The Sun.
London, England, 1864-09-05 00:00:00

The Northerners remonstrated. "The majority
must rule finally either with bullets or bal-
lots." This was not the creed of GEORGE
WASHINGTON and his compeers, but it is
strange to see the inconsistency displayed by the
Unionists, whose very name, as Mr. BENJAMIN ob-
served, "United States" implies a partnership, not
an identification of interests. The language of Mr.
DAVIS was worthy of himself and his position, and
displayed the unalterable resolve of the South to
their independence. The North has yet to letrn the
lesson, but the crime of the war now lies at their
door, and they cannot palliate it, since the Southern
leader has said, in plain words, that slavery is no
part of the matter, and that he will receive any pro.
posals for peace on the basis of Southern indepen-
dence. How long will the North refuse to ex-
knowledge the national existence of that zom-
Dannity which all Europe has long since recognised
as an established fact ?

Last Saturday Lord PALMERSTON had a gracious
task to perform, albeit it was tinged with sadness.
Those who occupy a prominent position in life have
no more significant and solemn duties to discharge
than to pay their tribute of respect and add their
mite of approbation to their competitors and co-
adjutors in the race of life. The noble lord who
unveiled the statue to the memory of the late Sir
GEORGE CORNWALL LEWIS has often been fated
to behold such scenes and take part in such efforts
to honour the dead and encourage the survivors.
It has long been an undisputed maxim that De
mortius nil nist bonum, but we look for something
more than this when those who have done their best
daring the span of their earthly existence to serve
their Sovereign and country and to win the esteem
of their fellow men are called away from among us.
The strife of politics and the tumultuous strife of
party zeal are hushed at the portals of the tomb;
and appropriately so, for its occupant has passed
away for ever from its vanity and its vexations. It
is fitting that whenever any particular ability and
excellence are displayed, due note should be made
of such attributes after death. "To live in hearts
we leave behind is not to die;" and no better
consolation can irradiate the dying hours of the de-
parted, or cheer and sustain his friends who sur-
vive him, than the thought that the pas-
sage through this transitory state has been
employed in a manner at once honest and
honourable. Sir G. CORNEWALL LEWIS was a
good type of an English Statesman, firm and de-
cided
in his bearing, and consistent in his character.
Such men are of value to the State they serve and
an inestimable advantage to the country. Their
lives are precious possessions to their fellow-subjects
and incentives to more weak and wavering natures
to persevere in the road of rectitude and strive to
exert them to the utmost of their capacity. As the
Rev. ARCHER ELIDE declared when he requested
Lord PALMERSTON to uncover the statue, they ask
him to " sanction the exaggerated praise of a lying
epitaph, for they had placed nothing on the base
of that statue which everyone capable of judging
could not affirm to be truth. The terms that record
that Sir GEORGE CORNEWALL LEWIS was "a wise
and honest Statesman, a profound scholar, and a
kind and firm friend'' are strictly true, and perhaps
in these simple words we get a picture of more solid
and enduring excellence than we could meet with in
more elaborate descriptions, of more showy quali-
ties, and more striking achievements. Mr. ELICE
spoke earnestly and impressively as to the high
esteem in which the departed Statesman was held
by all who knew him, and those then present in
especial, they had had ample opportunities of wit-
nessing that course of life which never made him
a single enemy ; ";and," concluded there's'. gentle-
man, "let us do all we can to hand down
to posterity the knowledge that one great and
eminent Statesman has risen up amongst us
that among the gentry of England one was found,
as I believe many more will be found whenever they
are wanted, to serve his country well, and fill the
highest and most important offices of the State."
Lord PALMERSTON appeared to enter fully into the
spirit of the scene before him, which, to him, must
have contained particular attraction and suggested
stirring thoughts. He whom he came to honour
was his friend and colleague, and in doing homage
to his memory he celebrated the last solemn cere-
mony w high this world can witness regarding the
career of its distinguished men. They henceforth
belong to the past and the future—the present
i 3 over for ever with them, and all must be moved
when they reflect upon the important effect a few
years of public life may produce upon the reputa-
tion of the statesman himself and the interests of
the country he serves, His Lordship's address was
worthy of the occasion, and it is very fortunate
that he was able to be present, for no one else could
so well have filled his place. It was particularly
his mission to come forward and do his. utmost in
rendering the meed of approbation and approval to
his departed friend. He could speak what he did
know concerning him who wes that day the com-
mon subject of all thoughts, and no one had a better
right to comment upon the character and attain..
menta of the Minister who was the first to recognise
his aptitude and abilities. A moral may surely be
conveyed to the rising generation in the career of
Sir G. LEwIS, and in Lord PALMERSTON'S impret-
sive address we can see his whole career mapped
out before us, an instance of what perseverance can
accomplish, and a picture of what intellect and in•
tegrity can perform. His Lordship observed that
they were assembled to " confer posthomous honour
on a great and distinguished Statesman who, by the
inscrutable decrees of PROVIDENCE, was taken from
us prematurely." This is another proof of the ex-
tent of the acquirements and performances of the
late Statesman, because his time was short, compa-
ratively speaking, to have made for himself so ex-
tended and enduring a reputation both privately and
leading points ofPAME
h
publicly. Lord
LisoßarSeTeOrN,
atnoudchmedostusptornongthlye
upon his
good
isestimable qualities which gained
dwelth
imun
will, and prevented the express
sion of those angry feelings that often occur in
public life. His power of performance was remark-
ably great, for he kept up his pursuit of knowledge
while he faithfully discharged his onerous duties
in official life. Lord PALMERSTON declared that
his great objet'; was to ascertain truth, and he pos-
sessed that desire in a greater degree than any one
else whom he had met. The noble lord concluded
his eloquent speech in moat impressive language, and
it =not be denied that ho made an address worthy
of the occasion and the subject. After declaring
that the erection of the statue was a becoming act
he went on to say, "And I hope that these whom
I am addressing, and those who may follow their
generation after generation, when they pass this
statue will say, " This is the statue of a man dear
to his country, who rendered important services to
his country, who served his Sovereign and his fel-
lovv-countrymen with honesty of purpose, and with
successful results." Further, Lord PALMERSTON
added that such a career as that before them should
serve as au incentive to exertion and an inducement
to excellence, very truly observing that even where
the same abilities were not present much might be
done by care and attention. The PREMIER made
a most useful deduction from .the example of his
departed friend when he told the assembly there
present to do him honour, that they might gain by,