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restrictions on imperial laws , therefore this bill gives law-making powers , and is identical in design with those charters ! And he infers that the lawyers would so interpret the bill . Heaven help the lawyers , then ; and the clients who entrust such persons with their business- ! The bill was intended for a specific purpose ; the words are clear to that effect ; the operative powers of the bill only bound members of the Church of England , as such ; and the whole tenour of the bill kept it clear from the colonial Legislatures .
Another weapon he used was the argument that as we have set up the principle of local selfgovernment , we ought to confer on the colonial Legislatures the power to enable the Church to regulate her own affairs . This is nearly as untenable as his other position . We presume that Sir James Stephen is a member of the church of England ; and in that capacity knows that the churches in . the colonies are regarded as offshoots of the church at home . Therefore there is an imperial
obligation to relieve them from imperial disabilities ; while there is no colonial obligation to do so . Confer the power on the Colonial Legislatures , and they may not exercise it . But that is no reason why the spiritual subjects of the head of the church should suffer wrong . Then , he says , there would be a disturbance in the colonies ; but that could only arise from such misrepresentations of the power and scope of the Bill , as those of Sir James Stephen .
His letter had its effect , however , and was aided materially by the " lateness of the session . " Its introduction to the Commons had some good effects . It led to the admission of Lord John Russell and Mr . Sidney Herbert that some such measure was needed . It led to the momentary triumph of Mr . Arthur Kinnaird , a respectable low churchman ; but we are mistaken if this victory , like some others equally facile , is not the prelude to defeat . The real reason of the
rejectionof the Bill cannot be cpncealed . It embodied church principles which might succeed ; that was the grievance . If these principles succeeded in the colonies , who could resist the argument for their application at home ? The low church shuddered ; wondered how its pet archbishops could have been deluded by Mr . Gladstone and the Duke of Newcastle , brought its Stephen to bear , and nervously threw out the Bill .
We have always said that the Convocation movement was democratic . We have now presented our readers with proof . When the bishops had to decide on a constituency they naturally went to first principles—they found universal suffrage . No churchman could say , " I am holier than thou . " There was no help for it—universal suffrage and no property qualification must be the basis .
If these be essential in matters spiritual , of so much more moment we are told than matters temporal , are they not equally essential in the latter P—for the greater comprehends the less . How , after this , can churchmen decently oppose universal suffrago P
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RUSSIAN ADVANCES—USURPATION OP THE SOVEREIGNTY OF MOLDAVIA . Letter IX . { To ike Editor of tho Leader . ) Stb , — The audionco attends the denotement of tho political plot which now has Europe for its stage . Tho rogue of tho piece is in tho ascendant , and tho poor unfortunate of the drama suffering from his perfidy and his success . Where the protector of tho oppressed , and tho rightor of tho wronged has got to just at present , does not soem quito clear . One moment this JNemosis is at Vienna , another rotating round Constantinople , and anon , in all tho European capitals at once . All efforts havo failed us } r et , of course ; but unless tho hypothetical justice of tho drama bo greater than tho real justice of fact , too bizarre a supposition to bo entortained , tho end has yet to omo which is to " point tho moral and adorn tho tale . "
But events havo marched with ominous precipitation to a final crisis . " By a despatch dated tho 17 th of last month , " tho Earl of Clarendon " loarnod from Lord Stratford do llodcliffo that a communication had boon mado by tho Consul General of [ Russia to tho Hospodar of Moldavia , informing him that his relations with tho Ottoman Government wore to coaso , and that tho tribute usually transmitted to Constantinople was to bo placed at tho disposal of tho Itussian Government . " The excuse for this preposterous
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act follows the declaration of its accomplishment , and is , of course , conclusive— " that during the military occupation of the provinces , the action of the sovereign power must necessarily be suspended . " The occupation itself being illegal , we may be permitted to . suppose nothing resulting from that occupation can derive legality from an illegal source . The British ministers have therefore plucked up a show of courage to protest against this logical seizure of the Government of the principality ; and should the Hospodar of Moldavia refuse to
proceed to Constantinople on the arrival of the Sultan's expected requisition , the British Consul will lower his flag , and diplomatic relations will cease . An ultimatum has also been agreed upon by the four Powers , and forwarded to St . Petersburg . In case of the rejection of this ultimatum , are the ambassadors at St . Petersburg instructed to demand their psssports ? Every declaratory paper issued by the Czar and his agents , events have falsified . If we dared apply to monarchs the vulgar vituperation
we employ to more humble individuals , the coarsest , and the briefest monosyllable in our vocabulary would be the most applicable . Following the misstatements of Menschikoff , the invasion of Moldavia was accompanied by a proclamation in which . Prince Gortschakoff promised that he would not interfere with the Government and internal administration of the provinces . Thereupon he seizes the post , and appropriates the civil administration , orders away the Moldavian army as pickets on the Danube , and as guards at different points , and finally
directs the Moldavian tribute to be paid into the strong box of St . Petersburg , instead of the coffers of Constantinople . It is then asserted that the Porte must , as a matter of reasonable concession , defray the expenses of the invasion ! Similar news of complete incorporation is expected from the principality of Wallachia . Thus , sir , Russia has grasped the granary of Moldavia , and thus she threatens to grasp the sister province . No principle of right , no dogma of justice , has stayed her hand . Events , rapid , forcible ,
and striking , have demonstrated an iron will and an inflexibility of purpose , which cast Louis Napoleon's Second of December into shade . So far from the hesitations indicated in despatches having really taken place , we learn from ministerial explanations that the purpose has not once faltered—that it has even sharpened the impression of its sincerity by its brusqueness , and has resorted to insulting indifference where acts of unparalleled aggression would provoke in reply nothing but requests to negotiate , and nothing
but empty and valueless protests . Wo are assured , " that diplomacy has done its utmost , and that if it fails at last , the want of success will only prove that it was useless ; not that it was injudicious . " This diplomacy was , in plain English , disgraceful timidity , and a singularly base subserviency , which read no lesson in tho past , and which shrank blear-eyed from the premonitions of tho future . This diplomacy , by deceiving tho Emperor as to the real resistance he was to meet with , has encouraged him to proceed
to tho last extromities of insolence . Tho deception is not alone on his side , and should tho allied powers of Europo determine to support Abdul Medjid , Machiavolli himself could scarcely havo devised so righteous a cause , to havo encouraged an enemy to commit acts of moro unjustifiable aggression , or havo inducod an enomy to outrage moro completely tho rights and laws of nations , and to place himself without tho palo of civilized mankind . This is tho result of accident ,
and flows from tho imbecility , not from tho determination , of the Western Powers . But should tho present moment bo lost , and tho stormy season compel the retirement of tho fleots , tho strategic position of Russia will bo perfect . Supported and suppliod by her navy , there will bo nothing but tho Turkish Jeviea to prevent her advance to tho capital . If tho European powers tomppmo longor , they aro lost , and ib is doubtful , even now , whethor tho fanaticism ot tho Moslom will not seek tho readiest and most decisive solution
of tho enais . But tho importanco of tho South has eauHod us to overlook tho clouds gathering in tho jNorth . It is not alono in Persia and Turkey that the Czar is endeavouring to obtain a rich province to bound hi 8 empire . Troops havo boon long concentrating in 1 inland ; and intrigues in Donmark , and tho extraordinary strength of tho
Baltic squadron , point to the Sound , and Copenhagen , or Bornholme , as plainly as the movements on the Danube point to Constantinople . The imminence of the danger has even caused the immediate recal of the Swedish squadron , which is now on its way home . The overweening confidence of Nicholas «( justified too well , by dynastic sympathies of Courts , by the connivance of statesmen , the complacency of diplomatists , the sordid apprehensions of countinghouse Utopians , and stock-broking
philanthropists , ) comprehends ail JjiUrope , from its most northern to its most southern limits . At this instant he has not one single avowed ally , however many crouching and double-faced adherents . But very soon the autumnal gales will drive our fleet from Besika Bay , and leave him undisputed master of both sea and land . If we seize the moment ere it be past for ever , this Itussian Colossus must succumb to united Europe : and
if we do succeed in placing shackles upon the monster that threatens to desolate the world , they must be strong and enduring ones . Russia must be made to pay so deafly and so terribly for this movement , as to make her utterly unable to stretch her bruised and wounded members for years to come . The giant , whose feet lie extended within the limits of eternal snow , and whose head rests pillowed upon the holy altar at Jerusalem , may even yet become a dwarf . Alpha .
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"A STRANGER" IN PARLIAMENT . " The best preparation for war , " said Lord John Russell , the other day , in answer to Mr . Layard , thinking he was making a phrase , and imagining that he was a dignified British statesman , "is to exhaust all the means of preserving peace ; " and as every conciliatory , and respectful , and too considerate effort would now appear to have been used to divert Nicholas from his purpose , and used with no result beyond rendering England little and ludicrous , ifT is not extraordinary that the talk last night about the Houses of Parliament should have been assentive to the argument that war
must now soon be declared . When the Archduke Constantine , who , with a Louis-Napoleonic faith in a name , believes that he is to be the founder of a new world-empire at Constantinople , takes command of the Russian army of Turkey , matters begin to look serious , and even Lord Aberdeen must begin to lose faith in the politeness of tlie Czar . Nevertheless , our Government seems resolved to bo mild to the lasb . You could see , from Lord Clarendon ' s attitude and manner the other evening , when replying to Lord Clanricarde ' s query , and announcing that ho had—the dignified
British statesman—ventured to ask explanation of Russia ' s dictation about revenue to the Wallachian Hospodar , that the noble earl was profoundly convinced that ho was taking a very resolute and daring line of policy . But when this Cabinet believes that it is being bold in merely begging for an explanation , it is tho inevitable inference that this self-governed nation is not to be allowed to fight if the governors can help it . The governors aro very probably mistaken in supposing that they will gain popularity by escaping the war . Undoubtedly tho governed do not care about tho " cause" involved in this instance ; there is vei-y
little indisposition to see Turkey erased from the map . But tho inert . and indifferent English people are not likely to endure beyond a certain point tho national dishonour of tho present diplomacy . England is understood by Englishmen to bo pledged to defending Turkoy , a pledge which may bo a mistake at the outset ; and it would appear that , in tho event of Russia not evacuating tho Principalities , a declaration of war against Russia would bo hailed with British satisfaction . There aro two reasons which keep tho peace of England—general fear of tho expenso of war ; and general four of disturbing trade : but neither of these reasons have force in tins question . To conquer RuHHiu—completely to destroy her in the Eunt—would cost 1 « hh than it cost ; England to aulxluo tho Kaffirs .
And , an to tho trade at nt » ike , it has last moro by tho negotiation than if ; would have lost by a direct war : furthermore , the commercial classes aro beginning to comprehend that their commercial interests aro against the catubliKhment of Ruhhui at Consi . antinoplo , Usually , theHO two aro good reasons again . st war , and will keep England a peace-loving nation—until nho is destroyed ; but they are no reanoiiH agnhiHt a war with Russia . It in known , on a calculation of coHt , that wo should financially fool a war with ltmnia aH Httlo an wo fool ft war against tho Bunneno . Thoro in no realizing tho notion that England in afraid of war . England dislikes the notion of a French invntnon ; tho quoHtion qi " that wort of war comen to our hearths and homes , and oven to our lodgings . But in iv war witjj
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August 6 , 1853 . ] THE LEADER . 759
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Leader (1850-1860), Aug. 6, 1853, page 759, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1998/page/15/
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