The Sun.
London, England, 1864-06-18 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

TIAILS.—The debate in the House of Lords last
evening represents with accuracy the present feel-
ings of the country upon the Danish question.
The anxiety and irritation of the public are ex-
pressed by Lord Elleaborougli, the caution of the
administrator appears in the speech of Lord Rus-
sell, while Lord Derby speaks like one who knows
that his party were bent upon a vote of want of
confidence, but who also knows that the
most complete success would only impose on himself
unwelcome responsibilities. The practical result of
the debate was an announcement from Lord Russell,
"disclaiming a threat of any kind," that "her
Majesty's fleet is fully prepared for any services
which it may be called upon to render." We know
not what effect these words will have upon the Ger-
man Powers, but if they indicate any tardy inten-
tion of the Government to support the King of
Dsnmark, and, as is rumoured, to insist that
Germeny shall be content with the line of
the Sch lei, they deserve most serious conside-
ration both by the two belligerent States and by
the petty Princes who have been urging them on.
It is the general testimony of persons writing from
abroad that the Germans are highly elated at the
victory they conceive they have gained over the
English Government, and by the impunity with
which they have shown their disregard of its re-
monstrances. They could not have conceived that
a Power with the past reputation and the present
strength of England would have allowed them to
advance to the destruction of a small State by such
a series of misrepresentations and broken promises.
They invested Holstein and set up a Pretender,
after assuring this country that only a process,
called "Federal Execution," to carry out certain
definite objects was intended. They entered
Schleswig under engagements to our Govern-
ment, which they at once threw off when they
had gained a military success. The joint note of
Austria and Prussia in January ea ressly stated
that the two Powers recognised the succession
of Christian IX. in both Duchies, in accordance
with the treaty of 1852; yet within a few months
they declare that Treaty a dead letter, proclaim
their intention of wresting both Duchies, or all but
a small fraction of one of them, from the Danish
Kingdom, and coolly tell England that war has an-
nulled the treaty by which they, in common with
all the chief States of Europe, have solemnly bound
themselves. It is with a great effort of self-control
that the mere impulsive part of the English people
have restrained themselves during the progress of
these outrages. On the one side are the sympathies
of the country, which have been so strong in this
matter that they have almost carried us into acts
of too hasty interference ; on the other side have
been the calmer judgment which bids us refrain from
foreign quarrels, and the patience which endeavours
to settle the dispute by appeals to the conscience of
the invaders, and by :showing them the reprobation
with which their actions .Rre regarded by the world.
The German Powers will lit: ye themselves to thank
if the former impulses gain the victory and the
British Government finds itself uOithle to maintain
any longer its peaceful attitude. Wills the support
or the acquiescence of all political parties a2e Queen's
Ministers have tried for more than six m0nt..1.18 the
policy of patient expostulation. If the result be Os' et
the German Powers reject all counsels, and pride
themselves on the military brusqueness with which
they treat us, it will be a difficult matter for the
Queen's Ministers to persuade their adversaries or
the public that the policy they have adopted is the
best to be used with such a people. Lord Ellen-
borough expressed feelings which are very general
out of doors when he said last night that the only
way to make Prussia give up its bold of Jutland
and North Schleswig was by distinctly intimating
that the British Government would not only pro-
tect the islands, but Jutland and Schleswig also, and
that they would give the assistance of a British
force to blockade the ports of Germany, in order to
protect these provinces. If these be the opinions
which possess the public mind after so many months
of patience, we cannot but consider that the recom-
mencement of the war by the German Powers must
lead to serious difficulties. There is growing np an
opinion that the honour of this country is concerned
in resenting behaviour like that of the Prussian and
Austrian Governments, and however clearly it may
be shown that we are not bound to support the
integrity of the Danish kingdom, yet no politician
can ansizrer for the temper of the country under such
repeated s:ights. If any proof were wanted of the
effect which IN duplicity and violence of the German
Powers have poduced on the Continent, it would
be found in the gesaeral expectation that England
can no longer submit see her wishes disregarded
and herself contenaned, i;iat must make the renewal
of the war on the 26th thd beginning of a more
active police. England, whic It has been so long
blamed for its warlike tendencies, is now instigated
by invidious comparisons, almost by 'aunts, to take
up arms in this dispute. it is looked upo.n es a duty
which, in the division of labour which be!otags to
the Great Powers, this country may fitly impos'e on
itself. France has shown her own chivalry and disc
interestedness on many fields. The Italian and the
Mexican bear witness to the prowess of France, as
the Turk did a few years before. Why should not
England follow this example ? We have large
arrears of heroism and philanthropy to make up.
Although we fought with our neighbours in the
Crimea and in China, we have shown ourselves of
late slack in the pursuit of glory. For these reasons
it is intimated to us that we should do well to show
a little alertness in the protection of our friends.
Other reasons leading to the same conclusion are
found in the supposed interests of England in the
BalCc, and in the family alliance which exists be-
tween the reigning Houses. These last arguments
have been put for ward by the Conatitutionnel in
an article of more than usual significance. In this
article the necessity which will compel England to
interfere is contrasted with the perfect liberty of
action enjoyed in France- Whereas a state of things
which the English Cabinet has created for itself
bids us send our fleets to the Baltic and our troops
to the Dan.ish Peninsula, France, through the far-
seeing wisdom and moderation of the Imperial Go-
vernment, may look on with impartiality, and thus
avoid making general a war which the intervention
of England will, after all, not prevent from being
limited. All these al e signs of the times, and should
indicate to the German Powers that the hour is
approaching when it will be difficult for this couns
try to avoid doing what a large class of its own
people, and nearly all foreign lookers-on, think that
it ought to do. War in such a case would be an
enormous calamity, as it would divide Powers
which have generally been allied in the affairs of
Europe, it would put enmity between nations that
have most in common, and would, moreover, lead,
in all probability, to territorial changes, some of
which are not desired by Englishmen. From war
this country has shrunk with a scrupulosity which
its neighbours cannot understand, and which, it ap
pears, its opponents interpret through the medium
of their own vanity, We still anxiously desire to
avoid it, all the more as the pretensions of the
Germans are based to some extent on the wishes of
the people in the Duchies, and Englishmen will
not willingly enter upon an attempt to coerce any
body of men. But that all danger of a conflict may
be avoided it will be necessary that the German
Powers return at length to the paths of justice and
moderation.

POST.—After a long and animated debate, and
by a small majority, the House of Commons refused
to endorse a vote of censure on the Government in
respect to their policy iv the conduct of the Ashantee
war. Ministers have gained a victory, but it must
be confessed that it was a close one. The House
was composed of four hundred and sixty-four mem-
bers, including the Speaker and the tellers—two
hundred and twenty-six having voted in favour of
Sir John Hay's motion, and two hundred and
thirty-three against it. It was a fair trial of
strength on an issue which, as Mr. Disraeli observed,
properly constituted a party question, and the Oppo-
sition were defeated. With the verdict of the House
of Commons the country will concur. Much irrele-
vant matter was introduced into the debate, but the
point at issue was extremely simple. The expedition
standing
against the King of Ashantee was confessedly unsuc-
b sufferers,
which,
c hOpposition
a
nd the
strongest
cessful, and attended with results which every one
must deplore. But ill success and disaster do not
necessarily
argumentsimy blame
employed l a
m e to the
alone,re s rested upon
no o n e
acpopueladlshatvoesyrernfnpsaedth ytO w
entertain. But
though it was impossible to avoid a feeling of regret
that the war in Ashantee should ever have been
undertaken, the majority of the House of Commons
did not allow their sympathies to distort their
judgment. Failure may sometimes follow in the
train of the most carefully-devised projects, but, be-
yond failure, the Opposition could lay nothing to
the charge of the Government. The result of last
night's division must, therefore, be accepted as a
proof that in the opinion of the House of Commons
the Administration had done everything in their
power to seeur3 success, and that, although they
cannot boast of its attainment, they have at least
I deserved it. The circumstances under which the
unfortunate campaign against the King of Ashantee
came to be projected, though dwelt on in detail in
the course of last evening's debate, are already
known to the public. We possess a narrow strip of
land on the seashore in the immediate neighbour-
hood of Cape Coast Castle, and assume, on grounds
the policy, if not the soundness, of which may well
be questioned, the exercise of a protectorate over
a nor very extensive line of country which inter-
venes between our possessions and the territory of
the King of Ashantee. A refusal upon our part
to deliver up to the Sovereign two thieves who
had fled from Ashantee and taken refuge in this
_ _

idatif.ai nrnnna moo frilinansa iw flinga ant:

savage warfare. The Ashantees invaded the terre_.
Nation which invariably mark the commencement of
tory which had afforded the asylum, and carried
away or destroyed property, not, however, of aoY.
considerable amount. The matter might have ended
here, but the Governor of the settlement, consi-
dering. that the dignity of Great Britain was
raged by the invasion of territory acknowledging
his protectorate, conceived the idea of punishing
the aggressor. In a series of despatches written
by him to the Home Government in the early part
of last summer, Governor Pim broached this pro-
ject, and in the month of August a ceneational
authority was given him by the Colonial Secretary
to undertake offensive operations against the
Kipg
of Ashantee. The garrison ordinarily maintained
at Cape Coast not exceeding 400 men, Governor
Pim of course found it necessary to ask for rein-
forcements if an aggressive policy was to be pur-
sued, and this not unreasonable demand (assur°ll
that the vindication of British dignity by force 03
arms was expedient) received the assent of the Horn
Government in the month of December. Instruc-
tions
were sent to the authorities in the West Indies
to detach from the native regiments such a
a force
was considered necessary to carry into Effect the
policy of the Governor of Cape Coast, now defin,l.
tivoly ratified by the Imperial Government, and,
meantime, the Governor was authorised to inau,.l:
rate those operations which, on the arrival of the
reinforcements, it was hoped he might be able to.
bring to a speedy and successful conclusion. Ad
force of about 400 men was accordingly despatched
into the interior, and a depot, which was to fur°,l%
the base of future operations, was established close
to the Ashantee frontier. A considerable time,
however, elapsed before the reinforcements from the
West Indies arrived; and when they at length
A
reached Cape Coast Castle the rainy season had
begun, and the prosecution of offensive operatic",
was rendered impossible. Then commenced viba'
must unquestionably be admitted to have been !ea
series of disasters. Little preparation had bei,e;
made for the reception or the accommodation of
newly-arrived troops at the settlement, mainly 0'
cause it had been in contemplation to despatch th,,el
forthwith to the interior, and, arriving as they `Li
at the most unhealthy season of the year, large 11!1°1,,,
hers died, and many more were prostrated by loci
nese. Of the force which had been sent to the fron•
tier within a few weeks one half had died or beet
placed hors de combat; out of 19 officers four 010,
being left fit for service. Such was the state of thing'
brought under thenotice of Parliament in the cool
of last month, and on the facts which it disclosed
Sir John Hay framed the motion which be OA':
mitted to the House of Commons last evening. P`,l
her Majesty's Government had already resolv%
on putting an end to hostilities commenced 8"
inauspiciously, and had despatched instrneti°l3„
to that effect to the Governor of Cape Coast
Castle, the only issue raised by Sir John 111;
motion was whether the Government were deservlr
of blame for the deplorable results of the exiled;„
tion. Into the discrepancies between Sir John HaY „
„'"
statement and that of the Marquis of Hartiogr%
it is not perhaps very material to inquire, at leaet
so far as they concern the policy which, in the fir!.
instance, dictated offensive operations against tu"
King of Ashantee. But it is undoubtedly of jur
portance to consider whether, when hostilities Writ
it
resolved upon, the Government took proper reel
preserve the health of the troops en3l3l°Yat
in such dangerous service, and that they did 114;0
adopt such *treasures constituted the gist rn
charges advanced against them. The exculpetl°.'"
of the Government was based on the fact that, 14.0
truth, every possible precaution had been taken. '
secure the welfare of the troops, but that, Oeill
to a series of unlucky accidents, those precautio%
were frustrated, and the men fell victims to a the
first mate at all times notoriously pestilential. In
first place, the transport conveying the reinferii
merits from the Nest Indies was delayed, and "'d
not reach the settlement until the 9th April, inateis,,r
of two or three weeks sooner, whilst on the et''lt
hand the rainy season, instead of beginning e 15,46
usu Elly does in May, set in this year in the Mid";
of March. To complicate matters further, an
short
demic of small-pox broke out in the colony a eirl°,„
time previous to the arrival of the troops, and '
consequence buildings which might otherwise have
been appropriated to their use were rendered unin-
habitable, and they were consequently obliged to
encamp under canvass. With respect to the charge
that the troops were badly provisioned and ineu,'":
ciently provided with medical officers, the lbw:
Secretary for War showed that rations of fresh meat
were served to the men each alternate day, that 13°
complaints had at any time been made by the offs
in command of insufficiency in the supplies of pro-
visions or of medical stores, and that, though the
entire force in the settlement never exceeded four,:
teen hundred men, the medical staff attached to "
had always numbered, at least, six officers. The
concurrent testimony of the principal efficials ec.
gaged in the conduct of the expedition equally
tended to acquit the Home Government of blame in
neglecting to provide for the wants of the troops.
It was, as we have already observed, a question,
:lot of sympathy, but of fact, which the House of
Coi2Wons was called upon to decide, and in the Pre:
sence of the evidence adduced by the Government
it would have been much to be regretted if it bad
arrived at a different conclusion from that which
the country is left to gather from the vote of last
night.