NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THE Government is still pursuing a waiting policy, endeavour- ing, it is said, to induce Russia to allow Turkey one or two years in which to reform herself, a proposal which Prince Gortschakoff replies that he will accept, if Great Britain binds herself to coerce Turkey at the end of the term. Pending these negotiations, or rather, pending the march of the Russian Army, the Opposition is evidently vacillating and undecided. It is disin- 'dined even for discussion, and the debate, which might have been reopened last night, was on Thursday almost formally given up. The Speaker ruled that the adjourned debate would be out of order, unless Members with notices on the paper would defer them ; and Lord Hartington replied that although the Treaty question ought to be further discussed, there was no desire to press the subject, if it would embarrass the Government. The Chancellor of the Exchequer thereupon graciously admitted the Opposition's right to criticise, but said there were matters of great importance in progress, and criticism might be inopportune. The debate there- fore was postponed. We do not know that there was much use in continuing it, but by yielding the point, the House of Commons agrees virtually not to discuss the only subject in which the country is interested, and to confine its serious attention to parochial politics. That is rather an ignoble position for the House of Commons.
