The Sun.
London, England, 1855-02-21 00:00:00

of life, even if those lives belonged only to our 1
adversaries, and that none of our own gallant de-
fenders were involved in similar danger."
Having nearly eleven months since given ex-
pression to such views, it must now be manifest
how fully we concur with the Honourable and
Learned Gentleman the Member for Plymouth,
how earnestly we desire the suppression of that
phase of " Germanism" that offered the tempting
bribe for Prussian neutrality. Mr. CARDWELL
indulges in a considerable amount of self-gratu-
lation as to the degree of pressure inflicted on
the enemy with so small an injury to our own
commerce. We fear, however, that the balance
will be found on the other side of the books—
that the injury and annoyance has been to our-
selves, without any corresponding damages to
our opponents. The views of Mr. COT.LIER are
so just—so important, too, at the present crisis—
that they must receive the further consideration,
both from Parliament and the country, to which
they are so eminently entitled.

If there be one quality which more than any
other distinguishes the speeches of Lord STANLEY
it is that of fairness. He seems unable to sink
to the partisan, and, while by no means wanting
in strong attachment to his more important con-
clusions, his advocacy of them is moderated by
what will ever produce moderation, the habit of
mastering both sides of a case. His Lordship is
neither a doubter, who can only arrive at the re-
suit that mush may be said on both sides, nor a
one-sided believer, who sees nothing at all in the
arguments of the opposing party. We must think
that one who shows so well-balanced a mind, and
whose tendency is so markedly in favour of pro-
gress, will become a working statesman in due
time, and one who will be largely trusted. Eng-
land yet leans on her aristocracy for guidance, and
they have but to show qualities worthy of her
confidence to retain the reins in their own
hands.
To take, for instance, in his very able speech
delivered the other day to his constituents at
Lynn, and which occupied several columns in
The Sun of Monday, the domestic subjects of
Education and Church Rates. No two topics
have been more fertile of contention of late years;
none have been more embittered by the partisan
zeal of a large number of those on whom his
political party has leaned for support, both at the
polling booth, and in the House of Commons.
Yet there is no pandering to that party, but, on
the contrary, a strong tendency to the most liberal
and enlightened views. He is decidedly in ad-
vance of Lord JOHN RUSSELL on both questions.
On that of Education ho rejoices in the yearly
approximation of parties, and is well pleased that
between the proposals of Lord JOHN RUSSELL and
Sir JOHN PAKINGTON there should be no ilia-
' portant difference. While deeming it practically
impossible in rural districts to dispense with the
aid of the clergyman, he will not listen for a mo-
ment to any compulsory attendance on the reli-
gious teaching, nor to the withholding secular
instruction from those who refuse the religious
part ; at least in any schools which touch public
money of any kind. He is also decidedly in fa-
your of local or self-government, would deprive
the Committee of Privy Council of its present
irresponsibility, and make it directly amenable to
Parliament.

Again, on the question of Church Rates, he
holds language which may well make the Whig-
Liberals blush. Not only does he advocate total
abolition, and that as a matter of justice and
right, but he does so with a statesmanlike view to
the near future. Lord JOHN RUSSELL taunted
him last session with the remark, that his A nti-
Church Rate arguments led to voluntaryism. Lord
STANLEY is not the man to have overlooked that
fact, or to shrink from avowing it. He acknow-
ledges the difficulties which may at first occur in
some rural districts, but is confident they will
soon vanish, while he regards the termination of
so many religious battles as an abundant compen-
sation ; but, adds his Lordship, " I think the
change doubly important, not only on account of
the intrinsic merits of the cause, but because it
will afford us the first trial, the first practical ex-
periment, of that principle of self-support in reli-
gious matters which—whether we like it or no—
whether we approve it or no—whether we think it
the. best possible system or no—seems likely, perhaps,
certain in the inevitable progress of public events,
to be the principle of the next generation." (Hear,
hear, and applause.) Every reader, whatever his
views on Church Rates, must admire the manly
independence of one with Lord STANLEY'S political
connexions asserting such views as these. For
ourselves we endorse them entirely ; we ,
are thoroughly tired of the finality men, i
whether Tories or Whigs ; and congratulate
the nation on finding in the ranks of the former
rising statesmen who are putting the Sexagena-
rians among the latter and their understrappers
to shame. It is one of our most hopeful omens.
If younger Conservatives begin to look on ecclesi-
astical and other questions in a national and not
a party view, if they aim to take the lead and to
govern by abolishing monopoly and privilege,
and removing all artificial disabilities, then they
will be the men who must come into power. The
people are now utterly sick of the old party
names, and nothing will avail to secure their sup-
port abut being honestly ready to do their work ;
and all Lord STANLEY'S popular views carry on the
face of them the evidence of careful examina-
tion and thorough conviction.

On the War and Peace matters though ,ve might
find ground for some considerable difference of opi-
nion, yet our general observation equally applies,
that his remarks are characterised by great fair-
ness.

Indeed he excuses but too much the
errors and mismanagement of the Cabinet to
which he was politically opposed. We may, per-
haps, from his position allow him to look with
leniency on aristocracy in the army, but we must
beg him, thorough-going thinker as he is, to settle
clearly in his mind whether the rule should or
should net be laid down and stringently carried
out, making promotion dependent on merit and
qualification only. We can hardly doubt the
conclusion he will come to, and as little the good
service his decision would do. Two popular do-
mestic questions are just now all but brought to a
satisfactory termination, in great part, we believe,
through the %.course he has taken. We do not
think the system of Boffin the command of our
poor soldiers to wealthy incompetency could long
survive a decided speech or letter from the Heir
of the House of DERBY.

Chemists inform us that certain substances may
be dissolved and recombined, the elements re-
maining the same, but the physical properties of
the new compound becoming entirely different—.
bland nutriment changing, it may be, into a
drastic medicine. All England is but too willing
to hope for such a result from the separation and
re-union of the parts composing the late Cabinet ;
she must, however, see the altered working quickly,
or she will not believe in the magic change. We
cannot profess to feel at ease as yet. We would
not be impatient, but hitherto we see nothing
done which strikes at the root of the acknowledged
evils. The single War Secretary, with a PEEL
instead
of a LAYARD, is but a very imperfect he-
gi"ing ; and as yet we hear nothing of ground
b •
'mg broken and the trenches opened against the
ignorance, wilful
office:lei:n and self-conceit of the
innumerable who snubbed our
patriotic merchanss.znwde
boards and
delayed every order of
the poor Duke o
victim, more of their heartlesssTl'mtill he became the
-villainy than of
any fault of his own. We want some sign, some
unmistakeable proof that ever
y official in every
department, be he the kinsman. of a Peer or the
sou of some important M.P.'s best local supporter,
is suspended upon his efficiency and good y
be-
haviour. We want evidence that Sir Cnaitems
TREVELYAN, or any other Sir CHARLES, will never
be imposed on again by his subordinates, but that
every mismanaged shipment, er other piece of
business, will bring substantial penalties up ou the
head of some responsible delinquent. We have
hundreds of men of business who would so order

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