NEWS OF THE WEEK.
As soon as Mr. Qobden had developed his motion on the subject of international-arbitrations for superseding the resort to war, the alarm which had-been created by associating his present mo- tion with his pot apattohos altogether subsided. It proved by no means the formidable affair that it promised to be. Mr. Cobden says that he has not altered-the terms of his motion, and we be- lieve that to be correct ; but, unless he altered his purpose in a very considerable degree, the public, to borrow the only appro- priate expression from the cant dialect, was "sold." The esta- blished advocates of international arbitration had proposed a ge- neral disarmament of Europe, a fixed tribunal for the settlement of disputes, and a revised international code; and Mr. Cobden, who had talked very wide- on the subject of military expendi- ture, and had also alluded to negotiations for procuring a simultaneous disarmament in Europe, was supposed to be making common cause with the Peace Society. But be repu- diates the responsibilities of any such alliance. His proposition is much less extensive : he proposes that the Queen shall be asked to invite the concurrence of foreign states in treaties, binding them to refer disputes to arbitration ; the arbitrators to be private gentle- men appointed on each side, with power to choose an umpire. Mr. Cobden defends his motion on the score that it introduces no innovation, but only fixes as a general rule what has been the practice in particular cases. Flaws in the proposal there are many. For instance, disputes have arisen on money matters, which could as little be fairly discussed by citizens of two countries as the money matters of two private men could be arbitrated by their suns; and the arbitrators could only enforce their decree by means of the very warfare which the resolutions were intended to prevent. The it an arbitration might obviate incon- venience, but t might also cause some : it might, for example, embolden a nation that would otherwise easily fall in with an accommodation, to grow angry and contumacious. But Mr. Cobden ha 1 so baulked the too magnificent expecta- tions of his scheme, that when it was explained, Mr. Urquhart found it unnecessary to urge an amendment of which he had given notice—declaring that extranational adjudication would de- stroy the nationality and independence of states. Lord Palmer- ston had an easy victory, was in high good-humour, and very free with spoken Liberalisms : he upturned precedents which Mr. Cobden had advanced, by showing that they related, not to arbitration, but to "-thediation "—his own favourite employment,• and one which he seems to have pursued with more satisfaction to himself than advantage to any. However, the motion was not meant to be carried ; honourable Members took the mover's word for it that he was propounding no very important innovation. In short, Mr. Cobden had quite conciliated all parties by the harmlessness of his project : all agreed with his object, the pre- vention of war ; all agreed in his admission, that if his peace- treaties were broken there could be no appeal to enforce them except war ; there was a general feeling that the plan would not make much difference in that respect, but that it might perhaps tend to multiply causes of dispute : so Ministers and the House politely declined to entertain the motion at present, by deciding in the negative " the previous question" that it be put. The third reading of the Navigation Bill has passed in the House of Peers, with some further protesting, and with a demand from Lord Ellenborough for auxiliary measures; some of which at least are proper enough. The strangest occurrence of the de- bate was the Bishop of Oxford's proposal to exclude Brazil from the operation of the new law ; a position which exasperated many On both aides. His reason was, that the bill would encourage the produce-trade of Brazil, and would thus stimulate her trade in alaves: on which ground the opponents of the bill rebuked him, as a Wilberforce, for having supported it; while its advocates re- proached him with an impracticable attempt to cripple the mea-
sure. One ultra Conservative, exasperated beyond Radicalism, hinted that if the Bishops did not confine themselves to eccle- siastical affairs, they might be excluded from the House! The Encumbered Estates Bill is in danger—referred to a Select Committee of Peers, on the faith of promises from Lord Stanley that it shall not Ise damaged in principle or efficiency. But Lord Stanley's friend, Ex-Chancellor Brougham, loudly protests against the tendency of the measure to override and exclude the lawyers ; and he threatens a great array of lawyer-witnesses against it. That is ominous ; for there is no knowing how Ministers may be frightened.
Mr. Gladstone has "called attention" to the Rebellion Losses Act of the Canadian Legislature ; and, without urging Govern- ment to refuse assent to the bill, he has politely "asked " Lord John Russell to give an assurance that in the administration of the measure, no rebel shall be suffered to receive payment of in- demnity; Mr. Gladstone having showed that without some ma- nagement of that sort a share of the money would reach actual rebels. Lord John scarcely denied the dreaded contingency; but presumed that Lord Elgin would do all that is requisite for the honour of the Crown ; and declined therefore to give the required pledge. In some sort he is right : Ministers are too far and too inextricably committed to the measure for retractation now ; their only remaining course is to go forward, and meet the consequences as they arise. There was a trebly fatal defect in Mr. Gladstone's position. His mode of proceeding could have no influence in compelling the Government. But to make out a great case against a measure, only in order to " ask" a change of course in those who were going quite wrong, could not but suggest to enemies of Mr. Gladstone's party, that the impotent conclusion had been arranged—that while Peelites were to obtain the honour of a demonstration for Colonial purism, the Whigs were to obtain immunity in the re- verse of Colonial purism. And Mr. Gladstone left his rear open to attack. Accordingly, Mr. Herries thought it, no doubt, a cunning device to march upon,the friendly combatants in the night, and to surprise them with the motion that Mr. Gladstone did not make, calling upon the Crown to withhold the Royal as- sent. Mr. Gladstone was caught in a trap, and the House laughed immensely when he objected to Mr. Herries's intrusion ; still more when Lord John confessed that he was taken by sur- prise. Mr. Herries gave body to Mr. Gladstone's fancy. The sequel will be recounted in our Postscript : that will tell whether the House adopts the substance of Mr. Herries, the fancy of Mr. Gladstone, or the prosaic nullity of Ministers.
