On this page
-
Text (3)
-
602. THE LEADER. [Saturday , ~?
-
WANTED, ABLE CIVIL OFFICERS. Practical A...
-
OXFORD, OLD AND NEW. Lord Derby's lightn...
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.
-
-
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.
Church Extension—Church Diffusion. The C...
though naturally weak , was guarded by the disunion of the river-bordering powers . Moreover , when Potemkin commenced his wars , he sought 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 Prance , 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 3 £ ussia . 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 vigortms mediator , she has interposed between exhausted belligerents .
The progress of Russia in Poland was a more practical in ^ iry to Austria than her advance in Turkey . But Vhen the armies of Catherine 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 Diebitoh 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 tlie 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 the Banat was an
Austrian precedent for the Russian attempt of last year , and it was designed as a stage towards the two disputed Principalities , which are not now for the first time oceupiod by an Austrian army . The policy of tho Czars has been more direct and violent ; that of the Emperors at Vienna has not been less persistent 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 power 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 if ; may evade . The real strength of the Western Alliance consists in / the right which it possesses , in conjunction with the Pbrtey 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 come . She waits ; she stands at ease and keeps the peace with Russia .
602. The Leader. [Saturday , ~?
602 . THE LEADER . [ Saturday , ~?
Wanted, Able Civil Officers. Practical A...
WANTED , ABLE CIVIL OFFICERS . Practical Administrative Reform demands in 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 trainiug , but the education that teaches how to observe facts , low 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 , iu record , in distinction of cases . A good style of 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 yotmg 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 he 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 the habits fitting them for tho work . Tho 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 bo saul that by this plan wo make the civil service a " close borough . " Any rigid rule that would invariably exclude new men from responsible situations in the aorvico would , no doubt , be injurious , as depriving the service of tho undoubted advantages that accrue from tho addition of fresh
energy to some departments of tho State . But we must not entirely ignore the sontimenta of the present civil servants themselves , for on their zeal and esprit de corps tho success of our l'eformfl in tho administration must for many years depend . It is doubtful whether tho probable advantages of the introduction of now and clever men into
high posts in Government offices is not often counterbalanced b y tho injury that ; ia done to tho working 1 spirit of tho subordinate officers by tho removal front their hopoa of
the high prizes of the service . The chief clerk , or assistant secretary , who has worked eagerly for years in the % ope of being rewarded by the secretaiyship , will scarcely co ntinue 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 poliand will most
ticians , 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 RowiiAND Hti / l , makes the appointment unquestionable .
Oxford, Old And New. Lord Derby's Lightn...
OXFORD , OLD AND NEW . Lord 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 ou the wisdom of compliance with the utilitarian spirit of the nge . Of course , in inaugurating the new studies , he expresses a dutiful hope that they will not displace the old , which are " the most important that can be pursued anywhere . " ( Applause . }
So , with decent rhetorical obsequies , the old ignorance goes out , and at the other door the new knowledge enters . Aldkich ' s logic and " Pokson ' s lour " ( the most important subjects that can be studied anywhere ) give place , and the studies of natui * e and man succeed . Le roi est tnort—vive le roi ! Welcome the young age to its venerable and romantic home among those old grey walls and immemorial trees , to tho cells of Roger Bacon and Ockiiam , to the courts of Wykeham and Woi & ey ! The last
intellectual revolution that took place at Oxford was of a rougher kind , when the old religious faith was cast out and the new itiith thrust in with the strong hand . Then , the volumes of the 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 tho dawning of tho new era . This later change comos gently , scarcely lamented now that it has come , even by those
who opposed it ; though not without fears and misgivings , even in good and honest hearts , who dread the scepticism that goes with knowledge , and do not rely on tho power ot AciiihLEti Hjpear to heal tho wounds it makes . moreat Acadcmial May real student lilo and the Jove and pursuit of truth long flourish at Oxford ! England does not want her universities to become utilitarian in il >«^ teaching or their objects . We have enough
desire of money and activity in inventing spinning-jennies and steam-engines elsewhere . It is not in that way that Oxford and Cambridge aro called on to accommodate themselves to tho age , but by satisfying its nobler wants and cravings , by giving it a real eclocation and a truo philosophy of lifo . l ^ universities find tho nation truth , and tuo nation will find thorn broad . Thoir lauw hitherto haa boon not to be too unworldly , as
-
-
Citation
-
Leader (1850-1860), June 23, 1855, page 14, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_23061855/page/14/
-