EUROPE.

West Coast Times, Issue 572, 25 July 1867, Page 1 (Supplement)

EUROPE.

The clouds Avhich looked so black at my last Avriting have rolled away, and we are basking in peace and sunshine once more. Almost at the last moment, Avhen, on one side at least, everything was ready for a march to the frontier, the preparations for Avar Avere suspended — I have no doubt to the infinite secret ' relief of both combatants. On this occasion it Avas England who kept the peace of Europe, and the fact almost revives our belief in diplomacy. The position Avas a most critical one, and ueA'er, I believe, Avas Europe nearer to a groat and terrible Avar, upon whose issues no one could be so bold as to calculate. Prussia could not, and France would not recede. There Avas too much at " stake to permit either Bismarck or Napoleon to draw back ; and with either it was a safer game to hazard the worst than to withdraw. The Emperor could not afford to make another blunder so soon after Mexico ; and as for Bismarck, the prospect of AA r ar was rather favorable to his schemes •than otherwise, for it tended to suppress the Parliamentary opposition at home, and to keep the Germans united under the leadership of Prussia. Neither rival' would give way, so three Aveeks ago we were all fully prepared for the shock of armies on the Rhine. At the last moment, however, Avhen the ring had been formed and the stakes set, the policeman interfered, in the shape of Lord Stanley, and the law of Europe has been upheld. A Conference Avas proposed of all the great Powers, in London, Avhich was accepted by France and Prussia, and in a few days the matter was settled without " perdition of souls." France disclaimed all idea of annexations in the north, and declared that she would be satisfied if Prussia Avithdrew her garrison from Luxemburg. Prussia, on her part, having no right to hold Luxemburg, was content to retire upon a joint guarantee of the neutralization of the territory. So every one was pleased except the King of Holland, for whom nobody cares, Avho Avas baulked of the million of francs for which he had sold his faithful Luxemburgers. Already the Luxemburg question is forgotten, and is passed away into the limbo of diplomatic rubbish.

The amicable settlement of this very dangerous quarrel has been a great feather in the cap of the Derb) r Government ; and really that portion of the Conservative equipment requires some new adornment. The stupendous imbecility of Mr Walpole Avas in itself enough to wreck a dozen governments. The management of the Hyde Park affair has brought shame and scandal on the Executive ; and in any*other country but England would have led to very serious trouble. By a rare combination of obstinacy and weakness, Mr Walpole contriA'ed to give a second victory to Mr Beales and the Reform League, even more signal and disastrous than the affair of last July. A more miserable piece of business throughout it is not possible to conceive, and the explanation of the Government policy offered since *he occurrence only tends to increase our disgust and. con tempt for its authors. Imagine and government conceiving that by a mere threat of some unknown punishment they Avould be able to keep a London mob from holding a public ineetit g. But, ■ with transcendant fatuity, Mr Walpole managed in every point to put his adA'ersaries in the right and himself in the Avrong ; and' although backed up by three-fourths of the people of England, to give a complete and almost glorious triumph to Mr Beales. Knowing all the time that although the meeting was illegal, he had no law forcibly to eject the people from the park, Mr Walpole actually made believe, before the public, not only that he would stop the meeting, but that he had power to do so. The excuse is that Mr Walpole is an amiable man, Avho believed that if he made a great noise and pretended that he was going to fight, Avhenhe knpw he could not the mob would be struck Avith that proof of his vigor, and immediately retire. The wonder about the whole affair is, how Mr Walpole Avas permitted to be in the place in Avhich he had any liberty of action at all, or how his colleagues could trust him Avith any discretion after his many miserable failures. It is a proof of how little Avit is required to make a Minister in England, that it should have ever been held that Walpole Avas of the right Ministerial material. The amiable gentleman has at last, in obedience to a perfect storm of public clamor, been removed from his

post, and retired into obscurity. But the Derby Government haA'e suffered seriously from his pranks, and it is not a Government which can afford to lose any chance of popularity.