The Sun.
London, England, 1854-11-24 00:00:00

It is true that we shook off the " nightmare"
by which we have so long been oppressed—that
we determined, even at the eleventh hour, to dis-
play a degree of zeal and energy as remarkable as
our former apathy and inactivity. We must
direct all our thoughts exclusively to one point—
to send the necessary reinforcements to the
Crimea—so as to insure not only the safety of
the French and English troops, but the attain-
ment of the object in which they are engaged,
viz.—the capture of Sebastopol, and the com-
plete overthrow of Muscovite power in the
Euxine.

The character—the influence—the safety—

the honour of the Western Powers are all in-
volved in this result. We know that our Allies
will perform their part—that NAPOLEON will not
spare his cohorts in such a cause. But, can we
hang back while France is so enthusiastically
rushing to the rescue ? CAIL we, without shame,
'Teak of a few hundreds, or thousands at the
most, while our faithful Ally is devoting her tens
of thousands to the cause ? Are we to sacrifice
all that is dear to the nation to the fiscal
and financial hobbies of any Minister, however
plausible. No, there is a duty imperative on the
English people from which they must not shrink
at tho present crisis. They must make the voice
of public opinion heard within the inmost recesses
of Downing-street. They must convince even
the " dear " and excellent ABERDEEN himself, as
well as his devoted followers, that the time for
temporising has gone by, and that there is but one
course now to pursue—namely, to conquer without
reference to the outlay. There are plenty of
men ready to array themselves under the
union-jack; there are abundance of trained sol-
diers at home and in the colonies whose places
may easily be supplied by new men, of whom there
will be no dearth. The exuberant " loyalty,"
we shall use a stronger phrase, " patriotism," of
the inhabitants will prevent any necessity for the
services thus dispensed with. Every citizen will
constitute himself a defender of the peace. The
military will never be required, or if such a de-
mand should possibly arise there twill be plelity
of ♦olunteers not only willing but anxious
to come forward. Every British citizen will
do his duty according to his vocation ; whether
the demand be in person or in purse there will
be n• backsliding or hanging back. The young
and vigorous, who have no peculiar ties to bind
them to home, will stake their lives in the noble
cause. Those who have " given hostages to For-
tune" in the shape of wives and children, will
not scruple to work harder and fare more coarsely,
to strain every nerve, and submit to every priva-
tion, cutting off every superfluity, in order to
triumph. Let them then proclaim their unflinch-
ing determination on these points, and strengthen
the more ♦igorous and energetic party, to
shake off the incubus by which the nation
has so long been oppressed, and from which
it should at length endeavour to emancipate itself.
France is sending out 100,000 men. Why
should not Great Britain raise and send out an
equal body of men ? We can do it if we like.
If we do not, it will b• owing to our crawling
financial policy, not to any lack of spirit or de-
termination in the sacred cause in which we have
embarked.

It is at all times satisfaetory to be enabled to
bestow merited praise on our naval or military
authorities. The matters placed under their con-

trol and management, at all times of vast import-
ance, are peculiarly so at the present moment,
when not merely the interests, but the honour
and safety of the country, depend on the energy
and efficiency of its gallant defenders by land and
by water. That the members of both branches of
the United Service will now, as they ever have
done, discharge the arduous and perilous duties
confided to their charge with ability, fidelity, and
zeal, and without reference to personal or in-
tereated motives, we are fully convinced. But it
is only just and reasonable to bestow substantial
rewards where they have been fairly earned, and
to depart from the ordinary routine, in order to
promote those who have particularly distinguished
themselves on any great occasions, It may be
very well during " the piping times of peace" to
insist on stringent rules and regulations, to
prevent any undue exhibition of favouritism.
But when we are engaged in actual hostili-

ties when men have ample opportunities
of displaying their qualifications, each step
should ever be given to the most deserving,
and detwr digniori should be the motto inscribed
on each commission. Even the most disinterested
and efficient officers will be animated to further
exertions when they know that their services will
be fairly appreciated, and that those who have
deserved well of their country will receive
unequivocal marks of its gratitude. Perhaps
nothing contributed more powerfully to the
efficiency of the armies of France, under the
great NAP•LBON, than the feeling impressed on
the mind of every man—from the highest general
to the humblest soldier—that the eye of the
EMPEROR was at all times upon him, and that
however lowly his position, or obscure his origin,
he might eventually be elevated to the highest
rank if he greatly distinguished himself, and
afforded unequivocal proofs of his fitness for the
station to which he aspired. Excite the emula-
tion of officers and men, and the duty will not
only be properly, but brilliantly performed ; that
is, indeed, the best mode of stimulating every
man to the highest acts of heroism.
The promotions which it was our pleasing duty
to record in our impression of Wednesday will
be received with cordial approbation by
the community. Every one of the gallant
officers thus distinguished had nobly earned
his promotion, which will have the effect of
stimulating others to similar efforts. The trans-
mission of blank commissions to the Admirals, to
be filled up with the names of those who had
distinguished themselves during the action, was
also a judicious as well as a liberal proceeding.
We wish, however, that it had gone a little fur-
ther, and that the principle should be extended
to all grades in the service. Why, for instance,
should there not be the power of promoting a
Post-Captain who had exhibited pre-eminent qua-
lities during the action to be an Admiral, or even
advancing an Admiral to still higher rank ? We
are convinced that the promotion of Sir EDMUND
LYONS to be a Vice-Admiral, or even a full Admiral,
would be hailed with universal joy throughout the
country. The ordinary rules have been set aside
in the ease of Lord RAGLAN, and we believe that
' there was net a single dissentient voice to the
well-merited reward of his distinguished services.
Why, we ask, should similar promotion not be
given to other Generals, and to Admirals, accord-
ing to their respective merits? We could mention
many who have already nobly earned such distinc-
tion, but omit doing so, as it might be invidious
to particularise where all have deserved so well of
their country.
According to the present rules, promotion,
save by seniority, ceases in the navy the moment
an officer becomes a post-captain. From that
time forth, however groat his qualifications, he
cannot be promoted out of his turn. If a second
NELSON were found, his services in command
could not be made available except by recalling
all senior officers. The man on whom the hopes
of the nation rested, who was unanimously re-
garded as the fittest to command, must be
under the direction of any senior captain. This,
as we have stated, is all very well in time of
peace, but it should certainly be modified to suit
the exigencies of the present crisis.
In like manner there should be the power of
promoting officers of the engineers and artillery
in actual service. At present, however great the
deserts of such officers, none can be advanced even
a single step. Even Captain Mayne, who earned
golden opinions from all parties with whom he
served from the landing in tho Crimea, until he
was compelled by the severity of his wounds to
obtaingutivtioezaoyf,hciasnanisottingti
is ad singleservicess.
But step as a receg-
uttooprpeoturtrunntitoythheasNbaeveyn.
that no
trans-
ferring meritorious sailors from affordedW e regret
of to sea
m the forecastle to
the quarterdeck—of allowing those qualified
for a higher station to become commissioned
office's. We are well aware of the preju- ,