The Sun.
London, England, 1855-01-26 00:00:00

„et„.
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LONDON, FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 1865.

The important intelligence which we wore the
first to announce to the country has been fully
and completely verified. The resignation of Lord
JOHN RUSSELL, and its acceptance by her MA-
JESTY, was yesterday communicated to both
Houses of Parliament, which consequently ad-
journed until this evening, when explanations
will be offered by the Noble Lord and his colleagues
on the interesting and important subject. Although
we cannot venture to assert positi►ely the nature
and effect of these anxiously-looked-for revelations,
we have little hesitation in expressing our full
belief that they will prove highly honourable to
the noble ex-President of the Council, that they
will be such as to blot out the errors he has suf-
fered himself to fall into through a too anxious
desire to keep the joint-stock Administration in
office, and to induce the public to again regard
him as an independent and high-miaded states-
man.

We had mourned over the defection of the
Noble Lord—we had deeply felt the stigma that
rested on the reputation of the author of the
Reform Bill—the advocate of universal toleration.
Although not peculiarly responsible for the de-
plorable events that have caused so much pain to
the country and to our Allies, he must have felt,
in common with
,the great majority of the people,
that it was his name and his influence that gave
vitality to the ricketty concern, called a Govern-
ment. Confidence was reposed in him, and those
who would have shuddered at allowing such a
pilot as the " dear and excellent" ABERDEEN t©
remain at the helm during such a crisis, still
placed implicit reliance in a Cabinet of which
Lord JOHN RUSSELL was leader in the popular
branch of the Legislature, and Lords LANSDOWNE,
PALMERSTON, and CLARENDON were influential
members. It was an imperative duty not to be-
tray so high a trust, and the Noble Lord has
proved himself worthy of the opinion entertained
of him by the great body of the people.
The matter at this moment assumes an aspect
of peculiar significance. The resignation of such
a man would at any time, probably, lead to the
overthrow of the Ministry from which he had
retired. Even the strongest and most united
body could scarcely bear such a blow. What,
then, must be its effect on one composed of such
heterogeneous materials as that which is face-
tiously termed " the Government " at the present
time I Its effect, however, must be greatly en-
hanced when we consider the circumstances under
which it has occurred.
The Noble Lord has recently returned from
Paris, where he has been honoured with several
prolonged and confidential interviews with the
EMPEROR. He must in the course of these con-
versations have learned the feelings of our Im-
perial Ally with respect to the deplorable mis-
management that has taken place in all matters
relating to the War. He must have ascer-
tained the evils flowing from " Germanism,"
and the policy thereby adopted, and discovered
that, unless he could check and restrict the mys-
terious and fatal influences in operation, the con-
sequences might be exceedingly disastrous to the
country. When, on his return, ho found that
every change was resisted—that matters should
still go on in the same manner—that the same
lamentable inefficiency must still be perceptible,
he saw that there was no alternative, that a sense
of duty to his country and to his own character—
already seriously compromised—alike demanded a
decisive step. He has taken it, and the feeling
throughout the length and breadth of the land
will, we believe, be one of almost unmitigated
satisfaction. The heartfelt expression will bo one
of thankfulness, that "JOHNNY'S himself again !"
There may be considerable reservation in his
explanation. We believe that a sense of deep
respect will prevent him from expressing himself
clearly and explicitly in reference to all the causes
that led to this important proceeding. It was well
known that, when Lord PALMERSTON fell a victim, to
similar influences, he concealed or slurred over mat-
ters which, if fully ventilated, would have led to a
national demonstration of no ordinary magnitude.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL may very probably display
equal forbearance—may be contented to rest
under imputations which could be dispelled by a
few brief sentences. Nay, one word—two syl-
lables would do it. The country will, however,
fill up any gaps that may occur in his statement.
While giving him full credit for the honourable
motives that may seal his lips, it will
not feel itself bound by any obligation from in-
vestigating the truth, and acting as the facts may
render necessary.
Of course the Government must be recon-
structed, and some at least of the present Minis-
ters, who have exhibited strong Russian predilec-
tions, must be contented to retire into private life.
But there is something more essential to the wel-
fare of the, country. The nuiganre that has at-
tained such alarming magnitude must be abated.
England must be held for the English, and " An-
glicism," not "Germanism," must become the pre-
dominating influence !

Much surprise has been expressed in many
quarters at the sudden change perceptible in a
" leading morning journal," at one time the thick-
and-thin supporter of the Joint-Stock Administra-
tion—so much so, indeed, as to be regarded as
"the Government organ," but now its decided
opponent, ready to expose every failing, and to
exercise the literary tomahawk with unsparing
hand.

What could have produced these extraordinary
gyrations ? What could have induced the Le-
viathan to assume the knout and to lacerate those
whom it was accustomed to fondle, and to heap
the most virulent abuse on those on whom it pre-
viously beslavered with as unlimited praise ? It
is said not to be " Parliamentary" to impute
motives, but still there are circumstances that may
possibly account for some portion of the fierce
anger inflaming certain celestial minds not quite
a hundred miles from Printing-house-square,

It is said, then, that the virtuous indignation of
the Times has displayed itself simultaneously with
the discovery of certain alterations contemplated
with respect to Newspaper Stamps which do not
meet the approbation of " the Thunderer." It is
notorious that it has, no doubt, on adequate pri-
vate grounds, resisted the abolition of the Stamp
Duty, although not contented with the pleasing
sop thrown to it by the abolition of the duty on
supplements of a certain size it desired, that, a
full double supplement might not only be pub
tidied, but trauswitted
free through the post to