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    854 THE LEADER. [Saturday ,

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    THE PROPOSED TREATY BETWEEN RUSSIA AND T...

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    ¦ THE GOVERNING CLASSES'. No. L—JLIUL IM...

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    The Manufacture Of Accidents. The " Grea...

    gleet of personal comfort . But this is a mistake . That ¦ young man who died in the country , among his friends , was done to death by a churchwarden in town , who kept open a graveyard near his lodgings . The eminent builder , Smith , was the person ; who killed the young lady said to hay © died of consumption ; lie . artfully , composed a draught through a passage , which whistled her down the Dance of Death in a few months . Our statistics should be therefore revised , and credit should be given where credit is due . The Legislature also joiu in the manufacture of accidents . Their laws and resolutions are

    generally passed according to chance coincidences of time and men . A cab running over Mr . Gladstone one evening would have got us the Malttax condemned , but , as the cab did not chance to do so , we still buy dear ale . Some Whig gentlemen stayed too long at dinner one day , and the Salt-tax in India was repealed , but some Tory lords had colds , on another evening , and it was put on again . Had the Liberal gentlemen of a certain club in Palace-yard not been drowsy towards four o ' clock in the morning , Mr . Stafford would , ere now , have been convicted . Greater

    than all these , a chance fit of indigestion , which attacked Mr . Hayter , and prevented his usual agility in keeping his men together , led to the ten months reign of Disraeli . But the law of the land constructs accidental penalties , with the same airy disregard of rule . Our friend , the intelligent foreigner , observes an offence committed by a railroad company . The head officers put in a train at the wrong time , and it dashes into a coal-wagon . The breach of discipline being indefensible : but there is no penalty . Another offence is committed : through

    some trivial tardiness one train is jammed against another , all the accident but the first step being unavoidable . A severe penalty is imposed . On asking . the rule for the penalties , the discerning stranger discovers that there is no rule : they are accidental . If a " rich merchant happen to be injured in the train , the penalty is imposed ; if , by good luck , no one _ is wounded , the offenders escape . The bad intent , the criminal neglect , the disgraceful dereliction of duty , are unpunished , but the chance rtsult brings down a chance chastisement . Another just distinction is made . If the murdered man be rich the

    murderers are severely punished ; if he be poor they are let off easily . This is a good imitation of that fine old Saxon law , which made it high crime to insult a baron , and potty misdemeanour to kill a clown .

    854 The Leader. [Saturday ,

    854 THE LEADER . [ Saturday ,

    The Proposed Treaty Between Russia And T...

    THE PROPOSED TREATY BETWEEN RUSSIA AND TURKEY . ( To the Editor of the Leader . ) Sib , —Notwithstanding the many affirmations of ministerial organs , Turkey has appeared singularly disinclined to accept tho " honourable" conditions of peace graciously proffered by the Western Powers . From time to time , and at all times , it has been asserted that the honour of the Porte could not rest in more untainted palms than those which now Boil it , and that the integrity of Turkey could only bo maintained by

    those who havo wmked at its infringement . European diplomacy , substituted for the military arguments of tho Mussulman , has wrought ; nothing but ruin and engendered nothing but disgrace . Tho peaceful attitude of Abdul Medjid , induced by the promises of . Europe-, and the request of tho ambassadors of tho Western Powers that the invasion of tho Danubian Principalities should not bo regarded as a casus belli , has occasioned effects deplorable enough to

    Turkey , injurious enough to Moldavia and Wallaohia , and shameful enough to entire cultivated . Europe . Tho Porto distrusts his allies as much as he fears his enemies . Tho unpalatable " conditions of disgrace" lie has endeavoured to render one shade loss blatant , mid for this the Western Powers will not only " not be responsible , " but hint at . a . proximate ; desertion of the failing cause . Let us , sir , take a . glance a , I . the principle and the negotiations .

    In the first moment of tho second phase of these premonitory negotiations , when , in s pite of his previous deolaration , Prince IVlensehilcofl delivered a second ultimatum to the Porto , tho British press downed no language too severe , and no strictures too violent in stigmatising this eonduet as a gross breach of" public faith , and as an injurious and dishonourable proceeding , for ever damnatory of all imperial pretensions to

    uprightness and moderation . But what was more important still , the claims presented were declared insulting to the dignity of the Porte , at the same time that they were destructive to the independence of the Ottoman power . Encouraged by such assurances Abdul Medjid refused to gran t concessions which . Europe held to be angerous , and unprecedented in the modern annals of nations . Princs MenschikofF retired , and the Russian army advanced across the Pruttt . Europe , which in the first instance intimated its opinions so haughtily , had been gradually modifying them . From the moment it was seen that

    Russia was determined , Europe had grown gradually more humble , and had ended by becoming utterly and shamefully confused . While the threats of the Russian ambassador supported by the movements of troops in Bessarabia , the collection of materiel on the frontiers , and the rigorous impressment of recruits , were still ringing in their ears , the European Powers hurled with ludicrous and shameful precipitancy proposition upon proposition after the retreating Ambassador . In none of these were stipulations made concerning what was known to be inevitable . The Porte had all control snatched out

    of his hands , and was nearly stifled beneath the weight of superincumbent protocols . The heavens rained diplomatic papers , each more ill considered and less perspicuous than the last . This Europe , which had right clearly on its side , and which had been outraged and injured in its every commercial and political relation , hastened , like a blind judge , to the criminal dock , and placed itself where the criminal should have stood . One of these precipitous propositions , agreed upon ere the Russian troops had crossed the Pruth , was eagerly accepted by the Czar , almost ere the echo of Clarendon ' s famous declaration had ceased to tickle the ears of his

    gaping auditory ; and Europe , which had demanded no guarantees for the future , which had required no apology for the past , saw itself , and knows itself , compromised and disgraced . The same Ministers who now demand the assent of the Porte to this infamous agreement , know full well that it differs in no essential respects from Prince Menschikoff ' s ultimatum . They also are aware that their own representations against the invasion and the unauthorised assumption of the Government of Moldavia and Wallachia must ere this have reached the Autocrat ; and they know , too , that their declaration , that " no arrangement would bo satisfactory which did not include the evacuation of the

    Danubian Principalities , " is not only upon record against them here , but is on its way both to Constantinople and St . Petersburg . Is it then possible , in the face of these various diplomatic papers and declarations , that the Western Powers , especially England , can coerce tho P , orte to accept an agreement which contains no stipulations for those very points which have been deemed so important as to demand , not only special protests and most vigorous reprehension , but also studied declarations in both Houses of Parliament , and prominent announcement in the official organs of the Governments P If theao points were not

    important , if they wore not , as announced , infringements of the public law of Europe , and attacks upon the sovereignty of the Porto , why protest against them as such ? and if they wero all this , Avliy , in tho name of common senso , reason , honour , or consistency , conclude arrangements which make no provision for them , and why force those arrangements upon a reluctant , an aggrieved , and an outraged ally P There can 1 ) 0 no deception in this matter ; tho treaty has been published , and it contains not one of these stipulations ; how , then , in the name of common honesty , is it " satisfactory , " and why is it upheld V

    The Porte , dismayed at tlio train of fearful consequences this treaty threat-ens , has made , Home verbal alterations , , doomed by courtesy trilling , and which , indeed , are not Imlf so important as they seem . The principle which Abdul Medjid has ' kept ; in view has been the non-recognition of the Christian population other than as subject to the Ottoman power . Tho verbal alterations have amounted only to inserting Hueli necessary emendations as sullieed to effect ; this , and to show that the Sultan had " accorded , " not " conceded , " indulgences to tho Greek communities . This piny upon words , and tho foundation of the privileges placed upon tho eunio looting us tho other Clu-intitui sects , instead

    of " upon that of the most favoured nation , " ar the only alterations of any consequence proposed The Note is directed to the Emperor of Russia instead of to the Four Powers ; and since the pri ' vileges ar \ d immunities of the Greek church , ar * specially alluded to , and the concessions made to that church reiterated , the protectorate and . in tervention . of the Czar receive as complete re " cognition and authorization aa could be conferred upon them . The privileges are not guaran teed in common to all the Powers , and to all sects , thence the Emperor of Russia has obtained even

    more than he expected , and more than he had dared to hope . The European Powers are again and most effectually , isolated from the question In so far as regards the European population of Turkey , Russia could have made no deeper impression without the actual and permanent incorporation of entire Turkey in . Europe . Not one peasant in ten thousand will read this Conventi on nor , should he do so , will know the slight verbal modifications effected in it : were . he , indeed

    even aware of them , he could not understand their refined finesse ; and did he understand it , it could prove nothing to him except the weakness that it was intended to disguise , Russia , onthe other hand , has invaded Turkey , shaken her bare sword in the face of scared and crouching Europe , and re-crosses the Pruth , perhaps , if it so please her . And this with her colours flying , her aggression crowned with victory , and the shameless buzz of self-felicitating diplomatists caressing her ears .

    But it is even said , Sir , so lofty is Russia ' s position now , that Nicholas may reject the alterations proposed by the Sublime Porte ! Certainly , the bare admittance of such a supposition would justify him in doing so . Our poltroonery appears to know no limits . It is said too , that the ill-judged opposition of the Porte aggravates the paralysis of trade , and the Ottoman Government is bitterly attacked for not

    accepting the disgraceful solution we should blush to propose . I have shown , Sir , I hope , how little the Government of Turkey is to blame in these transactions , and how little we should plume ourselves upon our own part in them . But the paralyzation of trade , which everybody understands is due to Russia only , will never cease so long as the savages from the North are encamped upon the banks of the Danube , and no stipulation has been made for their removal . The last

    telegraphic advices state that " the newspapers the Principalities have been expressly forbidden to make mention of the movement of troops , and the merchants have been informed that they must not , in their commercial correspondence , make any mention of military matters . " iJocs this look like honesty of purpose or intention . And does the telegraphic announcement , that more Russian troops have just crossed the Pri # ' tally with the statement from Bucharest of tUo proximate evacuation of tho Provinces f I * not pretend to fathom what no ono else can . foretell , and Russia is permitted to be inscrutable . Wo dare not ask her intentions '; she docs not condescend of her own free will to lutorn

    us what they are . Wero sho a weaker powei . our reclamations would spoodily enforce fin explicit statement ; sho being strong , w , o arc j course necessarily silent , and submit to every ou rage , uncertainty , and wrong . Tho ' ? ^ annals of tho Coalition will remain a warning i future statesmen . It will bo seen that wnt ^ civilization was polito and timid , barbarism impudent and bold . Our civilization has ^ our weakness , where it should have ln ; en strength , and our commerce has made us (! . ' , ! The niv in tliiolr with temnests yet ; thin ¦

    cossful brigandage adds one dark clou" J ^^ j and the storm which is slowly gathering 1 us will burst with no loss fury wcauflo wo ^ strengthened one of its elements . - A 1 '

    ¦ The Governing Classes'. No. L—Jliul Im...

    ¦ THE GOVERNING CLASSES' . No . L—JLIUL IMilNOJS Ai'M'W * 1 'V iri u grout ; advantage- to im Eng lish politiciu" >" ^ l ) o an MngliHhini ' iii . A true p hilosop hy ( ' ""| () Ilt . patriot ; for patriotism , if your country in > ' ' ()( . w only parodiiality . A cosmopolitan ! i « « * 'Illir"J ^| ll , of ofton attained ; for to tho ofchor roqniwto ncc «< <» ^ birth , various nu ; o on paternal and on i »«| ¦<> ^ . |] , and ( losunit upon aland which in tho lm >< l i ««> fcll 0 ^_ ^ - — 'f \( , iiljil " ' * II ; in pronoHod to follow , uh nonrly «» ''VruitH ' ' bolicul oi-cW in tho proponed selection ot P "

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Sept. 3, 1853, page 14, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_03091853/page/14/