The Sun.
London, England, 1855-07-16 00:00:00

(From the Morning Chronicle of this day. )

The resignation of Lord John Russell—which, at we
acquainted our readers on Thursday last, was even then
an almost settled purpose—has, after a brief interval for
consideration, and, possibly, a few pangs of doubt, be-
come an accomplished fact. Her Majesty has also, as
we learn, signified her gracious pleasure to resume the
trust confided scarcely three months since to the late
Colonial Secretary. From his colleagues, the noble
lord has received something more than a bare assent to
his secession from the Treasury bench. By the country
at large, his removal from the Cabinet will be regarded
with undisguised and almost universal satisfaction. Pre-
suming that his own consent has been gained to the
proceeding, there will thus be a singular unanimity of
approval to the step, which Lord J. Russell will to-night
announce and justify when he informs the House of
Commons that he holds the seals of his late office only
until his successor shall have bean appointed.
Few instances can be found in our history of a more
sudden and extraordinary annihilation of political in-
fluence and public trust than that which has now befallen
the member for the City of London. The edifice of fame
and confidence so laboriously built up during a long life
of service has crumbled almost in a moment. In April
last not one of the leaders in the parliamentary array on
either side stood higher in the confidence of the country.
The slight disparagement that had arisen from his delay
in quitting a Government who were fatally mismanaging
the war was quite effaced. The people were ready to
forgive an act which looked so much like generosity, in
not abandoning his fellow Ministers in the day of cala-
mity, or branding with incompetency before the public
eye an amiable and well-intentioned colleague. Lord J.
Russell accordingly departed on his important mission
to Vienna amidst general satisfaction. No one, it was
believed, could have been selected better qualified to
bring the delicate and difficult negotiations then com-
mencing to a successful issue ; and none more certain to
take care that, whether they succeeded or failed, nothing
should occur to compromise the honour of the country
or the energetic prosecution of the war.
Even after his return from Vienna the political
credit of Lord John Russell underwent little, if any de-
preciation. From the first it was avowed that his mis-
sion had failed. Gradually it became apparent that the
failure was most complete and double in its character.
He had been unsuccessful not merely in the primary and
ostensible object of inducing Russia to accept honourable
terms of peace but in the secondary purpose of compelling
Austria to assume some definite position and proclaim
Finally whether, and on what principles, she would take
an active part either for or against the Western Powers
in their contest with Russian domination. Still the coun-
try was in a forgiving humour, and showed itself far
more ready to believe that Austria was treacherous than
that the British Plenipotentiary had been unskilful.
And when, from his place in Parliament, the late Colo-
nial Secretary spoke such bold words of defiance against
the Muscovite, the public rejoiced to believe that in him
they would find a servant ready to co-operate heartily,
sincerely, and energetically in the war policy of the ad-
ministration.

That speech was delivered on the 24th of May. It was
meant to serve the immediate purpose of the Diemen t—
and, for the moment, was successful. By it Lord John
Russell retrieved the position he had somewhat imperilled
by his ill-luck at Vienna, and reinstated himself in public
confidence. But by the retribution which justly attends
falsehood and insincerity, it is to that speech he must
now assign his fatal fall, not merely from place and
power, but from the trustful confidence of his fellow.
countrymen. The people have proved that they can
pardon, and have pardoned much; but they cannot
pardon deceit and craft—the suppression of truth,
and the suggestion of a lie. Anything may be for-
given in a Minister, hut living upon false pretence. If
the Colonial Secretary had confessed his acceptance of
the Vienna proposition from the beginning—if he had
never attempted not simply to conceal his pacific prepos-
sessi,ons, but to delude the public by a false semblance
of vigour and heartiness—he might, indeed, have found
resignation inevitable, but he would have left office
without one blemish to his honour, without leaving one
remembrance behind him which could have chilled the
reliance placed in his talents and good faith by his cob
leagues he quitted, or the country whom for the moment
he ceased to serve.

But as it is, Lord John Russell hag forfeited both,
now and for ever. His political bankruptcy has been
accompanied by discreditable circumstances, since he
deceived his creditors by the grandest display at the
very time when he was most hopelessly insolvent. He
has acted like the hypocrite, whose outward practice of
religious rites grows more conspicuous in the exact pro-
portion that his faith in the religion itself has become
void. We await the explanations which will no doubt
be to-night offered copiously and skilfully to the House
of Commons, with some curiosity, but no hope that the
result will do much, or anything, to retrieve the for-
feited station of the retiring Minister and the convicted
politician. His own act has rendered henceforth im-
possible the renewal of public confidence in Lord John
Russell.