The Sun.
London, England, 1865-07-07 00:00:00

LONDON, FRIDAY, JULY 7, 1865.

The conclusion of the Parliament of 1859 has
been long expected, and often threatened. The
dissolution has been held in terrorem over the
heads of refractory members of the Government
ranks, and the argument which lay in a new elec-
tion and possible loss of a seat was usually strong
enough to prove most convincing. But, however
amiable or accommodating the waverers might
prove on emergency the inevitable hour could not
be always postponed, and although it has been de-
ferred till the very list it has at length come.
Under the guise of the prorogation the members
were yesterday dismissed for the last time to return
to their constituents, and give an account of them-
selves and their proceedings during the last six
eventful years. It is along story that they have to
tell, both in the negative and the affirmative. The
six years from 1859 to 1865 have included the
whole story of the American war, which will hence-
forth occupy a prominent place in every modern
history. Six years ago the elements of strife
and discord were indeed rife in the great Re-
public, and wise men foresaw that the breach
must come sooner or later, but the tragedy had
reached no further than the prologue. The interval
from 1859 to 1865 has contained the whole of the
war, and although we cannot consider the drama
fully played out, or the curtain yet fallen over the
immediate consequences of the struggle, yet the
Parliament which has just expired has seen the rise
and fall of the Southern cause during its brief life.
How it has acted in that great and momentous
question, the part it has played, the influence which
it has exercised, will be one of the points on which
it will have to take the opinion of the country. Many
of the members take credit to themselves for the
caution and prudence with which they have avoided
any discussion calculated to irritate or aggravate
the quarrel. Mere words are certainly never very
profitable, and in so delicate and complex an affair
rash and injudicious speeches might have excited
angry feelings, and have done mischief. At the
same time a more firm and resolute front might
have stimulated the Ministry to pursue a line of
policy more consistent with the wishes of the country,
and .which might have averted much internal
wretchedness from the Americans themselves.

The affair of Schleswig Iklstein. has reached a
climax during the lifetime of this Parliament, and it
has little cause to rejoice over its share in the pro-

It suffered itself to be deluded with
official pretexts and diplomatic mystification; and
frightened by the cry of non-intervention, until
England was exhibited to the world in the con-
temptible aspect of having promised support which
she was afraid to give. Relying on English aid the
Danes attempted to maintain their rights. Follow-
ing English advice, they resigned half of what they
laid claim to. Both advice and aid proved to be of
so flimsy and useless a character that it was evident
that Berlin had from the first been better informed
than Copenhagen as to the intentions of the Cabi-
net of St. James's. Non-intervention has been, in
fact, the bugbear of the late Parliament, To that

gramme.