The Sun.
London, England, 1864-07-04 00:00:00

The Weather—Sun Office, July 4, 1864.

THERMOMETER.
This day at Two o'clock 67

Barometer-29.69.
`WIND—N.W. ; moderate breeze and fine.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
Tins Da.Y.—Mornfng, :2h. 15m.—Afternoon, 2h. 40m.,
ro-mostßow.-Morning, 2a. 592:1.—Afternoon, c:3h. 13w.

SUIT,

LONDON, MONDAY, JULY 4, 1864.

The House of Commons meets to-night under
circumstances of the utmost interest and impor-
tance. The result of the debate to be commenced
this evening will, it is no exaggeration to say, be
awaited with anxiety, not only by politicians and
partiz Ana, but by the country and by Europe. The
question at stake is not the rise or fall of a States-
man, the triumpl; or downfall of a Party. It is
not a question between Lord P - ALMERSTON and
Lord DERBY, between Mr. GLADSTONE and
Mr. DISRAELI. It is not even a question of peace
or war, it is a question, to us Englishmen, of far
more importance—it is a question which vitally
concerns the honour and faith of England. It is
not so much that our supremacy in the councils of
Europe is at stake; much as we may justly value
that, there is something still dearer to us all—our
own national integrity and self-respect. This
integrity and self respect, we believe, may, as we
have more than once reiterated, be even yet
honourably maintained without War. Whoever
car accomplish that desirable result is the man of
the hour, the Minister for the people, no matter
what his party. If Lord PALMERSTON and Lord
RUSSELL can achieve this object, their triumph
in the division will be right welcome. If, as they
seem to intimate, that power has slipped from their
1•4°1?, then, indeed, their defeat will be a subject
Of general satisfaction. The present is one of those
occasions so justly recognised by Sir ROBERT PEEL
on the subject of the Corn Laws, when the inte-
rests of Party must give way to the paramount
interests of the people. Willie these grave inte •
rests are at hula, it is somewhat surprising to
notice the gay flip/Ailey with which Lord PAL.
MER
Master of the Trinity-
house,STON on Saturday, an
proposed the health of her
MAJESTY'S
Ministers at the customary banquet. Equally
amazing, under the circumstance?, is the language
of another veteran statesman at ,
another banquet
which took place on Saturday. At the Law Amend-
ment Society's Dinner, Lora BROITGIIAM actually
designated the present disastrous resultof attempted
arbitration as " a step in social progress." I can.
not help feeling it," said the noble lord, "as rather
a step in social progress, that instead of having
recourse to arbitrament of the sword, we should
have recourse only to serious complaint and reason.
ing with the wrongdoer—that we should rather try
the effect of the moral influence and the expressed
opinion of the public who are wholly disinterested
both on one side and the other—that we should have
made protestations, have given our advice, and have
entered into those negotiations in order to support
the right and to condemn the wrong—l say that it
is a step in eaciai progress, that having done all
this, we should stop short of actual force and refuse
to throw away oar forces in an impassible expedi-
tion for the sake of revenging the injury that
has been done to others. I am, however, far

from insinuating that any menace or any threat,
either directly uttered or in any language which
could be construed into a threat, should ever be used.
I hope that nothing of the kind has been used (!) If
such have been used, I must say that it has been a
very grave error." A very grave error, indeed, as
judged by the result. The "step in social
progress," which we are called upon to
admire, leaves our confiding friends at the
mercy of relentless foes. Had Captain PEN effec-
tually stayed the arm of Captain SWORD,
then, indeed, we should be ready with
Lord BROUGHAM to exult in this " step in social
progress," bat when the result of the pacific inter-
ference has only betrayed the victim and exasperated
the offender we cannot for the life of us recognise the
advantage. To fold our arms and behold the
destruction of friends we have deluded by false
promises, may be a " step in aucial progress," but
it is certainly not the cond act for which England
has been hitherto distinguished.

The new Holy Alliance is not likely to obtain
the renown of its predecessor, although it may
become notorious in its way notwithstanding.
Russia, Austria, and Prussia seem determined to
keep their affairs constantly before the world. The
game has been carried on for some time, and no
matter how numerous are the victims, provided
only that the despotic and tyrannical Powers can
hold their own, and prosecute their plans. Poland
was the special mark for sacrifice last year, and now
Denmark and the Duchies are doomed. M,
Bls-
MARK'S communication to the Count de GOLTZ, at
Paris, is a remarkable production, and especially at
the present juncture it beats a deep significance.
It proves the insatiable love of power that seems to
possess the Powers alluded to, and their determi-
nation to leave no effort untried in order to accom-
plish their ends. The chief object of the despatch
is to acquaint the Count with the substance of
what had passed at the meeting of the Sovereigns.
The Emperor ALEXANDER made certain proposals
to King WILLIAM, which are descanted upon. It
was all along understood, by those who were at all
initiated into the secret of affairs, that the real
object of this meeting was to consider the crisis
now at hand in pubis matters, though the
pretext of ill health founded a very good ostensible
reason for arranging the convenient mode of
rencontre. M. BISMARK rejoices at the favourable
attitude which the Cabinet of St. Petersburg as-
sumes towards them in the question of the Duchies.
It appears that there is only one point of differ-
ence between the combining parties, being as to
the right of succession. The CZAR wishes the
Duke of OLDENBURG to be chosen, while M.
BISMARX emphatically declares the' lively sym-
pathies" of the Prussian R)yal family are in favour
of Prince AUGSTENBURG. It would have astonished
many persons a short time back could they have
conceived the faintest notion of what extremities
would occur. That in the present enlightened age,
renowned for its march of freedom and its love of
liberty, it should happen that the Sovereigns of
various States should meet together and deliberately
plan and propose to dismember Duchies, to confis-
cate the property of other nations, and to pit; their
own puppets in nomination for the rule, would
appear incredible. They seem to think that they
can emulate the arbitrary doings and sweeping
changes of the first NAPOLEON, without possessing
a tithe of his genius, his skill, or his martial
prowess. It is, indeed, a reproach to the
'Western Powers of Europe that such a
contretemps elenuld have occurred, es this meeting
of the Powers of the German league with the Auto•
crat of the North. France may deplore the cir-
camstanceq, but no blame really attaches itself to
her ruler or her Ministers. Without comir.g into
collision with England it was impossible to make
any salutary change or to effect any important ob-
ject. Had Earl RUSSELL done nothing at all, and
left the French EMPEROR alone, it is certain that
these sad casualties would not have occurred. He
persisted in taking the lead, and the result has been
confusion worse confounded to all the parties con-
cerned. It is a striking instance of the harm that
is wrought by the want of decision, and the absence
of a firm and decided tone in matters of this kind.
We have been told that if we kept quiet, things
would right themselves, and peace be preserved. If
it is so, at what a cost has it been gained. M.
BISMARK triumphantly avers that the "moral'
and, if necessary, material concurrence of Russia''
is secured to their policy. 'Phis is a pretty pass for
England to come to; while she has been inactive,
the destinies of Europe have been handed over to
the tyrant who rules on principles diametrically
opposed to the fundamental doctrines of her constie
tution. It is as idle as insulting for a Cabinet to
declare that they cannot help it; they ought to
have done so. M. BISMARK announces as one of
the chief points of his intelligence that the
Emperor ALEXANDER and Prince GORTSCHAKOPF
distil-x:ly gave them to understand that "it would
be desirable from every point of view to sign a
treaty or convention between the three Powers
which should be based on the reciprocal guarantee
of the territory of each Power !" This is decided,
at all events, and the meaning of it must be that
the three States are to assist each other all they can
and make common cause against all efforts at
freedom or escape on the part of the oppressed.
Stripped of the circumlocution of detail with which
ministerial and official harangues surround the
subject, this is the. real conclusion to arrive at.
Austria has proved the sharpest in the affair, for
the suggestion that " Russia should declare in an
unequivocal manner that she will give her material
assistance to Prussia and Austria, in the event of
a war with the Western Powers for the affairs of
the Duchies," is a master-stroke of policy. The
Cabinet of St. Petersburg is anxious to settle the
details of the vexed Polish question, and wishes for
the concurrence of the two Powers, hence the Cabinet
of Vienna intends to make political capital out of
the business, and obtain some sign of support and
token of assistance from the mighty forces of the
CZAR, before pledging itself to concurrence in the
views and wishes of the EIIPEROR and his confi
dential assistant, Prince GORTSCHAKOFP. It is a
sad and solemn spectacle to see the star of liberty
on the wane, as it undoubtedly and assuredly is
with these conclaves and consultations, these meet-
ings and manoeuvres. After centuries of struggle,
and when so much misery has been endured for the
cause of freedom, it is now forced upon us as nu•
welcome intelligence indeed, but not less authentic,
that the present is a dark era in the history of inde-
pendent nations. Those who should do something
are inactive; those who do harm are remarkably
zealous in the performance of their ungracious and
unworthy tasks. If the leading Powers of Europe
are to be the members of this Holy Alliance, it is
indeed time for these who have the integrity
and independence of nations at heart to be up and
doing. Hope
may well bid the world farewell for
a season if the sovereigns who met at Kissingcn are
to be the arbiters of the destinies of peoples, and
th'e deciding judges from whom there is no appeal.

There is no more difficult subject for
legislation
the n our dealings with half civilized nations. l-
is 1 3asy enough to frame a treaty, to decide which
poi Is shall be open to our commerce, and what shall
tf,.e limit of foreign intrusion in the country;

neither is it difficult to provide that Etropeans
shall be held responsible to their own Governments
for any misconduct, and to stipulate that the native
authorities shall punish their own subjects for any
infraction of the treaty. All these matters are
very easily arranged on paper, but no sooner are
commercial relations actively established than a
thousand little difficulties spring up with which
it is very embarrassing to deal. Englishmen, who
are unfortunately by no means remarkable for
courtesy or deference to local prejudice in more
civilised countries, are often reckless and rude in
their bearing towards the crafty, cruel, and
treacherous native, who seldom or never fails in
outward observances. The traders, too, are often
regardless of anything but the interests of trade,
and push their advantages mercilessly. The autho-
rities, overawed by superior strength, are afraid
openly to break the terms of the treaty, but are
very willing to overlook any breach of it on the
part of their dependants. The natives, on their
side, who have been professing good-will while
cherishing a hidden animosity, often play their part
with knife and dagger, so that the agreement
which began so smoothly is very apt to end
in a tedious and costly war. There are
many unavoidable obstacles to the main-
tenance of a friendly feeling between such
opposite races. The energy and bustle which is
the soul of commercial enterprise, is quite out of
place in the sleepy and indolent East. The two
races, moreover. do riot yet know bow to deal with
each other. Englishmen are never famous for a
ready comprehension of other men, and the Eastern
nations, as we know, regal d all Europeans as " bar
barians," so that diplomatists and statesmen have
no easy matter to deal with when legislating for the
interests of commerce, and it might easily be fore-
seen that Earl GREY, in moving his resolutions on
Friday night, would find a very plausible ground
for a virtual attack upon the policy we have hitherto
pursued in Japan. Tne nobla E.rl brought forward
a series of charges against Eng;ishmen, both c fficial
and independent, beginning with Sir RUTHERFORD
ALCCCK himself, who went up a road where he had
no right to go, and ending with the riots excited
by intoxicated sailors. There may probably be
grounds for tte general complaint whether or no
the particular instances cited may have been exag-
gerated, but Lord GREY'S resolutions do not tell us
how to remedy the evil in any practical form. The
proposal to submit English subjects to the jurisdic-
tion of Japanese authorities is altogether prepos-
terous, and would never be tolerated by English-
men. It outrages our humanity to witness or even
to hear of the tortures wnich the J panese, in com-
mon with most Eastern nations, ialtct on each other,
while the low value attached to human lifeputs their
administration of justice on a totally differen•
footing from that of any civilised or Caristian com-
munity. Lard GREY says that such a system could
not be worked in Europe, and that if English sailer.
at Havre or New York, or American and French

sailors at Liverpool, were exempt from the inter-
ference of tne police, and could only be dealt with
by their own Ginsuls, it would be impossible to
maintain order in these towns. It is difficult to
understand how toe noble lord could make so extra-

vagant a compari,oo. He can scarcely compare
the traffic at the Japanese ports to the commerce of
Liverpool or New York, but he seems to have totally
overlooked the important fact that all European
nations as well as the American States act upon
recognised principles of law and justice—that
crimes are regarded in the same light, and are
punished in the same proportion, whether at Havre,
New York, or Liverpool, and English authorities
have no reason to expect, when submitting their
subjects to the jurisdiction of those places that they
will hear of an innocent man being koccked on the
head for not performing the ko-tou, or of a man
guilty perhaps of participation in a theft or a riot
being impaled, broken on the wheel, or otherwise
tortured to death. One of the great objects which
civilisation should set before her in entering into
dealings with such semi-barbaric races is the ame-
lioration of their code of justice, and it would be a
very rash and inconsistent beginning to subject our
own people to their jurisdiction. The object which
Lord GREY has in view would be better attained
through the medium of the Consuls, who might be
instructed to keep a strict watch through their I
agents over the conduct of European sailors in
the ports, and to notice promptly and punish
sharply any breach of the public peace. Unfortu-
nately there is now too much, the feeling of hos-
tile parties, the Japanese making common cause
against the English, and vice versa, instead
of the better class of both races combining
to punish offenders. Neither will it do to suppose
that all the blame has been on our aide. The mur-
der of Mr. RIC9ARDSON was an unpardonable act
of wanton aggression, and had it been overlooked,
there would have been no safety for lice or limb
thenceforward in Japan for Europeans. The Go-
vernment then acted well and widely in insisting
upon reparation, and by so doing took the in, st
effectual means of preventing the recurrence of such
an outrage and of avoiding hostilities. We must
secure the great principles of respect for lifo and
property before we can hope to arrange minor mat-
ters. For the rest of the charges the best answer
is given in the words of E.rl RUSSELL'S very tem-
perate and sensible reply to Earl GREY, on Friday,
when he said--" I know of no particular regula-
tions which could be introduced which could remedy
the present state of things, and we can only hope
that while the commercial intercourse itself with
Japan is productive of great benefit, the abuses
which attend upon it will in time be removed by
the exbibitioa of better conduct on the part of our
own countrymen, who have the remedy entirely in
their own hands." It is idle to suppose that any
interference on our part can reconcile the differences
of the Japanese authorities, but we can certainly
take care that no faults of our own pat ns in colli-
sion with the national prejudices, and we trust that
those Englishmen who nave hitherto abused their
power and position will be shamed by the general
deuuncia'ion of their conduct into better and more
peaceable behaviour.

COLLEGE OF PRECEPTORS.—At a meeting of
c-touncit of this corporation, on the 2d jaly, the
diploma of licentiate was granted to Miss Brakie, of Upper
Belgreve-place, and that of associate to Miss S. T. Bayer,
and to Mr George Mosley, of Holgate Seminary, York. The
following gentlemen were elected members of the College :
—Mr G. Adair, York-terrace, Everton, Liverpool—Mr H.
P. E. de St Dalmas, Dartmouth—Miss M. A. Harris, Bland-
ford nous., Reading—Rev. J. Hunter, M.A., Trafalgar-
square, Brompton—Mr John Jones, Grammar School,
Ludlow—Mr Isaac Patchett, Queensbury, near Halifax—
Mr W. H. Rowlett, Church House School, Ealing—Mr S.
Summers, the College, Worthing—Rev. C. Swete, D.D.,
Elm Grove, Ealing—Mr W. C. Taylor, the College
Worth,ng.

AT COMMEMORATION.—It happened, on one
occa.siou, that some lady visitors had accidentally
mingled with the crowd; and even the chivalry of Young
Oxford could not prevent their being sadly crushed. The
young ladies screamed, when a gallant proctor appeared
within the gates and cried ont, " Can you make a road ?"
" Yes," shouted the square caps. "It I open the gates,"
said the proctor, " will you pledge me your honour that
you will not come in ?" " Yes," again shouted the square
ettps. The proctor unlocked the gates and threw them
open; the undergraduates passed the young ladies bawl),
within the railed enclosure--,he proctor locked the gates;
and then, tut not till then, the undergraduates renewed
their struggles to smash the obstacle; whereupon, said the
ooservant proctor—" I glory in being an Oxford proctor ;
for I have had a proof thAt oAtord men are men of honour.'
-olota'on aciety.