The Press.
London, England, 1855-10-20 00:00:00

OPINIONS OF THE PRESS.

An article in THE Plass, which argues that the fall
of Sebastopol ought to furnish a basis for negotia-
tions, which in the ensuing winter may ripen into a
peace, is ma le by the Radical and Government
organs the foundation of an absurd rumour that Mr.
Disraeli, as the leader of the Conservative party, has
effected a coalition with Gladstone and the Peelites
and Bright and the peace at-any-price•ites. We
wonder that respectable journals like the Spectator
should favour a conclusion so utterly inconsistent
with the antecedents both of Mr. Gladstone and Mr.
Disraeli.—Maidstene Journal, Oct. 16.

The opponents of Russia are of two classes : those
who deem to maintain and consolidate the existing
territorial divisions of Europe, and for that purpose,
effectually to restrain the aggressive policy of
Russia, but to leave her legltimato power untouched,
as a part of the existing balance of power. But
there is another party which, from the beginning,
has desired to make this a war of nationalities,
whole object is to dismember Russia and Austria, and
to revolutionise half the other States of Europe. It
Bas been sufficiently evident, ever since the be.
ginning of the war, that the time would come when
the first of these parties would declare that enough
had been done for the objects they had in view;
w silo the revolutionary party would strive, hard and
fiercely, to prolong the war, and to give it the cha-
racter favorable to their objects. In other words, ithas
been evident, from the beginning, that ultimately the
Conservative party, not only in England, but in all
Europe, would become a peace party. Whether that
time has now arrived depends very much upon the
disposition of Russia. If she be wise she will now
make such concessions as will satisfy the allies of
her abandonment of her aggressive policy ; and if
she do that, it is very probable that the Conservative
party will "become the advocates for peace.—North
Essex Gazette, Oct. 12.

There can be no doubt but that there is much
truth in the case as put by THE PRESS; one of the
great objects for which we went to war is accom-
plished, and if we wantonly continue the struggle,
when all we demanded is attained, it is to pursue a
" purposeless and aggressive policy," and we shall
become, adopting the distinguished baronet's words
just quoted, "the scourge of humanity instead of its
shield and defence." But then does it depend with
England and France to say there shall be peace be-
cause we have attained a portion of what we were
entitled to ask? We are under obligations, not only
temporarily to abate Russian ascendancy in the
Black Sea, but permanently to maintain it ; and
Russia may assume another and equally coercive
position, by building a new fleet, and, by strengthen-
ing her already strong fortifications, transform Nico-
laieff into a second Sebastopol. Are we to sleep on
the comforting assurance that we have done for
Turkey all we promised—that we have secured her
against aggression, and preserved the equilibrium of
European nations from violation—and then wake up
to find ourselves in a state of unpreparedness, at the
same time peremptorily called upon to commence a
new war o the faith of treaties which, not being
Russians, we are unable to forget or to violate at our
conveniencd ? We must be careful that we do not
mistake two things most opposite in character and
effects, though often, in outside appearances, alike—
we must not confound a truce with a peace.—Norfolk
Chronicle, Oct. 13.

The people of Great Britain accepted the war on
the understanding that it was to be a war for liberty
against despotism—for the weak against the strong.
On this principle they looked forward with an earnest
confidence, not only to the establishment of liberty,
civil and religion?, in Turkey, and the dominions of
the Czar, but to what far more intimately concerns
them, the overthrow of civil and spiritual bondage
in Hungary, Poland, and Italy. These were the
prospects which were entertained by the free in-
habitants of this land, and in consideration of which
they submitted without murmur to the burdens and
commercial distress which war inevitably brings.
nut the people are now beginning to see that they
have been perfectly deluded, and that the assertions
clf Ministers, whether of the late or the present
Government, were ambiguities which, after all, mean
no.hing. The result is that in every free and public
meeting which takes place their disappointment vents
itself in unmistakeable terms. At meetings held re-
el/31417 ilondono res9intipng were carried 1).7 large