The Sun.
London, England, 1855-01-24 00:00:00

The Parliamentary campaign has opened.
Ministers no longer have it all their own way, to
act as they may deem expedient, without let or
hindrance, or even question. They are once
more reminded that they hold responsible offices,
and are bcund to answer for the manner in which
they discharge the duties thereof. They must
submit to searching interrogatories and _cross-
interrogatories—defend themselves against direct
and positive charges, and generally render all the
explanations that may reasonably be required !
This is indeed a change, and one by no means
palatable to some of the Cabinet, who have to
render very unpleasant accounts of shortcomings
and backslidings which would, if possible, be
willingly slurred over and passed without notice.

The first fruit of the meeting of the represen-
tatives of the People was yesterday given in the
shape of information respecting the alleged nego-
tiations at Vienna. It appears that there are
really no negotiations whatever going forward—
that the usual diplomatic procrastination has been
displayed ; and that at the very time when it
was supposed that the discussions and conferences
had been brought to a conclusion, and a positive
decision of one kind or the other arrived at, the
matter had not even been opened, or authority
given to our Minister at Vienna to negotiate upon
the bases which our Government suggested 1
It is instructive to consider the tortoise-like
pace at which matters have proceeded, and the
remarkable contrast afforded in these days
of railway express and electrical velocity.
In November the Russian Government instructed
their Minister at Vienna to declare their accept-
ance of " the Four Points." Almost immediately
afterwards, on the 2d December, Austria con-
cluded the long-pending treaty, being probably
induced so to do by the intimation thus given.
In place of the Western Powers disposing of the
matter themselves, Austria thus got " her finger
into the pie," and became the chief instrument of
mediation. Nothing then appears to have taken
place until the 28th December—four weeks being
literally wasted, according to the approved cus-
tom. Prince GORTSCHAKOFF then repeated the
proposition he had made in November. An in:
terpretation of the Four Points was then put in
by the representatives of England, France, and
Austria—a kind of " act to explain an act,"
which could not have been required if the former
had been distinct and explicit. Prince GOATS-
CITAKOFir, though authorised to accept the Four
Points, had no power to act on the interpretation.
lie required time, which was of course granted.
Another meeting was held on the 7th or
Bth of January—it was seemingly a mat-
ter of such profound indifference that the
Ministerial Leader in the House of Commons
could not speak with certainty as to the exact
day—when Prince GonTsCIIAKOFF produced a
memorandum from his Government, which being
rejected by the other plenipotentiaries, was with-
drawn, and not only tho Points, but tho intorpre-
tion, unconditionally accepted. What then
One might have supposed that the matter would
have proceeded. The Allied Governments de-
clared that they were ready to enter into negotia-
tions on certain bases. These bases were uncon-
ditionally accepted ; and yet a fortnight has been
suffered to elapse without the power being given
to our Minister to commence the negotiation I

We confess that we do not greatly regret this
apathetic indifference. It proves beyond the
possibility of doubt that the English Govern-
ment are perfectly aware of the gross
humbug of the entire affair that they
clearly see that until Sebastopol has fallen,
and the Crimea is our own, the CZAR
will not make up his mind to swallow his leek
with becoming humility, or to surrender his long-
cherished policy of spoliation and self-aggrandise-
ment. We must remember that the acceptance
of the Four Points, and of the interpretation, is
by no means conclusive. The Russian Envoy
will still retain the power of making any objec-
tion he may think proper to the terms and stipu-
lations founded thereon.

The explanation of last night will show that the
British Government feel the absurdity ; and yet,
from what cause wo know not, they aro still play-
ing the game of the CZAR, and unnecessarily
creating delays, when procrastination is the great
object of their adversary ! For the present wo
shall say no more on a subject that will fall within
the notice of the member who will take upon
himself the important duty of directing public
attention to the whole question of the conduct of
the war—not merely as respects the Army of the
Crimea, but in every respect, by the ABERDEEN
Glover nment.

Tho Swedish Government has apparently been
awakened from its protracted slumber. It at
length exhibits evidence that it is aware of the
magnitude of the existing emergency, and the
critical position in which it is placed. The affected
indifference to the events of the day—the attempt
to maintain a strict neutrality, while war is raging
on every side, is as absurd as the placid indiffe-
rence of the Irish philosopher who received the
intelligence of the house in which he was residing
being on fire with the remark that he was " only
a lodger." Oseix of Sweden can no longer avoid
the responsibility which is cast on him. He must
choose his side—must select the banners along
with which he will maintain the struggle ; and
know that the decision of the belligerents will be,
that those who are not with them are against
them.

Orders have at length been given " to
place the entire Swedish army on a war foot-
ing, and to do so with the greatest promptitude,
so that they may at once be ready to march I"
This, as we have stated is important, for it being
once decided that Sweden will take some part in
the War, as may easily be discerned from so
decisive a step, not much doubt or difficulty
can remain as to what that step must
be. She has too many old grievances still
rankling against her gigantic neighbour.
She cannot forget her plundered territories. She
cannot behold Finland and the Baltic Provinces
in the possession of the AUTOCRAT, without many
bitter pangs for the past, and sad forebodings for
the fixture. She cannot think of the palpable in-
tentions of the CZAR, manifested by the construc-
tion of the elaborate fortifications at Bomarsund,
without perceiving the formidable perils