The Sun.
London, England, 1825-01-28 00:00:00

TIIE LONDON JOURNALS.

DAILY
Extractsfrom the Morning Papers,Jan. 28, Ins.

[MORNING POST.]
The rumour respecting an augmentation of the
Army, which we noticed yesterday, seems to
have come very opportunely to those who are al-
ways ready to catch at a pretext for calumniating
his Majesty's Ministers. What should they have
done now, when Parliament is about to open
ander such flattering auspices, if it had not been
reported that " the Standing Army was to be in-
creased in time of peace !" We wish, however,
it would be recollected that, during the severe
agricultural distresses two or three years back,
government, to meet the exigency of the mo-
ment, reduced our military establishment some
thousands below what, with a view to the rank
and relations of the country, had been previously
determined on. Such a sacrifice was manifestly
intended to be temporary, and the present in-
crease, therefore, is a mere restoration of the
Army to proper permanent amount. But
waving this view of the question, we think when
Ministers—as all parties are forced to acknow-
ledge—have shown themselves so anxious and
active in economizing, and so zealous in pro-
moting the best interests of the nation in every
available channel, they are entitled to some con-
fidence and credit for just intentions on a pa:ti-
cular.point of policy. In time of actual war the
nature and events of the contest indicate pretty
obviously the necessity of every measure pro-
posed ; but during peace, those only to whom ac-
curate official sources of information are open can
duly appreciate the propriety of guarding against
dangers, however remote, and by that means suc-
seed in preventing them. We are now speaking
generally and altogether hypothetically, and
merely to remind our readers that it may some-
times be prudent to be prepared for casualties
which it may not be prudent publicly to antici-
pate. For our own part, we are certain that the
peace of the world is not in the least hazard of
being disturbed. The friendly disposition of our
Government to all other Powers cannot be
doubted, and as little can it be questioned how
much it is the interest of other States to maintain
terms of amity with us. At the same time we
cannot help observing that our foreign policy has
of late been of a bold and energetic character,
and equally repugnant to the wishes as the prin-
ciples of Courts with whom we are constantly
coming in contact. It is our duty, therefore, to
be able, if required, to support in the field what
we have resolved in the Cabinet. Yet the rea-
soning, we would again impress, is entirely and
purely suppositious ; nor, while so many other
unimpeachable grounds exist for increasing the
military force of the country, ought we, perhaps,
to have suggested the foregoing. The machina-
tions of the l'opish faction in Ireland would, we
think, justify the full extent of augmentation
mentioned. Of one thing, at least, we think
there can be no doubt—namely, that Ministers
will be able to satisfy the public perfectly as to
the expediency of whatever measures they may.
propose ; and, until such a justification is Nil be-
fore Parliament, common decency ought to silence
all ignorant objections. The Opposition Journals
are really embarrassing their Patrons exceedingly
at the present moment. The latter, from the
clamour which is now attempted to be raised
against increasing the army, will be obliged, on
the opening of the Session, to manufacture some
silly speeches in concurrence with the vulgar
opinion, previously formed ; and as these effu-
sions can have no weight in Parliament, the wis-
dom of Ministers will thence derive the stronger
illustration.