The Sun.
London, England, 1865-06-14 00:00:00

404*::13 SUal

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14, 1865,

Earl RUSSELL is determined to keep up the game
to the last and show the world that the foreign
policy of England has completely changed in tone
and spirit. Nothing could have been worse than
his reply last night on the subject of the prisoners
in Abyssinia. According to the doctrines that he
laid down, any foreign potentate or prince at a
distance may imprison and ill-treat our countrymen
with impunity. The days are past when the name
of England was a sufficient shield to guarantee her
sons from wrong and violence ; its glory has de-
parted and its virtue is extinguished. The most
tame and faint hearted among the peacemongers
cannot expect to surpass Earl RUSSELL in his
harangue of last night. We are led to suppose,
from the tenour of his speech, that nothing can in-
duce the noble earl to take up the subject in
defence of our imprisoned fellow-subjects. Can
anything be more unequal to the occasion or more
unfitting to the demeanour of the Foreign Secretary
of this great country than the language listened to
by the House of Lords last night. Those best able
to judge believe that if we were to send any mission
to the King of ABYSSINIA he would probably im-
prison the persons composing it, with a view of
forcing us to take his part against his rivals. We
are come to something indeed if we are to be kept
in terrorem by the King of ABYSSINIA. Time was
when the greatest potentate dared not have done
the thing that Earl RUSSELL coolly surmises as
likely to take place. Imprisoning those
who are sent on missions is a very unusual oc-
It would seem as if the Abyssinians
were to follow the example of President
JOHNSON, and cast all scruples of conscience, consi-
derations of propriety, and claims of honour, to the

currence.

winds. It is not the question whether these
prisoners were to blame in offending the suscepti-
bilities of the KING ; the question is, that the honour
of England is at stake, if this state of things lasts.
As Lord MALMESBURY truly stated last night, a
consul does not stand in the rank of an ambassador,
but he occupies an official position to which he is
appointed by the Crown, and his person is always
considered as sacred as that of an ambassador
Lord MAL3IESBURY cited some cases, in which, when
he was Foreign Secretary, he demanded com-
pensation for injuries sustained by her MA-
JESTY'S subjects at the hands of foreigners.
Nothing can possibly excuse utter mismanagement
of this affair ; from first to last there was an extra-
ordinary delay in answering the communication,
and even a most culpable indifference prevails re-
specting the fate of the unhappy prisoners. It is
quite disgraceful that such laxity should exist when
vital interests are at stake, and the sooner the sub-
ject is considered the better. Let the constituencies
look to it at the approaching elections, and let them
not return those candidates who sue for peace at
any cost of honour and interest. Such selfish and
short-sighted policy will not suit the requirements
of a mighty people, and the country will suffer in
the end, besides being forced into expensive wars to
recover its position.
Net gains of commerce, and
no flourishing condition at home, can com-
pensate for the want of public
spirit, and
where that languishes, power and
prospe-
rity will, in their turn, crumble away,
but we might at least make it a metropolis worthy
of the splendid dominions of the QUEEN. The hon,
member conclude:l by moving that an address be
presented to her MAJESTY, praying for the appoint-
ment of a commission to inquire into the subject of
the lighting, paving, and cleansing of the metro-
polis. This motion was afterwards withdrawn, as
Sir G. GREY did not think it desirable to press for a
Commission. The right hon. baronet said that the
present mode of dealing with the matter was most
unsatisfactory, and that they were indebted to the
hon. member for
bringing it forward. It is to be