Harper's New Monthly Magazine, No. XXIII.—April, 1852.—Vol. IV.: NoneVarious
General
Harper's New Monthly Magazine, No. XXIII.—April, 1852.—Vol. IV.: None
Various
American literature -- Periodicals; Civilization -- Periodicals; Culture -- Periodicals
advised her to request his resignation, which she had done. In
continuing his remarks Lord John expressed his belief that the President
of France had acted under a belief that the course he had taken was the
one best calculated to insure the welfare of his country; and proceeded
to censure the course of the English press toward Louis Napoleon, as
calculated to excite the animosity of the French nation, and perhaps to
involve the two countries in war. Lord Palmerston replied in a very
moderate tone, substantially admitting the truth of Lord John's
statements, though denying the justice of his inferences. He repelled
the intimation that he had abandoned the principles he had always
maintained--that he had become the advocate of absolute power, or in
favor of the abolition of Constitutional governments. He concurred in
what Lord John had said of the relations that ought to exist between the
Foreign Secretary and the Crown, and said he had done nothing
inconsistent with them. In regard to the deputation he had received, he
admitted that he had been surprised into a false position. His delay in
answering the letters of Lord John Russell had been entirely owing to
the great pressure of business; and his expressions of opinion
concerning Louis Napoleon were unofficial and in conversation. Other
members of the cabinet had expressed the same opinions, and under
circumstances quite as objectionable, certainly, as those under which
his own conversation was held. Lord Palmerston rehearsed the outlines of
the policy he had pursued in managing the foreign relations of Great
Britain, and concluded by saying that, on quitting office, he left the
character and reputation of England unsullied, and standing high among
the nations of the world.----In the House of Lords the debates following
the reading of the Queen's speech, had greater incidental than direct
interest. The Earl of Derby took occasion to speak in very strong terms
of what he termed "the injudicious and unjustifiable language of a large
portion of the English press upon the French government." He insisted
that it was the duty of the press to maintain the same tone of
moderation in discussing public affairs which is required of public men;
and he styled it worse than folly for the press in one breath to provoke
a French invasion, and in the next to proclaim the unpreparedness of the
English people to meet it. He was followed by Earl Grey, who expressed
his hearty concurrence in what he had said of the press, as did also
Lord Brougham. The London journals, and among them pre-eminently the
_Times_ and the _Examiner_, have taken up the challenge thus thrown
down, and have vindicated the press from the censures of the Lords in
some of the ablest writing of the day.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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