The Sun.
London, England, 1864-06-16 00:00:00

&imply preposterous, acting as the under-graduates
& Cambridge did the other day, when they groaned,
" with a heart and half " in each of their groans,
at the every mention of Earl RUSSELL'S name, and
yet cheered to the echo Earl RUSSELL'S colleague,
and now also his political chieftain, Lord PALMER-
STON. No—the responsibility devolves not by any
cams exclusively upon the Foreign Secretary—
it is one the shame and the blame of which
belong collectively to the entire Cabinet—indi-
vidaally to each member of the Cabinet. The
Earl RUSSELL, as Foreign Secretary, stands forth
conspicuously, of course, foremost for that matter
among all his colleagues, to receive whatever
shame or blame may be regarded by the people
as duo to the foreign policy of the Government.
But—above him as Chief of the Government itself,
as Prime Minister of England, the responsibilities
of the situation, the shame• and the blame now
pouring forth abundantly as the miserable fruits of
this foreign policy, are—Lord PALMERSTON'S !
The Aberdeen Cabinet enjoys in the national his-
tory the credit of having "drifted" us into the war
with Russia. This second Palmerston Cabinet
appears to be earning quite as securely for itself
the credit of "muddling" us into another war, into
a still more terrible war—into a war not upon the
eastern confines of Europe, but in the very centre
or heart of the European Continent—into a war
with Germany.

On Sunday week next (the 26th inst.) the addi-
tional fortnight's armistice will expire. Any
extension of the present breathing time beyond
that supplementary fortnight, Denmark peremp-
torily declines. If nothing be accomplished
during the interval between this and the 26th
instant, the Conference will be more com-
pletely than the ruck at the close of a great rase,
just Nowhere. At the first gun again fired in
anger between the belligerents, the silence hitherto
observed with such extraordinary patience both in
the Lords and in Commons will beat length and at
once, we may be certain of that, broken completely.
Whatever may then come of it, the Opposition
can never in this matter, with any show of reason
at least, be called factions--as Oppositions generally
are at these crises. Such at least mast be acknow-
ledged in regard to the Conservatives. What-
ever else may be said of them, that at any
rate must in justice be acknowledged in their
regard. They have during all this anxious,
tedious, troublous do.nothing, and not only
do•nothing, but say-nothing session—not been fac-
tious. They have placed no impediment in the way
of the Government. They have been asked to wait
again, and yet again—and they have waited. That
in so waiting they have grumbled was what was only
human nature to be expected from any Opposition, in
Whig or Tory, Radical or Conservative. They have
grumbled, bat they have waited ! Recognising to the
full the Ministerial responsibility at this jnneture of
supreme emergency for the Crown and Country—an
emergency so supreme for once, that it involves the
imminent alternative of Peace or War in Europe—
the Opposition, with the cards in their hands
[who shall deny it ? Count the Government
losses ! Count the Opposition gains ! and
then answer !]—the Opposition with the
cards in their hands have abstained from
playing them. Again, we say it, as independent
Liberals of no party, as unprejudiced and dispas-
sionate lookers-on, again and again we say it—
Whatever may now be adventured upon by them,
the Opposition cannot, in this matter, be pronounced
factious.

Between the Opposition and the Govern.
meet what has to be decided is far more than any
question as to a, change of Ministry ! It is the
question of questions politically foe England—
whether she is to have war or peace in Europe!
Whether she is to have war or peace with Germany!
It is—in itself—a fearful alternative. Woe to any
Government that rashly embarks the fortunes of
England in such a war !

The difficulty of the position just now oc-
cupied by the Government in regard to this
supreme alternative may perhaps be ex-
pressed the most plainly by our saying, that
from the manner in which it has, not drifted, but
muddled the country towards war—it has deprived
itself of the capability of maintaining peace without
disgrace I Otherwise to express it—the Govern-
ment have contrived to get themselves into such
a dilemma that their only means of vindicating the
honour of the Crown is by plunging the nation
into war. Therein lies the strength in truth of
the Opposition. Peace, with honour to England,
seems impossible now—with the present Govern-
ment. War, in tardy and disastrous vindication of
the national honour, seems to be the only extrication
from :the diplomatic difficulties they have been
so elaborately blundering into, yet left to the
existing Government. The consideration therefore
forces itself both upon the country at large and
upon Parliament—in this lamentable dilemiaa, in
this alarming alternative—May not a purer
and a nobler alternative be within reach of the
Opposition ? May not the Conservatives secure
our honour, without dragging us into a
war ? Whoever can effeut this—and we believe
it can yet be effected—is the Statesman of the
Hour. Whatever party can secure this to Eng-
land, that is the avoidance of an European War, is
worthy of superseding, is entitled in the
interests of the Crown and of the country to super-
sede the present occupants of place—what though
the name of the party so supplanting the Govern-
uleht should happen to be Conservative.

ports, and profit by the trade of our rejected colo-
nies without our having the right to object. But
the ties between the mother country and her chil-
dren are too strong to be so easily sundered. Eng-
land is as proud of her widely extended dominions

as the settlers are of their connection with the
Mistress of the Seas, and the mutual strength de-
rived from the union is essential to the prosperity
of both. England has no cause to question the
loyalty of her colonies. In every time of national
distress or trial they have come gallantly forward,
and it would ill become us, after the munificent

contributions of Australia to the relief of Lanca-
shire, to begrudge a temporary outlay on her
younger and less flourishing neighbour. It is a
very un-English quality to forsake a friend in diffi-
culties; and in the present case principle and profit,
interest and feeling, all combine in advocating the
same policy.

There is no particular in whioh improvements
have been made of late years that has resulted
in more substantial benefits than the efforts made
for the amelioration of these employed in fac-
tories. It is now some years since the Earl of
SHAFTESBURY made his praiseworthy efforts in
the cause of justice forthe overtasked operatives.
Amid the bustle of more stirring events, and the
The affairs of one of our least regarded colonies general hurry-skurry of existence, these struggles,
have lately
risen into considerable prominence. It so momentous at the time, may be perchance for-
is many years since
the first discovery of the gold gotten ; but the skilful disciple of progress will
diggings raised Australia into an important coup- acknowledge that we then entered upon a new
try, and the rapid increase of her population and and blessed era of oar country's manufacturing
the precious metal, which industry, when protection was afforded to the
she
ee
can
hentifal supply of
boast of, have long sines made her national weak, the helpless, and the young. Many had
. Canada and the other cause to bless the day when the Ten Hours' Bill
it
is, gratifying,
been objects of was introduced; and, when more exciting and
North progress,
American
as
er iprovinces have
especial interest during the course of the great civil brilliant epochs are forgotten, the still small voice
war, while India, which, though not exactly among of truth will bear witness to the lasting effects
our outlying of that effort, and the beneficent results of that
the
possessions,colonies,
has, formsev
ear vsaihlueeabtlheepgarret faot
catastrophe of struggle. Much has sinee been found to do in
1857, been anxiously watched by this country. Of following in the wake of that enterprise, and the
New Zealand, however, little has been hitherto said subject is one which attracts the attention of all
or thought. The chronic disputes between the who can comprehend the vast importance of the
settlers and the natives were little regarded, and it
question, t'whether regard it from
es ion, we
was considered a thriving colony, though cornpara_
mercantile, or moral point of view. It is satisfac-
tively small and thinly populated. Thanks to the tory to find that the second reading of the " Fac-
recent outbreaks, New Zealand politics have grown tory Act Extension Bill" took place on Tuesday.
suddenly important. The arrival of the mail is This excellent measure proposes to extend the
eagerly walched for, the chances of tuccess and die- restrictions of the Factory Act to those. trades
aster are closely weighed and scanned, while the which are specially injurious to children
proposed New Zealand loan has engaged the serious and young persons. Mr. BRUCE made some
attention of the House of Commons. It was fortu- very interesting remarks on this subject, and
nate so far that the question of the loan was brought it must bs a source of great pain to all who atten-
up for discussion just at this time. The publication tive y
1 study the details of the case that the little
of the news received by the mail had occasioned labourers should be so early exposed to toil that
some natural uneasiness, which Mr. CARDWELL brings with it suffering and injury. Some strin-
was happily able considerably to modify. Accord. gent regulations are most urgently called for, and
ing to the details given by the colonial press, it its seems surprising that something decisive was not
'seems that two severe engagements took place dur- done before in or der to check those serious evils
ing the month of April—the first of which resulted which accrue from the misdirected and uncon-
in the defeat of the enemy, while the second inflicted trolled pursuit of business and trade. It is against
upon us " the first noticeable reverse of the cam- the interest of the country that the juvenile race
paigu." Fortunately this reverse is transformed in should be injured and deteriorated. In making
General CAmEBON's official despatch into " the haste to be rich, and striving to excel all other

severest lesson the Maories have ever learnt," and
as there is no reason to suspect an English General
of Yankee manceavring, we may safely accept the
latter version as the true one, There is no doubt,
however, that the engagement was a severe
one, and not altogether profitable in its results,
since, although the natives were much discomfited
by it, their discomfiture induced them to abandon
the position whicU General CAMERON was prepared
to attack, and to retreat into the interior, where it
is not at present possible to follow them. General
CAMERON left part of his troops under his second
in command at Orakau, in the Waikato district,
where the natives had constructed works blocking
up their main road to the south, and he himself
proceeded to the spot where the main body of the
enemy were entrenched. Daring his absence, how-
ever, the officer in command, with more gathntry
than prudence, attempted to storm the position of
the Maories at Orakau. He was unable to carry
it, owing to the want of scaling-ladders, and with-
out further assistance, and accordingly General
CAMERON returned from his expedition to sup.
port the attack. It proves the daring and resolu-
tion of the native tribes, that when outnumbered
five to one they refused to surrender, and by a bold
and unexpected movement dashed through the
opposing forces, and fled for their lives through the
neighbouring swamp. They were pursued by the
English troops and many of them killed, wounded,
and captured. There is no doubt, according to
Mr. CARDWELL'S information, of the district of the
Upper Waikato being now in our possession, and
accordingly the prospects of the colony are bright-
ening, however tedious and inconclusive the course
of the war may at times appear to be, Thee has
never been any room for doubting the ultimate
establishment of British supremacy and the event-
ful triumph of the colonists, provided they are
assisted by the mother country during the time of
severe trial. The loan proposed by Mr. CARDWELL
to be made to the Colonial Government is fair and
reasonable. There is no great risk incurred, since
there is every prospect of a loan of £1,000,0001
being repaid out of an average surplus of £200,000.
The financial prospects of the colony are most re-
assaring and quite sufficient to warrant a loan of
the amount specified, since in the year ending June
30th, 1863, there was a surplus of receipts over the
expenditure of £260,000, while even for the pre-
sent year the estimated surplus of £200,000 is
likely to be exceeded. The minor arrangements
explained by Mr. CARDWELL are fair and straight-
forward, neither putting an undue burden on the
mother country, nor taxing too heavily the resources
of the colonists. It was proposed that after
this year the colonial Government shall make the
same payment as the Australian colonies for any
military aid it may receive from the Imperial Go-
vernment, with the exception of one regiment,
which, in consideration of the native tribes, is to
be sent free. This indulgence can hardly be be-
grudged to them, since their position is one of some
risk and considerable difficulty, and they have come
manfully forward to fight their own battles in this
emergency. In the province of Auckland the whole
population, from sixteen to fifty-five, have been
under arms at once, and the colonists are certainly
entitled, as Mr. ADDERLEY remarked, to "great
credit and great consideration for the spirit with
which they have met their difficulties, and the ex-
ample which they have set to other colonies."
Surely when oar settlers show such readiness to
fight for themselves, and are so ready to meet us on
fair and moderate grounds with respect to financial
matters, it is the least that can be expected by the
mother country to afford soma temporary assist-
ance without waiting for actual payment to be
made. If the colonists sat in their homes and asked
England to send her troops to fight tor them gratis,
some opposition might justly be made, but when
the whole population of a province is under arms,
no charge of selfish inactivity can justly be made.
As to those logicians who contend that we have no
more interest in our distant colonies than in foreign
lands, their arguments, oven on the low ground of
self-interest, are quite untenable. Should England
abandon her protectorate of the islands of New
Zealand, what is to hinder them from putting them-
selves under the protection of some other Power,
say France or the United States ? An American
Governor may yet order British vessels out of the