The Sun.
London, England, 1855-05-01 00:00:00

the point. The Honourable and Learned Gentle-
man clearly and distinctly pointed out not merely
the probable, but the almost inevitable, results of the
contemplated measure. Indeed if any disinterested
and unprejudiced person could have had any doubt
on the subject it must be completely set at rest
by that brilliant speech. He showed that under
the baleful operation of the enactment the Pro-
vincial Press could easily be suppressed. And it
would be so ; aye, and a majority of the metropo-
litan journals. In fact, in a very short time, a
virtual monopoly would be created in favour of
one leading journal, which, however ably it might
be conducted, could not supply the wants of the
country, and which, when every attempt at com-
petition was suppressed, might not make such ex-
traordinary efforts to obtain early intelligence as

at present.
The Honourable and Learned Gentleman was
ably seconded by members of all shades and
varieties of political opinion, who unsparingly ex-
posed the absurdity of the attempt. Lord
STANLEY particularly, in a few words,
placed the matter in a nutshell, and showed
that the Financial Minister had attempted
that which was utterly and completely
impracticable. We regret to find that the Hon.
and Learned Gentleman the Member for Bath, in
his anxiety to support Ministers through thick
and thin, should have indulged in such ridiculous
fallacies, which out-heroded the absurdities of the
Chancellor of the Exchequer. We may, however,
now congratulate the community in general, and
newspaper proprietors in particular, at having so
effectually, and, we believe, permanently, got rid
of the most injurious and reckless proposition
which has been submitted to the consideration of
Parliament for a long series of years. The Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer has obtained the opinion
of the House of Commons, and it is scarcely pro-
bable that he will venture to repeat the experi-
ment by which his character as a public man has
been so seriously, so irreparably, damaged.

The wanderer has returned to his disconsolate
friends ! The missing Minister has returned to
the department from which he was so long
absent ! The Secretary of State for the Colonies
is once more in London—has appeared in his
place in the House of Commons—and would,
doubtless, have told the story of his adventures,
but that, like the " needy knifegrinder," he
might have exclaimed—

" Story, GOD bless you, I have none to tell."

The statement of the ex-Plenipotentiary
c3rtainly adds but little to what was pre-
viously known. It unquestionably proves
that there was greater apathy and careless-
ness displayed by the representatives of the
Western Powers than could previously have been
deemed possible. The protocols of the Confer-
ences are, it appears, shortly to be produced, and
they may convey information of the substance of
the negotiations. But we fear that all the infor-
mation, voluntarily given by the Government.,
will be barren and worthless. It is, however,
composed of " squeezable " materials, and some-
thing as to the disposition of Austria may possibly
be extracted if Honourable Gentlemen prove
themselves to be in earnest in the inquiry.
At present we are told that the first
meeting was held on the 15th of March, and
that the negotiations on the first two points lasted
until the 26th of the same month. Then came
a viatus valde deflendus. From the 26th of March
to the 17th of April nothing of any kind was
done. Twenty-two days were wasted waiting for
instructions from St. Petersburg to the Russian
Plenipotentaries, as to the nature of the proposal
which might be brought forward on the part of
the AUTOCRAT. On the 17th it was answered
that Russia declined to take the initiative, and the
Representatives of the Allied Powers had to de-
mand an adjournment of 48 hours, to consider
the form in which they should make their
proposal ! The whole of the previous three
weeks was passed over without that important
point being disposed of, or its being decided how
they were to act in the very probable event of
Russia refusing to make any proposition.
On the 19th the Plenipotentiaries of the
Western Powers submitted their propositions,
which were supported by the representative of
Austria. The Russians, however, in turn re-
quested 48 hours for consideration, and on the
21st peremptorily rejected the propositions ten-
dered for their acceptance ! They, however, then
brought forward suggestions, which were considered
so totally unacceptable that they were not even consi-
dered in detail. Thus ended the transparent hum-
bug, for although the Austrian Plenipotentiary sug-
gested a hope that all the means of reconciling the
belligerent parties by peace had been exhausted,
the French and English Plenipotentiaries refused
to be bamboozled any longer. Lord JOHN Res-
SELL departed on his homeward journey, and was
speedily followed by M. DROUYN nt L'HuYs, who
waited for final instructions from his Imperial
.$
I master. :4

Well, the solemn mockery is at an end, but we
know nothing more than before of the probable
in tention s,or even professions of Austria. There is no
information whatsoever respecting the deliberations
that were to have taken p lace as to the m ode by which
the views of the parties to the Treaty of the 2d De-
cember should be carried into execution. Lord
JOHN RUSSELL has carried his diplomatic reserve
to a very extreme point ; but we can scarcely
suppose that Parliament will tolerate any pro-
tracted silence on the important topic. Austria
must at length declare herself explicitly and un-
equivocally. Doubt or hesitation can no longer
be tolerated. She must be either for us or
against us—must refrain from " blowing hot and
cold," and striving to keep well with both sides.
It is by no means difficult to indicate the course
which her honour and her interests alike point
out. She has gone too far to be permitted to
back out of the question as Prussia has done,
even if she could consent to be placed in such a
disreputable position as that power has volunta-
rily assumed. For her, neutrality is impossible ;
and, as we have repeatedly stated, she must at
once arrive at a definite conclusion, one way or the
other.

We still believe that Austria will maintain her

old policy to the last—that her duplicity will at
length be apparent to even the most purblind
of Ministers, The silence of Lord JOHN Rus-
SELL was peculiarly ominous. Not a single word
was uttered as to her good faith or integrity. All
we know is that she joined in the propositions of
France and England, which, from their very
meagre and diluted character, were probably sug-
gested by herself. On their rejection she ought
to be prepared to act with vigour and energy.
She ihas not done so. For we may feel well
assn red, that had the slightest hint been dropped
°,f ;such an intention, it would have been
1"(113T and triumphantly vaunted by an imbecile
Q 0 VA
Tea Luent. Let there be no further delays.
by the 11
has
Sea ).sol'annit timea has already been wasted. The
wii. not bearrived, when we must oh-
tab 1
Strong arm that which has not and
yen. non be
accordedlasting,
zdo any milder mode of per-
pefic.a. The contest honourable, and permanent
cce to f rem that which now
entered on differs tote
asbithert
ast be our motto, aud °Nvaged. "VCe ViCtiS
"en) after a further ex- .