Sir Stafford described the position of England in the Eastern
Question as a leading and a " proud " position, and as one which would probably enable her to give the cue for a such settlement as would ensure the Christian provinces of Turkey against misrule and oppression in future. Unfortunately, Lord Derby was just explaining, at the same time, how very difficult it would be,— even if possible,—to make the arrangements which he proposed for this end work in any efficient way ; and we fear the turn of events in the East was demonstrating at the same time that Eng- land's influence just now does not count for much. But that was not Sir Stafford Northcote's fault, and so far as his own bias and wishes go, there is evidently little to desire. He made a good point, too, in urging that if the responsibility for Turkish reforms which Europe assumed at the end of the Crimean war has not been properly discharged, the fault is even more that of Liberal than of Conservative Administrations, since of the twenty years that have. since elapsed, barely six years have been passed under Conservative Administrations. That is quite true, and should never be for- gotten. But it is no reason for condoning the fanatical devotion of Lord Beaconsfield to the Turks, or the apathetic tenacity with which Lord Derby enforces his one great thesis that nothing much better than the status quo ante can reasonably be hoped for.
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