The Sun.
London, England, 1864-06-25 00:00:00

capable of such contemptible paltering With
duty. It is not for us to anticipate the state.*
ment that will be made on Monday, nor to say'
whether it will or will not be accepted by tbs
house ; but that it will he inconsistent with the,
character, or in opposition to the antecedents, Of
the great statesman who makes it, it is not believed
even by those who have the hardihood to contradict
the faith and reason of the English people.
Prime Minister's reply to Mr. Disraeli's question
on Thursday has, however, been described as apolo—
getic and deprecatory, and it is assumed that
.the
_l3 tatement to be made on Monday will be alarming.
It is departing from our practice to notice these
rude and probably unauthorised assaults, en
id Nve
only ad7ert to them in this instance because, n• the
agitation and impatience of the hour, any
boldly
affirmed rumour obtains a hearing. Sucb randosi
assertions cannot affect the result, but the,' In. 5.5:
contribute to the aggravation of an excitement
wise to endeavour to moderate. Any one '°'h
i
thinks before he speaks on this subject must ▪
nevi;
tably come to the conclusion that, as far as &On'
and the English Minister are concerned, there I,s
nothing to be ashamed of, to be afraid of, or to bo
uncertain about. The protocols of the Conference:
will show that this country has made every eff°l'
to preserve peace, and that surely is not B matter
for apology. The Conference, too, if it-Was proposed
by the Government, was sanctioned by Parliamen_t,
and by no perversion of argument can its failure be'
laid at the door of the British Cabinet. In point
of fact, very few, we apprehend, ever believed that
the Conference would succeed ; but it was felt, and
the Opposition shared in the feeling, that we ought
to exhaust all means of obtaining a pacific soloti°l3,
of the pending difficulty. But now, when ghat
was from the first to be expected has come to Pass
and the Government have to shape their CO3
accordingly, it is predicted that their policy. W 1;
alarm and astonish the Christian and eiviliset:
world. It is exceedingly difficult to de"
calmly with such language used in such s'
crisis. We believe, however, that, so far from
causing alarm, the Ministerial statement No
express firmly, but temperately, the sentiments o'.
the country. That we may be compelled to take
part in a war we have done our utmost to bring t
a conclusion by negotiation, is probable. But le:
England afraid ee unprepared for war? Are
ships rotten ? Are our arms runty ? vo we shrill,.
from the sound of a trumpet? Is the spirit of the
nation dead ? A day or two will show how tr.
founded these suspicions are, and perhaps also oer:
monstrate the motives which inspired them. IS et
do not imagine that any measures the Governmen:
may propose to Parliament in the national interest
will reconcile the Opposition to exclusion from office,
and for obvious reasons they are now most violently
assailing the Premier. But we are satisfied that
the country will consider its honour before the sin;
bition of a party, and that, it the people are Ca
to pronounce their opinion, it will be made manifest
that at no period of his long and eventful career wilt
i :
Lord ""
Palmerston more conspicuously than he s
the Minister of England.