Year: 1873

The Conservative Movement In Eu-
rope-Mr. Disraeli as the Coming Man
I'm England.


Those who study events in Europe will OBJ
serve political sympathy between the ma
tions The tremendous war of 1S70-which
was to be the final burning out of the Volcano
to cripple the wicked ambition of France and
be as important in its way as the Armageddon
campaign prophesied in the Scriptures has
left the volcano as active as ever, while
France pulsates with a new life and an energy
that cannot be restrained. Armageddon is
still to be fought, under conditions. we trust,
that will make it a more interesting combat
than Sadowa or Sedan. Europe seems to be
under conservative impulse, and conserva-
tive impulses come as frequently and with as
much force as those revolutionary episodes
which we have seen in every generation since
the falling of the Bastile In politics we see
what impresses us in nature. After the wave
sweeps over the shore it recedes We had the
revolutionary wave of Communism. and now
comes the conservative reaction.


In Germany a party grows in power which
finds Prince Bismarck too liberal, and seeks
to intrench itself behind the conservatism of
Won Room. In France the Church of Rome
is making a courageous effort to bring back
the times when sacrilege was punished with
death, and Minister of France served the
King only the better to serve the Pope as
Cardinal. France is summoned to follow the
oriHamme of ST. Louis and Joan of Arc;
even if necessary to cross the Alps and invade
Rome. In Spain Don Carlos is in arms to
bring back the crown which fostered the In
QUESTION. All the strength that Carlism can
possibly possess is the natural sympathy that
exists between its leader and the conservative
movement in Europe. At any other time
Carlist war in Spain, under the conditions we
now see, would be an outrage on public
opinion, in violation Of the spirit of the age
and, we little doubt, would be stamped out
by the common consent Of Europe. Russia
does not conceal her sympathy with
the useless and inhuman war now being waged
in Spain, and hints even of an alliance with
France to punish the Germans. Austria
seems to pause in her noble work of liberal
izing the institutions of the Empire, and to



not be given to Bohemians and Magyars The
King of Italy does not feel that the cement
which binds his kingdom into one body has
quite hardened, and, doubling even the con-
stancy of his own people, looks to Germany
for encouragement Even little kingdoms like
Denmark are Furnishing internationals, and
have SO far forgotten Holstein and Schleswig
- xlo d., n
welcome. Wherever we look the wave seems
to roll backward and backward from the
bloody strand which marked its advance to the
Commune.


In lesser degree, but with as deep an en-
phasis, we note in England q sympathy with
this conservative reaction. Nations, like
men, We suppose, weary Of monotony and
seek as with natural yearning for change
So we note in England that no political sign
| is more marked than the distaste which Mr..
Gladstone has inspired, the tendency tow
ards toryism, the desire for new set of
men in Office. England is so well established,
governed by SO many traditions and forms,
with a constitution that has grown as slowly
and sturdily from the seed Of English free
dom as the oak tree from the acorn, that any
change in her Ministry, SO far as government
policy is concerned, would be little more than
change of faces. AS the London Tines
said the other day, there is not a meas
ure which Mr.. Gladstone has passed which
Mr.. Disraeh would seek to repeal were he
to gain power But there are measures
which many of Mr.. Gladstones friends urge
upon Parliament and which the Premier him.
self may be compelled to accept, that are not
welcome to the English people. So, although
Mr.. Gladstone came into power with on over
whelming majority in Parliament, already he
has suffered one defeat The country, which
supported him SO warmly at the last election,
begins to revolt at his leadership; and even
were he to win majority of the next House
of Commons it would be SO small that he
would virtually hold his power at the mercy
Of the conservatives.


The leader Of the conservatives-for forty
years one of the most interesting characters in
the politics and literature of Engand-to-day
becomes more and more interesting. Although
he has been in place-on one occasion Prime
Minister-he has never held power. He has SIM
ply held Office during some temporary disgrace
of Russell or Palmerston. He has never had
friendly House of Commons behind him,
and his tenure Of Office has been burden and
not an opportunity. A Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer or Prime Minister who lives from
hand to mouth, as it were-who is tumbled
into power and never rises in the House with
out seeing majority before him who tolerate
but do not support his administrations in q
position to command pity more than respect
Mr.. DisraeI evidently feels this; for when the
House of Commons overthrew Mr.. Gladstone
last spring he declined to take Office on the
| verv prornd that he could not govern the