The Sun.
London, England, 1862-05-10 00:00:00

Soc. Pardon my slowness, but kindly tell me.

Dis. Well here is one—the policy of that deep
plotter and arch-banterer, our Prime Minister, who
sat on the other side of the House—the policy of
arming heavily, not for defence, not to obtain any
material aggrandisement, but that " England may
have weight in the counsels of Europe"—the shrewd
old gentleman calls that " moral power•"

Soc. Ah, I understand, It is so like what we at
Athens and Sparta used to do. You must not expect
me to find much fault with that. It belonged to the
very nature of an old Athenian. You know all
about our plots and plans, and bloody battles too,
for what we called " Hegemony." But pray, Mr.
DISRAELI, as you insisted so much on a policy, give
me another illustration by telling me what may be
yours ?

_
Dis. Oh, you can hardly doubt what that is !
Assuredly the one best for my native land.
Soc. England, you mean, I presume. You are
not thinking of Hebron. But you answer me with
all the adroitness of your branch of the great
Caucasian race. But what policy now may you
deem the best ?

Drs. Ah, my dear Socrates, no one knows better
than you what a wide question that is—" the best"
—shall we measure it by honour, wealth, or what
you yourself used so often talk of—" power to bene-
fit our friends and to punish our enemies."
Soc. You must find some other " best policy"
than the last, for that would be pretty much like
" arming to have weight in the councils of Europe,"
What shall I say then is England's " best policy ?"

Dis. You are rather hard on me. I confess to a
great sympathy with MEPHISTOPHELES—do you
know him ?—(Socrates nods assent)—that ever
denying, scoffing fellow. I do like negatives,
so I will say then—not Lord PALMERSTON'S policy,
not in Italy, not in France, not in Austria, not in
America, not—but, not indeed, anywhere or in
anything.

Soc. "By the dog," well said ; boldly said at
least. But, come now, will Mr. COBDEN'S and Mr.
BRIGHT'S do ?
Dis. Not at all. I could say, and did say, more
for them than for PALMERSTON and his colleagues,

who are wrong in everything—but I can't quite

away with giving up the right of blockade, and
cutting off our colonial expenditure, and weakening
our present armaments.
Soc. I thought you complained of your
" bloated armaments."
Dis. That was when I wanted to sting PALMER-
STON, and conciliate the Manchester School. When
I wanted to please my supporters behind me, you
observe I insisted on their necessity. In fact,
SOCRATES, it was we Tories, who started with
tremendous goodwill the last arming fit. I can't
tell you how many millions our PAKINGTON got out
of the country at the hazard of irritating France
almost to an attack on us.
Soc. Candid fellow ! then your policy, too, is an

arming policy.
Dis. Yes, when it is " best for England."
Soc. No, don't come back to that again. But I
think you also said it was " best for England" to
keep the POPE, Prince of Rome.
Dls. -Why, that depends on circumstances.
Between ourselves there is neither better nor worse
in the matter.
Soc. I don't understand. Is not a free and
united Italy best for England, as a commercial and
as a free country. We, at Athens, used to try and
spread democracy just as the Spartans did
oligarchy.

Drs. Well, you know we have more of the Spar-
tan in our notions on..our side_ of the House, A.t.the
of the Dukes and Kings that have had to cut and
run from Italy since 1859. Though most of them
were like your old Greek tyrants—like some of the
worst of them too.
Soc. Still it puzzles me how anyone born in free
England can feel for these fellows. We had an
oligarchical faction even at democratical Athens,
but no one would have said a word for tyrants.
Drs. Perhaps not. But you see the POPE is

one of them.
Soc. And what of that ?
Dis. Didn't you hear the Irish cheers, when I
proved that he could not be turned out of Rome,
and reside in any other country without becoming
dependent on that country ; and then all the other
Catholic countries would be aggrieved, and there
would be quite an upstir.
Soc. Bat I thought he was now as dependant on
the French EMPEROR as if he lived at Avignon, and
the other Catholic powers take it quietly ?
Dis. Yes, yes, but it was not for me to talk of
that—and I knew that Irishmen would not think
of it.

Soc. Oh, Irishmen!—Well then I think I do be-
gin to see what you think " best for England," and
what your policy is.
Dis. And what is that ?
Soc. Is it not the best thing for England, that
Mr. BENJAMIN DISRAELI should be at the head of
the English Government ?
Dis. Do not press me on that point, SOCRATES,
you know my modesty. But what can make you
think so ?

Soc. Did you not say all you could without
offending your followers, to catch Manchester
votes ?

Die. Of course.

Soc. Have you not just pointed to the POPE'S
illogical friends in Ireland ?
Da. You are right, SOCRATES.
Soc. -What policy does that policy indicate—is it
not the policy
of getting all the votes you can ?
DI s .—Exactly so.
Soc.—Of getting them for whom, or for what ?
Dls.—l must say again for the " best interests
of England," and for the men to be in office who
will promote those interests.
Soc..—But as the deeds you would do would be
so similar to these done now—a, you could not alter
anything without losing some hupporters—are not
the " best interests of England" identified with per-
sons, rather than things. Is not change of men
" the best policy for England ?"
Dls,—O SOCRATES, that is true.
Soc.—And the man is the policy, and the policy
the man.

Dis.—Who can doubt it ?
Soc.—And one word will represent the best
Policy for England—and therefore your patriotic
policy—and that word is—DISRAELI!
Dis.—Alas that England knows it not !

Whatever else may come of this Japanese Em-
bassy to the Courts of Europe, it cannot but lead
to the beneficent disclosure to Japan of the marvels
of western civilisation. They are evidently no mere
cut and dried diplomatists who have come over at
last, after the lapse of so many centuries, on this
quest
e of, v,
e thery
extraordinary visit of investigation. The very way
in which their
inquiries are directed, h
nvaortuya chaorfoottheer
of a° establishments the organiia-
-1 ocalities they go in
tion of which they examine jute the most minutzty.