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gleet of personal comfort . But tliis 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 have 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 join 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 Some Whig gentlemen stayed too long at dinner one day , and the Salt-tax in India was repealed , but some Tory lords had colds , on another evening , and it was put on again .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 lit of indigestion , which attacked Mr . Hay tor , 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-waaron . 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 jDcnalties , the discerning stranger discovers that there is no rule : they ave 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 result 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 petty misdemeanour to kill a clown .
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THE PROPOSED TREATY BETWEEN RUSSIA AND TURKEY . { To the JMilor of the Leader . ) SrR , —Notwithstanding the many allirmations of ministerial organs , Turkey has appeared Ringularly disinclined to accept the " honourable" conditions of peace graciously proffered by the " Western Powers . From time to time , and a I ; sill times , it has been asserted that the honour of the Porte could not rest in more untainted palms than those which now soil it , and that the integrity of Turkey could only be maintained by
those who have winked at its infringement . European diplomacy , substituted for the military arguments of the Mussulman , lias wrought ; nothing but ruin and engendered nothing but disgrace . The peaceful attitude ; o ( " Abdul Medjid , induced by the promises of Europe , and the request of the ambassadors of tho Western Powers that the invasion of tho Dannbian Principalities should not be regarded as a casus he HI , htiH occasioned effects deplorable enousrh . to
Turkey , injurious enough to Moldavia and VVallnchia ,, and nha , inoful enough to entire cultivated Europe . The Porto distrusts his allies as much us be fears his enemies . The unpalatable " conditions of disgrace" he has endeavoured to render ono shade less hlalaid , and for this the Westeru Powers will not- only " not . be responsible , " but hint at n prox . inia . te desertion of the failing cause . Let us , sir , take a . glance at the principle and tho negotiations .
In the first moment of the second phase ol these premonitory negotiations , when , in unite of his previous declaration , Prince Mensohikoff delivered a . second ultimatum to the Porte , the . British press deemed no language too . severe , and no HtrieturcH too violent in stigniatining Miis conduct an a , gross 'breach of public faith , and as an injurious mid dishonourable proceeding , for ever damnatory of all imperial pretonHioiiH 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 grant concessions which Europe held to be dangerous , and unprecedented in the modern annals " of nations ' .. Prin ' eo Menschikoffretired , and the llussian army advanced across the Pruth . Europe , which : in the first" instance intimated itn opinions so haughtily , had been graclualty
modifying them . Prom the moment it was seen that itussia was determined , Europe had grown gradually more humble , and had ended by becoming utterly and shamefully confused . While the threats of the Itussian 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 be 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 diplomaticpapers and declarations , that the Western Powers , especially England , can coerce the Porte 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 1 Louses of Parliament , and prominent announcement in the official organs of
the Governments P If theso points were not important , if they were not , as announced , infringements of the public law of Europe , and attacks upon the sovereignly of the Porto , why protest against them as such ? and if they were all this , why , in the name of common sense , reason , honour , or consistency , conclude arrangements which make no provision lov them , and why force those arrangements upon a reluctant , an aggrieved , and an outraged ally P There can be no deception in this matter ; the 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 upheldr
I he I orte , dismayed at the tram of fearful consequences this treaty threatens , has made some verbid alteral ions , deemed by courtesy trilling , and which , indeed , jut 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 hucIi necessary emendations m , h sufficed , to effect this , and to hIiow thai tho Sultan had " accorded , " not , " conceded , " indulgences to the Greek communities . This play upon words , and the foundation of tho privileges placed upon the same footing as the other Christian 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 Uussia ' instead of to the Four Powers ; and since the pri ' vileges and immunities of the Greek church are specially alluded to , and the concessions made to that church reiterated , the-protectorate and in . terventioh of the Czar receive as complete re ' . cognition and authorization as could be conferred ; : pen them . The privileges are not guaranteed in common to all the Powers , and to all sects * and 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 Jiuropean population of Turkey , Eussia could have made no deeper impression without the actual and permanent incorporation of entire Turkey in . Europe . K " ot one peasant in ten thousand will read this Convention 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 . Uussia , on the 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 ao-.
gression 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 Uussia 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 in 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 . " Does this look like honesty of purpose or intention ? And does the telegraphic announcement , that more llussian troops have just crossed tho Pruth , tally with the statement from Bucharest of the proximate evacuation of the Provinces P I Ao not pretend to fathom what no onb else can foretell , and iiussia is permitted to be hiaemtable . ' We dare not ask her intentions ; she docs not condescend of her own free will to inform
us what they are . Were she a weaker powei , our reclamations would speedily enforce an explicit statement ; she being strong , wo iiro ol course necessarily silent , and submit to every outrage , uncertainty , and wrong . The foreign annals of tho Coalition will remain a warning i <> future stiitcsinlni . It will bo seen that when civilization was polite and timid , barbarism was impudent and bold . Our civilization has been our weakness , where it should have been our strength , and our commerce has made us cowan k . The air is thick with , tempests yet ; thin 8 " ^ cessful brigandago adds one dark cloud moi o , and the storm which is slowly gathering rouni us will burst with no less fury because wo i" » strengthened one of its elements . AM ' -
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TII J <] G O V E 1 IN IN G C L A S S . IC & No . . 1 . —1 I . 1 UI . J . MUJSKJJK AMiiMW * It is a prVmt advantage to mi English politi * : "" 1 > 1 () t' ° ho an . IOnjrliKhiniiii . A truo philosopher ciin ' '' patriot , ; for putviotism , if your country in » I ' ' * ' "' ' in only pru-oduality . A oomnopolitan in u ohiv " "" ' ofton attained ; for to tho ofclior requisite iioonI *'"^^ l ) irl , h , various race on paternal and on muter "' ' mid descent , upon a land which in tho land noiM "' ' ° '
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, ____ . . __— ( ' | i ) llll " * U in proponed to follow , an noarly hh 1 > oh *> ' >' (> >" liotioul ordor in tho proponod nolootion of j > orU * 'HlH >
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854 THE LEAD E fe . [ Saturday ,
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Sept. 3, 1853, page 854, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2002/page/14/
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