The Sun.
London, England, 1864-11-24 00:00:00

[HE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 24, 1864.

thus that the lesson of free institutions were to be
taught to the unenlightened and oppressed. It is
truly a mournful spectacle to see so great and
flourishing a commonwealth not only physically
desolate but morally deteriorating. But taking
Mr. SEWARD'S words in another sense from his
own, we may remember that GOD has a thousand
ways of saving nations, even in their extremest
peril, and we can only trust that this fiery trial
may purge away all the dross and corruption
which so largely mingled in the first Republic,
and that all that is true and noble in America and
her institutions may emerge purified from the fur-
nace, to result not in the reunion of two hopelessly
severed peoples, but in the establishment of one or
more grew actions, who shall know how to guard
their liberties not only from the assaults of the
spoiler and the despot, but from the no less dan-
gerous attacks of tyranny under the guise of a
Republic.

The members for Taunton have been delivering
addresses to their constituents, and with more than
average success, for, although there was nothing
new to touch upon, they contrived to elicit the
most striking points of notice, and discoursed with
a spirit that was suitable to the occasion. Mr.
MILLS made some very true observations on the
duties of members of Parliament. It is often the
fashion, said he, for members to speak in terms of
disparagement of that assembly to which they
belong and slight the work it performs, whereas,
in reality, it has no light task to perform. " A
working member of Parliament is as much a work-
ing man as any labourer or mechanic in this coun-
try." No one can deny the truth of this who has
at all considered the immense amount of routine
labour which has to be got through besides the legis-
lative duties that necessarily appertain to the lot of
all who are involved in the cares of the political
arena. When, therefore, any particular session
seems dull and commonplace to ordinary observers,
it is not fair to classify the members as idle or iu.
competent to discharge their duties, because really
there are many things to do besides mingling in the
debates that influence the fate of empires and
concern the mighty agencies of peace and war.
Wisely did Mr. MILLS aver that the question as to
which dozen of gentlemen should bask in the
" sunshine of official life" or " wither in the
shade of opposition," was not of so much
consequence as how the business of the
country was carried on. Perhaps this de.
finition way be taken as a very fair and
adequate representation of the present aspect of
affairs and tone of feeling which reigns throughout
society as now constituted. The days of violent
partisanship and ofvehement opposition:are allover,
never in all probability to return in this country,
and instead of the eager seeking for power and the
earnest struggle for place that engrossed the
thoughts of the chief men of the day, we now find
a more modified feeling prevalent, and still more is
the change apparent in those sections of the
public that support them. SCOTT has described
the followers of two giants of political renown in
his usual terse and epigrammatie fashion, thus—
,4 Under each banner, proud to stand,
Looked up the noblest of the land."
But for minor eharacters and meaner belongings
there was much to deprecate and censure in the
mode of carrying on affairs. Without pluming
ourselves upon having attained to anything like
perfection, it may fairly be stated that much has
been done to ameliorate the state of things, and to
infuse a sentiment of general interest instead of
that limited view that only embraced particular
ideas, and studied private and particular claims.
Mr MILLS actually had the courage to refer to
the Schleswig-Holstein question ; this by common
cansent has been rather put aside of late in the
discourses upon public topics, but it is as well that
mention should occasionally be made and notice
taken of that affair, disgraceful thought it be to
the Government and discreditable to the fair
fame of the country. This " vexed question," as
_it
may par excellence be termed, was not entered into
at length however, but the hon. member sought to
illustrate the practical results that had ensued from
the debate that took place on the subject. It is
satisfactory to think that there is some foundation
for the conclusion he arrived at. From the expres-
sions on both sides of the House, he considered that
" the Dano-Germanic debate made a lasting impres-
sion, and showed by the mighty voice of England
that the English people would no longer tolerate a
which one moment would
systemattemptof g
to i conciliate,n
and the next in bombastic
despatches attempt to intimidate all allies, disap-
point all proteges, and bring discredit upon our
f foreign
SOTEREIGN and upon our country." Such may
confidently be looked upon as the chief lesson to be
learned from the varied turns of the debate and dis-
cussions which ensued on this subject, and however
reluctantly people may agree to the fact of the
censure virtually passed upon the executive Go-
vernment, the fact is nevertheless patent to the
world, and it is not probable that upon a future oce
casion such lash.* conduct will be attempted; or, if
it should be, it certainly will not be tamely brooked.
The concluding passage of Mr MILLS' discourse was
excellent, and it would be well if the sentiments it
expressed were more generally current ; at all events
it is satisfactory to find any one coming forward to
denounce the senseless views of those who reiterate
the cry of peace-at-any•price, and have succeeded
in dragging into their meshes some who should
know better and see further than to be taken in by
such cajolery and trickery, After declaring that
our:aim should not,be so ranch to preserve an empire
on which the sun never set, and to which Rome in her
culminating glory could not compare, as to maintain
intact and inviolat3 the honour of the nation ; he
said that he was for peace, but not for an any price
acceptation of that term," He would not speak one
one word to provoke his neighbour, but if he was
dragged into the conflict he was ready ; he .hoped
they should have and keep an honourable peace, but
if not, all he could say was, that if that honourable
peace should not be gained until' they had fough
the fight, then

" Then come the battle when it may,
And God defend the right."
Surely it is wiser and truer for those who represent
the feelings of the country in the Legislature to
speak out like this, than to try a shuffling style
of policy which ends by confessing hopelessly and
entirely loses the landmarks which should always
separate the expedient from the lawful mode of pro.
ceeding, even as they are divided by the eternal
divisions of unerring truth and unchanging justice.
Mr MILLS' speech is more in accordance with the
old spirit of the country, which should not bi-
buffered to die cut amid all the inven-

tions and innovations of modern improvements.
Mr. CAVENDISH BENTINCK followed in much the
same strain, and in adverting to the old story of
wrong and woe, he said that the conduct of the
Government seemed synonymous with that of a
man who had made up his betting-book so that
in any case he must lose. Even so hed our astute
administrators contrived matters in their vocation,
that wkichever nation triumphed England must
suffer reproach for the way in w hich her councils
had been managed. Speaking with authority as
one of the few who heard Lord PALMERSTON'S
celebrated announcement, Mr. BENTINCK declared
that his impression was that he meant what he