The Sun.
London, England, 1854-04-03 00:00:00

,7?-`,-* - • ..'--`-Y,''S,. '•
-granary of the. Roman Empire,
,n e
011ifil ' • ,!.- -- ,)r.) succeed without making it th
. tigranst7iof '''''.lr. '
Do the French wish that the va f-eitety; acs--in in-: Iss•-•,‘ 4
cony should be doubled ? Is it thelnteresi iif-E9gl
land to enjoy good wine and vin 'efate.ataiiplanA,l4l24-4_,
instead of using indifferent beer anktilutefi.aieetisuancid
at double the price ? is not Bordeaulais nac to Ply-
mouth and Southampton as to Havre ?
In searching for real and substantive obstacles, founded
in the relative conditions according to which the two
countries respectively exist, to the institution of a strict,
an intimate, a brotherly, and, above all, a permanent
alliance, for better for worse, between. them, we really
can find none. The obstacles are considerable,. neveri
theless, though not substantive: They are obstacles of
the imagination, and no other. They reside in,prejudicea,
in tradition jealouslies, surviving the causes originating
them which have altogether burnt out and become ex/.
tinct. The great unreflecting mass in each country-7•
more, perhaps, in France than in England—has immemo-
rially believed that the English and the French are na-
tural enemies, like clogs and cats ; that they can never
trust each other ; and they will feel surprised and half-
shocked by the serious announcement of the scheme of
nal intimate and permanent alliance. Owing to tradi•
tional habits and historical antecedents, they are morally-
incapacitated from believing in the possibility of such a
thing being brought about—they are practically mere.
dulous that such a result can ever be.
In this alone resides the obstacle to the attainment of
this vast blessing to humanity and to themselves, and
if the statesmen of the two countries will now raise
their conception to the contemplation of this glorious
object, they may easily turn to the profit of both, and
to the everlasting benefit of mankind, the present fortu.
nate conjuncture which approximates them, which the
good and wise have ever hoped for, and for which the
brutality of a perfidious-tyrant has supplied the occasion.
So far from being natural enemies, there are no two
countries in the whole world—not even the United States
and England—which are such natural friends as Franca
and England ; which, in the difference of their respective
moral and material wants, have such mutual necessity
for each other ; and which would agree together so
well, if they . could but for a moment forget the past
and look to the future alone. In respect of locomotion
their vicinity makes them really one nation. From Lon-
don it is quite as easy, and,speedy, to go to Paris as to
Glasgow ; from Paris you will reach London as quickly
as Strasbourg ; and then there is just that difference be-
tween the characters, the manners, the ways of the two
nations, that were a general good feeling to replace
ancient aversions, it would endear themto one another.
The variety thaLlana-through their social,•4kite anfiz-L- ,::----i._-_.
customs just rea,chee-thait ' happy.poiriltiVhiefi-Ziatles
each party good-humouredly to laugh at the other with-
out arty wound to self-love. This is an important ele-
ment in the groundwork of all friendly society. It does
not exist between the English and Americans, because
they resemble each other much more strongly ; but you
may laugh at a Frenchman's blunders without his thereby
suspecting that you mean to arrogate any superiority,
and lie will laugh as heartily as yourself. And he may
do the same to you—and indeed does so all day long—
and who ever felt hurt at it ? Then how delightful it is to
an Englishman to be talked to by an amiable Frenchman,
though maybe it is all about nothing--their gaiety is as a
ray of sunshine on the gloom of life. And what a beauti-
ful picture of their sterling amiability did we not behold
in the demeanour throughout of those excellent men who
brought over their rarities to our national Exhibition !
what a delightful insight we got on that occasion into
the domestic manners and virtues of their middle class,
as we beheld the assistance and comfort and pleasure
they were receiving from their wives, and sisters, and
daughters—models, as are the French bourgeoises
throughout, of useful domestic activity, industry, amia-
bility, and grace. And who were more pleased on that
occasion than our old enemies, with the frank and honest
good-nature, the hearty moral shake of the hand, of
their English hosts ? And where is it, we should like
to learn, that the English in France, and they are settled
about over its whole surface, arc disliked or disrespected?
How placable and amiable are the French after a quar-
rel ! how generous and uninnlignant the English ! In
short, there is just that difference in all their ways and
habits that kindles sympathy and gives it piquancy, in-
stead of extinguishing or deadening it,
And now the vast interests of civilisation imperiously
call upon these two great nations—the ornaments of
the world, the aristocrats of humanity—to unite and
be friends, to be one for ever, ideas velle atque nolle.
We have the same interests to protect, and against
the very same enemies. These interests, as far as
they are honest on each side, must for the fu-
ture always be the same, and our common enemy
must always be the enemy of both of us alike. He will
always aim at subjugating Turkey, Sweden, and Den-
mark, and, by making himself supreme thereby in the
Mediterranean and the Baltic, equally repress French
and English civilisation and commerce. In the nature
of things what firmer foundation for everlasting alliance
can be offered by Providence than is now graciously
vouchsafed to France and England ? We say, therefore,
to both—Rejoice and give thanks ; you are going to
peace and not to war ; fUrget, forgive, shake hands, and
be friends for ever, for the common enemy threatens you
both alike, and if you neglect this opportunity, it is not
probable you will ever have such another. It is only the
permanency of your alliance that can decide Sweden and
Denmark. Proclaim it permanent ; and, what is more
important by far, convince the world, by abandoning
mutual suspicions, and cultivating mutual sympathies,
that your alliance, founded in international good-
will, cemented by international respect and confi-
dence, is permanent in its own nature, and wholly
independent of changes either in the personnel or
form of Government. Such a condition—an alliance of
kirtd feeling between the two peoples—will be a-pledge
more solid than any proclamation ; and must satisfy
Sweden and Denmark that they may securely rely for
all time to come upon your joint protection against
their fearful neighbour, ever ready to devour them. The
instant you convince them of this, they will joyfully,
with your help, close the outlet of the Baltic on Russia
—imprison her always—and spare you now the terrible
sacrifices of blood and treasure you must otherwise
make, and make to no permanent profit, because ten or
twenty years hence you will again incur the same
danger, and may not then be able to ward it off.
The French and English statesmen, weakly (as it
seems to us) bent on securing, at almost any cost, the
co-operation of Austria and Prussia, have been too •
evidently prepared for that object to forego a great part
of the benefit to Europe which they might now extort
from the common enemy. Yet such co-operation would
be positively detrimental if purchased at the price of our
abstaining from compelling Russia to disgorge that ter-
ritorial plunder of her weaker neighbours—the deadly
cause of her now embroiling the world--which, we trust,
it is the firm resolve of France and England that she
shall disgorge. •
France and England, in earnest, and with the sword
uplifted, are powerful enough for every purpose ; and
the only allies they require are Sweden and Denmark.
Even if Austria and Prussia should unite with Russia,
the immediate consequence infallibly must be that the
alliance between France and England would be thereby,
and cx necessitate, made perpetual, and the proximOe
consequences would be the destruction of those perfidious
despotisms--the overthrow of Russia—and the elevation
of Sweden and Denmark to that station in the scale of
European power which it is so very desirable for Eng-
land.and France they should possess.

THE DECLARAT.WN.

(Froim the Derbyshire Courier.)
Her Majesty's declaration of war will be read with
intense interest throughout the world. It contains a
very intelligible and succinct detail of the circumstances
which have compelled us to go to war with Russia. It
will appear to the satisfaction of every one who affords
the most common attention to the recapitulation of the
.transactions relative to the Eastern question that-the,
quarrel has been one which Russia has sought.' '
The conflicting claims of the Greek and • Latin
the pretext for the commencement of the misnn-
derstanding with Turkey.
B
Churches, relative to the Holy Places at Jerusalem,
formed
intoivention of our Ambassador at Constan-
tinople
y the
tis..app
appeared to be satisfactorily arranged. .But
t ießussian Government then pressed upon the Porte
demands which; under the pretence of affording protec-
tion to the Christians in Turkey, would in effect have
deprived the Sultan of all independent control over
many millions of his own Christian sutjects.
Next followed the occupation of the Danubian Prin-
cipalities by the Russian armies.
The occupation has most audaciously been repre
seated by the Emperor to have been consequent on the
advance of the Enrrlish and French fleets to the
Dar-
danelles.
Her Majesty's Declaration proves, by the dates of the
despatches, that this ;"-determination of the Emperor to
occupy the Principalities was takeh before the orders
for the advance of the combined squadrons was given:'
Various attempts have since been made to meet any
eqpitable demands which Russia could possible have on
Turkey. The Sultan'lts 'acted with fairness, modera-
tion, and forbearance ; and every means consistent with
the honour of the allied powers, and the independence
of the Ottoman empire, has been used to effect an .ami-
cable understanding littWeen the contending parties.
Even -the declaration of war by the Sultan in self-defence
• did not check the pacific intentions of the allied powers.
Every honourable endeavour to restore peace having,
however, failed, it is evident that we are driven by every
'principle of justice ',and expediency, "to save Europe
from the preponderance of a power which has violated
the faith of treaties,-and defies the opinion of the civilised
world, to take up arms, in conjunction with thalini-
peror of the French, for the defence of the Sultan.
In fact, the "Secret Correspondence" so recently made
public, taken in conjunction with the public ayings and
doings of the Czar, proves beyond a doubt that from the
beginning of this quarrel the partition of Turkey was
the object of the aggressive policy of Russia. It was
natural that men of honourable minds should be slow to
believe that the Emperor intended to act in defiance of
his most solemn and reiterated assurances. We are
now compelled to believe that as rapacious spoliation
was the end, falsehood and duplicity were the means by
which the Emperor of Russia has sought to accomplish
that end. To England, in particular, which has always
been his honourable ally, his conduct is marked by ag-
gravated treachery. “The words of his mouth were
then oil, yet they were drawn swords."
smoother than butter, but war was in his heart ; his
words were softer
We knoW tbe!Russians to he a nation -of semi-barba-
riof living, leave the Russian aristocracy still
•
devoid of those high pi includes of honour which distin-
splendour
Wealth, refineiat at of mariner, and luxurious
anguish, the prival44entleinen of our own country. The
beach vf.thii7 grVortliern despotism. proves himself to
be in feeling atu rinniple little in advance, of his seb-
nd justiles the correctness. of the remark of .I.ri-
jpociteo s,
nth,,rrirst--,"-Tlie civilisation of Pas-fa-is, only
e
skin decal. Scratch a Russian, and the Tartar appears."