The Sun.
London, England, 1852-01-20 00:00:00

accurate measurement. The estimate tends to illus-
trate very remarkably a problem, to many persons
somewhat bewildering, that of the great circle-sail-
ing, so inestimable in the development of navigation.
Beyond thi3, it affects in a peculiar manner a ques-
tion of such vast importance, as to demand from us
most serious and vigilant consideration. It need
scarcely be added, we conceive, that the question here
implied is that of maintaining a resolute opposition
to the secretly aggressive policy of the Russian
AnIOCRAT. Without a continuance of this system
of obstruction to the Czau, England is unquestion-
ably liable to witness the advance of that very formi-
dable power farther onwards in a southerly and wes-
terly direction, until it may ultimately intercept the
line of ordinary communication between this country
and its Asiatic dominions. Considering the extraor-
dinary value of preserving this particular route unin-
terrupted by any such enormous interposition, it
assuredly behoves us as a nation to watch with un-
sleeping caution the progress of events, and to ob-
serve with dispassionate but scrutinising attention the
tendency of our diplomatic negotiations. Under any
situation of affairs this course would, without doubt,
have been advisable. Under present circumstances it
becomes absolutely and imperatively requisite. Lord
PALMERSTON, the most truly patriotic and thoroughly
English of our administrators, having been
succeeded by a Minister strongly imbued with
predilections for northern absolutism, it be-
comes the bounden duty of all really interested
in the welfare of the State to throw aside their apathy
and to turn to the examination of matters thus inti-
mately connected with the stability of the colossal
but scattered empire of Great Britain. Unless some
scrutiny of this kind be attempted the people of Eng-
land are so situated as to be in peril of being suddenly
awakened to the knowledge of an irreparably lost
opportunity. Of the possibility of this surprise we
are more fully satisfied than we are even of that
other danger which comes nearer home to ourselves
as a community, the danger arising from the inde-
fensible position of the island--of the reality and
magnitude of which danger, moreover, the multitude
has been assured not merely by Sir FRANCIS HEAD,
but by one also n.ot likely to be an alarmist without
much reason, no less illustrious a personage than

whether in the shaps of " co-operative" works, un-
practised parties entering into the line for the first
tire, or of smaller employers extending
their business—must necessarily be unfavourable.
The absence of capital or axperience may be compen-
energy, in id activity of the men, who
sated by the zeal,
feel that their very existence is at stake, and will
spare no exertion to Aron tote the interests of those
who aid them during the pi 'esent emergency.
But why, we ask once more, may not these matters
be amicably and satisfactorily arranged ? Why may
not hostilities be suspended; before irreparable injuries
are sustained, which must equally damage all the
belligerents ? The poi nts in dispute are not
slight concession on either side ought
:3o very complicated that ti ley may not be readily un-
tvou/d"—bo sufficient to arrange these
d_e rws teo oddo,
saanyd
unhappy and deplorable differences. But, unfortu-
nately, the central commi':tee of employers have as -
sumed a position very different from any which they
had occupied at any former period. They have de-
termined on gaming an unconditional victory
at any cost or any sacrifice ; they will
lirsten abide to
ide no
by
rem
no ons
judgment N
submit to no arbitration,
o
; every thing must be
decided their own way,
uadnee
or they will continue
"on the strike." There must, in fact, be an
unconditional and slavish submission before they
their establishments ! will consent to re-open

.•
Now, we confess that we never lookedupon the case
of
athe employers unfavourable light until we
re
official manifesto put forward from the offices
in Bucklersbury, and signed "SIDNEY SMITH,
d the in an
secretary
the
of
fuagthe of a the
Central Association." It is, to
u morning contemporary, " bold,
confident,
aggressive,
unforgiving, and
unconciliatory. It is
s et
e i
haughty,
not the " calm and digni-
fied remon,tranco" which should proceed from parties
conscious of the strength of their own position,
and desirous
in'fsiss:vin others from the formidable
consequences s and unavailing attacks. They
upon their right `'to do as they
strenuously
of ueie
like wizh their own.'_..a principle which we have
never seen prominently put forward on any occasion
since its adoption by the lste Duke of NEWCASTLE,
without knowing that those resorting to it were
decidedly in tile wrong. They steadfastly—some
may call it by a harsher designation refuse

all interference ; they will not abide the
e
judgment of any t
any arbitrator; howelr,irl)un di exalted,"All
want is to be let alone. With less they will not be
however
hy of
satisfied. Unless they accomplish that they will not
reopen their establishments." They thus con-
stitute themselves the sole judges in their
e,yn cause, repudiating the disinterested and un-
prejudiced counsels that may be offered.
We should not have opposed the employers under
ot her circumstances, at least until their case hi:d been
folly and clearly heard, and found to be wanting.
Wo confess that our sympathies were with them,
r.;.lier than with their adversaries ; but we cannot
forget that the Irian have offered to submit to arbitra-
tion, and that they have refused to accept
this amicable selution of their differences. This is
prima facie evidence that they are in the
wrong. They have now appealed to public opinion,
and they cannot complain if that opinion should be
unfavourable, so long as they exhibit a similar per-
versity. Let the olive-branch be once extended—
let the employers show fi disposition to deal
fairly ,with their workmen, and they will do more to
show the impropriety and uselessness of tradcs' unions
ban can be effected by the use of the most stringent
lauguAge. In all kindliness and friendship,
then, we earnestly implore the combatants,
masters and men, to listen to reason, and be willing,
if necessary, to strain a point in order to restore the
mutual friendship that has been shaken, but, we
trust, not utterly destroyed.