The Shadow of Great Britain

Chapter 1540: Chapter 262: Napoleon Tactics (3)

The Economist is naturally happy to accept the opinions of this group of gentlemen.

Of course, it’s not just about the British Pounds, though the money does indeed fill the profit deficit created by founding the Nature magazine. However, it must be clarified that The Economist publishes these articles mainly because it is an ”independent, impartial, objective, and fair magazine, possessed by the soul of liberalism and the spirit of humanity.”

And the noble character of this magazine is attributed to its two important founders and major shareholders, the stubborn anti-Russian Mr. Benjamin Disraeli and the fiercely righteous Sir Arthur Hastings.

However, everyone knows that attaining freedom comes at a cost, especially when it comes to politics.

Perhaps others don’t understand the shareholding structure of The Economist, but the Foreign Secretary, Viscount Palmerston, is well aware of who the shareholders behind it are.

Although Arthur can still, as he did when publishing articles from figures like Prince Chartoryski, shift responsibility onto other shareholders, Palmerston is no fool. After repeated provocations, The Economist’s consistent defiance means Arthur has drawn his attention.

The reason he hasn’t acted until now is simply because other matters are occupying his attention. Compared to The Economist, attacks from Blackwood’s and the Edinburgh Review are what really concern him.

Blackwood’s is Britain’s most authoritative literary magazine, with readers all across Britain.

As for the Edinburgh Review, it’s evidently worse; this publication can be entirely regarded as the Whig Party’s left-wing organ. Its fierce criticism of foreign policy now also clearly indicates that there are many dissatisfied members within the Whig Party.

The internal situation is unstable, and the external environment isn’t any better either.

Although the Portuguese civil war is coming to an end, Spain has now fought over royal succession, and their civil war reasons are almost a replica of Portugal’s.

King Fernando VII of Spain passed away due to illness last year, having no male heirs, forcing his 3-year-old eldest daughter Isabella to ascend the throne.

Fernando VII’s brother, Don Carlos, used the Spanish enforcement of Salic Law, which prohibits women from being monarchs, as a reason to declare himself Charles V and raise an army to contend for the throne with his niece. The Carlos faction advocates restoring the monarchy and the Inquisition, and implementing local autonomy. Their supporters are feudal nobility, the Church, and farmers from the backward northern and northeastern regions. On the side of the little queen, there are liberal nobility, the bourgeoisie, and urban residents.

Thus, Viscount Palmerston is barely out of the quagmire, and now one foot has stepped into a deep pit.

Alongside changes in domestic politics due to the Ireland issue, the Grey Cabinet is on the verge of collapse, and the esteemed Foreign Secretary simply doesn’t have the time to swat away Arthur, the pesky little fly.

Besides, with Arthur’s current mindset, even if Viscount Palmerston wants to deal with him, he’s prepared to stand his ground against the Foreign Office.

For a bureaucrat ready to resign, Viscount Palmerston’s any rhetoric and orders carry no deterrent force, let alone now that he’s set his sights on the lifelong friend, Duke of Wellington, and dear former superior, forever old boss Sir Robert Peel.

Lord Brougham and Earl of Dalmo may treat him well, but in Arthur’s view, their temperament and political views are too radical.

Therefore, no matter whether the Whig Party comes to power or the Tory Party governs, it’s unlikely that these two mentors will secure a place in the core of the Cabinet.

They have reached their current positions entirely thanks to the Parliamentary reform movement. Count Grey and the Whig Party desperately needed grenadiers who could charge in for the reform movement, hence pushing these two formidable generals to the forefront at critical moments.

But now, there is an obvious shift in the domestic political atmosphere. After the reform is completed, even the Whig Party, advocating change, grows conservative due to the riots during the reform.

As for the Tory Party, although under the call of new leader Sir Peel, they look forward, their natural conservative hue means this party is always obviously right-leaning in any era, therefore they naturally find it hard to accept figures like Lord Brougham and Earl of Dalmo who always hold high the banner of progress.

Arthur set down the letter he’d just composed and took a deep breath: ”Palmerston better not push me too hard. If he really intends to do something...”

The Red Devil sneered: ”So what if you get pushed too hard? Are you planning to contact Disraeli, that Jew, and simply return to join the Tories? Heh... But in my view, that wouldn’t be such a bad idea. The Tory Party has been greatly weakened by the parliamentary reform. If you can show sincerity, they’d definitely be very willing to accept you, the court’s red favorite.”

”Doing so would somewhat betray the education I received at the University of London,” Arthur closed the letter and sealed it with his custom sealing wax: ”But... in politics, I can only say, never rule out other possibilities.”