MELBOURNE'S OPINION OF LORD BEACONSFIELD.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 171, 17 August 1878, Page 4

MELBOURNE'S OPINION OF LORD BEACONSFIELD.

The following extract from the "Argus," which ia perhaps as great an authority ns some newspapers nearer home, will be read with interest at this time : — The interest which pervaded the public meeting held yesterday afternoon to esprees approval of the services of the Earl of Beaconsfield was most genuine and hearty. It was an impressive anil most gratifying attestation of the fact that whatever may be our geographical severance from the mother country, her honor and glory, her influence and authority as one of the foremost nationß of the earth are near ond dear to us. It showed that there ure occasions when we forget the local strife ot parties, nnd merge all minor dissensions in the noble sentiment of imperial patriotism. Well, indeed, is it that such occasions should arisp, because the feelings they inspire are calculated to lift ua out of the murky atmosphere of provincialism, to remind ns that we belong to a great Empire, that we nra the inheritors of a Bplendid history, and that the mother of many nations still gives birth to many statesmen who are jealous of her honor, who are watchful guardians of her interests, who are capable of vindicating her claims to a voice poteptial ia l\\e aflairs

of Europe, and who resolutely insist upon upholding that public morality on behalf of which no power has made so mnny sacrifices a% Great Britain has done. It was said at ihe time of the Crimean war that the Minister who couM not appreciate the lofty spirit which was tlien aroused in the minds of our countrymen at home, and did not hplieve it to be of more account in n Ion? war (ban all (be accumulations of wpaith and meclnnism, was unfit to rule a great Empire, because it would be proof that he d'ul not understand bis own business, and that .ha knew nothing of the highest science ot governmfnt. Tt is tha fortunate distinction of the Earl of BeHcongfield that he can appreciate the spirit of his fellowsuljecfF, and there can he little doubt, wo think, that bis conduct throughout; this grave crisis in the history of Europe has beeu such as to engage the Bympsthies an:l win (he admiration of the great mass of tha English people. They have an instinctive love of pluck, nnd equally instinctive hatrpd of the bu'ly and the oppressor, Public opinion propelled Lord Aberdeen into the Crimean war against his own inclination, and public opinion has thoroughly sustained the Earl of Be.icons. field in bis determination to prevent the Northern Colossus from establishing himself upon (ho Boephoruß. The English Premier and his able coadjutor have been taunted by the Russophil papers in London with wishing to plunge England into a great and costly war. But events have shown that his bold and statemanlike policy has had the effect of averting a conflict. Had he been less firm, less prompt, less decided, less prepared to follow up the language of stern and eorteous. remonstrance by setting in motion all the military, naval, and monetary resources of the Empire, no Congress would have been held, and Russia would have been tempted to defy a nation which ib might have been excused for supposiug to be half hearted and disunited. The other great powers could not, and would not. interpose to prevent the victors at Plevna from mangling the body they had just stuck to the earth ; but directly England came to the front, and resunied her old pride of place among the nations of Europe, France Germany, Austria, and Italy welcomed her re-ap-pearance on the seeae with a chorus of applause.