Current:

Leader (1850-1860), 15th September 1855, Edition 1 of 2, Page 885, Untitled Article

Page 885
Page 9
9 of 24

On this page

  • Departments (2)
    • . . j^j nr #^yT*N \ thf\Qf~\ iStwl ^c/ V r)WT(fi& °& ^f i^ \ ^ — rjt^ fk y\ \r J& JLs + " T^y &r* [v\^ ¦ ^
    • / 2^ tT It If 1* *53 flfft tTtii jC?.UUlil At* XX UI lr ft ?
  • Text (9)
  • Transcript

    • Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

      Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.

      Untitled Article

      i ;} NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS , o notice can be taken of anonymous communications Whatever is intendedfor insertion must be authenticated bythe name and address of the writer ; not necessarily forptiblioationjbut as a guarantee of hisgoodfaith . iinmunications should always be legibly written , and on one aide of thepaperonly . If long . itincreasesthe difficulty , of finding apace for them . e oapijot underrate to return rejectedcommunicationa .

      . . J^J Nr #^Yt*N \ Thf\Qf~\ Istwl ^C/ V R)Wt(Fi& °& ^F I^ \ ^ — Rjt^ Fk Y\ \R J& Jls + " T^Y &R* [V\^ ¦ ^

      1 < 3 fo % fr

      Untitled Article

      ere is npthing 30 revolutionary , because tlaereia nothing so unnatural and convulsive , as the strain . 0 Jceep things fixed when all the world is by the very kvfr ot it 3 creation in eternal progress . —Db . AhholI )

      Untitled Article

      . y WHAT NEXT ? he " third point" has been established . The repandjeran . ee of jtussia in the Black Sea is , radically , at an end . "What next ? What « vthe uses of victory ? Is there to be peace , •" ' prolonged war ? If peace , upon what oiiii ^ s ? if war ,, to what purpose ? The ) inion of the English nation should reply , tplomacy has no object , except that of fcrifHng the political system of Europe in

      » : existing form ; it seeks to escape the perils ^ change . Government , in England at least , k , neither feeling nor principle . It is a nohine propelled by the strongest party . To © country ., therefore , is again offered the sqisipn of thig Question . If the leaders of fhe people" have intellects and energies , id if "the people" themselves have sense id spirit , the war may bo lifted off its esent basis , and moved in the right direc-! ¦ ¦ ¦

      . ^ e . must repeat to our liberals , though the j * th should offend them , that thei-e has noL Jen a full , calm , and rational expression of ib'lic ' opinion . The majority of men have > en ^ lu ^ tering ; others have been despairing ; lere has bpen suspicion , there has been iger ^ but there has not been a united moveon * conducted upon true political principles . Ftfile the combined armios besieged

      Sebasfence concentrated by Russia at Sebastopol . The Euxine is no longer ridden by Russian fleets , or threatened by Russian forts . The Sea of Azof shelters no dangerous armaments . In the harbour of Sebastopol not a ship is floating . Probably the Crimea itself will ' speedily be subdued . What then ? We must decide whether the war be for temporary or permanent , for general or local objects . If for temporary objects , enough has been done . Let the curtain fall upon this scene of slaughter and ruin . Humanity can spare no more to make a Turkish trophy . As far as cannon and bayonets can maintain Ottoman independence and integrity , bayonets and cannon have done their work . Austria holds the line of the Danube ; and it is for the Allies to determine how soon , if ever , a Russian flag is again to fly over Sebastopol or any other station in the Crimea . In a military and in a diplomatic sense , therefore , the assault upon Turkey is avenged . The line of the Danube is held for the Porte by its "faithful ally" of Austria . The Black Sea is safe ; another Sinope would be impossible . Of course , to effect a formal settlement , Alexander II . must ratify the decision of events ; but the armies which could not defend Sebastopol cannot retake it . Lord Aberdeen's objects are realised . We will not pander to the public appetite for mere victory . W ^ e ask the advocates of war , Is there a chance of destroying Russia ? There is , as we think , but do our liberals intend to profit by it ? An irresistible movement is necessary , or the struggle will go on , for the benefit of Austria , for the glory of the French Emperor , for the exaltation of the Pope ; but not for humanity , not for liberty or civilisation ; not for any purpose which would redeem its horrors or justify the shedders of blood . I / ord PaI / MEiiston declared in Parliament , not long before the session closed , that behind the " independence of the Ottoman Empire" there was " the independence of Europe '' to protest against the encroachments of Russia . In his mouth this phrase was little more than a trap to catch popularity ; but the truth is clear , that while the Turkish Empire must dissolve , whatever victories are achieved in the Turkish name , Europe may , by a signal exhibition of public intellect and magnanimity in England , be relieved from the ubiquitous despotism of Russia . If not , the inevitable result will bo , that the Mahommedau dominion , as it decays , will be partially transferred to the Cossack . When power is abdicated , it is not lost . When Nicholas becomes a clod , AiiiixANDEit becomes an Emperor . When the Turks no longer rule , their territories , their cities , their subjects , them * rivers , seas , and coasts will still constitute a mass of power , and if a liberal state in the east of Europe bo rendered impossible by the league of the lords of misrule , the blood of myriads will have been shed iu vain , for the Czars will possess Constantinople . To this the world must at last assent , if no principle is to bo established by the war . Whoa statesmen talk of protecting the independence of Europe , they imply that this independence has been threatened . But by Russia , how , and when ? In 1828-29 , whon she invaded Turkey . In 18 : 30-31 , when she extinguished Poland . In 1818-10 , when aho overthrew the free armies of Hungary . Iu logical sequence , therefore , there is no reparation made to the violated liberties of Europe , unless those acts aro reversed ; unless the " policy of Pjs'jl'BB ' and Cathkhine" be checked , not ; in | he Crimea only , but in Germany , in Sweden , and along the old Polish frontier . Our present Pirst Minister

      pal , iwith a bloody routine of negative suetasesi aud positive fuilures , we never held fab any cessation of the conflict was possible . h © Allies had to secure their prestige in i , e Crinftoo ,. presti ge means something more liin vanity ; ft means character , and it would » ve been insanity to stop the war by a con-&jiot i p f incapacity . Now , however , the SWersof attack at the command of England id Prance have overcome the powers of

      dedeclared twenty-thtee years ago that it was utterl y impossible tUat Russia could , " morally or politically , exterminate Poland . ' * "What in two years became of that declaration ? And what is the affirmation worth that it is " utterly impossible to disarm Russia ?" The alternative lies between this endeavour and a formal peace . Formal , we say , because there can be no peace—in the spirit ofpeaee —until liberty sets Europe at rest . 1 ? the diplomatic conflict be cut short , it will only be to clear the field for nobler struggles elsewhere . Italy has been heated by her sufferings almost to the point of explosion ; Germany , overshadowed by its Diet , betrays an uneasy motion . Iu Turkey itself there are omens of activity in the intellectual advances of the Christian population . And " Prance wants rest "—not apathy or torpor , but repose . With the capture of Sebastopol , the real complications of the Eastern dispute begin . If a settlement be not now effected , events will put the question between peace or war , and it may be beyond the power of diplomacy to answer . Austrian expectancy must -be affected by the success of the Allies . The Prussian King will , no doubt , redouble his efforts to evolve a treaty out of the confusion ; but the substantial fact will be , that when the Crimea is cleared of Russians , Prance and England must make peace , or carry their arms into another field . The winter is their season of grace . In the spring , policy must decide . Should Russia concede one point , and the Allies concede others , both parties may come out of the contest with military honours . Otherwise , the war will march ; a new enterprise will be commenced ; new objects , and perhap 3 new belligerents , must come upon the scene . We venture once more to invite the liberals of England to press their policy on the Government . IJord PAtiMEitSTON" is not Ossian ' s rock . Public opinion may drive him , as a cloud , if only public opinion is active and sincere . He may resign office , but cannot resist the nation . Last year we recommended a similar course of action , and were met by scepticism . Well , the Liberal party knows ita own feelings , and ought to know its own strength ; our part , at least , is taken . The war must be for Europe and for the human race , or to push it further is a crime . As it has been coaducted hitherto , neither liberty , nor civilisation , nor public justice has been kept in view . A league of Roman priests has profited by the depression of the Greek hierarchy in Turkey and in the Russian Empire . The intrigues of the Czab at the courts of Western Europe are and will bo as successful as ever . Austria has gained influence on the Danube ; Emperors and Popes rejoice in the humiliation of Patriarchs and Czars . The war interferes with every other movement , and itself adds nothing to the happiness or to the security of mankind . Ifc produces misery , fear , dissension . It endangers national friendships , and fosters illegitimate alliances . It seduces even Englishmen from their political chastity , and allures them , by military lust , to the desire of a Dictator . In a word , a high purpose is the only virtue possible in war ; without that pure object to consecrate the sacrifice it is the game of passion , of recklessness , of brutality . But war , directed to righteous ends , is preferable to the desolation of social ana political tyranny . Iu such desolation Europe awaits its deliverance . The choice is before us : —a statesman ' s war , for tlio aako or gazettes , illuminatiowa , and political rlinpsody , a war to establish » principle , 01 a peace to spare the world gnituitous agomea and demoralisation . Our such *** at SabaB-. topol affordH the opportunity . Better a useless poaco than a u&olvaa wur .

      Untitled Article

      ' r ^ n ^ fSwS OF S CRIPTION TO v 4 Tii-. : ¦¦ - , i ' ¦> > "& $£ Qeabtv " I ^ r » H » l f ^ ar ..... — ..-. £ 0 13 0 fa be remitted in advance . ~ *~ % sr Sfoney Orders should be drawn upon the Stband ranch Office , and Be made payable to Mr . Aipbed E . - Aiiitm-Axi at THo . tSi , Strand .

      Untitled Article

      SUB 8 Egg 3 Pi : pg % 388 ^ 86 ^ 0 T 3 BE 3 Bcr B E 1 D : > E B . gg ^

      Untitled Article

      , * " Fivbkencb is now the price for an Unstamped < 5 opy of the Leader , and Sixpence if Stamped .

      Stamped copy of this Journal can be transmitted through the Post-office to any part of Great Britain as frequently as may be required , during fifteen days from its date , free of charge ; but it is necessary that the paper should be folded in such a manner that the stamp be clearly visible on the outside . is Leader has been " registered" at the General Postoffice , according to the provisions of the New Act relating to Newspapers , and an Unstamped copy has , therefore , the privilege of transmission through the post beyond the United Kingdom onj , j ) ayment of the proper rate of postage .

      Untitled Article

      JAfURDAY , SEPTEMBER 15 , 1855

      / 2^ Tt It If 1* *53 Flfft Tttii Jc?.Uulil At* Xx Ui Lr Ft ?

      Mnblit Maivs .

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Sept. 15, 1855, page 885, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2106/page/9/