The Press.
London, England, 1855-11-24 00:00:00

LONDON, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1855.

If, on the other hand, the system of Lord
PALMERSTON is to prevail, and we are to con-
tinue the war for objects foreign to its original
purpose, we shall find ourselves committed to
a contest of uncertain duration and extent.
Russia is not to he beaten in a year or two.
If we pledge ourselves to a war of extremity
against her, we may seriously endanger our
alliance with France, and find ourselves in a
position from which it will be impossible for
us to withdraw without dishonour, or to
advance without exhaustion of our resources,
and the prospect of continually increasing
embarrassment. Our character for moderation
will be lost, and our policy be regarded with
jealousy and suspicion by the world.
The cost of a war is never to be weighed
when the independence of our country is em
perilled, or when our honour, without which
there can be no independence, is at stake ; but
the cost of war becomes art important con-
sideration when we have taken up arms for a
political object, and that object is, or can be,
obtained. The war expenditure of France at
this moment, is one million and a half sterling
per week ;—the war expenditure of England
is one million and a quarter sterling per week.
This enormous expenditure is wholly unpro-
ductive ; it is a continual drain upon that
capital Of the two countries which should be
employed in works of beneficent progress, and
in adding to the wealth, the comfort,.and im-
provement of the people. It forms moreover,
in the aggregate, a permanent burden on the
industry of the two nations. When the illu-
sions are dispelled which now tend to render
the War popular—as dispelled they assuredly
will be—and when that vast expenditure ceases
which now contributes to make increased
taxation tolerable, with what sentiment will our
public view the additions made to their debt,
as they awake to the consciousness that the
War 'vas continued for no really national
object ?
We have endeavoured to extricate this ques-
tion from the strife of factions, the passions of
the people, and the " reckless rhodomontade "
of. journalists. Peace and War are solemn
things, and to be approached in a reverent
spirit. Their conduct and safe conclusion
demand the highest qualities of men, both of
intellect and disposition. Two years and a
half ago, when we seemed on the verge of an
inactivity as ignominious as the fatal period
of —2B, we did our best to enlighten our
countrymen as to the real intentions of Russia,
and to the necessity of defeating them. It
was in these columns that the first intimation
was given of those secret communications of
the Czar which were denied at the time by the
Government dependents, but which, a year
after, the Government were forced to confess
and to disclose. When the Prime Organ re-
iterated that the diplomatic embroglio was
•arranged, and there would be peace, we replied
that the Pruth would be crossed and there
would be war. That \car was a necessary
war ; and had Europe shrunk from the
challenge, and lost the great occasion, our
posterity would have justly cursed us.
Notwithstanding a thousand errors, thti.
occasion has been seized, and has been rightly
used. Let us reap the fruits of our courage,
our endurance, and our foresight ; and if
Russia offer terms such as Louis XIV. in his
direst hour never assented to, let the Western
Powers in a spirit of wise magnanimity pt
acce
them, and employ the long interval which
will probably elapse before Europe is again

-~

STAMPED SI XPFNCE.
UNSTLMPED-FIVETENCE.

disturbed in the consolidation of the now
Eastern barrier, best secured by that develop-
ment of the material resources of the emanci-
pated countries which can alone bo obtained
by PEACE.

MEETING OF PARLIAMENT.
WE have reason to believe that her Majesty
will summon Parliament to meet for the
despatch of business on the 18th of January
next.

SWEDEN.
OUR contemporaries have been for some time
indulging in speculations on the conduct of
Sweden, and especially on the real object of
General CANROBERT'S mission to the Sovereign
of that country. According to them here are
more than hopes of Sweden joining the
Western Alliance, as the French General is
now engaged in maturing the details of an
arrangement, the outlines of which had been
previously agreed on. There is not the
isiightest foundation for any of these rumours
and speculations, which emanate from no
authority whatever, and are simply the crea-
tion of the restless invention of men! jour-
nalists, and of "Our Own Correspondents."
There is no prospect whatever of Sweden
changing the attitude which she has so long
maintained, or departing from that neutrality
which the Western Powers have sanctioned.
There is another class of rumours also rife
respecting Sweden of a different kind, more
refined and exclusive. It is, that his Majesty
the King of SWEDEN has consented, or is to
consent, to become MEDIATOR between the
Allies and Russia, and that the negotiations
for peace are to be transferred from the
Gorman Powers to the less odious agency of
a Scandinavian Prince. It is suggested that
certain proposals may prove less unpalatable
in this popular form.
All this i 3 highly ingenious and extremely .
interesting when whispered in confidence, but
unfortunately there is no kind of truth in the
scheme. This class of rumours has its origin
chiefly among second-rate diplomatists, who
are too well informed of affairs in general to
credit the monstrous assertion that Sweden is
about to join the Alliance, but who, not being
really in the secret of what is taking place,
have made, with regard to what is occurring,
what may be styled a professional shot. It has
not, however, hit the mark. The mission of
General CANROBERT to Stockholm has for its
object precisely that which has been publicly
announced, nothing more and nothing less.
The chances of peace are at this moment in
the ascendant, but any negotiations that take
place in consequence will be carried on at
Paris and London ; and to originate or to
regulate those negotiations, the interference
of no second-rate Power will be solicited by
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the Allies. •
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