The Sun.
London, England, 1864-06-25 00:00:00

capable of such contemptible paltering with
duty. It is not for ns to anticipate the state-
ment that will be made on Monday, nor to sal
whether it will or will not be accepted by the
house ; but that it will be inconsistent with the
character, or ix opposition to the antecedents, of
the great statesman wbo makes it, it is not believed
even by those who have the hardihood to contradict
the faith and reason of the English people. The
' Prime Minister's reply to Mr. Disraeli's question
on Thursday fits, however, been described as apolo-
getic and deprecatory, and it is assumed that the
statement to be made on Monday will be alarming.
It is departing from our practice to notice these
rude and probably unauthorised assaults, and we
only advert to them in this instance because, in the
agitation and impatience of the hour, any boldly
affirmed rumour obtains a bearing. Such randoul
assertions cannot affect the result, but they map
contribute to the aggravation of an excitement it a
wise to endeavour to moderate. Any one who
thinks before he speaks on this subject must ineviti
tably come to the conclusion that, as far as England
and the English Minister are concerned, there to
nothing to be ashamed of, to be afraid of, or to be
uncertain about. The protocols of the Conference
will show that this country has made every effortr
to preserve peace, and that surely is not a matted
for apology. The Conference, too, if it was propose.
by the Government, was sanctioned by Parliamee,"
and by no perversion of argument can its failure 0:
laid at the door of the British Cabinet. In point
of fact, very few, we apprehend, ever believed that
the Conference would succeed ; but it was felt, a%
the Opposition shared in the feeling, that we ought
to exhaust all means of obtaining a
Pacific solution
of the pending difficulty. But now, when what
was from the first to be expected Las come to pass
and the Government have to shape their coal
accordingly, it is predicted that their policy willalarm and astonish the Christian and civilised
"
world. It is exceedingly difficult to de
calmly with such language used in such a
crisis. We believe, however, that, so far froze
causing alarm, the Ministerial statement will
express firmly, but temperately, the sentiments
the country. That we may be compelled to take
part in a war we have done our utmost to bring ti°,
a conclusion by negotiation, is probable. Bet
England afraid or tutpra pared for war ? Are our
ships rotten ? Are our arms rusty ? Do we 'shrill'
from the sound of a trumpet ? Is the spirit of the
nation dead ? A day or two will show hew 11"
founded these suspicions are, and perhaps also der
r"
monstrate the motives which inspired them. :
do not imagine that any measures the Government
may propose to Parliament in the national interest
will reconcile the Opposition to exclusion from office,
and for obvious reasons they are now most violently
assailing the Premier. But we are satisfied 041
the country will consider its honour before the On:
bition of a party, and that, if the people are called
to pronounce their opinion, it will be made manifest
that at no period of his long and eventful career WO
Lord Palmerston more conspicuously than be 11°1/
is the Minister of England.