24 AUGUST 1878, Page 1

Lord Sandon did not take up the economic strain. He

was proud of what had been spent, and assumed, as all the Ministers assumed, that peace had been secured by it. If he is right, there was no harm in his pride. But what is maintained on the opposite side is, that the chief danger of war, such as it was, was made by the policy of the Government,—that little but new risks have been secured by it,—and that now, the Ministers who have created these risks seem to be profoundly unconscious of them, and are encouraging the country to go to sleep, and dream of peace, plenty, and reduced taxation. Raving taken us to the edge of the precipice, they bid us shut our eyes and sleep soundly