The Sun.
London, England, 1865-06-26 00:00:00

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.

This DAY.—Morning, 4h. Om.—Afternoon, 4h. 22m
To-Moititow.-Morning, 4h. 44m.--Afternoon, sh. Om

~E~~

~''''-Ult.

LONDON, MONDAY, JUNE 26, 1865.

Election addresses and speeches are now the
order of the day, and it is a curious and interesting
study to mark the nice distinctions without a differ-
ence that exist in some quarters. The fact is there
is very little for any one to say, however anxious
they may be to distinguish themselves. Ministers
are showing an extraordinary eagerness to get to
the country and send their friends there, and in
order to effect their purpose they are resorting to
strange expedients,:and employing divers tactics,
which surprise all who observe them. The white-
bait dinner, which has long been considered an esta-
blished custom, is this nix to be abandoned, for no
practical reason that any one can see, and altogether
the arrangements in official quarters are more pecu-
liar than promising. None of the Ministers have as
yet issued their addresses, and some surprise has
been expressed at Lord PAL3IERSTON'S reticence.
The truth is, that if better things could be said we
should see more alertness to come forward ; but
what have these champions of Reform and zealous
upholders of our character and influence abroad to
say for themselves? When the Conservatives were
so unscrupulously and unceremoniously hurried from
office in 1859 the public were sedulously informed
that there were two important reasons why the
present Government should be installed in
office, and these were that Reform should
be vigorously dealt with, and that our foreign
policy should be more skilfully administered.
Whatever the most zealous supporterand most adroit
apologist for Ministers may say on these subjects, re-
form has been abandoned, and as for foreign affairs,
this country has seldom if ever been in a more dis-
graceful position. As for the pretext that was skil-
fully put forward that the late Government had too
much leaning to Austria, what has become of the
present one ? , Have not political faith, national
. honour, and public feeling been trampled down, in
order to secure to the German Powers their utmost
desires and fullest realisation of unlawful schemes.
While, if we look to what has taken place beyond
the Atlantic, may we not affirm that great injury
has been done to the cause of humanity by the
supine course that our Ministers have taken in some
cases, and the partial and prejudiced manner in
which they have acted in others. Even now the
end is not seen, for by their refusal to protest
against the savage and virulent demeanour of the
Federals, they may be losing a chance of preventing
a great crime being Perpetrated, and tacitly agree-
ing to a cruel wrong and injustice.
The constituencies had better not suffer them-
selves to be deceived by the specious pleas that
may be put in at the approaching elections,
but take time to consider how badly the promises
have been kept that were made so prolifically at the
last general election, and what misuse has been
made of the opportunities that have since presented
themselves by those then so clamorous for office
and so captious and critical concerning the short-
comings, real and imaginary, of their opponents.
Among those whose position may be envied is Sir
J. PARINGTON. The right hon. baronet has sat for
~Droitwich for upwards of a quarter of a century,
there is no chance of hia.rc-election being
opposed. His address is simple and straightforward,
which is.eminently characteristic, and accords well
with all that is known. of his career, politically and
officially. Sir Joim observes that the principles