ENGLAND AND THE RUSSIAN ATROCITIES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 155, 1 July 1879, Page 4

ENGLAND AND THE RUSSIAN ATROCITIES.

(American Paper.)

The telegraph briogs the information that Sir Robert Peel, Nod |ooe or two other members ' of the, Home of Commoos, have asked the British Government it it intends to take any action in the matter of the Russian reign of terror. The question was, however, opposed on come technical ' ground, and there the subject dropped for the time. Wei are not prepared to aay that this telegram was not . authenticated, but we are inclined to doubt its accuracy. God knows, the . horrors being enacted by Russian despotism are terrible enough to provoke indignant remonstrance, if not .letaal interference -from every Civilised rr fend human Powqr, and it wootfpbe in

- 'accordance with England's brave and - chivalf 6a4 epirit that she shod Id, be the , despot to account. But, !, : tc rhewever desirable* such » course^ bay be, and however load theaprHaW wUh ry/VsUrn iji " a ; ■■■ : ■ .- -?* *■:? < •

which it would assuredly be greeted, we still cannot believe that it has even been suggested in Parliament as yet. The right of a Government to manage its own borne affairs is so universally conceded that any attempt on the part of foregin Powers to restrain or coerce its action would be an extremely dangerous experiment. When the petty kings of Dahomey and Burmih are permitted to practice their notorious barbarities without interference, it miy well be expected that the great Czar qf all the Russias will ecjoy a like immunity; though, on the other haud, it may be argued that while it woujid be an impossible task to reform all the remote and semi-barbarous Governments of the eirtb, yet for the conduct of one which oalls itself Europeab, Europe is to some degree responsible. However this may be, no one will doubt for an instant that, were Europe to combine in checking Russian tyranny, the people of that unhappy country might be saved from present oppression and impending anarchy. But, unfortunately, such a combination is impracticable, and if England entered upon such a crusade she would have to fight the battle single banded, or with very feeble all lee, while Russia would have the countenance, if not the active support of several of her neighbors. The central powers of Europe are just ncjw threatened with dangers so near akia to those which overshadow Russia, that they would look coldly or angrily upon any project for mitigating the severities of despotism. The Government of Germany and Austria are constitutional in name and theory, but practically they are absolute; and to this fact is owing the revolutionary wolf which each of them is holding down by the ears. Neither of them would ever commit the barbarities of which Russia is guilty, nor wodld they hesitate to condemn the Czar's brutal method of "repression;" but doubtless they are not without a hope that their own refactory subjects Will profit by the terrible lesson which Alexander is teaching his, and they cannot afford to nullify the effects of that lesson for philanthropby'a sake. Italy, though governed mora liberally than Germany or Austria is not' free from revolutionary troubles, and would ardently espouse the cause of the oppressed against the oppressor. Republican France, though naturally generous, quixotic and brave, has grown cold and calculating since the German war, and would not waste her strength save in her own immediate cauie. She has, besides, some bitter memories of «he Commune, atfdi can. have but little sympathy with Nihilism. England alone, secure in the steadfast, humane and liberal nature of her Government, monarchical though that Government is, can dash her gauntlet in the despot's face without danger :of Ifefng ibjdred by the retfo'dnd. It would indeeU'be a- strange sight to see Russia saved from herself by the very Power -she has so long and so insidiously sought to harm. Bat this can scarcely be. Eogland has 1 enough to do jast now without arraying herself in armeragainst Europe, and although we cannot help admiring the men Who would urge her to do so io such * cause, yet prudence is often better than the < moßt impetuous chivalry. ,'