The Sun.
London, England, 1864-03-21 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, MARCH 21, 1864.

sought-for denouement. Seldom, however, has
this Penelope style of legislation assumed a more
vexatious shape or presented itself at a more in-
opportune moment titan in this seasion which has
so recently dawned upon us. Here is the great
recess of the period taking place, and yet no one
can conscientiously say that we are a bit forwarder
than when the opening day arose on the quiver of
hones and fears, and the tiptoe of expectation. It
is not the fault of the Government that Easter has
fallen early this year, but it is undoubtedly true
that they are very much to blame for taking such
a mean advantage of circumstances, and making
all the incidents of time and place conduce to one
end, their retention of power. Of course the epoch
at which we aro now arrived was well calculated
upon before the opening of Parliament, and the
early period of the holidays was considered a for-
tuitous concurrence by the Premier and his col-
leagues. Had Easter been as distant from the
assembling of the House as it sometimes is, it
would have been quite impossible for the
Danish papers to have been kept back
as they have been ; but as there was a
definite goal to look to for encouragement,
it urged on the officials to make a desperate effort
and tide over the intervening weeks. Also, as an
additional part of the affair, the holidays commence
much earlier than they used to, and extend over a
larger period than formerly. Thus, with one chance
and another, with this pretext and that subterfuge,
the adroit manoeuvre and the skilful plan, the end
is gained and the desired point reached without an
interchange of hostilities or a trial of strength.
All this may add zest to the delight which the
chiefs experience at a respite from their harassing
catechisms, and impart a vivacity to the retrospect
of events which their subordinates may take amid
the delassements of their reprieve; but the impar-
tial scanner of occurrences from afar, the philoso-
phical speculator on the events that loom in the
distance, all this must assume a very different
aspect and appear in a very contrary form. In-
stead of an admirable arrangement which develops
the strategic skill of statesmen, the spirit which
eas distinguished the rulers in high places may be
regarded as unworthy of themselves, the affairs
treated of, and the assembly which was to have
ccnsidered them. A clever dodge is not what we
expect or desire to meet with when the representa-
ives of the people assemble in conclave to discuss
the events and criticise the policy that contains an
nistoric interest, and that concern the honour and
compromise the dignity of our country, now before
the nations of the world; and even, when the actors
in these scenes have all been laid in dust, wilt
sffect the fair fame and integrity of England in
after generations. Mr. DISRAELI made some very
appropriate remarks the other evening concerning
the length of the vacation, and it would be well it
the House generally took more part in the settle-
ment of these matters. History may authorise, and
courtesy sanction their being left to Ministers to
decide upon, but there are exceptions to every rule.
It would have been a very proper time to have de-
parted from precedent when those in authority were
not content to use their opportunity, but abused it
in the most reckless fashion. Before the House is
again in a settled state how much may have occurred
to make a "situation," and to create disasters no
afterthought can remedy, and no zeal can compen-
sate for. It is a sad and serious subject for reflec-
tion, and one which displays so many grievous
points for consideration, that some may be tempted
to push it aside with the thought that it is no use
to forecast misfortune and forestall trouble; bat
evils must not be parried after this fashion, and
difficulties and dangers should be met with vigour
and watched with vigilance. It is no use mincing
the matter, and the epitome of this session, so far
as it has gone, is a very unsatisfactory cue, Nothing
has been done to cheek the arbitrary encroachments
of the German Powers, nothing has been attempted
to afford succour to Denmark, either by the aid of
moral or material support, though the Prime
Minister last year almost promised that in the hour
of peril she should not be left alone, and the Prin-
cess of those shores is the mother of our future
King. Nothing has been done to stem the tide of
insolence which America has poured forth during
the last few months, nor has anything been effected
in the way of amending the policy of Ministers in
;heir maintenance of a miscalled non-intervention
.theme, The Roman Emperor inscribed the famous
motto, Perdtdi client, as the record of those hours
which had seen no good or gre ;L work accent
plished, and it would seem 'chat our legislators
"sitgnalise their attempts
might with equal candour
by a like sombre deF
enition. The future still
rre-
mains, and let them make a decided use of it.
Let work be ;tone in good earnest, and with a
hearty goad will. This is not a year when the patrio-
tic member, the far, seeing statesman, or the con-
7c4.entious minister would seek to take it easy; all
foretells a storm, and the men who sneer at the
thought of danger, and cavil at the notion of pre-
paration, are not wise enough to mould the shape of
our destinies, or worthy to represent the spirit of
our great and glorious country. It is earnestly to
be trusted that when the recess is over strict atten-
tion will be paid to the sober details of the business
of the land, and no heed be taken of the petty
squabbles and angry bickerings and details which
have hitherto occupied so large a Aare of the time
of the House. Personalities in public, private, or
political questions are at all times most unwise;
they fritter away
energies that are meant for a
nobler employment,
mind that stool and excite and irritate the
d seek a higher sphere for its direc-
tion, This respite will claim no holiday for many
oppressed nationalities, and it is but fitting that the
all imr2ortant question of our foreign affairs should
receive the respect which is its due. Here we have
Earl RUSSELL absenting himself from the House of
Lords very much after the fashion in which Lord
PALMERSTON disappeared from the assembly of
which he is the leader. A very different demeanour
must characterise all the members of the Govern-
ment, if they hope and expect to keep the goodwill
or favour of the people. Unsatisfactory is the re-
trospective glance, cheerless the present prospect,
and dimly vagae and uncertain the future view of
nor foreign policy. With what a different feeling
were our ancestors animated when the moral earth-
peke and the mental hurricane darkened
over the previously serene and unclouded
sky. Constant resort to measures of
expediency so confuses and paralyses the efforts that
it is inveasible to attain to any elevation if there
is ant some guiding landmark which cannot be
oved. It is a proud reflection for a Minister to
sustain him in the times of extremity, that he pos-
sess the confilenee of his countrymen, that they
look to him for guidance, and trust to him for coun-
sel, and so la'ghly esteem the memory of his past
services that in any future entanglements
"The regrets of the good, and the tears of the wise,
Shall turn to the Pilot who weathered the storuL"

ROSSINI'S NEW MASS, which has been so long
spoken of, was perform, -d this week for the first time at
M. Pellet Wine's. Meyerbeer was present, and added hit,
enthusiastic plaudits to those of the general company.
A 'IIGER IN CHURCH.—Th 3 Dacca News.
chronicling the ravages committed by tigers in the neigh-
bourhood of Tczgung, says that a tiger walked into th,
church in broad day; the doors were closed, and he wat
thOt dead before he could wake hie escape.