The Sun.
London, England, 1847-03-08 00:00:00

Inning Ant

LONDON, MONDAY, MARCH 8, 1847.

Seeing that little reliance can be placed upon the
promises of tranquillity which are occasionally given
by the casual torpor of the Spanish Government, it
is always advisable to keep an observant eye upon the
movements of Peninsular parties. Whether the Mo-
derados are slinking down into obscurity, or the
Afrancesados are resigning their protracted influence,
or the Progressistas are abating in their exertions, or
the Carlists are disappearing from the arenas of poli-
tical strife—be sure they are covertly mustering
their forces and accumulating their strength for the ad.
vent of some coming emergency. The quiescence of
the circles of Madrid is as deceptive as the quiescence
of the ocean when " cats' paws" are feathering up on
the horizon. Long as it has been the failing of English-
men to regard with indifference the machinations and
the progress of Continental states, we are satisfied
in latterly observing in our countrymen a disposition
to scan the diverse mutations which are perceptible
in most foreign Governments. Excellent as is the pro-
verb which inculcates the advisability of looking wel!
after our own affairs, it is scarcely worthy of consi-
deration when applied to these grander fortunes, and
it is scarcely worthy of consideration, because it is
scarcely applicable. The fortunes, whether for good
or evil, of the several kingdoms of the earth are be-
coming so mutually dependent, that the interest of
the one is almost synonymous with the interest of the
other. Possibly from the mutual charities inspired
by Christianity, possibly from the benevolent effects
of civilisation, and probably, also, from the spread of
general enlightenment and the facilitation of inter-
course
which has been effected by science and inge-
nuity, the nations of Europe are more intimately
blended together than when they formed constituent
portions of the Roman empire, stretching from the
limits of Armenia to the pillars of Hercules, from the
rivers of Mesopotamia to the wall of Severus. Under
the colossal and majestic government of the C.SARs
there was undoubtedly every appearance of a real
and cordial coalition of the incongruous
tribes by which Europe was populated. The
sway which radiated from the golden pa-
laces on the Palatine bill, and which seemed to
strike forth to the very extremities of Colchis and of
Belgica, was, however, without any intrinsic strength.
There was bloom on the rind, but rottenness at the
core. Had the combination been federal instead of
subsidiary, there would have been more probability of
the continuance of the imperial dynasty, though even
then the predominance of any one principality in
that accumulation of tongues and dispositions, would
still have rendered it hopeless to effect anything
like a consolidation of a dominion so unwieldy
and enormous. Now, on the contrary, the
resources of every individual section of
this division of the globe is developed
to the uttermost extent by the sagacity and supervi-
sion of a local legislature. At the same time a
mutual dependence upon each other is insured by the
frier.dly relations of adjacent kingdoms, and to a very
considerable degree likewise by the commercial in-
tercourse which is maintained in the very teeth of the
protective system.

We would especially insist, therefore, upon the
advisability of maintaining an inflexible and scruti
nising observation as to the progress of events in the
Peninsula. It was through the superior vigilance of
the French Government that Great Britain was so
surprisingly cajoled in regard to the marriage
of the Princesses. From the deficiency of our suspi-
cion—arising, no doubt, from a laudable honesty of
purpose on our part—have arisen all the sorrows,
heart-burnings, and humiliations, consequent upon
the Montpensier alliance. Bitter as the lesson is, let
us profit by it! Let us henceforth be more chary in
crediting the amicable declarations of Continental or
Peninsular Courts, and strive to effect the preserva-
tion of peace by a due admixture of jealousy in our
foreign policy! Let us remember that the Courts
of Europe, whether northern or western, have
frequently before now eluded us by their consummate
and masterly hypocrisy; that each of them can " coin
its cheek to smiles" with the felicity of the most prac-
tised concubine ; that their promises and engagements
of amity are as flourishing as lichens, but as unproduc-
tive ! Tedious as may be the repetitions of alarm
and tranquillity, of Carlist insurrections or of Minis-
terial domination, it is requisite that they should be
perpetually watched, otherwise we ourselves shall be
perpetually deceived and perpetually injured. Ab-
horring from our heart the infusion of a systematic
suspicion into the policy of a constitutional Govern-
ment like our own, we are nevertheless so persuaded
of the necessity of vigilance in our correspondence
with the various Governments abroad, that we should
prefer the selection of the lesser evil, as most calcu-
lated to advance the happiness and stabilitate the
tranquillity of the nations of Christendom.

Among the many valuable reforms introduced by
her MAJESTY'S Government since their last accession
to office, few are of a more beneficial character, or
were more urgently required, than those which have
been introduced for the regulation and control of our
military brethren, for their increased comfort and
respectability, and the improvement of their moral and
social condition. The brutalizing and degrading
"cat " has pra:tically been banished from our ser-

vice, and men can no longer be tortured to death,
or turned into broken-spirited creatures, lost to every
feeling of honest pride and self-respect, for a slight
offence, involving no moral guilt or turpitude. We
say practically, for although there is still, unfortu-
nately, a possibility of such an infliction, to the
limited extent of fifty lashes, not only the public
feeling, but those of the authorities at the Horse
Guards, has been so fully and clearly expressed
against the abominable system, that few officers will
now have the hardihood to fly in its face, and to
bring on themselves the public odium and disgrace
that must be the result of any unnecessary recurrence
to corporal punishments in their regiments. The sol-
dier will, henceforth, be enlisted for a limited period,
and will have at least the prospect, should he dis-
like his position, of being one day free to
return to his home and family, and a great temptation
to desertion will be removed. A fair chance is
afforded to the deserving and zealous soldier of rising
to a commission by constant and unceasing good
conduct. Warrants have been issued for the esta-
blishing of normal schools and savings' banks in each
regiment, and for accomplishing other desirable im-
provements in the social state of the army ; rewards
f:fr
disciplinegooconduct will be made use of, as well as
punishment for bad, as means for the due preservation
; and many of the petty and trifling an-
noyances, which, although trivial in themselves, still
harass and vex soldiers, are
.w to their speedy and
under the consideration
the
of the authorities, with a
effectual removal. Amongst
grievances of this
latter class, there are few productive of gtheeatseoride.vii,
or of a more demoralising character to
than the entire system of canteens ; and much credli. 1'