The Sun.
London, England, 1864-09-10 00:00:00

hurt a few individuals engaged in speculations ; on the

other side of the Atlantic it will be the wreck of a nation's
destinies. Our journals goes on the library tables of several
hundreds of Northern politicians, both Republican and
Democrat, and what we have to say on so momentous a
question is narrowly scanned by probably more than ten
times that numbsr of Northern eyes. May it please the
All-wise, who is the Ruler of North and South alike, that
our warning come not too late.
The vision of peace is not a mirage. It is the real view
of solid land, full of promises of future prosperity, and
with ample space for Federals and Confederates. There
are two approaches to it ; one, marked out by foolish pride
and counselled by political knavery, which leads to Certain
destruction; the other, which it requires only common
honesty and a patriotic purpose to find with ease and safety.
In plain words, and dropping metaphor, the North, the
aggressor in this war, and by whom, therefore, the first
advance must be made, has two courses open. It may say
to the South, " We are still able to prolong this war; we
do not even yet abandon all hope of eventual success; but
the war was undertaken under a fatal misapprehension of
its true conditions, and even success could not now give us
what it was undertaken for. While therefore we have still
the power to inflict further injury, we recognise our error,
and offer you a fair and honourable peace." T•
which the South would reply :—" The continent is
large enough for us both. Since we must occupy it jointly
I for my part will not be a bad neighbour. All our
former troubles arose from our being artifically linked to-
gether by a tie which chafed us both. This broken, there
is no cause left why we should not live side by side in
mutual peace and harmony. It is true I owe you no favours,
but neither do Ito the rest of the world ; and if I have any
favours to bestow, they will belong to that Power which
first recognises my just rights, based upon the logic of his-
torical facts and the principles of government for which
your father and mine once fought the same battles." There
would be dignity and self-respect in such language from the
North to the South, and there would be good faith and sin-
cerity in such a reply from the South,
Or the North may address the South somewhat after the
fashion that the plotter of a villany slyly pokes his expected
accomplice in the ribs—" We, the Democrats, are now in the
ascendancy. The Republicans, silly fanatics, were such
imbeciles, and got so drunk with the unaccustomed nectar
of patronage and office, that the country turned them out
in a fit of disgust, and we, ycur old allies, are now the
North. Come back to us, and give us votes in the Senate
and in the House, for without it they may come in again
when the people forget their nausea. There, now, we will
hang a few of them, if that pleases you, or at least so
frighten the whole lot, that Abe shall cut his jokes in
Exeter-hall, and Butler seek the tender mercies of London
brewers, and every cheap hotel in all Europe be filled with
New England orators and contractors. Have slavery, and
any guarantees for it Sou may want. Have your own
way in everything. Only do, do come back into the
Union." To which the South will reply—" Democrats of
the North, who hold this language, you are self-seekers