A hundred years ago
From the 'Spectator,' 24 September 1870—On Friday week, Mr. Lowe was presented with the freedom of Elgin, which, as he remarked, he could never make any use of; but he made the reply expected of him, by talking on all in- teresting public matters except Elgin, which in- deed was not a public matter. He ridiculed the expectation which seemed to be formed that the fagged and weary Cabinet should sit "all day round a table covered with green cloth, re- ceiving and sending forth telegrams, and delibe- rating on every letter and every leading article in every newspaper." The Ministry "know their own minds well, and have laid down rules by which they mean to act" with regard to the great conflict going on in Europe;—those rules being that they won't open their lips in the way of mediation except to transmit proposals from either party without criticism, unless asked by both parties to arbitrate,—a rule which looks very like Mr. Lowe's own, it is so peremptory, clear cut, and, from the laissez-faire point of view, so logical, and ... so artificial and unwise.
Previous page
