The Sun.
London, England, 1854-06-05 00:00:00

LONDON, MONDAY, JUNE 5, 1854.

According to the last accounts received from
the seat of war in Turkey, the allied armies were
hastening with all despatch towards Varna from
both Scutari and Gallipoli. Meanwhile, intel-
ligence comes to hand from Schumla, dated up to
the 29th ultimo, announcing another severe re-
pulse of the Russians before Silistria, in which
1,000 of the enemy appear to have been placed
hors de combat by the besieged. Supplementary
news, dated up to the 31st ultimo, from Bucharest,
intimating in addition to all this that the Musco-
vite troops had been defeated not far from Slatina,
with a loss of 500 men—credible information
adding that the exact locality of this discomfiture
of the foe was at Braukowani. While the Russians
in that direction are spoken of as in full
retreat, 60,000 are said to be marching upon
Schumla, along the two roads leading thither
from Silistria. Everything appears to indicate,
indeed, that the campaign has at last really com-
menced in earnest, and promise is at length given
that the allied forces of France and England will
soon enabled to participate with those of Egypt
.and Turkey in the glory and peril of driving back
at the mouth of the cannon and the point of the
bayonet the enormous armies of the great enemy
of civilisation.
At a
moment like the
to present we are told to
listen once more
obsolete diploma
drivellings of an effete and
th
actually sounding ~ bile the clarion of war is
, t
we
are
to the rumblings and ra advised to hearken again
tmerings of half-a-dozen
blundering and discomfited •
PlemPotentiaries We
-v
are recommended to look not to •
arna, but to
Vienna—not to Schumla, but to gehoenbrunn
We are confidently informed bythe believers inmy
'Lord ABERDEEN and the like almost extinct species
of
wiseacre statesmen that the solution of the dim_
culty is to be arrived at by the negotiators of Au,
tria and Prussia—and not by the arms of France
and England! Was there ever such folly—was
there ever such wilful and purblind infatuation ?
Obvious though the absurdity of all this undoubt-
efily is—rumours actually to this effect are audi-
ble in one or two notable directions, and there
are even a few sagacious persons not indisposed
to credit the possibility now of a compromise be-
tween Russia and her antagonists. Austria is
said to have proposed the evacuation of the Prin-
cipalities within an interval of time, to be marked
out, not by herself, or by the Ottoman Porte, or
by the maritime Powers, or by all of them com-
bined—but by the Russian' AUTOCRAT himself, the
pious, humane, and truthful CZAR, the author of the
'whole of this deadly strife among the nations of
Christendom. Any statement more monstrous in its
improbability has not been heard throughout the

entire of the protracted period which has elapsed
since the origination of the whole question by the
redoubtable mission of Prince MENSCHIROFF.
Nevertheless, as already observed, people are
nowadays so credulous of any or every absurdity,
no matter how preposterous soever, that an an-
nouncement such as the one just now particu-
larised is listened to by many without being at
once, on the instant, scouted as utterly extrava-
gant. Reflection cannot fail, however, to satisfy
the minds of the more observant, that the notion
of a pacification as base as the one now hinted at
would be impossible, would be literally impracti-
cable, from a variety of substantial reasons, very
easily, indeed, to be enumerated. An arrangement
so completely craven and dastardly as would indis-
putably be any that might be built up on the
broad and simple condition of the status quo ante
bellum—is, we insist, impracticable, is absolutely
and glaringly impossible, because (if for no other
reason) because of the cordial alliance which,
thanks be to GOD ! has firmly bound together the
Governments of France and England, the sym-
pathies of Frenchmen and Englishmen. It is
impossible, moreover, now that war has at length,
as we have seen, actually commenced, and because,
having commenced, it cannot be spirited away
like a mere diplomatic misunderstanding at the
bidding of a protocol, or the mandate of a plenipo-
tentiary. It is impossible, because of the
religious fanaticism kindled up—if nowhere
else—in the hearts of the 60,000,000 of the
Muscovite population. Dissipate the religious
frenzy of the Russians with one amiable little
treaty ? As well attempt to extinguish a confla-
gration with a dew-drop ! No—the flames which
have been lit up by the burning ambition of the
Emperor NICHOLAS can only be quenched by a
deplorable bloodshed—they can only be trampled
out by the footsteps of the warrior-troops of
France and England, acting as becomes them
at this supreme emergency as the champions of
the peace of Christendom. Mitigated the horrors
of war can alone be by the promptitude of mili-
tary combinations. A series of rapid movements
by sea and by laud may diminish the evil of con-
flict by abbreviating it. The dread necessity of
battle has been forced upon the unwilling accept-
ance of the maritime allies of Turkey. The re-
sponsibility is not theirs, but devolves entirely
upon the Northern AUTOCRAT. He has com-
pelled them to draw the sword by a se-
quence of unparalleled provocations. Inexorable
justice has forced them for a while to throw away
the scabbard. They strike not in furtherance of
the lawless schemes of an evil ambition, but in de-
fence of the weak and in punishment of the
aggressor. That the horrors of war may be more
quickly brought to an end, let them strike home
vigorously—in the name of Humanity, aye, and in
the name of HEAVEN I

The Select Committee on Mr. STONOR'S case
have agreed on their report. After a long and
tedious investigation, they have decided that the
charges so recklessly and wantonly put forward
by Mr. G. MOORE are altogether without founda-
tion, and very naturally express their regret that
" upon grounds so insufficient, as those which ap-
pear to have led to this inquiry, so serious an accu-
sation should have been preferred !" We trust
that this distinct and unequivocal censure may have
the effect of deterring persons either in or out of
Parliament from resorting to personalities, for
the mere purpose of damaging a political oppo-
cent—from endorsing the calumnies that have
been floating about, unowned and unacknowledged
—and putting forward grave charges upon no
better authority than loose guesses, or vague
inferences. Mr. MOORE has placed himself in this
very unpleasant, and, we may add, discreditable
position, from suffering himself to be led away by
a desire to damage the Noble Secretary for the
Colonies, or possibly through him one who had in-
curred Mr. MOORE'S displeasure, and whose name
he imagined might be implicated in the transac-
tion. That the inquiry, although nominally, was not
really directed against Mr. STONOR was manifest.
The appointment of that gentleman had been eau-
' celled previously to the motion for a committee.
Nothing more could be done so far as he was
concerned. Had it been otherwise the investiga-
tion could not have taken place in his absence
without any person to answer or act on his be-
half. Had ho been in attendance, he might have
had it in his power to explain away, or to cast some
new light on the transactions that had been pro-
ductive of such serious consequences to his
prospects in life. Bit that was certainly
no part of Mr. Moonn's object. It was not
to afford such an opportunity to Mr. STONOR
that the further proceedings were instituted. No.
The " Irish Brigadier" aimed at higher game.
The Duke of NEWCASTLE and Mr. PEEL were
directly assailed. They were the parties placed
upon their defence at the moment, and there was
clearly a hope of dragging in the name of another,
or others, for using their influence on behalf of
Mr. STONOR.

Now " fishing bills" may be very well in Chan-
cery proceedings, where parties desire to obtain
the knowledge of facts in which they themselves
are directly interested--for the purpose of ob-
taining what they believe to be their just
rights ; but we must totally deny the right
of any person to make a direct charge upon
another, distinctly and unequivocally accusing
him of abusing the powers of his exalted station,
and that merely on suspicion, in the hope of elicit-
ing something.from the man he has wronged to
bring home the offence. What would be the
condition of society—in what state would we
live if we could be dragged forward and compelled
to submit to a searching cross-examination at any
moment that it pleAAed a querulous and discon-
tented individual, who viewed every matter through
a false and distorted medium, to hazard a reckless
accusation ? There would be no safety for any
man, no matter how high his rank, or unblemished
his reputation, if the libeller and calumniator did
not receive the general condemnation which he
had so unequivocally merited.
But however vague the grounds on which these
charges rested, there was no uncertainty in the
charges themselves. All was precise and deter-
minate. It was not merely negligence that
was imputed to these high officers. It was not
that they had too hastily, or without sufficient
care and discrimination, conferred a high appoint-
ment on an incompetent or disqualified man. Far
from it. It was to the effect that the appoint-
ment had been given " as a recompense for political
services at Irish elections, at which he had been
reported to the house to have been guilty of cor-
rupt practices; that his appointment was made not
in ignorance of such practices, or in spite of them,
but because of them, at the instance of Irish mem-
bers having influence with the Colonial Depar-
ment."

This was perfectly distinct and intelligible. It
was put forward, too, after, and in opposition to,
the straightforward explanation of Mr. PEEL,
who positively asserted that neither the
Duke of NEWCASTLE nor himself had been
in any degree cognisant of the report im-
plicating Mr. STONOR. Nay, more, it attacked
others not mentioned by name, but very clearly
indicated, as the persons who had induced the
colonial authorities to give a high reward for cor-
rupt practices. For, it is said that it was at
" the instance of Irish Members having influence
with the Colonial Department." None could
wohl
oi c it
were or-Gtehnue
misapprehend the parties against whom this
envenomeds shaft was launched forth. It was the
:alassaed
ofillr,eland and Mr. SADLEIR
because
' to be the tools of Mr.
Maouitle i
andthey hsandmeof refusedh
his
coadjutors, because they would not lend themselves
to the attempt of making all government in Ireland
impossible.

The first point to be noticed
ac-
cuser did not produce a single
his case. He tried to shuffle
sibility by stating that he could
o
prosecute the inquiry unless he
out witness
nlv fe
he
that the
ictpohlasecuaessaetaiiiinne
the respon
not undertake to
a position to conduct it himself,
would undertake to prove positively that persons
having the. ear of the Colonial-office must have
been cognis ant of Mr. STONOR'S corrupt practices.
Fortunately, this demand was complied with. Mr.
MOORE wag added to the committee to conduct tha
case, while another Member was also added to watch

the case on behalf of the Colonial-office, but without
the power of voting. We say "fortunately,"
because had the inquiry been refused, or had the
requisition of Mr. MOORE not been complied
with, an incessant howl would have been
kept up, and the matter would have been made
the stock charge for every meeting in which
it was desired to damage Mr. KEOGH or Mr. SAD-
LEIR. When, however, he was placed on the
Committee—when called on to redeem his solemn
pledge, Mr. MOORE did not produce a solitary witness
to assert that he had ever heard of such a transaction.
He endeavoured to criminate the Colonial Secretary
either out of his own mouth, or by his subordi-
nate officers. But in this he altogether failed.
Nothing could be more decisive than the expur-
gation of the Noble Duke. Even his accuser,
who " positively undertook" to prove the charge,
was compelled "to withdraw it in the fullest
and most unqualified manner, all imputation of
political corruption on the Duke of NEWCASTLE."
After this, we trust that such unfounded charges
may not again be put forward, or, if so, that
the unqualified censure of the House may
be directed against those who uselessly consume
the public time, or fling unwarranted imputations
on the characters of public men.

Will men ever profit by experience ? Will any
amount of suffering by others teach them the folly
of endeavouring to injure those whose interests
are identical with their own—to reverse the rela-
tive positions of the employers and the employed
—to reduce the so-called masters to the condition
of mere cyphers in their own establishments, and
to place the destinies of trade under the control
of a few ignorant demagogues, who have nothing
but a certain degree of volibility to recommend
them. If any lesson could have availed in dis-
pelling these extraordinary delusions, we should
have supposed the deplorable consequences of the
Preston strike would have proved effectual.
Scarcely bas peace been restored in that afflicted
district, scarcely have the unfortunate turn-outs
recovered from the effects of their protracted and
severe privations than the spirit of insubordination
is again manifested, and we are threatened with a
renewal of these internecine conflicts in different di-
rections. We earnestly hope, however, that the
parties may pause ere it is yet too late, and that the
unfortunate differences may be completolyand satis-
factorily arranged before any bitterness of feeling
should be excited between parties who should
over have the most friendly dispositions the one
towards the other ?

The first, and perhaps—so far as the commu-
nity is concerned—the most formidable demon-
stration has been made by the engine-drivers em-
i?loyed on the southern branch of the London and
North-Western Railway. For some time symp-
toms of discontent have been apparent among a
portion of the men, which last week broke out
into open insurrection. Indeed, it was at one
time by no means certain that trains on that
portion of the line would not have been brought
to a stand still, and the trade and commerce of
many important districts suspended for an inde-
finite period. That the country has been saved
from so serious a calamity may in a great degree
be attributed to the judicious conduct of
Mr. M'CoNNELL, the locomotive superintend-
ent, the unceasing kindness displayed by
that gentleman during many years, and the
influence which he had thereby obtained among
the men under his direction. The knowledge that
they might implicitly rely on his truth and jus-
tice materially contributed to prevent an imme-
diate strike, and to induce the malcontents to
await the result of the consideration of their
alleged grievances at the next meeting of the
Board of Directors. The serious consequences of
such a proceeding may be easily imagined—con-
sequences that would not merely affect the imme-
diate belligerents, but the entire of the north-west
of England and Scotland—and which might go to
the extent not merely of the destruction of much
valuable property, but also of a considerable loss
of life, and personal injury. How nearly it had
occurred may be judged of from the facts that the
men in charge of one of the goods trains refused
to start until they had communicated with Rugby,
the head-quarters of the malcontents, and that a
communication was made to Mr. MTONNELL to
the effect, that "unless the demands were acceded to
the men would stop work there and then," and
that they would " telegraph to Birmingham
to stop the trains from coming out !" The pub-
lic may, therefore, form some estimate of the
amount of obligations which they, in common
with the Directors and Shareholders of the Com-
pany, have incurred to. Mr. M'CoNNELL for the
zeal and efficiency which he exhibited on the try-
ing occasion.

The dissatisfaction which had been all but pro-
ductive of so much evil merely arose from the
introduction of the "contract system," which had
been tried during the last twelve months with the
most felicitous results both to the Company and
the drivers by whom it had been adopted. These
are chiefly the oldest and most experienced men
in the employment, and so admirably has it
worked for them that, with care and attention
(these are indispensable), they have found them-
selves capable nearly, if not altogether, of
doubling their wages. And not only have they
had the practical and indisputable evidence
afforded by the pay sheets of the benefits
conferred by the new system on active and efficient
men, but, to prevent the possibility of cavil or
dispute, the full amount of the regular wages was
guaranteed to those who should fairly discharge
their duty. It was also arranged that each
" contract" driver should have at least twelve
hours' rest every day. The influence of public
opinion, and the odium that would be incurred in
the event of any accident occurring through the
fatigue of an over-worked driver, might have con-
vinced the most sceptical that the Directors would
not make any undue demand on the energies of
the men ; but, to make assurance doubly sure,
the pledge was given that no man should be occu-
pied more than twelve hours per diem—a promise
that ought to have preveni3d any idea that any
unfair advantage was about to be taken of the
men. In addition to these matters, it was also
intimated that there was no intention to force the
contract system on the men. It was merely
offered to those who might deem it expedient
to come in, but it was in fact entirely optional on
their part whether they should do so or not.
Under such circumstances it might seem strange
that any objection could be offered—that there was
not a general anxiety on the part of every good man
to avail himself of the boon tendered for his accept-
ance. But there are in every body to be found a
number of discontented and prejudiced persons,
who look on any amelioration, however palpable,
with distrust and dissatisfaction. Unfortunately,
too, these persons have influence with their com-
panions, and have with them the lazy and
inefficient, who cannot bear to see larger
wages earned by their better disposed fellow-
workmen. Those, then, were the malcontents—.
those were the men who put forward such un-
reasonable complaints, and endeavoured to sup- ,
port them by such unwise and indefensible threats.
We trust, however, that the general body of the
drivers will not be led away from their duty by
such persons, but that they will, before it is too
late, reflect on the probable consequences of a
strike. The defeat of the Eastern Counties '
drivers some three years since should teach them
that not only the Shareholders, but the commu-
nity in general, will support the Directors when
they act with justice and moderation, and give no
just grounds of complaint.

CABINET COUNCIL —A Cabinet Council was held at
the Foreign office, Downing-street, on Saturday aLet:-
noon. It was attended by the Earl of Aberdeen, Lord
John Russell, the Marquis of Lansdowne, the Lord
Chancellor, Earl Granville, the Duke of Argyll, Vis-
count l'a!lnerston, the Earl of Clarendon, the Duke of
Newcastle, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Sir
Wil.lam Nlolesworth. The Council sat three hours.

ST William and Lady Molesworth entertained at
dinner on Saturday the Marchioness of A ilesbury, the
Duke of Wellington, the Earl and Countess of Shaftes-
bury, the Sardinian Minister, the Marquis and Mar-
chioness of Breadalbane, the Earl and Countess of Zet-
land, the Bishop of Oxford, Lord and Lady Poltimore,
Lady Dufferin and Lord Dufferin, the Dowager Coun-
tess of Morley, the Earl and Countess of Clarendon, &o.
Lady Molesworth had an assembly in the evening, and
will have another on Saturday the 10th.