I
XIV.) JOBDEN’S POLICY COMPARED WITH PALMERSTON'S. 617

he Crimes, Would any serious politician now be found
© deny it? We might prolong the list of propositions,
Seneral and particular, which Lord Palmerston maintained
“0d Cobden traversed, from the beginning to the end of the
Bussian War, There is not ome of these propositions in
Which later events have not shown that Cobden’s knowledge
Was greater, his judgment cooler, his insight more penerating
 and comprehensive. The bankruptcy of the Turkish
Sovernment, the further dismemberment of its empire by the
Treaty of Berlin, the abrogation of the Black Sea Treaty, have
ready done something to convince people that the two chiefs
of the Manchester School saw much further ahead in 1854 and
1855 than men who had passed all their lives in foreign
thanceries and the purlieus of Downing Street.
It is startling to look back upon the bullying contempt
Which the man who was blind permitted himself to show to
the men who could see. The truth is, that to Lord Palmer-Son
 it wag still incomprehensible and intolerable that a
Couple of manufacturers from Lancashire should presume
0 teach him foreign policy. Still more offensive to him
Was their introduction of morality into the mysteries of
the Foreign Office. Before the opening of the session of
1854, ne presided at a banquet given ab the Reform
Club to Sir Charles Napier on his departure to take command
 of the fleet in the Baltic. In proposing success to
"he guest of the evening, he made a speech in that vein of
forced jocularity with which elderly gentlemen give the
fost of the bride and bridegroom at a wedding breakfast.
When Parliament assembled, Mr. Bright remonstrated®
Against the levity of these jokes and stories on the
lps of 4 responsible statesman at so grave and ‘vinous
® moment. The war, ho said, might be justifiable or
ot, but it must in any case be an awful thing to any
» March 13. 1854.

1854.
Ar. 50.