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though naturally weak , was guarded by the disunion of tho river-bordering powers . Moreover , when Potemkik commenced his wars , he s ' ought an open field in . the south ; and when he carried his operations into Moldavia , the Austrians were speedily at his side , competing for victory . The triple treaty was a compromise , based on the inability of the rivals to enforce or relinquish their conflicting claims , and the principle of antagonism which was in action then existed after the restoration of the political system in Europe , and has determined the course of the two powers in the present war .
A conspicuous feature in the actual state of things is the alacrity with which German statesmen resent any slighting act or word on the part of France , and the promptitude with which they arm the federal fortresses on the "Western frontier . This , especially in Austria , is a traditionary art , for Austria has exhibited even precipitancy in her collisions with the French , while nothing has been
more marked in her political conduct than reluctance to fall into real hostilities with Russia . And yet it is of Russia , and not of France , that Austria is jealous ; but her objects in the east of Europe have been gained by delay , when the combatants have been worn out , and when , as a vigorous mediator , she has interposed between exhausted belligerents .
The progress of Russia in Poland was a more practical injury to Austria than her advance in Turkey . But when the armies of CATHEEiiirE pressed on that unhappy state , the Austrian waited on the Russian , the Russian doubted the Austrian , and both took advantage of the result to secure by " demonstrations" a share of the prey . Austria , when the second partition was made , " allowed the robbery to be committed behind her back , " but was content to accept her proportion of advantage . In 1834 , her Ministers pretended to dread the dissolution of the dwindled
kingdom , and offered to uphold Poland if it would accept the sway of a prince of the House of Austria — if it would invite a dynastic and diplomatic occupation . The scheme failed , and the Cabinet of Vienna was easily consoled . But in 1829 , when Marshal Diebitch
carried on his successful Turkish campaign , Austria set an army on foot , though far in his rear , and remained—expectant . She was careful to avoid no collision ; but her expectancy missed its aim , for the treaty of Adrianople gave to Russia that authority on the Danube which Austria only resumed after the breaking out of the present war .
This war has restored the balance of the two empires . The Austrians , compelled to purchase Russian aid in Hungary , are now solicited to lend their " neutral" aid to Russia . Their policy is identical , and the real contest has been in the Principalities , which each , in its turn , has attacked , and each defended . The conquest of tho Banat was an
Austrian precedent for the Russian attempt of last year , and it was designed as a stage towards tho two disputed Principalities , which are not now for the first time occupied by an Austrian army . Tho policy of tho Czars has been more direct and violent ; that of the Emperors at Vienna has not been less per-Bistent or grasping .
It seems to us that to expect Austrian aid , while Russia remains on her own side of the Pruth , is to expect a powor which has gained all it desires from peace , and which might ruin itself by war , to fight for principles to which it attaches no value , under the stipulations of a treaty which it may evade . Tho real strength of tho "Western Alliance consists in the right which it possesses , in conjunction with tfoe-Porte ; , to maintain , the independence
of the provinces along the Danube . Austria may be compelled , or tempted by events to decide on action , but the time has not conie . She waits ; she stands at ease and keeps the peace with Russia .
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WANTED , ABLE CIVIL OFFICERS . Practical Administrative Reform demands iu the first place able civil officers . We want men having a clear conception of the work to be done and an inventive mind to discern or discover the best method of doing it . As a basis of such a character we must have a good general education—not the acquirement of mere knowledge or a mere literary training , but the education that teaches how to observe facts , how to apply principles to
practice , how to act with decision : an education as often acquired out of school as within it . For his actual work , the civil servant requires habits of accuracy in remembrance , in record , in distinction of cases . A good style oi composition is equally necessary , and even , a bold , good penmanship is an almost essential requisite . These are the raw materials of a good civil servant . Experience must supply the mastery of the regular course of particular official work—but the mind of the official
must be free and strong enough to be able to know when routine may be safely set aside , and when tact may retrench method as circumstances dictate . Independently of these qualities it is useful , almost necessary , that the young civil servant should have the principles of a man of honour and the feelings of a gentleman ; for he is often placed in positions where mere " honesty and good conduct" ( if by these words we understand an adherence to the
letter of moral laws and an avoidance of unworthy demeanour ) are not sufficient . That this enumeration of the necessary qualities of a civil official is not incorrect will be admitted by all who really know the duties of the service . These duties involve the correct record of various facts , the acute audit of very complicated accounts , the vigilant
superintendence of subordinates , a talent for distinguishing official ability , for the preparation and composition of long reports for the summarising of statistics and results , for the honourable preservation of official secrets ( such as may arise , for instance , in the case of competing tenders ) , and a willingness to work extra hours and with extra exertion
¦ when the State service requires . It is the belief of those who know the subject best that you cannot get men with these qualifications , natural and acquired , in every university , counting-house , or office . Few have the peculiar natural ability , fewer still tho habits fitting them for the work . The question , then , arises whether we cannot find in the civil service itself , inspired anew , and worked on a better plan , the materials for an improved administration .
It will be said that by this plan wo make the civil service a " close borough . " Any rigid rule that would invariably exclude now men from responsible situations jn the acrvico would , no doubt , be injurious , as depriving tho service of the undoubted advantages that accrue from tho addition of fresh energy to some departments of tho State . But wo must not entirely ignore tho sen . tiro onts of tho present civil servants themselves , for on their zoal and esprit de corps tho success of our reforms in tho
administration must for many years depend . It ia doubtful whether the probable advantages of the introduction of new and clever men into high posts in Government offices is not often counterbalanced by the injury that ; is done to tho working spirit of the subordinate ofucors by the removal from thoir hopes of
the high prizes of the service . The chief clerk , or assistant secretary , who has worked eagerly for years in the hope of being rewarded by the secretaryship , will scarcel y continue to work with the same zeal under a new secretary whom he shall have to instruct and guide in the business of the department ; and the sense of injustice will certainly spread downwards , with a tendency to produce that very apathy and want of hearty work so commonly attributed now to the whole civil
. If the press and the public desire real reform of the civil service , they must not make this question a squabble for places between the middle and the higher classes , or a dispute as to the relative merits of men . We must go on some settled principle—some principle that will best balk the desires of trading
politicians , and will most speedily secure an improved administration . That principle , we believe , resides in the practice of giving due promotion and reward to the good men already in the civil service , and of introducing new men only on extraordinary occasions , and when peculiar fitness , as in the case of Rowland Hii / l , makes tlie appointment unquestionable .
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OXFORD , OLD AND NEW . XjORD Derby's lightness of mind enables him to fill all situations—especially oratorical situations—with ease and grace . He has been at Oxford , gaily firing the old edifice of Tory education with his own hand , after a neat and appropriate homily on the wisdom of compliance with the utilitarian spirit of the age . Of course , iu inaugurating the new studies , he expresses a dutiful hope that the } 'will not displace the old , which are " the most important that can be pursued anywhere . " ( Applaicse . ' )
So , Avith decent rhetorical obsequies , the old ignorance goes out , and at the other door tho new knowledge enters . Alduich's logic and ' I ou son ' s four" ( the most important subjects that can be studied anywhere ) give place , and the studies of nature and man succeed . Le roi est tnort—vive le roil Welcome the young ago to its venerable and romantic home among those old grey walls and immemorial trees , to the cells of Roger Bacon and Ockiiam , to the courts of Wykeiiam and Wolsky ! Tho last
intellectual revolution that took p lace at Oxford was of a rougher kind , when the old religious faith was cast out and the new faith thrust in with the strong hand . Then , the volumes of tho Old School Divines , the intellectual tyrants of five centuries , were vengeful ly torn to pieces , and scattered over the quadrangles , and fierce proscriptions , and persecutions , sullied the dawning of the new
era . This later change comes gently , scarcely lamented now that it lias come , oven by those who opposed it ; though not without fonrs and misgivings , even in good and honest hearts , who dread tho accptu'iHm that goes with knowledge , and do not rely on tho power oi Aciui < i , i £ s' Hjpoar to heal the wounds it makes . JPloreat Avademia ! May real . student liio and tho love and pursuit of truth long flourish at Oxford ! England does not wjuit
her universities to becomo utilitarian in then * teaching or their objects . Wo have enough deairo of money and activity in invouluig Bpinning-joimiea and Hteam-eng ines elHCVvli ^ ro . li ; is not in that way tlint Oxford and Cambridge are called on to accommodate fchom-Helvea to tho ago , but ; by satisfying its nobler wants and craving * , by giving it a ronl education and a tnio philosophy of lif ' o . ¦ ¦ - •» fc tll ° univorsitioH find tho nation truth , jukIMo nation will find thorn bread . Thou- lault hitherto liaa boon not to ho too unworldly , n&
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602 THE LEADER . [ Saturday , ~ !
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), June 23, 1855, page 602, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2096/page/14/
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