Its main purpose is to keep the wicked old Ottoman Empire undisturbed, and to shield it from the indignation of Europe.
Here and there the Sultan is compelled to loosen his grasp upon some exasperated and suffering province like Crete, which is set up as an autonomous (or self-governing) principality (or kingdom), under a double protection from Turkey and Europe.
This looks kind, and as if the Sultan was being severely dealt with and punished. But at the same time the knowledge of Turkish atrocities is being carefully suppressed; and harrowing stories of cruelties in Bulgaria a few years ago, and in Armenia to-day, are listened to with smiling incredulity; because it is inconvenient to take notice of these things while the situation in the East is critical.
Some people think this is a very crooked and shuffling policy for the great British Empire to pursue. And others, that the Gladstone policy is sentimental and dangerous.
Of course, the policy which has been for years adopted by England is controlled entirely by motives of interest, and has not one lofty purpose in it. But when there was talk of making war upon Greece in defence of the rights of the Sultan, the Government realized it had gone one step too far.
The people would not, and will not permit it. And we are rejoiced to know that the good and gracious Queen herself protests against such an act, and is deeply in sympathy with Greece and the Cretans.
It looks now very much as if the much-talked-of Concert of Europe was about to break in two as cleanly as an orange. Russia, Germany, and Austria in one half; and England, France, and Italy in the other.
The Emperor of Germany is very angry at the desertion of the other three States, and threatens dire and dreadful things.
The young Czar of Russia, with his gentle eyes and delicate face, does not look capable of severity.
But he is a Russian. And he has settled himself in the seat of his ancestors, evidently with a stern purpose of carrying out their despotic policy.