The Sun.
London, England, 1864-08-22 00:00:00

LONDON, MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 1864.

Sir JOHN TRELAWNY has commenced in good
time to address his constituents, and divulge his
views on various subjects connected with the great
political questions of the day. He soon began his
strictures, for he commented on Lord PALMER-
STON'S remarks at Bradford. " The noble lord
spoke in very flattering terms of the energy, ability,
and capacity of the working classes of England."
Nsw, from this, Sir JOHN not inaptly deduces that
he need not be so reluctant to extend the franchise.
This was quite a home thrust, but it is well known
teat the Premier can be all things to all men just
as it suits his turn, and no one who has attained
much experience can be taken in by the specious
remarks which the members of our Cabinet choose
to make concerning important matters relating to
home and foreign policy. But the member for Tavis-
toA did not confine himself to these inuendoes—
be went much further, and spoke of that most
wkward subject of all, the question of Reform.
Although some years have now passed since the
great claptrap was made by Earl RUSSELL and
hie friends, it is as much to their disgrace now as
theta that they should have taken office under false
pretences, and stooped to an unworthy subterfuge
in order to oust their political opponents from office.
Sir JoHN TRELAWNY uttered the exact words
which the working classes might have said to the
Administration as to their conduct of trickery and
deceit—" You took office with the understanding
that you were going to bring in a better reform
bill than that introduced by Mr DISRAELI, and we
supported you in the belief that we were going to
receive that instalment of justice for which we have
so long waited." It seems strange that such dupli-
e.'ty should not excite more indignation than it
has done, but in the pages of history none of these
arch.. deceivers will escape the criticism they deserve.
In this discourse we find a good humoured hint
thrown out to the Government that they must be a
little more zealous in the discharge of their duties.
It is indeed not likely that this Cabinet will much
longer survive the shocks it is continually receiving,
bat at the same time the Liberal supporters have a
right to complain in no measured terms upon the
faineant policy which has been pursued for so long
a period. It is given out that the Ministers are
most capable men, eminent in ability, skilled in
legislation, experienced in parliamentary tactics,
and well versed in administrative affairs, and yet
the result is ever the same. Such lame and impo.
tent conclusions, after so much unseemly self lau-
dation and boastful parade of power, may well cell
forth the comment of vox et pretera nil al. Sir JOHN
TRELAWNY rather overpraised Lord PeLefEneToN,
but still the Premier is so great a favourite
among many classes, that perhaps it was not
to be wondered at, and doubtless many political
adversaries might concur with the member for
Tavistock, when he said that the noble lord was
the first working man in office. "He has worked
as hard as any hundred men—l was going to say,
in the various offices he has held during fifty years
or so, and he will probably remain in office till the
end of his life." Such may be all very well, but it
is too much for patience when we pass on to eulo.
giuma upon Earl RUSSELL. To praise him for his
management of our relations with America is
indeed intolerable. Who has seen any evidence of
that tact, courage, coolness, and calmness, which
are here spoken of, and as to the conciliation when
proper, and the firmness when necessary, it must
be imagined that the former refers to the lenity
invariably shown to the Federals, and the latter
to the constant enmity displayed to the Confederate
cause. Neither does the Danish question appear
satisfactorily treated in this sp ech ; we hear the old
rigmarole of the Conservative party not explaining
their policy. T i Ilia s a v,ry convenient subterfuge,
but as the Minister, and cot the Opposition are re-
sponsible to the House and the country it would be
bett e e to scan their cause %little more scrutinisingly,
and touch on their commissions
rather than specu-
late upon the commissions of f
others. Sir JOHN
proved the bedeess of his cause by his feeble advo-
cacy, and the space
that be appropriated in his
long discourse to this all absorbing topic. Church
Rates, the Ballot, are very well in their place,
but their consideration may well be
postponed to a
m ire convenient period when u question is mooted
which concerns the honour of the country. Next
year or the year after might do for home reforms,
but foreign matters wilt not wait. The
great world meanwhile spins for ever down the
ringing grooves of change, and the opportunity

once lost cannot be recalled. Perhaps we -may dis-
cover the secret of the shortcomings eN men in
office in the fact that their misdeeds are slurred
over, and their measures supported at a pinch by
the very men who should stand aloof if they sought
to be true to the policy they advocate, and the con.
stituents they represent. It is too bad to hear a
member of Parliament declare to hiff constituents
that if we had pee to war we shonid have been
beaten, " a war with all Germany on behalf of the
Danes would almost certainly have been a failure/
This is an imputation on the English nation that is
quite uncalled for. "All Germany" would have
looked vary foolish if the attempt bad been made,
and it is especially ridiculous to put forward such a
statement when it is a fact patent to the world that
it, was the love and not the fear of Germany that
actuated cur policy. These in high places were too
frightened of the harm we should inflict on that
country, and consequently the Danes were sacrificed.
What, if in the pe ace-offering our national honour
had to ba immolated, the sacrifice was not deemed
too great considering the occasion that called it
forth.

This is not the season that we usually associate
with the sufferings of the poor. Want and suffer-

ing there must be, we know, all the year round in
more or less degree, especially when a sickly season
or slackness of work increase the ordinary hard-
ships of the lower classes. But winter is the time
which poor folks dread, and in which their wants
press most heavily. It is then that cold adds its
numbing influence to hunger, that the system
needs more food, more clothing, more warmth,

just as the necessaries of life rise in price and be•
come consequently more unattainable. It is in
winter time that our workhouses fill, that our re-

lieving societies are in active operation, end that

charitable associations of eveiy kind appeal for

increased help. During the gloomy winter months
we are pained bat not surprised to hear sad tales of
want and poverty even if they reach to the tragic

point of absolute starvation, the frequency of whose
recurrence in cur wealthy metropolis has set wise

and conscientious men to work to devise some

remedy. That such is needed is clearly proved by
the fact that while the bright summer days are