The Sun.
London, England, 1864-10-07 00:00:00

consolation that sincere Reformers can have in
watching its tedious course is the reflection that if
in defiance of the old adage it is now " too late to

mend," we have the prospect of its speedily melting

nto thin air and giving place to more faithful re,

presentatives of the British people.

Perseverance in any pursuit generally attains its
end. If the object be good, it is all the better;
but, if bad, the end to an unscrupulous mind justifies
the means. There is no impediment too great to a
daring spirit, and success becomes the glory of his
being. No matter the praise or blame which he
receives, the goal of ambition once gained places
the adventurer, in his own opinion, far above the
one, while he laughs at the other or imputes it to
the envy of his rivals. Success is the test, be it in
love or war, and the world applauds the lucky one,
for even with the multitude the selfish feeling per-
vades the individual mass. Such is human nature,
let the philosopher preach as he may, and the
events of everyday life but serve to confirm its ten-
dency to fact, just as water runs to find its true
level through every devious path which seems to
obstruct its progress. In spite of all, perseverance
accomplishes its destiny, and the world is full of
wonder or admiration just as it likes. The adage
says that the course of true love never runs smooth
and experience too painfully attest that war has to
contend with innumerable difficulties and often fails
in its purpose. Policy may promise success, but
misfortune thwarts the march of ambition often on
the very verge of hope. Still perseverance moves
on, and her purpose is eventually achieved, no
matter at what sacrifice or by what means
she claims the victory. Now, of all the
nations in Europe, perhaps Russia may claim
the laurel in this particular, for there is hardly
any obstacle too great to her insatiable
ambition. In war she claims the unconquerable
elements of nature as her special allies; and in
diplomacy, she enlists whatever money may tempt
or flattery beguile. Her art is cunning as her libe-
rality is profuse. To win is to enslave, but the chain
never chafes the ready worker in her political pay.
He feels himself to be one of the favoured tribe,
and the success of his endeavours reflects lustre on
all. Promotion only serves to stimulate him on to
greater exertion, and he looks to honours and die.
tinction as the reward of his meritorious deeds.
With tools of this stamp it need be no wonder that
Russia pursues her march with colossal strides,
Her diplomatic army is composed of men of every
creed and nation ; no matter what their opinions
may be, so long as they conform to her interest, she
will make it their interest too. That is the secret
of her success ranging over as many climes and
peoples as may prove conducive to the extension
of her policy and power. Her policy always works
in secret, but her ambition unfolds itself as time
and opportunity develope the occasion. Her agents
abound in all quarters, and are such adepts in their
calling, that they conform themselves to every
circumstance or position, be it high or low; they
are quick to detect every change or varia-
tion in Court or council, though with the
most innocent assumption of utter indifference
to all that concerns the body politic. But
under the guise of simplicity lurks the wily
watchfulness, eager to inform themselves of every
thing that may enlighten the master minds at head.

quarters, whose sources of intelligence are as
übiquitous as his ambition is grasping. Sir lonN
M'NEJL has stated that " the policy of Russia is
based upon the certainty of spoiling England of

her Indian dominion," and her conduct in China

Circassia, aud other countries, seems to confirm the
assertion. And a pamphlet,* recently issued on this
subjeet, fully bears out the imputation. Indeed,

LAMARTINE said that " the slope of Russia was to
wards the East," which Turkey knows to her cost

so does Persia; and at some future day it may h
the fate of England to reckon the consrquonee o

her own neglect in dealing with so overreaching

and dissimulating a Power. Our traveller from the
East is deeply versed in the doings of Russia
through diplomatists and agents. They know the
. _

principal languages and literatures of Europe, the

. -
politics of the leading States, their respective ten-
dencies and reciprocal jealousies. They are assisted
by the moral light, by the preFs and the general

* The IthesianAis. By Traveller from
the East. Ridgway, riccaAilly, 18,1.

out a chart. He would riot either be willing to
admit that the " Chiefs of the great Liberal Party"
were really devotees of that Whiggiem whose pre-
sent motto is not Reform, but Inaction. He would
not acknowledge that the great movements of the
Lime found no sympathetic response in his Cabinet,
nor would he be brought to confess that his own
sentiments by no means coincided with those of his
supporters, or at least with their professions at the
hustings. Reform principles are aired periodically
in election speeches, and then noble lords and hon.
gentlemen tacitly agree to follow the example of
their chief, and " rest and be thankful" they are
safely elected. When they are once fairly en-
sconced on the magic green benches they are by no
means inclined to any wild and enthusiastic pro-
ceedings which shall send them and their fellows
out into the world again, giving them at best an-
other election to go through, Mr. ROBERTSON,
however, was inclined to reduce the well-sounding
generalities common in such cases to a little more
practical result than common. Many of the
Hastings electors he said were in favour of the
ballot. Was Lord PALMERSTON going to sup-
port that P Many more of the constituents ad.
vocated the abolition of church rates. Was such
a measure likely to be proposed by Lord PAL-
MERSTON ? He had been told, he said, that if he
were elected the 4d loaf would be raised to 7d,
and with justice, he observed, that such erg a-
ments were too ridiculous to need refutation. As
a merchant, he was as much in favour of free
trade as any man could be, and would not do
anything contrary to the great commercial iute■
rests of the country. It is indeed too late in
the day to bring forward such a charge, for be
his opinions what they might, no sensible man
would ever dream of proposing the re-imposition
of the protective duty on corn. When Mr
ROBERTSON came to the consideration of foreign
affairs Lord PALMERSTON'S policy did not fare
much better at his hands. The observance of
neutrality in the American contest had, he said,
been egreed upon by men of all-parties, and con.
scquently no great or exclusive credit belonged to
the existing Administration for that. As to
Denmark, Lord PALMERSTON had promised
assistance, which he had not given, and had
not even preserved peace by his own act,
but because France and Russia would not join him.
It is certainly strange to find men taking credit for
their failures, but that is the case with our Minis-
terial friends. If peace was the great object Lord
PALMERSTON should not have pledged hitnselt to
aid ; if the support of Denmark were intended that
promise should have been fulfilled. Mr LESLIE, in
reply to his opponent, enumerated, we are told, the
reforms that had been effected by the Liberal party
in the House of Commons. Though what those
reforms are, when they took place, where they
began, and where they ended, we confess ourselves
unable to see. Some politicians have taken credit
to this Parliament for their wise inaction; few have
had the hardihood to talk of its reforms. The only