The Sun.
London, England, 1840-10-08 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE FRENCH JOURNALS OF

TUESDAY.
(From the Journal des Debats.)
All kinds of abuse fell upon us in consequence of the
opinion which we expressed respecting the capture of
Beyrout. We sec plainly that faction is endeavouring
to get possession of the foreign question, and convert
it into one of internal revolution. These cries, menaces,
and denunciations arc but anticipations of proscription.
We shall not, however, be frightened from performing
our duty. We do not answer for events ; and we know
that were France to fall again under the yoke of the
revolutionists, modeitation, courage, and patriotism
would become crimes, and be denounced as trea-
son. This is all the reply we make to the National.
The ministerial press joins the republican in attacking
us, and denouncing us in revolutionary language. We
have sacrificed our opinions, our opposition, our dislike
to the Ministry, in order to support it on a great national
question. And such is our reward. We have been
for precautions, for armaments, and for vigilance ; but
it does not follow that at the first cannon-shot fired in
Syria we should declare war upon Europe, or march on
the Rhine, as the National would have us do, because
Beyrout is bombarded. We prefer reflecting and wait-
ing, and we arc called cowards and traitors.
If such be the state of Ministerial opinion, why did
Ministers wait for the taking of Beyrout, which real'y
makes no alteration in the question ? Why was the
French fleet off Syria to watch the progress of events ?
The capture of Beyrout is nothing, or it is something ;
if something, was it not cowardice to let it take place ?
Is it possible that Ministers did not foresee what Napier
was about to do, and were for the tenth time in this
one affair out of their calculation ?

If the Beyrout business was to be the signal for war,
why were not the Chambers cenvoked a month ago ?
When we demanded this convocation, the Ministerial
Press told us there was no. need to be in a hurry. We
foresaw what has happened. We foresaw the effect to
be expected from the first Syrian news. And therefore
we entreated the Government long since to explain its
intentions. We supposed that it had a fixed and de-
cided plan, which we now can scarcely believe. For
the Minister opens his mouth to acquaint us that the
cases belll was the capture of Beyrout. The Cabinet,
to be sure, still deliberates. But the Ministerial Press
no longer deliberates. Ministers, in fact, have floated
down the current of events, dreaming of peace one day
on the slightest presumption, and at the first disappoint-
ment denouncing war. Can this be called governing, or
even reasoning ?
The country must know that two dangers now me-
nace it—external danger and internal danger. That
of foreign menace we do not seek to extenuate ; but
let us choose our own moment for war ; let us declare
it from duly and well weighed motives, not from mo-
mentary caprice. But there is domestic danger too.
The present agitation has given new hope to faction.
War offers a noble pretext, but revolution is the pre-
sent aim ; and a new revolution would not only cause
incalculable evils to the country, but leave it weak and
disarmed in the presence of a foreign foe."
There is no change in the tone of the same journals,
but with two or three exceptions, they contain nothing
of interest for extract. The Constitution/id which first
announced the existence of a division in the Cabinet, on
the great question of peace or war, has no leader on the
subject this morning, from which we may reasonably in-
fer that no decision has been come to. The Courrier
which had declared in direct opposition to the Constituti•
mine/ that there was no:division in the Cabinet,has changed
its affirmation into a mere expression of its belief. 1 t says
it believes the Ministers to be united, and observes that,
as a pledge of this union, it ii announced that the Cham-
bers will be convoked for the IA of next month. This
may or may not be true, but the inference drawn by the
Courrier, that the convocation of the Chambers is a
proof of the unanimous determination of the Cabinet,
is by no means in harmony with the general rumour,
which states that, if the Chambers meet before the
usual period, it will be for the purpose of relieving Mi.
nisters of the awful responsibility which now hangs over
them, and deciding by a cairn and dignified appeal to
the good sense as well as the patriotic feelings of the
nation, whether the peace or the war party is in the
right. Il oar memory does not deceive us, it has been .
announced from the beginning of the untartnnato (lir-
fereace which now ngitates the-publid mind, that when
the Govcrriment should be in such a position as to he
called upon by circumstances to decide as to whether
the peace of Europe should be broken or not, it would
convoke the Chambers, which alone, as the legal
representatives of the zountry, can be appealed to by
7 the Government on this great question. 'life impres-