TORY HONOUR.
CPO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR.] Sia,—It is my fate to see a large number of country papers, and to read the frightful amount of senseless " bunkum " with which Conservative electors are entertained. There is one specially taking phrase, to this effect :—" Lord Beaconsfield, in a time of great danger, has maintained the prestige and the honour of England." Now, England has hitherto, as " Rule, Britannia," indeed, assures us, not only been unwilling to sub- mit to slavery herself, but has endeavoured to promote freedom -elsewhere. What are we to say of the "honour" which has taken free men, and made them again slaves P And yet this is what Lord Beaconsfield has done with regard to the inhabitants of the great province of Macedonia, who, having been set free from Turkish misrule by Russia, were again handed over to their hateful masters by Lords Salisbury and Beaconsfield, at Berlin.
Lord Salisbury says, under date, Berlin, July 13th, 1878
Nearly two-thirds of Bulgaria have been replaced under the direct political and military rule of the Sultan, and in this re- -transfer are included Thrace and Macedonia." Thrace has been provided with a decent Government, under the name of Eastern Roumelia." Macedonia, with the rest of the Turkish Empire, has been left to the tender mercies of Turkish promises, guaranteed by British honour. The promises are unfulfilled, the honour draggled in the dirt, and this is what English con- stituencies are calmly asked to sanction and to continue.—I am,
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