The Sun.
London, England, 1864-06-29 00:00:00

would be impossible beforehand to estimate—then,
although these circumstances supply the most cogent
reasons for avoiding hostilities, Coey equally furnish
to the opponents of the Ministerial policy grounds
for questioning the wisdom of a course which they
allege has brought the nation to the brink of such
great calamities. Lord Palmerston, and, for that
matter, any Minister who hoped to hold office for a
single day, would not venture to declare that no-
thing save the invasion of the British dominions
could force thie country to go to war. It was cone
ceded, sad indeed was expressly admitted by the
Prime Minister, that under certain contingencies
it would become necessary to reopen the vexed
question of English neutrality, and consequently if
there be a point beyond which German ag,gressio n
should not be allowed to proceed, it is open to (31.?,-
mission whether it would not have been more politic
to interpose before that point was reached. Wr o
have more than once had occasion to notice the
startling resemblances between the events of th©
past few months and those which immediately pre•
ceded the Crimean war. Thi t war was, as our readers
will recollect, utterly disbelieved in by the majority
of the public until our ambassador had taken his
departure from St. Petersburg. Whatinterest have
we, or what obligation is imposed upon us of going
to war in defence of turkey, were questic ns to
which few indeed could be found to give other than
a negative reply. Russia crossed the Pruth, just as
Austria and Prussia crossed the Eider ; and the for-
mer act, like the latter, failed to excite active in-
tervention on the part of Great Britain. But,
nevertheless, we went to war in 1854, and now, ten
years later, we are likely to follow a similar course.
The Cabinet of Lord Aberdeen was blamed for have
ing, by its vacillation and supineness, permitted the
country to drift into war, and now it is urged that
the Cabinet of Lord Palmerston is on the same
grounds open to censure for allowing matters to
reach a pass when, whether we like it or not, Nye
may be compelled to take up arms. However
favourable may be the construction which the more
hopeful will gladly put upon the Ministerial policy,
no doubt can exist in the calm observer's mind that
the time has come when we must combat realities
with other weapons than honeyed phrases and ver-
bose protestations. Diplomacy has confessedly
failed, and a plain matter of fact question will now
present itself for solution. If it was worth our
while to take an active part in a pending dispute,
thereby risking our national prestige, jeo-
pardising our influence with Continental
States, and incurring no small degree of odium, is
it also worth our while in the same cause to ems
ploy those means of persuasion which are not
unfitly designated the "last reasoning of kings."
If we have hitherto endeavoured to save Denmark
from annihilation by preaching moderation to the
aggressors, it is less from sympathy with the Scandi-
navian monarchy than from motives of self-interest.
We cannot afford to see the key of the Baltic in the
possession of a great European Power ; and there
tore it is that England, of all neutral States, has
taken so warm an interest in the Dano-German
dispute. But wherefore, it will be asked, manifest
this interest ; wherefore tender counsel ; wherefore
preach resignation to one belligerent, and modera-
tion to anuther, if behind all this there is not a
fixed intention to fulfil some more arduous duty
than that which devolves upon a self-appointed
adviser ? Philanthropy, and love of harmony and
peace, are sentiments, no doubt, very praiseworthy
in themselves; but it is seldom, if ever, that a field
is presented for their exhibition in the arena of in-
ternational disputes. We regretted and continue
to regret the intestine strife which desolates the
United States of America ; but neither our love of
peace nor our horror of bloodshed ever prompted us
to try and effect a reconciliation between the com-
batants. Motives of self-interest led us to adopt a
different course in respect to the Deno- German war,
and as our mediatorial offices have been unattended
with success, it is important now to determine how'
an issue has been brought about by which the
national interests are prejudiced.