The Sun.
London, England, 1856-03-10 00:00:00

LONDON, MONDAY, MARCH 10, 1856.

It is impossible that the important informa-
tion recently elicited respecting the untoward
events connected with the fall of Kars can be
quietly shelved without leading to very decided
action. The causes of that deplorable calamity
are now palpable—the whole series can be dis-
tinctly traced—the incapacity and corruption of
the Turkish officials—the grave misconduct of the
leaders who were desirous of obtaining opportu-
nities for private peculation and scandalous dissi-
pation, rather than of discharging the duties
confided to their charge, was the primary evil.
As we have already stated, had these " robbers
and traitors" been in the actual pay of
Russia, and seeking to advance her interests,
they could not have better played her
game. Under the most favourable circumstances
the task of General WILLIAMS was of a particu-
larly arduous and delicate character—one that
required the most strenuous and unflinching sup-
port from the British Ambassador and all those
connected with the diplomatic service at Constan-
tinople. It was beyond all things essential that
it should be thoroughly understood that his repre-
sentations would insure the punishment of those
who misconducted themselves, and that he had
the sanction of the Ottoman Government for the
reforms which he might feel it necessary to intro-
duce. As British Commissioner, it was his especial
duty to watch with peculiar vigilance the conduct
of those who had tolerated abuses seriously prejudi-
cial to the great cause for which the Allies had been
compelled to eater into the War, and any sup-
pression of the facts would have been a gross
dereliction of duty on his part. It was impera-
tive on him to tell " the truth, the whole truth,
and nothing but the truth ;" and, in so doing,
he should have enlisted the sympathies of every I
true-hearted Englishman on his side.

But, unfortunately, he was not indebted to
Lord STRATFORD for his appointment. The
Foreign Secretary was well aware of his high
qualifications, and nominated him directly to the
post without the intervention of, or even any
reference to, Lord STRATFORD. Hence the
grievance. Hence the determination, coolly and
deliberately formed, not to sustain the obnoxious
official. General WILLIAMS reached the scene of
his arduous labours. His despatches prove how
anxiously ho endeavoured to fulfil tho expecta-
tions formed by the Government ; but fifty-four
despatches, each accompanied by a private letter,
were coolly consigned to the recesses of the Am-
bassador's office—probably unread, certainly
unanswered. Even the recognition of the
SULTAN'S Government was not obtained. The
Ambassador "forgot" to ask for it. His
difficulties were thus enormously aggravated,
and the delinquents who, under different circum
stances, would have licked the dust before his feet,
could afford to treat with contumely and insolence
the man who had no tangible warranty for the

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authority which he assumed. Well might he
have considered that the Army was " doomed to
destruction at the Seraskierate" when all his
energetic and laudable efforts in the right direc-
tion were thus dealt with.

Nor was it. from parties at Constantinople and
in Asia only that he received this injurious treat-
ment. The anxious desire of 03IER PAC/IA to ren-
der the muoh-required assistance was counter-
acted by the Allied Generals in the Crimea.
The army that might have rendered suck ines-
timable service in Asia wad uselessly detained at
Eupatoria. The Turkish General demanded a
conference, in order that he might obtain the
necessary permission to save Kars. But all the
French and English officers refused to assent to
any withdrawal of troops, and General SIMPSON
wrote to Lord STRATFOE.D "to use his powerful
influence with the Porte to cause the opinion of
the conference to prevail over that of the Pacha."
The suggestion came to one ready and willing to
give it the utmost force ; and although Lord
CLARENDON backed the Pacha, and telegraphed
to Lord COWLEY to remonstrate with the French
Government, and afterwards to Lord STRATFORD
that OMER might go to Kars, the great object was
not effected until the fatal and stereotyped " too
late" was stamped on the proceeding.
The delay in forwarding the proceeds of the
Turkish Loan was another formidable impediment
in the way of the much-required aid. For that
the accursed red-tapist system was mainly respons-
ible. The notorious rapacity and peculative pro-
pensities of the Turkish officials, no doubt, re-
quired great vigilance ; but the precautions taken
were such as to deprive the fund of its utility,
and to prevent it from becoming available for the
objects for which it was obtained. Caution is a
veryegood thing in its way, but it may be carried
too far, and there seems to be no reasonable doubt
that such was the case in tke instance under
notice.

Quite sufficient is disclosed, and that on unques-
tionable testimony, to justify prompt and imme-
diate action. We fear that there can be no second
opinion as to the conduct of Lord STRATFORD, or
the necessity for his instant recall. He has much
to answer for, and should have the opportunity of
forthwith preparing his defence. Nor should a
person lying under such grave accusations, and
so serious a bill of indictment, be suffered
again to abuse his authority and allow
his petulance and iriitibility a gain
to conquer every principle of justice and equity.
and to overrule the feelings that should have the
greatest weight with every statesman and patriot.
Lord STRATFORD should not, under any circum-
stances, be permitted to remain a single day her
MAJESTY'S representative at the Sublime Porte.

On the great question of National Education
which has just occupied the attention of tb•
House of Commons it would be a relief indeed to
pronounce an unhesitating opinion. Even Lord
JOHN RUSSELL, however, with all his natural dog-
matism, and addressing an assembly which would
gladly have accepted any practicable solution of
the difficulties of the case, was, for him, quite
diffident. The preamble every one grants. Every
one would preface a bill with the assertion, that
" whereas a lhge portion of her MAJESTY'S juve-
nile subjects who do attend school receive but a
very imperfect education ; and whereas a large
portion which might attend, from various causes
do not ; and whereas, in some districts, there is
a deficiency in school accommodation, be it en-
acted," ate.

But it is in the enacting part of the mattter
that all the difficulties arise. There is, first, the
previous question to be disposed of, whether, tak-
ing England as it is, politically, socially, and re-
ligiously, education is not advancing as rapidly as
is compatible with the national habits, opinions,
and prejudices. A point by no means so easily
disposed of by a candid man as it is by the san-
guine abettors of some of the plans for national
education. Next arises the important inquiry,
whether day-school education shall omit direct
religious instruction or not. In other words,
whether it shall rely upon Sunday-school teachers,
ministers of religion, and parents for this, or
seek to impart it in the day school. The pro-
posed modes of effecting the latter are two—to
select the book in which nearly all agree, the
Bible, to be read without note or comment, and
to let each sect teach its own peculiarities in the
school partly supported by it ; in neither case
permitting compulsory attendance on the religious
teaching.
When we arrive at the pecuniary part of the
question, the grand point of discussion is the com-
parative advantage of local rates and Government
grants. The latter is what we are living under ;
the former is unquestionably more English, and
more consistent with the genius of a free people.
One pleads a short prescription and a large staff
of officers already having an inconvenient pecu-
niary interest in extending the system on which
they live ; the other, that it apprqaches mast
nearly to the voluntary system, which has been
the mainspring of nearly all yet achieved, and
would most interest the residents in a locality in
the proper expenditure of the money.
The difficulty of difficulties still remains—what
to do with the class whose parents should send
them, but will not. The pauper class are compa-
ratively in our hands. It is easy to connect at-
tendance at the parish school with receipt of re-
lief ; but the quarter of a million children
" neither at school nor at work," what are we to
do with them ? Persuasion has been largely
tried—are we to compel them to learn ? 'Vega-
bondage, idleness, and parental indifference are
the general aspects of the case. Shall parents be
finable for not sending their children to some
school ? Shall Government open ragged schools
in numbers sufficient ? If it makes the attempt
can it find the teachers qualified for the task ?
one which more than any other of a similar kind
requires special tact and some enthusiasm for the
object.

We have adverted to the principal and well-
known points on which opinion is so diverse, or on
which the difficulties are confessedly so great ;
and having done this it seems almost unfair to
propose no means of overcoming these difficulties.
If indeed we had a theoretical England to deal
with the task would be easy enough. We could
adapt to it with ease either the secular or religions
plans, and support tie Atihools by local rates.
But we must take England as it is—with all its
sectarian differences, all its aversion to centralisa-
tion—all its too well-founded distrust of Go -

vernment administrative Inspectors and Commis-
sioners, all its antagonism between the claims of
the State Church, and those of Dissenters, whose
numbers surpass, but whose wealth and power
fall so short of what the Establishment can claim.
The Popish element in the Church, Popery itself,
and even Unitarianism and infidelity all interfere

with the well-fitting of any hoinogeneom arrange-
.

meat.

Could we persuade the nation to adopt the
principles which we think most important—as.

suinin,g that State education is necessary, or

,hat since the appointment of the Committee

of Privy Council it is inevitable—we should

point to secular education and to local rating as

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