The Sun.
London, England, 1849-08-02 00:00:00

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LONDON, THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 1849.

Yesterday, on the occasion of the prorogation of
Parliament, it was impossible for any reflective
observers not to be struck with two very remarkable,
and not less melancholy than remarkable, circum-
stances in regard to the character of the session and
in reference to the policy of the Government. As to
the session which has just terminated—the fact is
sufficiently apparent that, with the exception of a few
ameliorative measures for Ireland, nothing whatever
of importance has been accomplished in the way of
wholesome legislation beyond the abrogating of the
laws relating to Navigation. As to the Government
—perhaps the most lamentable as well as the most
prominent of all its evil characteristics is that
of its detestable system of temporizing in all matters
bearing upon our foreign relations. Wherever a
continental nation is given over to the cruelties of
a despotic administration—there the Russell Cabinet
begins to temporize. Whenever a city is bombarded
by the soldiers of reaction—that Cabinet begins
to temporize. It temporizes, in short, wherever
and whenever the principles of democracy
and of aristocracy are in open antagonism :
it temporizes wherever and whenever the
revolution and the counter-revolution are in open
arms opposed to each other : it temporizes wherever
and whenever the influence of the formidable
tyrants of the North are directed to the
destruction of liberty, to the violation of
immemorial rights, to the spoliation and desolation
of countries struggling to maintain their indepen-
dence. Nay, the policy of the present advisers of
the SOVEREIGN is not only so far reprehensible, but
in every instance, where such can be accomplished
without peril, (0 shame to the so-called manliness of
British statesmanship !) it interposes for the suppres-
sion of popular freedom among our neighbours, and
for the advocacy of family ties and dynastic
interests. Take as a proof of this the infamous
interposition of the English Cabinet in the
affairs of Portugal—an interpoition which led to
the conquest of patriotism and to the concentration
of supreme authority in the hands of the degenerate
daughter of the BRAGANZIS. One pernicious con-
sequence of that shameless support of the reactionary
principles ht-s latterly become more than ever con-
spicuous in the re•elevation to the Presidency of the
Council of Administrators at Lisbon of that heart-
less adventurer COSTA CABRAL, the infamous Count
pE TROMAR. In speaking thus we are drawing no
inference directly or indirectly prejudical to the
character of Lord PALMERSTON. On the contrary,
we presume it to be sufficiently well known that we
regard the position occupied by that distinguished
nobleman, as contrasted with that of his colleagues, as
one eminently honourable to himself—that position,
namely, in which he has been acknowledged (both
within and without the walls of Parliament)
to stand, n emely, as the solitary states-
man imparting respectability by his presence
to an otherwise worthless Administration. As
such Lord PALMERSTON is recognised, both at
home and abroad. As such he has entitled himself, in
a particular manner, to our respect and admiration.
What we would especially, however, impress upon
the consciousness of the multitude, in allusion
to
othepernicious foreign policy of the Russell
Government in this—that Lord PALMERSTON stands
so wholly isolated in the Cabinet as to be incapaci-
tated from following out his own views, from obey-
ing the dictates of his own enlightened
of hisownne ,
judgment,
awl from yielding to the
poEn
generous nd chivalric dibposition. ll
most et. t nest wishes are thwart A, all his more all hisnoble
re
efforts are annulled, and when disposed to aid the
consolidation of the liberties of a foreign race,
like the Italians, he is accused of sympathising
with such expeditions as that of Ri:2luons
Tout, in certain flagrant attempts at Pro-
pagandism. That is the position of Lord Pan-
maasTos in regard to the Government. The truth
is glaring, moreover, in the very recognition of his
embarrassment—Lord PALMERSTON requires the sup-
port of the people of England. When he has ac-
quired a full conviction that the population of this
country is with him (as we believe it to be, most