TOPICS OF THE DAY.
"NO NEWS."
TICE events, ay, even of this week, are among the grandest and most important that the history of the world has witnessed.. No doubt, the newspapers will be regarded by the satiated English quidnunc as comparatively dull, although they are not without their strange incidents, unprecedented events, and extraordinary historical conjunctions. But the Englishman is not satisfied with his paper unless it tells him the fall of a state, the founding of a new empire, the deaths of kings, the bankruptcy of a great bank, the forgery of an English noble, or a murder more ghastly and fantastical than any we have lately had. In truth, such inci- dents are not the real great events of any day ; they are but the ultimate signs of the true events—of the large actions and labours which constitute the march of a state : the ultimate events which we can recount are but the characters by which mankind writes its own history. During the past week, as well as some few weeks that have preceded it, we have been witnesses of move- ments more critical for the future state of the world—more por- tentous to some interests, more hopeful for our fellow creatures at large—than many that have been celebrated in history and song. It is not that some of the cleverest men deputed by the Governments have been laying their heads together to see how much of the effete and exposed bureaucratic system they could save consistently with conceding enough to satisfy the rising demands of public opinion in Europe. Diplomatic artifice may contrive, in the interests of courts and cabinets, to stave off some part of the debt which sooner or later will have to be paid to the intel- lect of Europe ; but, independently of those political compromises which have been thought to constitute almost the exclusive ma- terial of history, we are witnessing yet larger events. The very- movements of our gigantic industrial machinery, constantly pro- ducing more and yet more for the benefit of our country and of distant lands—constantly increasing the wealth of our own com- munity, economizing labour, and now, by a more intelligent ad- ministration, beginning to spare the frame, the health, the mind of the working classes—is in itself a perpetual event as striking as any that newspapers can have from day to day to announce.
Daily, too, the highest intellects and the most industrious skill are bringing the powers of science more strongly to aid in the development of that industry. And again, science as well as commerce, growing more intelligent, is seeking not only to in- crease wealth, but also to increase the moral and physical well- being of the working community. Since dominant sect ceases to prohibit discussion on questions of religion—since the debate upon the human portion of that ceaseless topic has been rendered more free—the spirit of antagonism has been soothed and neu- tralized, and a much larger number have caught the spirit of veneration, and have applied it with a better practical piety to assist in this more intelligent administration of science and com- merce. The debates on Mr. Bessemer's beautiful stroke of natural magic have brought forth the fact that several other men have been on the verge of the same series of discoveries. Thus we are daily growing wiser and more considerate for each other. So there is no lack of events, in a country and in a time when these immense movements are going forward ; though the movements which most nearly touch the life and heart of mankind do not need to be recited every day, or to be announced by the electric telegraph in the " latest intelligence." It is not that we must avert our eyes from the political world, be satisfied with our " progress," and go to sleep while the train pursues its onward journey. If we do not keep our eyes upon our servant the engine-driver, or stir the guard up to his duty, the train may go off the rails, and the sleeper may be awakened by some hideous ruin and combustion. Prosperity does make men sleep : there is a disposition to be content with the " stag- nation " of the present day ; and we have no doubt that the working statesmen who manage for us believe that our eyes are not so strictly as usual upon them. It is idle to rail at " secret diplomacy." If the debates in the Con- ference at Paris had been carried on before the public of Europe, in the Place du Carrousel, or Trafalgar Square, the Plenipotentiaries would soon have been at loggerheads, would have come to no conclusion, and would not have patched up even such a peace as that in which we already find so many holes. But there are degrees in all things. It is essential that the diplo- matic statesman should conduct the several stages of a nego- tiation in confidence, free to exercise much discretion, and to re- port only at the end of the stage. But it were a fatal mistake to suppose that the interests and influence of great states can be bartered away by individual gentlemen, as they would barter away their private estates. They could not do so much with the lands in a country town, whatever their proprietary rights. The English people have not yet grown so sleepy under their con- tinued prosperity that they will give up their title to review the proceedings of their Ministers. And in France itself, although the organ of a public opinion, the press, is in suspense, the public survives, and it has an opinion, unexpressed—an opinion not to be despised, nor permanently thwarted. Diplomacy may claim to act in confidence ; but that statesman will ill repay confi- dence, will indifferently exercise discretion, who neglects to con- sult the state that he represents. If he is performing his duty in the sense of his trust, there is
no reason why, at the proper stages he should not report—should not render an account of his stewardship, and claim the ratifica- tion, the approval of his client. If, indeed, he is using his op- portunity to embezzle the influence of his state, and to use it for his private purposes, or for the profit of some foreign interest, he may evade the penalty. for a time, but sooner or later he will have to pay up that interest. We do not expect statesmen to oblige the journals with "important disclosures" periodically; but we do say that they may protract the secret character of their conference too long, and that after a certain point every day added to the mystery adds to suspicion, and may add to the penalty.
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