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1186 THE LEADER. [Saturday,
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OXFORD UNIVERSITY STAGNATION. Moke than ...
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ITALIAN PATRIOTS AND THEIR OALUMNIATOKH....
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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.
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The New Alliance Of E Uropean Powers. Th...
[ Europe . This plan is regarded as being meant for the benefit of Russia as well as Turkey , since , as Russia lias disturbed the territorial arrangements of Europe , she ought , in justice , to pay for the disturbance , and to indemnify Turkey for war expenses , if not , to yield up provinces unjustly seized by anterior aggressions . It is , however , idle to expeetthat any existing Cabinet in Europe , or any possible Cabinet in England , would enter upon a crusade to exact from Russia
restitution of provinces of which she has remained in quiet possession for gome time . That object is so impossible , that no convention should be expected to entertain it . It is true that the expenses of the war will be an unjust infliction upon Turkey—an infliction exactly similar to that endured by a man who has to pay the expenses above the taxed costs in an action unjustly brought against him . There are wrongs for which the law provides no redress .
It is , however , not literally true that tbe proposed declaratory act w ould virtually serve Russia and not Turkey . Turkey is threatened with the loss of Servia , as well as MoldaA ^ ia and Wallachia ; and if the proposed act be carried out with any honesty , it would as much serve Turkey against the loss of Servia to Austria , as against the loss of the Danubian Principalities to Russia . Indeed , short of declaring a territorial crusade against Russia , which it is the very object of the Four Powers to avoid , they could scarcely resort to a stronger measure than to a general assertion of maintaining the present territorial system ; and as it is Russia which has violated that system , and not Turkey , the practical virtue of the declaration is against Russia exclusively , and not at all against Turkey .
It may be surmised that in all these accommodations national objects are sacrificed to dynastic interests — that Hapsburgers , Bourbons , and Cobur ^ s , are of more account even with our own constitutional Government than Hungarians , Germans , Italians , Belgians , or French ; and it may be so . But if the surmise is true , we are not in a position to help it . " We are not only without the right to say that our own Court has done nothing anti-national—we have not even the right to conjecture such a thing . There are rumours and insinuations that Coburg interests are too much pressed upon the Queen ; but we have not the faintest evidence that she has ever done or
attempted an unconstitutional act . So far as we have any evidence before us , she is absolutely faultless . If , indeed , avc had a Ministry disposed to adopt a decided course , for the welfare of the nations and the honour of England , and if that Ministry made us understand that it was obstructed by the Court , we might have facts to act upon ; but we have not such a Ministry . And
why P Because the nation , which is fairly enough represented in Parliament , is supine , and does not require the Ministry to be energetic , or to vindicate by vigorous action the national honour . It is idle to complain , on presumption , that the Court is subserving dynastic intrigues , when the responsible Ministers arc winking at dynastic combinations , and the country itself is giving to ( bat base policy the complicity of passive
acquiescence . We have not yet before ustlie details of the proposed convention , the merits of which , depend ho much upon details . For example , it in to declare ; 1 hat the present territorial arrangements are not to be violated' —by encroachment of any one Power , we suppose , on the territories of any other party in the European company of ( States . We suppose Ilia 1 . the convention would not , attempt to go the length of guaranteeing to each sovereign
poHsosHion ol territories an jigamst the internal movements of bin own subjects ; a . claim very In'o perlv refused by our Ministers when advanced > y the Marquis de Mini Mores on behalf of Spain in Cuba , and expressly repudiated by the Times in reference to Turkey . In like manner , we suppose that the convention would only guarantee . 11 unwary to Austria an against Russia , and not as against the . 11 . uiitfarmns . Nor cm any such convention , ' without , an essential and inherent
r < duetto ad absurdicin , pro / ess to ho eternal . It might , by the will of all . Powers , forbid any one Power , at present , from disturbing ,-present arrangements : it could do no more , and could not attempt more without carrying within itself its own repeal . We jiavo endeavoured to review the newest proposition before the public dispassionately , in order ( o ascertain its real comprehension and
bearing . That it may prevent war , we believe ; that it will do so , w e would not venture to prophesy . That it satisfies justice we do not think . Russia has for years been stealing territory from other States ; and now that she has gone beyond endurance , we are inclined to say that the lawless Emperor ought to be brought to account , be made to disgorge , and even he made to undergo humiliation for his misdeeds . Arrogant wrong-doing
like his should be forced to suffer retribution , as well as make restitution ; and a noble indignation would not be satisfied until that betrayer of Poland , that imdoer of Hungary , that abettor of Austria in all her crimes , has been removed from p ower , and made to do penance on the tomb of his victims . But we have yet to learn whether such a thins * as national pride survives , or whether any indignation remains on the Eastern shores of the Atlantic .
1186 The Leader. [Saturday,
1186 THE LEADER . [ Saturday ,
Oxford University Stagnation. Moke Than ...
OXFORD UNIVERSITY STAGNATION . Moke than eighteen months have elapsed since the Oxford Commissioners published their Report , and still no advance has been made towards an adoption of its recommendations . Nor can this result be attributed to want of opportunity . During a great portion of that period , the Minister who appointed the Commission has been in power , and has even brought forward a measure on national education . But distinguished as that scheme must ever be for feebleness of conception , and the general dissatisfaction which it created , the most discreditable portion was that which related to the IJniversities . In the face of the most conclusive testimony as to the obstructive spirit which pervades the 1 j niversity of Oxford , the oligarchical character of its constitution , and the inefficiency of its educational system , Lord John Russell decided that time should still be given for the work of self-reformation . What advantage has been taken of that indulgence—to what extent the notions of the Oxford Heads coincide with the opinions of the Commissioners — we are at length informed . The Hebdomadal Board has published a
Report , already too long delayed . It is sufficient to say , that the members of that body have fully sustained their reputation . They are still unconvinced of the necessity of reform—still pledged to maintain the existing constitution—still keenly alive to their solemn responsibilities—still faithful in their allegiance to the much-loved relics of the Laudian statutes . The experience of the last few months has left them what they w ere beforethe worshippers of antiquated formulas , slaves to founders' wills " , hostile to the growth of
knowledge , at enmity with the spirit of the age . They oppose the foundation of private halls , and any organic change in the government of the University . They do indeed advocate an extension of the professorial system , for they propose " that some two or three professors should receive a small addition to their stipend , that the two Arabic professorships should be combined ; that the Sanscrit professor should be forced to reside ; and , to crown these dangerous innovations upon the present system , that new professorships should be established of some , of . the modern
Kastern languages , particularly Chinese" Any comment on this would be superfluous . It is said , indeed , that Ministers intend to take the matter into their own hands , and that a fitringent measure of reform has been prepared , but the assertion must be received with considerable- caution . We have no reason to believe that , the ( iJovernment is resolved upon adopting even the changes proponed by the Commissioners , and we can discern little ground for hope in the fit ate of public opinion which appears to prevail in Oxford . It is obvious lhat the grand object of any reform must bo to restore the Universities to their original condition . No reform can . he
complete—none will bo accepted as such by tbo public— -which docs not commence by making Oxford and Cambridge national institutions . Not until they have ceased to exact the solemn t ' nrcii of enforcing juvenile subscription to tests , and of making religions belief a condition of obtaining a , degree , can their failure or success as educational institutions , a fleet the great majority of Englishmen . Once open tho honours of the Universities to tho nation , without distinction of creed , and there will be some chance of their accomplishing the main object , of their foundation . It in impossible , to convince Englishmen that they are interested in tho fate of establishments whose rewards , an at , Cambridge , and whose
very doors as at Oxford , are only opened to behevers or acquiescents in the dogmatic compromise . This expansion may be said to lie at the foundation of all other reform . We have already seen t he obstructive character of the report of the Hebdomadal Board , and what furtherhope there is of any great improvement in the educational system may be gathered from the general tone of reeling in Oxford , and from the expressed opinion of the Tutors' Association . It is notorious that the study of physical science is held in the bitterest contempt by the younger members of the University . Ridicule is the sure reward of an ambitious youth who would fain become acquainted with the nature of the world in which he lives . Sneers
wait upon any attempt to grapple with subjects beyond the narrow limits prescribed by written statutes , and enforced by a condition w \ hich confines the honours of the University to success in authorized pursuits . It is true that professors may be found , and the means of instruction may be almost said to exist , but what can be expected from young men who have been trained under such a system ? How can they be expected to make exertions which will be ridiculed by their friends and fellow students , which Tutors do not encourage , and for proficiency in which no
rewards are ever bestow ed ? The most painful result of the present system is to be seen in the intellectual attainments of the fairest specimens of the class—those who have distinguished themselves in the public examinations . We do not wish to exaggerate the importance of any one branch of study , but nothing-can . justify the total neglect of physical science in institutions whose very name implies that they pretend to teach every branch of human knowledge ; and , if rewards exist , to reward success , not in one but in all .
A feeble mockery of educational reform has been issued by some gentlemen who pretend ( we believe most unfairly ) to represent the opinion of the Tutors of the University . We find them using this language on the subject of physical
: — " In the school of mathematical and physical science , we think there is no pressing demand tor an increase in the number of professors . It is , indeed , to be regretted that so valuable a branch of education should not have been more prominently encouraged than it has been in the studies of Oxford ; but , compared with other more attractive departments of learning , which are at present most inadequately represented in the professorial body , we conceive that t his school is sufficiently supplied in what is absolutely essential . At the same time , if endowments could be provided , it might , be desirable to extend or divide the
department of pure mathematics , at present belonging to the Savalian Professor of Geometry ; the extent to which analysis has been carried of late years in mathematical scienee having opened a wide and interesting field of . speculation , which perhaps does not properly fall within the province of any existing professor . I ho Sodleian Header and the Header in Experimental Philosophy may , under the circumstances , bo considered a sufficient staff for the large and important subject ot Mechanical Philosophy ; though here , too , tho progress which of late him been made in its several branches would , if the subject wore to become a more prominent part of University education , imperatively call for a division of labour , and an increase in the stan
of its teachers . " One addition only is suggested—the erection of an Observatory . ' But it is obvious that tho study of physical science is practically ignored by men' who , unhappily , represent a large portion of modern Oxford . With tho exception ot tho small body of reformers , Oxford is like a , huge fossil of medieval barbarism ,, preserved by antiquarian divines , to remind us of our connex ion , with tho past . Serving only as a , foil to tho advancing intelligence- of tho nineteenth century , it supplies few wants , and supplies them badly . Too much time ban been allowed already . • ' ¦ reform in to bo accomplished , nt all , it must l > o l > y tho fomi of external pressure .
Italian Patriots And Their Oalumniatokh....
ITALIAN PATRIOTS AND THEIR OALUMNIATOKH . PimiiAi'S the greatest libel ever uttered agajn . st the Knglish people consists in tho statement ol tho Times with respect to Italy . It ; impheB »» KngliHh toleration of calumniouHnrtsertionH «» 1 U ° teeth of known facts . Last week we bad occasion to notice tho candour of tho Times in » ( linll " ting a fair account of the state of political l < l (> lu ' ^ and opinions in Italy ; in its original columriH in - journal has amply redeemed its old repute .
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Dec. 10, 1853, page 10, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_10121853/page/10/
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