The Sun.
London, England, 1825-02-25 00:00:00

of America. If our recognition of the latter has
given umbrage to the Holy Alliance, we may
count, to a moral certainty, upon seeing the French
Cabinet arrayed against us upon the same ques-
tion. Should they attempt a compromise, their
dismissal would be the immediate consequence ;
and the men who now administer the affairs
of France, in the name, and under the surveil-
lance, of a Foreign Junta, are nut the persons
to incur such a risk. Sooner than abandon office,
they would probably expose France to any ha-
zards ; and we cannot insist too much upon this
point at a juncture, when there is every proba-
bility of the French Government being placed in
front of the opposition which is obviously direct-
ed against this country, on account of her recog-
nition of the late Spanish Colonies. kVe do not
know what degree of credit is due to a statement
which has been given in one of the Paris Papers;
but this we know, that, if it were true, hosti-
lities between France and this country would
be inevitable. in that statement it is said, that
'a part of the French army has broken up from
its cantonments on the Ebro, in order to proceed
into Estremadura ; whilst another division has
taken the route of Gallicia. As these movements
would be a contravention, in the first place, of the
articles of the convention by which the French Go-
vernment has agreed to withdraw its troops, with
the exception of the garrison of Cadiz, behind that
river ; and, in the next, a menacing demonstration
against Portugal, we do not see how this country
could blink the question. Estramadura and
Gallicia are the points at which an attack
upon Portugal alone is practicable ; and the
movement of the French in that direction
would evidently imply either an insulting dis-
trust of England or a menace. In the present
state of Spain it is clear there is nothing to
justify it ; but then, it may be asked, why
should this necessarily involve us in hostilities ?
We can only answer that where there is a dis-
position to bear rather than resent an insult,
the question would be very pertinent ; but
as this country is not of so crouching a tem-
per, it is most irrelevant. Portugal is our oldest
and most faithful Ally ; and besides, we are
bound by treaty to assist her in case of at-
tack. She has a right to call upon us for
aid in the event of her territory being menaced ;
but, besides this obligation, we have the deepest
interest in keeping that kingdom out of the orbit
of the Holy Alliance. Should it be once drawn
into the European system, as it is called, we cease
from that moment to be an European Power, at
least we should exercise as -little controul as the
United States of North America, over its concerns.
But as long as our treaty with Portugal re-
mains in force, we can give the law to those
very Powers, who otherwise would treat us as an
outlaw. 'Whilst we have an entrance into
that kingdom, we hold in our hands the lever
by which the whole of the Continent can be
moved at our pleasure. On the other hand, the
military occupation of Portugal by a French army,
hacked by the whole force of Russia, and per-
haps of Austria, would be so full of portent for the
safety of Ireland, since coercion is unfortunately
substituted for conciliation, that we cannot con•
template it without the deepest anxiety.