The Sun.
London, England, 1864-10-28 00:00:00

posed lest this or that circumstance should affect
its efficiency or mar its progress. Disheartening
as this may be, it is perhaps the wisest course to
adopt, and discretion may thus lead the way which
valour pursues to victory. There is no use in mak-
ing too sure or being foolhardy. Lord PALMER.
STON very truly stated that a great change had taken
place in all affairs of the Navy, and this country
has lost the start she had, and all have had to veer
round and take a fresh course. Without entering
into details, it may safely be affirmed that the truest
and soundest policy is that here advocated.
"Whoever may be at the head of affairs, I hope
they will always consider the maritime power of
this country as paramount to es erything else,
although for some time to come it will not prove a
perfect guarantee for our safety." If this idea is
entertained by statesmen, it will be their surest
safeguard, and in the end the want of se'
curity will be their prelude to success if
they use and not abuse their opportunity.
In discoursing upon agriculture Lord MALMESBURY
took a wide view of his requirements, and appro-
priately observed that it was very difficult to sepas
rate politics from agriculture, however people may
try to do so, and discuss the propriety and desks
ability of the separation takitg place. Looking at
the subject under this aspect it assumes a weightier
degree of importance, and people who are prone to
think that farmers have no minds beyond their
fields, may consider that the very fact of the pros-
perity of those fields obliges them to take a more
comprehensive view of matters than at first sight
might appear necessary or probable. The sowing
of wheat or turnips is not more essential to the
consideration of the farmer than the state of
the politics of the day, and, as Lord MALMESBURY
said, beyond that the politics of Europe are con-
nected with his best interests and engage his
hopes and fears. Thus, for instance, he is affected
by peace or war, in a manner, as much as any one
in the land, and the topics which bear upon the one
or treat of the other may therefore surely engage
his attention and awaken his interests. Lord
MALMESBURY did not content himself with uttering
the platitudes which so often are deemed necessary
at such meetings, but he went on to philosophise, to
speculate, and to define to what extent the duties
of his hearers might be enlarged, and how wide a
scope they might have for their energies in time to
come. He said that the farmers must be sensible
of the great increase of foreign wheat which is now
imported, and that, while our forefathers called it
"submitting" to importation, we must be thankful
for it, because we do not grow enough wheat
for our own subjects. It was very wise of
the noble lord thus to speak out boldly, because it
put a stop to ignorant assertions and absurd sup-
positions as to what might be expected, and what
what was likely to happen from the changes that
time inevitably brings about. Those who occupy
exalted positions in society, and are enabled from
circuirstances to gather extensive knowledge on
various topics, are often themselves and others,
whenever they can, found to supply the details and
descriptions which they have gleaned in their expe-
riences and researches. Thus the noble lord in-
formed his hearers that he was persuaded, from his
opportunities of information, that at " Chicago, in
America, if even now the war ceased, railroads and
canals would be made which would enable any
quantity of wheat, at least whatever quantity was
required, and was remunerative to send to
th,s country, to be imported." This is
exactly the sort of subject to start at a
meeting of this sort, not to be content with busi-
ness that would have done as well ten years back,
and would do equally well ten years hence, but
to go on with the spirit of the age, and the intel-
ligence of the country, to lead men to understand
the requirements of the land, and make themselves
useful in their generation, by availing themselves
of the means which Providence has placed within
their reach, of adapting themselves to the neces-
sities of the occasion, and of employing their ener-
gies in the services that are required, A standstill
course will not do for the farmer any more than
for the mechanic in these days, and the sooner they
find out the truth the better for them and their coun-
try. Lord MALMESBURY strongly deprecated the
meddling policywhich risked our chances of peace by
offending all sides. He concluded by declaring it
to be his conviction that if the Foreign Secretary
could only keep quiet we should be much better off.
This is rather a visionary futurity to look forward
to, because it is next to impossible for Earl Russ
SELL to follow such a course as that predicated,
bat no doubt if he were to do so the country would
occupy a far more dignified position than at present,
and, instead of preaching peace on the borders of
war, we might enjoy its blessings and reap its ad-
vantages without running the risk of being called
cowardly. Such a reproach is sure to attach itself
sooner or later to those who irritate and exasperate,
and then declare that it matters not who are dis-
pleased or offended because they do not mean
to fight. If we resolved to go to war
when honour or interests demanded it, but
not till then, we might have peace, indeed
as useless in name in the spirit esivally as the letter.
Then, as Lord MALMESBURY truly put it, " Under
this blessing, agriculture in this and other countries
will prosper, and we shall enjoy those great liberties
which, thank God, we have enjoyedfornearalnydtwweo
centuries. We shall look back with pride to the
great victories which our ancestors gained,
shall certainly acquire by our calm and dignified
position the respect of other nations, who probably
will then come to us for advice and assistance for
themselves." Certainly such a line of proceedings
will be very different to that which our present
Cabinet have marked out as their course of action,
and the result will be far otherwise to what we can
see around us, and have every reason to prognosti-
cate as the consequence of intolerant haste followed
by a tame and consistent course.