Mr. Lowe made the great Liberal speech. It was hard,
in- cisive, amusing, and as we have pointed out elsewhere, on the Eastern Question a little imprudent. His main topic was Lord. Beaconsfield's speech at the Guildhall, which he declared con- tained propositions mutually self-destructive—namely, that the objects of British policy were the good government of Turkish subjects and the "integrity and independence of the Turkish Empire." That means really that the British Government is
opposed to any removal of Christian grievances, for they can be removed only by some other Power than Turkey. He deprecated strongly the idea that Lord Beaconsfield's words meant nothing, and that this country was ruled by a man whose utterances were to be smiled at as "only pretty Fanny's way," and held that the Premier meant what he said,—meant, that its, to uphold Turkey. The Government virtually said to Turkey, You have broken every law of God and man. No Matter, do in the future as you have done in the past, and we shall support you.' England, if she held that language, would be regarded in Europe as assuming the keys of St. Peter, and keeping the gates of hell. He denied that it was the duty of Liberals now, any more than of Whigs in 1711, to allow the Government to assume such a position. The result of the Go- vernment policy was to embolden Turkey to brave Russia, and so led directly, though not perhaps immediately, to war.
