Punch (74.1878)

Apbil 20, 1878.] PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI. 171

THE ONE THING NEEDFUL.

Stableman of Sporting Rector. "I 'ear Master's hadvertised for a Curate. Must be horthodox—whatever that means."
Groom of ditto. " Means ? Why, that 'e must know a thing or two about 'Osses, in course ! He'd never suit Master

if he didn't."

that he has given grievous offence to sticklers for the higher pro-
prieties, and leaves the world wondering why, if this was his way
of thinking, he had not heen saying ditto to Mr. Gladstone all this
time, instead of to Lord Beaconsfield. Impossible to imagine a
more complete turning inside out of the Cabinet policy. He did not
believe in a Congress. He did not acknowledge any real foundation
for the irritation against Puissia. He did not perceive sufficient
reason for hasty war-preparations. He did not see either the causes,
allies, or objects of a war by England against Russia. He sneered at
the vagaries of public opinioD, and asked how a Foreign Secretary
was to steer, with such '' conning."

All very telling, and doubtless very true. But Punch must, per-
force, ask with everybody, if my Lord Derby thought thus all this
time, Que diable allait-il faire dans cette galere f Why didn't they
make a Jonah of him—or he of himself—long ago ?

And is it the duty of a Foreign Secretary to hold " vox Populi,
vox Dei," and steer, as the popularis aura shifts about ? Is it not
rather his business, who is set there as pilot, to shape the safest and
best course, and let the swabbers and sweepers, the waisters and
idlers, grumble and growl as they may ?

This was very much the English of the Lord Chancellor's and
Lord Salisbury's speeches. The Circular was not an ultimatum,
but an expose des motifs. The calling out the Reserves was not a
step to war, but a measure of precaution—our old friend, " defence,
not defiance," in fact. (Lord Beaconsfield had said the same
thing in other words.) Lord Selborne assailed the Government with
pointed but polished dress-sword, and the Duke of Argyll with
slashing claymore. Lord Houghton interposed the Treaties of 1856
and 1871. Lord Carnarvon spoke the words of wisdom and mode-
ration so hateful in the ears of the Jingos. And then the Address
was agreed to after a night of good talk, signifying little but fore-
gone conclusions, leaving the question, " Peace or War ? " very
much where it was, Lord Beaconsfield all the weaker by Lord.
Derby's damaging dissection of his policy, but the public as much
bewildered as enlightened by Lord Debby's startling revelations.

(Commons.)— Sir Stafford Northcote did sucking-dove to Lord
Beaconsfield's Drawcansir. Never was a spirited foreign

policy so cold-drawn. It was the Beaconsfield tune in a minor-
key—by no means to the taste of the Jingos. Vote of Credit,
calling out of Reserves, sending of the Fleet through the Darda-
nelles—all was but precaution. Fighting ! Lord bless you ! we've
no such intention! All we wanted was to have the Treaty of San
Stefano put in accord with the European system. Russia, it was to
be hoped, would yet see her way to this. (Whether Lord Salis-
bury's slap in the face be the best way of opening her eyes may be
open to question.)

Mr. Gladstone disclaimed any intention of moving an Amend-
ment. How could he ask for amendment of such a dove-like
discourse ? If he could only accept Sir Stafford's pitch-pipe, as
giving the true note of the Government policy ! But we were, and
had been, on the drift war-wards for the last quarter, and summon-
ing the Reserves would bring us a stage nearer the argument of the
sword than the Vote of Credit. Lord Salisbury's Circular was a
blister, not an anodyne-plaister. The Treaty of San Stefano
stipulated for no more than Russia had foreshadowed in June last,
except Bessarabia. A Congress was the only way to amend what
wanted amending in the Treaty or in South-Eastern Europe.

Wilful Sir Wilfkid Witwould moved his Amendment. The
Reserves should have been reserved for a greater emergency. Their
calling out is unjustifiable, whether in the cause of European peace
or English interests.

Sir W. Barttelot rapped Sir Wilfrid's knuckles.

Mr. Grant Duff judged everybody and everything from the
stand-point of Olympian wisdom, and exhibited his prescription,
" Sine Germanid nulla salus.1' But how was Britannia to get the
benefit of his panacea, with a rival doctor at the Foreign Office in
whose eyes calling in Dr. Bismarck was not safety, but destruction ?

Mr. Goldney, Colonel Barne, and Sir H. D. Wolff —like
Cerberus, three Gentlemen at once—gave tongue for Jingo ; and Mr.
Hardy—his back to the War Office and his face to India—adminis-
tered a round# of rattling counters to Mr. Gladstone in his best
fighting fashion. " Nox pugnam inter emit "—leaving Jinks his
Baby in possession of the House.

Tuesday [Lords.)—Lord Beauchamp moved Seoond Reading