Year: 1876

Neither the patriotism Of nations nor


prevent the fall of the Ottoman Empire. !"


So said Napoleon at St Helena, pursuing


there his views of an earlier period AS to the


policy of Russia. The sudden change in


Europe-the warlike, outspoken words at


Moscow-almost suggest that the hour for


the fulfilment of the prophecy is near. The


Czar says that he will conquer the safety of
the Christian subjects of the Sultan, "our


brethren and coreligionists," if he cannot
gain it by negotiation and what the British
Premier says implies, Intentionally or other


wise, that such result cannot be gained by
negotiation.


At the Lord Mayors dinner in London, on
Thursday last, the Prime Minister OF Eng
land "unpacked his heart with words" In
the ordinary course Of events his speech
would not have reached Russia for several
days, and could not have disturbed the tenn
per of the Czar or Friday. But the news in
this case did not move in the sluggish chan
nels of ordinary communication. News agen-
cies Of several stripes sent liberal summaries
of the speech to Vienna and to Berlin, to
st. Petersburg and Moscow, even to Con-
stantinople. More than this, the Russian
Ambassador in England, who learned on
Thursday night that the Premiers speech at
the Lord Mayors dinner had treated fully
and freely the subject nearest the heart Of
the Emperor of all the Russias, put the
whole substance Of the Earl of Beaconsfeld's
astounding words on the wires. On Friday,
therefore, when the Gar received an address
from the citizens of Moscow he was aware
that the head of Her Majesty's government
had sounded o chanticleer-like defiance
not merely undiplomatic but grossly often
sive references to Russia and Russian policy.
He was further aware that this was known,
and was a subject of lively comment in every
capital Of the Continent. Perhaps no abso-
Lutte sovereign that the world ever saw would
have preserved his equanimity in the cir
cumstances, and it is not strange that the
Cars indignation made itself evident
in the defiant and resolute declarations
to which he gave utterance on that occa-
sion.


It is difficult to see how o statesman in
Earl Beacons6elds position could make use
of such expressions as appear in his speech
unless he had come to the conclusion that it
was no longer worth while to bother himself
with the discretions of diplomacy or the
polite amenities Of craftsmanship. Had a
point been reached from which it was evil
dent that war could not be avoided states
man hitherto under restraint in his public
utterances might, if he lacked magnanimity,
indulge himself in this way with scarcely
covert insults launched at his enemy. There
is scarcely any other occasion in which such
. speech would seem naturaL If it could be
conceived that o statesman had in his
portfolio o handsomely written apology, such
as Mr.. Disraeli made to Prince Bismarck for
his reference to the case Of Count Arnim at
former Lord Mayors dinner, and if it
could be further conceived that this states
mans literary vanity drove him to make an
occasion for the publication of this apology.
then it might be comprehended that the
statesman would want just such words as
were spoken by Earl Beaconsfeld on this
occasion. In every part Of this speech it is
Englands position that the Premier nomi-
nally states; but he presents it in such why
as to suggest the discreditable contrast
presented by Russia. Thus, in reference to
Arnim last year, he spoke of England in
bold commonplace as a country where op-
preston by the law was impossible, and
turned all eyes on Germany, whore, pre-
sumably, such oppression was not impossi-
BILE. So he says now that England ''covets
no cities or provinces" and thus appeals to
the popular reproach against Russia that all
her alleged motives are pretended that she
is a natural cheat and impostor, and only
wants more territory and the city of Con-
stantinople. This may do for the British
newspapers. in 30 far as they are irresponsi-
BILE, or for the British patriot of obscure
eloquence, who drinks confusion to the
Queens enemies at q race dinner down in
the country; but for the Prime Minister of
great country to indulge in this sort of
innuendo against great government with
which his Sovereign is presumably on good
relations is bad manners and worse politics
His declaration that he considered the
Russian ultimatum unnecessary" may be
merely impertinent criticism on an act that
another government thought, no doubt
wise and proper but that sort Of imperti-
nence, by the expression OF which one gains
some credit in public for astuteness, while
he avoids the rebuke which would follow its
utternnce in such way that the Power
reflected upon could properly answer it, is
never ultimately advantageous to tho critic.


Earl Beaconsfield's offensive references to
Russian policy and his reflections on Rus
sias motives were, however, of less moment
than his declarations of England's position.
He declared that the policy of England was
to maintain the independence and terrific