The Sun.
London, England, 1856-02-07 00:00:00

WHAT LS AN ARMISTICE?

(From the MoTning Hcrald.)
England may be proud of her representatives, and of
her representative institutions. Among the first, in both
Houses of Parliament, only one man, Colonel Dunne,
has been found sufficiently clear-sighted to see, and suf-
ficiently honest to call attention to, the most monstrous
of all the political iniquities which have disgraced our
diplomacy since the ill-omened hour when the first Coa-
lition overthrew Lord Derby, and brought en, as an in-
evitable consequence, that war which we have conducted
in disaster and are about to close in disgrace.
Such are our representatives. As for the institutions
—what are we to say ? Simply this : that having found
a man to bring forward a matter of first-rate importance,
the forms of the house prevent any more efficient mode
of proceeding than asking a question. We all know
what that is. In the present instance, however, we
have certainly learned from Lord Palmerston that we
are to have an armistice—with the additional informa-
tion that it will be postponed to a period of the year
which will afford the greatest possible advantage to
Russia—viz., the spring months. The working of our
institutions may be further illustrated by the fact, that
with a dishonourable peace staring us in the face the
legislative wisdom must hold their tongues, and leave
the arrangements on which almost the future existence
of the institutions in question depend in the hands of
men whom no one thoroughly trusts, while their own
power is limited to the privilege of pronouncing a futile
opinion, as soon as all the mischief is complete and utterly
without a remedy.
Said we not right when we alleged that England
might be proud of her institutions ? Let Laputa show a
parallel to this elaborate system of sitting looking
stolidly on while the steed is stolen, and then gravey
shutting the door.

Colonel Dunne's question referred to the proposed
armistice. As we pointed out some days since, it has
been announced in the Moniteur that this Austrian
dodge—attempted once before—at the time of that
sapient arrangement, the occupation of the Principalities
—is to precede the opening of the conferences for peace.
Lord Palmerston has confirmed the disgraceful intelli-
gence.

The Augsburg Gazette announced a few days since the
opinion of that well-informed journal—an opinion which
we gave to our readers three weeks ago—that Russia has
no object in entering into negotiations except for the
purpose of sowing dissensions among the allies ; and
adds that the probability is that the conference will ex-
tend to the end of April.
Of course the armistice will endure as long as the con-
ferences, if not some weeks longer.
Do our readers know what an armistice is ? We be-
lieve not.

Not only do hostilities cease, but blockades are raised,
and everything is restored as if to a state of profound
peace. An armistice, therefore, signifies to those who
will observe it a suspension of all movements necessary
for future operations of war. It signifies a gain of two
months to Russia in Asia, where General Mouravieff's
army is at present without the possibility of receiving
assistance, but which, with the aid of the time provided
for that purpose by this precious armistice, will receive
reinforcements the moment the passes are open, and be-
fore we can operate effectually against him.
Were we at once to make our preparations at Batoum
or Trebizonde—according to the direction in which we
intend to operate--we might be on the Russian ge-
neral's communications, and the campaign might be
decided before his expected reinforcements could leave
the mouth of the Wolga. But if we cease or suspend
our arrangements during the armistice, we shall not be in
a condition to leave the coast of the Black Sea until the
middle of summer, when the unhealthy season will have
set in in the deep valleys of the Pbasis and when,
thanks to our delay, and the warnings which we have
given—as we did at Kinbourn—the Russians may have
converted Kutais and Tiflis into fortresses on the model
of Sebastopol and Nicolaieff. This, indeed, would be
following up the betrayal of Kars to a useful purpose
for the Czar; and who doubts that it will be done?
Will the people of England never see that Russia is
not to be effectually attacked ; and that feeble as may
be the pretended assaults on her, she is always fore-
warned in time, so as to give her the opportunity of
making that impossible which before was only difficult ?
Such are some of the evils which this yielding to
foreign interests must inevitably create ; but there are
others of a different nature, and fully as injurious, to be
considered.

Among the many pressures which have been brought
to bear upon the people of this country, in order to com-
pel a Russo-Austrian peace, we have often mentioned,
in addition to the dear food and the cleverly-got•up
American difficulty, as the most efficacious of all, the
money pressure. Now, we would beg our readers to
look closely into this matter.
The armistice will probably commence in a month,
or say six weeks, previous to the breaking-up of the ice
in the Baltic, but affording ample time for foreign mer-
chants and patriotic English traders to prepare every
vessel they oan lay their bands on for a rapid speculation
in Russian produce for the English market.
Every harbour on the cs,tern and southern coast of
the Baltic will be crowded with shipping to take off all
produce which may be there accumulated, and every
pound of that produce will be sold in England for gold
—in reality, if not ostensibly. •
The abstraction of this gold —all of which will ulti-
mately go to Russia, and be employed in preparing ar-
maments against ourselves should the war continue—
will of necessity entail the diminution of our paper cir-
culation, and equally of necessity increase the pressure
in the money market, under which some great houses
have already sunk, and many more are tottering. Here
is a palpable advantage to our enemy, and an injury to
ourselves, which of itself should be sufficient to expose
any Minister who may sign an armistice to a just im-
peachment.

But what can we expect ? England is content to
allow her monetary laws t•► be concocted, and her cur•
rency to be arranged, by " Mercator" and others, who
are at this moment gaining from 7 to 10 per cent, by
discounting bills in consequence of the money pressure
which those very laws have called into existence.
One more sign of the times and we have done.
We have heard that a neutralisation of the Baltic is
in contemplation, as a supplement, we suppose, to that
of the Black Sea.
In the first this will of course involve the destruction
of the Swedish fleet—her only security against aggres-
sloe, and so pave the way for her future subjugation.
While in the second, Russia has no fleet, and Turkey
has a very powerful one.
Is the latter to be destroyed because the ships of the
Czar are rotting at the bottom of the harbour of Sebas-
topol? This is worth consideration.

We must not sneer at the Turks as a maritime power,
when we remember that, except for the direct inter-
ference of our own ambassador, acting by order of the
Foreign Secretary, whe prevented Admiral Slade from
entering the Black Sea, that foul blot upon modern
civilisation, the massacre of Sinope, would, we verily
believe, have never been attempted, or, if attempted,
would have resulted in a destruction of the ships of the
aggressor, as complete as that which, by English agency,
befell the frigates and transports of our unfortunate ally.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

CALEDONIAN.

A meeting of the shareholders in this company was
hold at two o'clock on Wednesday afternoon, at the
Clarendon Rooms, Liverpool, to consider the position of
the company in reference to the Edinburgh and Glas•
gow Company, and the steps which should be taken to
bring about a pacific policy, and put a final stop to the
existing competition, which was alike injurious to both
companies. There were fifteen shareholders present,
and one of the Edinburgh and Glasgow line.
Mr. Greeow took the chair, and, having stated the ob-
ject of the meeting, proceeded t ) read his own address.
It was a lengthened document, and went to show that
at the present time the competition between the two rival
companies had arrived at a ruinous extent, the result of
which was that the Edinburgh and Glasgow were for-
warding passengers, first class, at one half-penny per
mile, and third-class passengers at one farthing per mile—
a tariff, which the Caledonian was also adopting, and,
consequently, no dividend could be expected ; and he
had reason to believe that for the past eighteen months
the dividend had been paid out of the capital of the
company. Corresponding reductions in the cost
transit had also taken place in the contracts, one of
which he instanced. Where pig-iron had been conveyed
over 31 miles for 4s. 41. per ton the charge was now
only 2s. 2d. per ton, and the directors had entered into
the contract for five years. He thought a searching in-
quiry ought to be made into the matter, and that the
shareholders should express their feelings whether they
I had confidence in the direction. He exhorted them to
bestir themselves, as there would be matters before
Parliament affecting the Caledonian which would require
their consideration before further capital was sunk.
Alter reading several extracts from newspapers, having
reference to the competition, the chairman proposed
that a committee be appointed to address a circular to
the shareholders soliciting their support to the following
resolution to be proposed at the next half•yesrly meet-
!rig ,--" That a committee of gentlemen, in whose sound
judgment and principles the shareholders might bare
confidence, be appointed to examine into the present
position and management of the company, and through
whose intervention an attempt may be made to conclude
a fair and mutually benefiical joint-working agreement
with the Edinburgh and Glasgow Company, similar
to that lately entered into betwee❑ the Scottish Central,
and Edinburgh, Perth, and Dundee Companies, and in
effecting this, it should also be aimed at, that the best
understanding should be maintained with the last-named
companies."
This resolution was carried unanimously, and after a
vote of thanks had been passed to the chairman the
meeting separated.

LIBEL—THE PRESS.—On Tuesday the proprietor of
the Roscoamon Journal obtained a verdict for 25/.
against the proprietor of a rival paper, the Roscommon
Reporter, for stating that tho .Journal had died.
AILERICAN WHEAT FOR FRANCE.—TLIO New iro3:
Journal of Commerce, of Jan. 16, quotes the following
from the Chicago Daily Press, without giving date.
Some days ago we noticed the shipment of 20,000
bushels of wheat from this city, via the Illinois Central
Railroad and Cairo for France. From the Lasalle Press
we observe that similar shipments are being made from
other points for the same destination. On Saturday
last 8,000 bushels were received at that place from lowa
over the Rock Island road, which was transferred to the
Illinois Central to go to the Cairo and then to France.
The Press trays :—" A still larger quantity is to arrive
from the same State this week for the same destination.
This, we believe, is the first instance in which grain has
been shipped from lowa to Now Orleans via Lasalle,
and is Pahape but tai© forortum4r of more shisloAtg.::

SHARE MARKETS.

!raid

(THIS DAY.)

100
61s.
an
all
all

RAILWAYS.

Closing Prices
this day

25 - 27

'lOO
100

4 -

NIP ..... ...

all
all
100
100

' 2..44
106
all
all
all

71 - 81
16 - 15

B'2P

13 - 14
9 8

100
82e
1
1100
,100

1100
3i
100

100

Ail
[OO
100
;3118.

20
20
to
I 0

•N - ...
85 - 87
55i - 56

-

... ...

.•• . --- •
4 - 2•

121 - 13
fli -10 A
26 30
19 - 21

72 - 73
52 - 51
9i - 91
25

... t••

82 - 86
64 - 7
901 - 911
76 - 78
124 - 126
103 - 105
55 - 551

73 - 78
6i - 74
64 - 74,
•- 81j

61 7
97 99
100 1004
id par
id par,
91 95
3} 2i
3 2d

•N ..'. •••

:

Id
68i
42 694
4.0

••• .... ...

49 - 51

•••
29i 3ei

73 - 74;
7 - 50,
41 - 3t
14 - 15
49 50

17i
all
all
1 1

- 70

22 - 24

104 106
75 77
45 47
11 -- I2i
61i 624
70 72
S - 3d

101 10

91
77 i

1031 4
ES5i 5 i

81} 1

loorn

93/ 6 4/

69 ii
411

49i 50
29i

74 3i

491 1

37

2)
2)
50
2)

5
5
20
10

20
5
20
18

20
25
25
100

20
IC
20
20

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