over and It urged that 1T il necessary
main tain in the world the functions oil sl!Ve
as well az those OF gold" Bismarck paid n
:, attention to that recommendation. Germany
, in fact, was not represented at the confei
ence Finally. in 1881, Prince Bismarck pos
, lively refused 10 enter into any b'metaIlic Al
! rengement without England's being party
il.
, Prince Bismarck, indeed was the greatest enc
my OF silver in the whole official world through
ont his public career. According TO his recer
letter, however, he would like to see Am ric
try an experiment which he would never a.
anme the res possibility Of yenturing upo
when in Office. It. Is hardly possible that b
!, would concede that the United states al
. stronger financially than the countries which
a in combination with Germany. we're willln
Z 70 regstablish bimetallI,m in 1881. AppaE
entity. therefore, ne would like the Unite
: States to assume a greater risk than he woul
I permit all Europe barring England TO rae
y afteen years ago. It would be unjust to I'm
Ll Irinn n nnfrlHQC