The Evening Star. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1876.

Evening Star, Issue 4232, 19 September 1876, Page 2

The Evening Star. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1876.

Thb P ft P ew reived by the San Francisco Mail much deta T Ue , d inkUi " geuce on the Eastern que^ oo ' ** » " att< * for gratulation that the general*. D £ ** Home, and apparently throughout Europe, is adverse to meddling with Turkish affairs excepting for establishing peace. The ' Home News' gives an account of two deputations to Earl Derby, one introduced by Mr Bright, including representatives from all partß of the country, urging that there should be no intervention by force on the part of Great Britain, and the other from what is called " The League in aid of the Christians in Turkey." The latter, based upon imperfect information and narrow prejudices, needs no comment. Where so-called Christians emulate other sects in cruelty and outrage no moral advantage can result to the world through sanctioning; tkeir atrocities by defending them. Lord Derby's reply to the first deputation is so important a declaration of British policy, and of the reasons for believing there will be no disturbance of European peace, that we make no apology for publishing it in extenso :

I am not paying you on idle compliment when I say that ia all such official and Parliamentary experience as I have had, whether as a Minister receiving deputations or as a member of Parliament attending deputations, I sever have had the pleasure of meeting any deputation more important than this, whether I regard the persons who compose it, the representative character in which they come here, the width and force of public opinion wkish they undoubt. dly represent, or the gravity and importance »>f the question with which you have come here to deal. I have read your memorial with close and careful attention. I have listened to all that has beea said in this room, and I cannot sufficiently express my approval, il may say so, of the brevity and the terseness with which it has been said; and 1 have no hesitation in telling you in reply that, although there are some expressions in this memorial which I could not concur in. a2»d although some things are said as to which I should prefer to reserve my opinion, still as regards the lnauTfoi point of the question, the conclusion to which /OU came—viz., your desire "that the Government shouul observe a polfcy of strict neutrality, except witfre it may be able to interpose its friendly offices to hasten the close of the conflict"—l say as regards that expression of opinion yotir feeling is acutely and entirely mine.—(Loud cheers.) I noticed what was said by your distinguished lender, Mr Bright— ilmt there was |no disposition to express suspicion or to throw blame upon the Government—(Hear, hesr)— and for my own part, so ftr from thinking that yen are doing anything unwise or premature in comittg here to express your opinion with regard to the events which are not indted impending—which you do not suppose to be impending—but which you consider as, under certain contingencies, possible - so far, I say. from thinking such an expression of opinion 'upon your part premature, I am very glad, and I think, that any Minister who stands in my position would be glad, to know in time what is your opinion upon this subject.—(Cheers.) I have often thought that it is one of the most difficult parts of the duty of a Minister in a Parliamentary country that being, as he is in practice, the servant of Parliament, and of the pnblio as well as the Crown, ibe does not always receive his instructions from his employers, but is left to guoss what it is that they would desire him to do, and oe only ascertains their real feehngr when he finds that he has gone against it.—(Laught- r.) I hope, gentlemen, there is no risk of anything of that kind in our case.—(Hear, hear.) I will just comment upon one remark which whs made by a gentleman who spoke, who, while admitting that reticence is necessary while negotiations are going on, said that he thought the silence of the Governmeiit had been unfortunate. Mow, I must beg you to remember that, in the first place, we have not refused to answer the questions which have been put to us; and, in the next place, which i» perhaps more important, that the silence which wo uayc maintained, and the keeping back ef the official correspordence, was simply maintained so long as those negotiations were soing on, which «o nuicy people exported—though I cannot say for one that I was very sanguine on the subject would end in preventing a war. There would'.n .e been a very obvious inconvenience, as long as there was a hopo of the quarrel beiug settled by pacine means, in pub ishiug many facts and many expressions of opinion which could not fail to stimulate passion on both sides. But I may almost say from the very diiy when it became evident that our hopes wore iu vain, that the crisis had ceme, and that war, not withstanding the efforts of all Europe, was about to take place, we stated at once that all causes for reserve on eur part were at an end, and that we were prepared to lay the correspondence before Parliament; and if it has not been laid a* yet—it will be so, I hope, in the course of the next three or four days—it has solely been due to its rather voluminous character. —(Hear, hear.) Now, gentlemen, I think, if I understand you aright, that you came here to express an apprehension which you think is generally entertained—or, at least, widely entertained—that in eensequence of the turn which things hive taken, and possibly in consequence of something which our Government may have done or abstained from doing, we may find ourselves committed to support one of the pasties in this quarrel, and agentlemau whom I have always listened to with respect (Mr Forsyth)—agentlemau who sits on my own side in Parliament—named two circumstances whioh tended, as he thought, to produce that impression upon the public mind. One of these was our refusal to Join in what has been called the Berlin Memorandum—l do not call it the Berlin Note, bocanse the Note founded upon it never was presented j the other was the deapatcb of some ships of war to Besika Bay; and he said upon that that an apprehension is f*!t that we were pre. pared to take part in protecting Turkey not merely against external aggression, but al*o against internal dismemberment. Now, gentlemen, with regard to the Berlin Note or Memorandum, the radons why we declined to join iu taking that step will be found stated in the papers which you will have in a very short tune. I need not go iuto that fully, but it is quite eueugbt* say that we did so solely upon the ground which 1 stated tht other

day in the House of Lords, viz., that we though the par t;cular plan proposed in that Memorandum to be o ae which would not work. We did not believe that the Porta would be willing to accept it; wo 6 Jltqni.e sure that a considerable body, at any rate. o< ttao insurants on their. B ide wouid not S*f#hU£?iJ? l ?r , J 1,, m that ' knowing it as we did to bo the result of a compromise come to by Government who, while anxious to act together, were not cnteway ajn-oed as to the course %ey should take. w*> flntwiaia d the apprehension that if it ™m°™ ° ed °. ut iB l ,raotlco different parties would pns aliment constructions upon thesame times do, in a general mistinderstandine That was that matter, and though I must net violate official confidence, yet I think that 1. may" say that our £„* ba * roSpe< ; fc ha " uot **« wkh d£ »£L£23 m 3 nar * ers wh ere at first it was not SWE m." 1 ? a PP r With Besika Bay, there aarnin you will have in Parliain possible for me to snve to you; but I may sav SS^nST" 8 .: that St J 8 an "* u P° a which a K£2SLm faee t pUt ver ? di «erent from that *S kL« " " b9en P u * if «wse who criticise it £w2-k ?* ut ?£ p byßte P the course of events which led toit -(Hear, hear!) At thetimo when it was supposed the presentation of that Berlin koto was aboa to take place, and when the fall of fwi£« U 7 V ' a3^ endin ». stateofthing£ ab Constantinople and in the country near Constantinople, was one calculated to inspire serionß ann™ ™ ™if v* 8 to W might enßUtt - ThHateSuTton was well known to be in a condition not far removed sw£« n,ty: ■" wa3 I , notor that discontent and disaffection universal y prevailed; the wildest re7 u l5 t * d ; as t0 the intention of the Powers and as to the steps which might be exneeted £± "t^W 8t the Mah g ommelantSa body-ia short, the state of excitement was so general that it was impossible for anyone to be but., that it might not have led to the breaking out of a sanguinary civil war, accompanied if nossible by the massacre of British subjectsT-fCheeri ) I am just rcnimaed-the matter will be in your re-collection-that previous to that step being taken, and immediately before it, two foreign consuls had been murdered under ciroumstances which showed the strong and public excitement against foreigners. —(Hear, b w >\T Under these circumstances the ambassadors of the various Great Powers met together. Thoy consulted for the common safety and they unanimously agreed as to the expediency of obtaining for unoffending persons and as a protection against such disorder! such armed force as it was possible to obtain. The initiative in the matter, therefore was taken from Constantinople, and not from here, although I entirely and fully approve of the step, and take the full responsibility for it; and perhaps it is as well yon should, recollect-and it ft not generally understood in this country-it was not a step taken by the Huglish Government and the English Ambassader alone ; it was a step taken by us simply as one of, and acting in concert with, the other Great l'owers.-(Hear, hear.) It does so happen, when you talk of fleets, ours is considerably the biggest(laugiiter)~and therefore more attentioTwas called to the fact of its having been brought un than in the cose of the others; but the facts are generally as I have stated them, and, so stated! I think you will admit that they will not lead to the infer«'ncewhiohhaspopulurlybeendMwn.-(Cheerß.) Now, 1 quite agree in what was said by a gentleman whoi spoke tersely and very much to the purpose aa tc \3 e , u , e ? eSßa , r 2 r llmits of hu man in political life. Wo can see what is immediately before ns—l do not know that even a'l of us do tuat—.(!aughter).™but it is very difficult to iudm» of anything beyond the immediate future. But so far as it is possible for auyone.to forecast the course of events, I think it is the most improbable thing in the world that, lu consequence of anything that is now passing w:thiu the limits of the Turkish Eaipu-..-, a general" European war would ensue.— (Loud cheers). That seems to me one of those liypoth.:fl«swhioh are so remote that it is scarcely worth while to speculate upon them.—(Cheers) I do not see the quarter from which war is to come Ouo Must disouss with some reserve the positidn ;y»l the tendencies of foreign Govemmentß, but France and Italy obviously, for financial and ether leasons, are utterly indisposed to take any steps wiuCh would create general disturbance. It is well known that the German Government, and I believe the Gorman people also, havinV no interests which directly conneot them with the East, regard this question with far less interest than in felt in it in other parts of Europe. In point of fact, I do not think I should be going beyond the truth if I said they only regard it as important from their point of view just in so far as it might lead to complications in other parts of Europe. There remain only ourselves and Austria and Bussia. Now, I cannot for one moment assume that there could be anyone here who supposes that England wants to bring about a war; the" very utmost, I think, that any apprehensions have reached is a fear that against our feelings and against our interest we might be dragged into it. There is no party and no set ef men in this country who would not regard a European war aa the greatest of mis-fortunf-s.—(Hear, bear.) Well, Austria has a position which is peculiars-difficulties of her own; she has that dual system of atlnijnjstration, which, in her circumstances, is, no doubt, a necessity, but it renders the difficulty of an enter, prising and aggressive policy greater than it otherwise would be. She has within her empire a givat diversity of Faces, as we all know, and you may be quite sure that, it it is only in the interest of her own security, which any great convulsion in that part of Europe would endanger almost a« mnoh as that of Turaey itself—you may be sure that from roasor.a of self-interest, if from no others, the Austrian Government will not desire to break the peace—Loud cheers.) Well, then, you will say, what about the Government and people of Eussfa f Well, everybody knows, and I don't care to deny it, thu£ there is among a la ge part of the Russian population a very strong sympathy for the insurgent movement whioU Si now going on in Turkey. There is, I may say, a power, tul party there which desires not, as is often said, mere re ief from opprtasion of a province here or a province there—that is not tbo real question at issue—but a party which desires the formation of a powerful ana important Scalvonio empire under Russian guidance and direction. But it is one thing to say that the party exists, and even that it is powerful) and it is another thing to say that the power of action js in its hands. If any one thing -is certain u* this world, ii is certain that the Empe.orof Bussia, upon whose personal will and disposition more turns than upon that of any other man, is a sincere lover of p^ace:—(Cheers.) There are other reasons, such as the condition of Bussian flnaice, the difficulties, perhaps greater than we are awarfl of hero, of Eus»iau administration, the enor. moils aortof the late Agnatic conquess, and various other causes which J need n't go into, which make an aggressive policy ouo at the present time utterly unsuited to the interests cf the liuesinn Empire. And if I required uny additional evidence of what I am saying, I should find it in the fact of that understanding to which J may refer, because it has been made public in the mean that under, stovdifltf *cc-"t'y ai'-> .-' atbetwe.n the Empfror ef Austria and t*»c Emperor of Bussia in their recent interview, wbio]} proceeds exactly upon the bases which you lajd down, and which I assented to —(phcers)—viz., that of rigid and. absolute non-in-tervention while this struggle continues, gnch intervention not, of course, excluding any efforts which may seem calculated to lead to good results, efforts of mediation, but as I understand this condition expressly added to the arrangement then come to, that if anything of the kind is attempted, it is to be done by concert of all the European Powers.—(Cheers.) Now, gentlemen, I say again I don't see what, under these circumstances, there is to lead to the apprehension of war. You do not, I think, expect or wish me to fceii all tho world that we have nothing to do with the Eaut, thftt we mean to give ne ad* vice, to exercise no influenofi, to cancel all treaties, and to profess entire indifference to what is going on. Id point of fact, sinco I entered this room one of the gentlemen liere addressed me in an exactly opposite sense, 2i£>ping, of course, by peaceful means, wo should do what we could to promote pence. Now, that doctrine of absolute indifference iB not ope which this country had ever possessed, and I do uot think it is one which would be popular with the natiou at Jarge.—(Cheers .) We have a great position in Europ*, and with nations, as with individuals, a great position invo'.yeg great responsibilities, «?d we cannot, absolutely dettUna t? wcapt those reߣo£?}b :lities. If every nation which hflU reached a certain gtage of civilisation were to adogt the principle of non-intervention in its absolute aud extreme form, and Bay," •' We will never meddle In upy international queatioab unlesa our own are touched," why, obviously, you can all see the effect of that would he to leave tho sogQlation of all international affairs to nations which hare pot reached that »tago of civilisation. Well, gentlemen, I have detained yon at SO we length. I relieved you wished me to speuk fran!i!f.-:-(lioud cheers.) We have done what was in our* i<oww tQ prevent this war from breaking out. In that we failed. We shall now do what is in our power to keep it within certain limit*.—(Cheers.) As regards intervention between Turkey and the subjects of the Povte, or between Turkey and those (prates which form part of the Turkish Empire, that is a q< estipn which has never been so much as entertained.*** —(Hear, hear ) We will endeavor to impress that view upon others, and I have every reason to hope that we shall succeed. If" as it has been said, the Turkish JOmpiie is in a state of decay from internal causes—that in a question upon which I pronounce no opiuion; but if that :wre so it is clear that merely external assistance would be y# remedy.—(Cheers.) The utmost that can be asked of us j§ to see fair play. We undertook undoubtedly twenty years ago to guarantee tho Sick Man against murder, but we never undertook to guarantee him against suicide or against disease.—(Chee.*s.) Sow that, gentlemen, iz jn a few words our policy as regards this war now goiuy on. We shall not intervene, we shall do our utmost, }t necessary, to discourage others from but I doirt, boljeve that under tho present circHWiitsppes it will bencetMiAM'v. If au opportunity of mediation should, offer itself—atu} that does not seem to bean unlikely event—we shall giadlf avail ourselves of it. While we retain, as we are bound to 4°i our OWQ freedom and our own independence of aetion and of judg. inent, we &i{ach quite as much importanoe aa those others with who*« we have acted to that general understanding among taut ;reat European States j| 0o hesjtajidsureßt guarantee of peace. -

At the reading-room of the Young Men's Chratiau Association last evening, the Rev. «ai J deliv ered a lecmre on the Study of the Hebrew Scriptures." The 'Lyttelton Times* believes that if bir J Vogel had remained in office the Counties Bill would be so moulded as to effect, not Provincial but improvement of Provincial institutions.

Mr J. Roberts, jun., the English billiard champion, concluded hia Beries of matches at the Temperance Hall last evening. Tonight a match for LIOO aside will be played between Messrs Nesbitt and Mansen. The tenders for the erection of the new building for the Middle District School were to have been opened by the Provincial Executive to-day, but owing to Mr Green's absence from town there was no quorum and the matter could not be considered.

Mr Conyers, general manager of Otago railways, and Mr Green, Secretary of PubSc Works, took their departure this morning on a visit of inspection of the Provincial Government railways in the Oamaru district. Their trip will occupy about eight days. : At the Princess's Theatre last evening Nell appeared in another piece, entitled Archy, the News Boy:" Pressure on our space prevents our giving a lengUry notice of the performance, which: pa« Bed off very successfully. The drama will be repeated this evening.

The Resident Magistrate's Court sat but for a few minutes this morning. Judgment was given for the plaintiffs, with costs, in the following cases :—North and Scoullar v. Joseph Scully, goods supplied, LI 3s: Joseph Davis v. John O'Brien, board and lodging, L2; Ambrose Chiaroni v. Thomas Dodson, goods supplied, L 6 6s 6d. Quite a number of people are leaving North Canterbury for the Kumara rush; are chiefly navvies working on the railway, lhey are leaving 9s a day wages for the uncertainty of gold-digging, but the attraction seems too powerful even un<jer such circumstances. The 'Lyttelton Times' ; says the new rush is having a serious effect on labor, as from other quarters complaints are made of men leaving for the West Coast. Wo take the following telegraphic items from this morning's 'Daily Times':- Auckland, Sept. 18.~The New Zealand insurances 2?J?- .JJandenong were: South British, 5i5° 5 " New Z^ ll *. £1000; National, £soo.—lnvercargilV Sept. 18—A Southland has commenced an action to recover £2OOO damages for libel. The action will involve the matter of the legality of publishing bills of sale and so forth in trade protection circulars.

The South Dunedin Council held its weekly meeting last evening the Mayor, Messrs Barrowman, Hodges, Naumann, M'lntyre, and Thomson. Telegrams from Mr Seaton, M.H.R., re the Dunedin Municipal Bill, were read. It was agreed that the Council should wait npon the Superintendent regarding the filling up of the ditch along Anderson's Bay road; A special meeting of the Council was fixed for Thursday evening, to consider the advisability of negotiating another loan. ■ ' .

At the Police Court this morning, Edward Still was fined in the minimum penalty of 5s for drunkenness; Margaret Rockfordwwars r fined 10s; William Herdman, who had a large sum of money on his person when arrested, was ordered to pay a penalty of 40s, in default forty-eight hours' imprisonment. Thomas Hill was fined 10s and costs for a similar offence. The other business was confined to persons charged with committing breaches of the Bye-laws. Messrs Reeves and Patterson were the presiding justicea. .■».■' '

At a meeting held at Balolutha on Saturday last it was resolved that a society be formed to be called "The Clutha Horticultural Society," and that an annual show be held and prizes awarded. Also, that three prizes be given for the best-kept gardens within the municipality. The date has been left to the committee. The following officebearera were eleoted: President, Mr T. T. Ritehiej Vice-president, Taptain Pillans; Treasurer, Mr Joseph Robertson; Secretary, Mr Harry Clark. Committee: Messrs M'Gregor, Clark, Sutherland, Tosh, Moir, Mason, Dr Smith, A. Grigor, Fleming, and W. Hope. Judges for the best-kept gardens : Messrs Sutherland, M'Gregor, and Clark.

A prisoner named Charles Henry Hall was charged at the gaol yesterday afternoon with having, on the 21st of August, at Tokomairiro, forged and uttered a oertain cheque for L 7 10a. Messrs John Logan, John Hislop, and James Brown were the presiding justices. John James Atkinson, licensed victualler, carrying on business at Tokomairiro, and other witnesses gave evidence, and prisoner was committed for trial at the ensuing criminal sessions of the Supreme Court. A second charge was pre r ferred against the prisoner for having, on the Htn of August, forged a cheque for the payment of L 5 3s. Hugh Warde, comedian, deposed that about the middle of August he accompanied the prisoner from the Provincial to the Criterion Hotel, where they had some drinks. Prisoner wished to have a cheque cashed, but Mr Thompson refused to .accept it. Witness then endorsed the cheque, saying he was better known than .prisoner, and Mr Thompson cashed it. Other evidence was given and prisoner was committed for trial on this charge ajso. In each instanoe the cheque purported to be drawd by Messrs Gillies, Street, and Hislop.

A magic'lantem entertainment will be given in the Wesleyan school-room, Stuart street, on Wednesday evening at 7 o'clock.

The postponed political meeting at Mornington will take place in the district hall thus evening, commencing at eight o'clock.

A meeting of tf e Union of Otago Temple, 1.0 G.T., will be held in the Linden Schoolroom, to-morrow (Wednesday) evening, at--7.30.

Wembeis of the medical profession are notified by advertisement that Court Bruce A.OF., Tokomairiro, requires the services of a medical practitioner. ,

A soiroa, concert, and dance will be given in the oddfellows' 1-1 all ta-xrarrow evening, at 7 o'clock, by the members of the Court\Fride A.O.F.

The meeting of the Otago Jnsti'ute to-night, at whch Capt Hutton is to lecture, will be held in the largo ro ;m of the University, and not in the side room as usual, so as to give room for all who may wish to attend.