The Sun.
London, England, 1863-04-08 00:00:00

is to animate the leaders of the community, not
much good is to be expected. A more heartless
and cold-blooded addreee could not have been pro-
posed. It sanctions massacre, condemns any conces-
sion, discourages improvement, and altogether advo-
cates a most retrogressive policy. Like all one-sided
reasoners their arguments are most ;nvalid and will
not stand the strong light or the searching tests of
truth. They thus speak in their most important
passages, "The pretensions to the patrimony of
Russia arising from the troubles in Poland excite
our grief and indignation." How can Poland be
the patrimony of any other kingdom ? Cannot the
greed of these grasping men be satisfied with the
knowledge that their EMPEROR rules over the
largest dominion in the world. Next they go on
to say, "The era of reforms inaugurated by your
MAJESTY will not be favourable for the projects
formed against the integrity of the Em-
pire, Surely the first and formost of the
measures worthy of the name of reform should have
been to put down the crying evil that has so long
made the name of Russia a byword and a reproach
wherever justice has ruled and mercy influenced
the minds of men in the thousand homes of the civi-
lised world. If it is the intention of the aristocracy
to persist in this obstructive course, the sooner they
return with all speed to the darkest days of their
barbaric existence the better for their consistency.
Who will admire a people who seek to per-
fect themselves in the arts of civilisation, and to
free themselves as far as possible from the
hurtful influences of thraldom if they only mean to
forge more strongly the fetters, and render more gall-
ing the chains of their fellow-men whom a long
course of unfortunate events has placed in their
power. The last clause ;n the address is evidently
intended as a threat, "The nobility, with all the
other classes of society will not shrink before any
effort or sacrifice to defend the territory of the Em-
pire." This is strong language and manifestly
means something. They are not mere idle sound-
ing words, nor bombastic protests that are to make a
show, but have no substance afterwards. Vex et
preterea nihil does not characterise this Russian
manifesto, and it is to be deeply deplored that such a
tirade should have issued from such an important
class of the Empire, one so renowned for their pre-
judices, and so often the objects of terror to their
Sovereign. If there were any foundation in the
report, that the EMPEROR intended to grant Poland
a separate political existence, this obstinate conduct
is the more to be regretted. It is to be trusted, for
his own credit, however, that ALRXANDER enter-
tains that idea. Whether successful or not in car-
rying it out, it will be a herald of promise and an
augury of hope for the future and whenever the
dawn of a happier day shall dawn on that afflicted
!mei. and harrassed people, the truest respect will be
felt for those who have aided in bringing to pass so
joyful an event. Also we learn, from the Nation
of last evening, that diplomacy is hard at work to
accomplish the regeneration of Poland, or, at all
events, to make us believe in the performance of
great things. Thus it is said that France, Eng-
land, and Austria have come to an understanding,
and sent to St. Petersburg notes identical in sense.
This sounds very fine, but it does not require a vast
amount of skilled intelligence to arrive at the conclu-
sion that, even if the news be strictly true, not
much good will arise therefrom to the afflicted
nation supposed to be benefited by this interposi-
tion. The remaining passage of the information
also seems to militate against its probable utility.
The Powers have in their notes carefully avoided
anything resembling pressure, leaving it to the CZAR
to take the initiative in the measures calculated de-
finitely to put an end to the periodical risings so
disquieting for Europe and so disastrous for Rus-
sia." If this is the tone that has been adopted it
will be evident to any calm reasoner and dispassionate
judge that the notes might as well have been left
unwritten for any good they will effect, and much
better so far as the character of the nations that
send them is concerned. Can anything be more
absurd than representations of this sort. Surely
something decided might have been said regarding
the rights of treaties that have been cancelled.
Also these nations that are the foremost in the
world might have represented strongly the interests
of a struggling and suffering State, and in the
cause of right, which is above and beyond the forms
of treaties and the fashions of Cabinets, they might
have demanded justice for that outraged nationality,
and vindicated its claims to consideration, if it were
impossible to the creeds of cabinets and the theories
of statecraft to have asserted its right to indepen-
dence. Sneh a message as this might have done
some service to the cause ; but there always appears
some overwhelming obstacle in the way of diplo-
macy effecting anything advantageous. It is a
disgrace to the whole construction of cabinets that
they are powerless to do good to foreign States,
although it seems easy enough for them to
do harm. A great deal of this evil arises
from the absurd mystery with which statesmen
delight to surround themselves. They think it
makes them appear wise to the ignorant and unini-
tiated, but the result is far otherwise. The general
voioe of public opinion protests against all this
delay in matters of vital importance. The common
sense of those who at all understand the great inte-
rests at stake in these matters is offended by such
unworthy trifling. There is one thing very certain,
that nothing can be expected from this parade of
diplomacy, and therefore the many who earnestly
desire some good to be gained for that
distracted land muat not be disappointed at
the barren result that is sure to ensue from the
feeble efforts of the few who alone have the chance
of effecting any beneficial alteration. While those
in authority wilfully throw away their opportunity,
it is of no avail that throughout the length and
breadth of the land there is but one opinion con-
cerning the state of things in Poland. No thinking
mind but must foretel the issue of this unequal
struggle, yet a little longer will the sacrifice endure
and the blood of patriots drench the soil they can-
not save. Then the enlightened nations of civi-
lised Europe will be told to look calmly
on at the sad havoc that will follow on
to the deplorable war. The despotic power will
reign triumphant; the brave spirits that the carnage
of the battlefield has not destroyed will be banished
to the wastes of Siberia, to mourn over their lost
homes, and sigh for their banished freedom. Then
things will resume their ordinary course, and only
those who have leisure or possess a desire to look
back from the present to the past will mourn over
the disgraceful fact, that a brave people have
been doomed anew to slavery in the sight
by
yf
force
Europe, who
saknidl
lionfcabpoaasbtleedofdmi
oweref
v unwillingitne witnessing
gaidnatthi°erm''
pelodmiaatienyg.
When the present gene-
to their advantage by the
ration reflects that their present acts will thus be
chronicled in tne pages of history, they may afford
to be a little less sparing of censure when they criti-
cise the actions of an earlierrace. Surely our fore-
fathers, who
assist, whae
arr
gallant
yanlohl
atanvsteo highlydone es
less
favouredto
aid a assa
co
ruerd-
selves,
could
cause and
they profited by our
experience of the past, they would not have done
more. people,ha and we have no
right, indeed, to say that

The " Victoria Magazine" is an for the
Ist of May.