New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-05-04
PRIMROSE GATHERING.
The Transitions of British Policy
from Lord Beaconsfeld's Time.


:. ,argaret's Westminster. is converted into
,isep and purple shrine. and every bystander
= Parliament Square wears bunch OF prim-
-,ess No other British statesman of the stored
,s- has either a day or a flower reserved for
.,,nBc remembrance. Chatham. Pitt, Canning.
wellington. Peel. Palmerston. Gladstone. Cob
den and Bright rest from their labors. and their
s.stues are raised in Westminster their mem
cries are embalmed in literature Not one Of
these great names is singled out for special and
distinctive honor day in the year. Luckiest
yr7ons the Prime Ministers of the Victorian
reign was the romance writer. who while he
lived was regarded with suspicion ORR
entail necromancer and essentially un-English
II his instincts and policies His name is con-
surfing word at least once year, and Westrnin-
ster is afame with the golden lights Of early
n-su7roses whatever may be going in the
balkan or in Mesopotama. startling may
he the transformations Of British statecraft
since the highest revel of jingoism.
The primrose gatherers and the statue deco
rators follow custom. and are neither critical
nor inouisitfve. The leader writers of the Tory
press. whose function It is to prepare the an
nual article on the political influences Of Lord
Beaconsfeld's career. have the thankless task
Of adapting his principles to altered conditions
The duty OF commencing his mastery handling
Of foreign affairs is particularly embarrassing
this year when many Of his policies have been
reversed by his successors in the 1trongholds OF
power. He the sultan's defender. and OBJ
tanned Cyprus il return for a guarantee of the
Turkish doninions IN Asia: but everything is
changed and the German Emperors influence
is now greatest in Constantinople, and English
men are ustless spectators of a new drama Of
blood and iron in Macedonia and sternly OPP
posed TO participation in railway complications
n the Euphrates Valley. He strongly anti |
Russian in his diplomacy, and made theat- |
real display OF the Sepoys al Malta and OF the |
British feet beyond the Dardsnelles. when the |
conouerng northern army debating Igna |
tleTs peace at the gates Of Constartinople- The |
Russophobist has disappeared from England |
A new fashion has been set in British diplo- |
macy and the leader writer's are agreed that |
the Foreign Office ought to keep out of entang |
ling alliances with Germany and establish the |
friendllest possible relations with Russia and |
France Lord Bea consfeld in his day Joined |
hands with Prince Bismarck and compelled Rus |
sis 10 consent to radical revision Of the Treaty
or san Stefano and to give back Macedonia TO /
the Turks: and the famous record Of peace |
with honor" was made VI.
The point Of view has been altered. English |
men now prefer to work against rather than |
with Germany. and as for Macedonia. Lord |
Beacoasfeld is charged with bad judgment in |
reducing the extent Of Ignatieff's Bulgaria and |
-eglecting the opportunity for creating strong
buffer State in Southeastern Europe Since the
Congress of Berlin the entire outlook upon Con-
snental diplomacy and especially upon the race
conflict n Southeastern Europe. has been trans
formed.
The Tory commentator can be discreet on
Primrose Day and substitute generalities for de-
tails He can assert that Lord Beaconsfeld re-
stored the proud traditions Of Chatham. Pitt |
and Canning at = time when Englishmen were
preoccupied with commercial prosperity and
Cobaeuite economics. The Standard" takes
this lire when it says: His vivid ina gination
enabled him lay before Englishmen the splen-
cor Of that unique heritage which had been
created b. the wisdom and valor OF their an
cestors' This the secret Of the fascination
which he exercised over the minds Of his staid.
practical countrymen while he was Prime Min
lister. He knew that they weary Of insular
sims and the politics Of economics. and anxious
q exert more influence abroad England had
been Of little account in European councils when
Denmark was invaded and the map Of the Con-
tinent recast after Sadowa and Sedan. Lord
Beaoonsneld appealed to national pride when
he bought the Suez shares. conferred an i'm
re-ial title upon the Queen. held up a conquer
ing army after San Stefano. and forced Russia
10 accept q revision OF Ignatieff's treaty by a
European council. day of reckoning came
when the soberTninded English constituencies
calculated the cost Of campaigns of adventure
n Southeastern Europe. Afghanistan and South
Africa: hut while the cup of Eastern enchant-
1nents was trimming over. the magician was a
greet statesman who appealed more powerfully
n English imagination than any other Prime |
Minister Of the Victorian era The Tory eulo-
gtst is right: Lord ReeconsfeId gave English
men new ideals Of work and influence in the
world. and made them citizens Of empire |
rather than nation He neglects. however, TO
o1er proof that these ideals and aspirations
have been retained and that the revival of ma
tioEsl influence has been permanent. Without |
This evidence that current practice is on the |
line with noble traditions. primrose gathering | :
Is q diversion for an imperial dreamland
One may not look for English primroses this
sTring among the Balkans. British diplomacy
Canning, PaImerston and Beaconsf1eld impaired
tremendous energy TO &. The influence Of the
Foreign Office is not thrown either on the side
Of rising nationalities and oppressed races or ,
~ the Sultan on his crumbling, worm eaten |
throne. The Eastern question. with its ire
rressible conflict OF race tendencies aspirations
enc aziuses5t3es, has come at an fnconvenient
tine. when the scvereigns Of Russia and Aus {
trls- Hungary one because he is man OF peace
End detests the atmosphere OF camps. and the :
ether because he has grown old and prefers a
quiet life. are not prepared to take it up and
work out a practical solution There has been
European diplomacy adapted to a !
transition period: and England has Joined the
lowers in suggesting scheme OF reforms which 6
cannot be enforced in Macedonia Russias III :
error aims may be an inscrutabIe mystery; the j
extent to which the German Emperor is COM
nitted 10 the support of the Sultan may not be
Known: and the existence os secret compacts Of 9