The Sun.
London, England, 1854-07-22 00:00:00

can object to place at the disposal of the ABERDEEN

Government.

We are to know nothing of the

mode of expenditure—that is to be left to

the I discretion of the " Coalition. " Lord
Joan RUSSELL does " not think that it will
be necessary to lay any estimate on the
table." The sum may be expended, for anything
that appears to the contrary, in purchasing an
ignominious peace, paying "tooth money" to the
Russians for the wear and tear of their molars
while devouring the substance of the Wallachians,
or for the blunting of their sickles in reaping the
unripe crops in the vicinity of the Danube, or,
possibly, in paying for the ammunition ,so cou-
rageously expended in destroying the stranded
British steamer. Any of these matters might be
justified as war purposes, and we have nothing
on which to depend save the resolution and deter-
mination of the energetic and inflexible ABERDEEN.

Nor are we much better off for information as
to the mode in which the money is to be raised.
The Noble Leader of the representative branch
of the Legislature tells us merely that it will not
be necessary to take any vote in Committee of
Ways and Means, the votes already granted by
the ilouse being sufficient for the purpose ! This
is something like the argument used to au inex-
perienced youth when first initiated in the art and
mystery of " doing a bit of stiff !" He is told
that he has nothing to do but write his name
across the oblong piece of paper laid before him,
and bearing a stamp proportioned to his means and
position. If be knows any bankers at which to
make it payable so much the better. .If not, it
is of no consequence. His obliging and conside-
rate mentor will supply the deficiency. Nor is
there any necessity for thinking of the means of
payment. Time enough for that. All that is
required is that he should " pass his vote of cre-
dit," and his kind friend will do all the rest, and
possibly, the rather verdant acceptor into the
bargain.

It might be necessary to caution a raw boy
just let loose from school against so stale a device.
But the chosen representatives of the British
people—the " discreet" knights, citizens, and
burgesses in Parliament assembled, want
no such warning. They are too well aware of
the nature and effect of a vote of credit. They
know that no capitalist would for a moment hesi-
tate about advancing money on such a security,
and that no promises or representations of the
party who obtained the vote, or the acceptance,
could dispense with the necessity of making full
provision for its liquidation at maturity. By
granting the credit, the House of Commons will
have contracted the obligation of sanctioning any
new impost that the Financial Minister may
deem it expedient to demand, just as the juve-
nile acceptor of the bill, the unmustachioed
coronet, or the ambitious freshman is at the mercy
of the discounter of his acceptance.
We confess, too, that notwithstanding the as-
surance of the Noble President of the Council,
we cannot discover where the 3,000,0001. is to
come from. We are aware that in Budget No.
1 (that of the sth of March), the Chancellor of
the Exchequer added a conjectural sum of a
million and a quarters for the extraordinary ex-
penses of the then intended expedition, over and
above the amount actually allocated there-
for. Subsequently, on the Bth of May, he
took credit in his estimate for 850,0001. as
an ample fund to cover every deficiency. But
these sums amount only in the aggregate to
two millions one hundred thousand, not to three
millions ; and we need scarcely point out the dan-
ger of going to the extreme limit of the estimate,
a matter which no prudent Minister would ask, and
no prudent representative would grant, more espe-
cially in the face of a decreasing revenue, which
renders it almost a certainty that the calculation
must be materially damaged, and a considerable
deficiency regarded as more than probable.
If, therefore, Parliament was willing to repose
the blind and influential confidence demanded by
Ministers to render them perfectly independent,
until the month of February next it would not be
safe to do so, in a merely financial point of view.
The vote could not be judiciously passed without
a further financial explanation, and a clear and
definite understanding as to the mode in which
the necessary funds are to he provided for its
liquidation. But there is another and even a
stronger light in which it must ba regarded. Is
the country so entirely satisfied with the past
conduct of Lord ABERDEEN and his colleagues
that they are willing to repose unlimited trust in
his and their hands for six months longer I
No further estimate being prepared, nothing
for which the money can be required
being pointed out, it can only be asked for in
order to render " the Coalition" independent of
Parliament. A very pleasant proceeding for them-
selves, unquestionably, but not so for those whose
further assistance may be thereby dispensed with
for no less than six calendar months ! Surely no
amount of confidence can justify such a demand.
Nothing could even palliate a course so insane
and reckless. Had Lord ABERDEEN been as dis-
tinguished for uncompromising firmness as he is
the reverse—had he been the hereditary enemy,
in place of " the forty years' friend," of the AUTO-
CRAT—it would be unreasonable to ask for such
unlimited license. On Monday the question is
to be discussed. There cannot be many popular
demonstrations during the interval, but the Press
should make itself heard, and, while giving ex-
pression to the voice of public opinion, show
Honourable Gentlemen what is expected at their
hands, and what they must do if they would
retain the respect and esteem of their respective
constituents.