The Sun.
London, England, 1855-06-07 00:00:00

LONDON, THTJR3DA.Y, JUNE 7, 1855.

The debate this evening on the three amend-
ments before the House will probably be diver-
sified by a fourth proposition, emanating from
Ministers, and based on all the remaining pro-
tocols relating to the Vienna Conferences up to
their termination. The PALMERSTON Cabinet will
thus endeavour to make tardy amends for their
previous culpable remissness—to take credit to
themselves for submitting to the consideration of
Parliament that which it had already taken for
itself. It is, however, as we have already stated,
too late to save them from the general censure
which their long mystery and silence have brought
down on their heads. They may possibly still
save their places—the chief matter in their esti-
mation—but they cannot retrieve their damaged
reputations, or be looked on as they were bit a
few short months ago.

Something may, however, be done in this re-
spect if they at length shake off the official
reserve, and explain their intentions and objects.
clearly and unequivocally. The people will no
longer be hoodwinked. They have seen the dan-
gers of secret diplomacy, that it has been solely
through the reckless audacity and ontrecuid mice
of Russia that they have been saved from a dis-
honourable and transitory peace—a peace by
which all our sacrifices in men and money would
be utterly thrown away, by which the Ottoman
Empire would inevitablybe overthrown at no very
distant day, and Russia enabled to achieve her
nefarious designs to the fullest extent. They,
therefore, require to know exactly what is to be done,
to receive the assurance that the Allies will no
longer remain contented with the Four Points,
but that other and more stringent conditions will
be added and rigidly enforced.
It is also essential that " Her Majesty's Oppo-
sition" should speak out clearly and unequivo-
cally; that their bidding for office should be
decided and intelligible. Mr. DISRAELI was good
so far al he went. Mr. WHITESIDE was admi-
rable. Every point of his brilliant oration was
strietly in accordance with popular opinion, and
his keen and unsparing exposure of the Glad-
stonian fallacies was everything that could be
desired by the most strenuous asserter of British
honour ; but, unfortunately, others were not
equally decided. The pro-Russian speeches of the
Marquis of GRANBY, Lord CLAUDE HAMILTON,
and Sir STAFFORD NORTHCOTE, the doubtful ad-
dresses of others on the Opposition side, but, be-
.yond all, the sinister approbation of the Peelites,
and some of the Peace-at-any-price party, have,
however, engendered doubts that must be removed
before the confidence of the people can be be-
stowed on any side or party.
As yet the proposition of Mr. LOWE seems
most in accordance with popular feeling. But
even that may be greatly improved. Should no-
thing better offer we must perforce accept it, but
we would gladly see a better offer. There is
nothing, in fact, in that notice which the Govern-
ment may not now adopt, and it is by no means
impossible that such may be the case. For the
Conferences having been closed, there can be no
reason to question that the failure has been occa-
sioned by the refusal of Russia to limit her
naval force in the Euiine, and that " the means
of obtaining Peace were thereby exhausted."
But we look to the future as well as to the past.
We ask for definite pledges—for a departure from
diplomatic slang—for a declaration that there shall
be no peace while Sebastopol remains a standing
menace to Constantinople and to Europe, or without,
at least, a pecuniary indemnification for the ex-
penses of the War. Who will go to this extent,
not merely in a speech, but by a resolution, bind-
ing the representative branch of the Legislature
and the future Government, of whatsoever party
it may be composed ? That is the price at which
popular support can be obtained. We care not
for the men. We want a display of energy and
determination that will encourage our own people,
and at the same time convince the would-be neu-
trals that the contest must be continued until a
decisive result has been attained.
It is also very desirable that divisions may
bs taken on each of the substantive propositions
now before the House, that the country may be
enabled to discriminate between the various
phases of opinion, again be
and know who may ,
trusted. The Peelites have committed politick