ENGLAND AND THE RUSSIAN ATROCITIES.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 1478, 17 June 1879, Page 3

ENGLAND AND THE RUSSIAN ATROCITIES.

(American paper.) The telegraph brings the information that Sir Robert Peel, and one or two other members of the House of Commons, have asked the British Government if it intends to take any action m the matter of the Russian reign of terror. Tho question was, however, opposed on some technical ground, and there the subject dropped for the time. We are not prepared to say that this telegram was unauthenticatcd, but we are inclined to doubt its accuracy. God knows, the horrors being enacted by Russian despotism are .terrible enough to provoke indignant remonstrance, if not actual interference from every civilised and humane Power, nnd it would be m accordance with England's brave and chivalrous spirit that she should be the first to call the despot to account. But. however desirable such a course may be, and however loud the applause with which it would assuredly be greeted, we still cannot believe that it has even, been suggested m Parliament as yet. The right of a Government to manage its own home affairs is so universally conceded that any attempt on the part of foreign Powers to restrain or coerce its action would be an extremely dangerous experiment. When the petty kings of Dahomey and Burmah are permitted to practice their notorious barbarities without interference, it may well be expected that the great Czar of all the Russian will enjoy a like immunity ; though, on the other hand, it may be argued that while it would be an impossible task to reform all the remote and Bemi-barbarous Governments of the earth, yet for the conduct of one which calls itself European, Europe is to some degree responsible. However this may be, no one will doubt for an instant that, were Europe to combine m checking Russian tyrany, the people of that unhappy country might be saved from present oppression and impending anarchy. But, unfortunately, such, a combination is impracticable, and if England entered upon such a crusade she would have to fight the battle singlehanded, or with very feeble allies, while Russia would hare the countenance, if not the active support, of several of her great neighbors. The central powers of Europe are just now threatened with dangers so near akin to those which overshadow Russia, that they would look coldly ot angrily upon any project for mitigating the severities of despotism. The Governments of Germany and Austria are constitutional m name and theory, but practically they are absolute ; and to this fact is owing the revolutionary wolf which each of them is holding down by the ears. Neither of. them would ever commit the barbarities of which Russia is guilty, nor probably would they hesitate to condemn the Czar's brutal method of " repression ; " but doubtless they are not without a hope that their own refractory subjects will profit by the terrible lesson which Alexander is teaching his, and they cannot afford to nullify the effects of that lesson for philanthropy's Bake. Italy, though governed more liberally than Germany or Austria, is not free from' revolutionary troubles, and would not ardently espouse the cause of the oppressed against the oppressor. Republican France, though naturally generous, quixotic and brave, has grown cold and calculating since the German war, and would not waste her strength save m her own immediate cause. She has, besides, some bitter memories of the Commune, and can have but little sympathy with Nihilism. England alone, secure m the steadfast, humane, and liberal nature of her government, monarchical though that government is, can dash her gauntlet m the cruel despot's face without danger of being injured by the rebound. It would indeed be a strange sight to see Russia Bayed from herself by the very Power she has so long and so insidiously sought to harm. But this can scarcely be. England has enough to do just now without arraying' herself m arms against Europe, and, although we cannot help admiring the men who wo nld urge her to do bo m such a cause, yetprudenoe is often better than the most impetuous chivalry. .