The Sun.
London, England, 1856-04-29 00:00:00

LONDON, TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 1856.

GoverTment. The most sagacious, and talented
advocate for the defence could merely make
an appeal ad misericordiam confess that
there was " one little dark spot" in the conduct
of the War which could not be justified—and
strive to ride off on a collateral issue. We com-
mend the unanswered and unanswerable speech of
the Honourable Gentleman to the general atten-
tion, which it so eminently merits. It clearly
shows what the nation owes to the Joint-Stock
Administration ; and proves that, for some time
at least, it had but little cause for exultation at
the appointment of a new Cabinet.
The Honourable Gentleman is blamed by a
contemporary because he did not attempt to shield
Lord STRATFORD DE REDCLIFFE. It would doubt-
less have been far more satisfactory to the " thick-
and-thin " adherents of the Ministry had he en-
deavoured to do so. But his language was that of
truth and sincerity ! He would not spare any
delinquent in order to render his shaft more en-
venomed. By adopting that course he might not
have displayed " very brilliant strategy "—might
even have displeased many influential members of
his party. But, by that straightforward and
honourable line, he disarmed his antagonists of
the most formidable weapon which they could use
against him, and carried with him the sympathies
of the people. We can easily conceive the
disappointment of the Ministerialists, who were
thus deprived of the best chance of escape from the
unpleasant position in which they were placed. But
the community at large will take a broader view of
the subject, and rejoice that there is at least one
independent Member from whom they may hope
to hear not only " the truth," but " the whole
truth," and, who in his capacity as legislator,
will place the case fully and fairly before the
country.

But, while stating the case clearly and impar-
tially, he also explained how the misconduct of
the petulant and arrogant Ambassador who per-
mitted his personal feelings to prevent him from
adopting the course which the interests of his
country imperatively demanded, could not justify
the Ministry that condoned the offence, and
cast the mantle of their protection over the
wrong-doer. The " four officers and a doctor "
sent for the defence of Kars could not accomplish
much unless they were enabled to avail themselves
of the prestige once belonging to the British name.
That so much was accomplished would have been
almost miraculous, even under the most favour-
able circumstances. But it was the zeal and
energy with which General WILLIAMS shattered
the "red-tape" bonds with which he was encum-
bered that led to the extraordinary and almost
miraculous results which, although they could
not ultimately save Kars, has covered the
name of its gallant defender with undying
glory. It was well said that "he seized
upon an authority—he usurped an authority
—he trampled upon etiquette, and saved Asia Mi-
nor." Every Englishman will heartily join in the
aspiration—" May GOD bless him for that." He
" would not have seen ten thousand soldiers
perishing with cold opposite to the store in which
were the garments to clothe them, but the key-
hole of which was sealed with ref tape.
He would have kicked open the door
and saved their lives." This was the con-
duct of NELSON in the olden time—of WIL-
LIAMS in 1855. Both these heroes flung

themselves gallantly into the breach—regarded
not the "signals for recall," or the doubtful in-
structions of timid directors, who, while shrinking
from responsibility, would gladly take credit for
every achievement. Many men have physical
bravery—that pluck that enables them to dare
any bodily peril ; but such instances of moral
courage are rare indeed. If we had " the right
men in the right places" General WILLrAms would

receive adequate rewards. He is pre-eminently the
English hero of the War—almost the only man
who, as a commander, sustained the reputation of
his country.

lie was shamefully abandoned to his fate,
Not even the contest i❑ the Crimea, or the natu-

ral indisposition of the Allied commanders to
sanction any diminution of their power in that
quarter until Sebastopol had fallen, could justify
the gross negligence of those who suffered four
Englishmen, of whom their country might well be

proud, to endure such sufferings and privations.
We do not expect much from the present
House of Commons. We know that the so-called
Conservative or Darbyite party are by no means

united on the question. But if there are men
arrogating to themselves the title of " inde-

pendent " members, who hope to fano their con

stituents without shame, we call upon them to
display that independence in the hour of need, to
show that they are really worthy of the confidence
of those by whom they have been placed in so
proud a position.

To the many reasons we have adduced for the
dissolution of Parliament must be added the suc-
cess attending Sir GEORGE GREY'S Police Bill.
Undeterred by the deplorable results of Germanic
as opposed to popular influence, in connection
with the late War, the House of Commons, by
large majorities evinces at once a scandalous dis-
regard for the wishes and feelings of the people,
and a settled resolution, despite the lessons of ex-
perience, to follow still further the Germanic
model, according to which the State is not merely
regarded as a power distinct from the people—
but as all in all, and the people nothing. It was
not, we hardly need remind our readers, under a
system of bureaucracy, based on centralisation,
England rose to her high pitch. of greatness. It
was under a system of an entirely different nature
—a system which, instead of fostering the domi-
nation of the minions of power in our cities and
provinces, kept them in their proper place, and
developed to the utmost that desire for self-
government which, if not an original instinct, has
become a second nature to Englishmen, and has
stimulated the national intellect to the con-
ception of projects, and nerved the na-
tional arm to the execution of undertakings bene-
ficial to the welfare of society, and from which
the victims of centralisation elsewhere have to a
large extent as intuitively shrunk. Our moral,
intellectual, and material greatness has been
achieved, as we all know, after no foreign model,
and those who duly weigh this undeniable fact
will do well to consider whether the time has not
arrived when a stern and decisive protest against
the system of centralisation and bureaucracy should
be made.

Mr. WarTEsIDE has long since achieved a high
reputation in the ,House of Commons, not merely
as a brilliant orator, but as a man of sound prac-
tical judgmeitt. When untrammelled by party pre-
judices he is enabled to take an independent view
of any subject he carries with him the feelings
and the hearts of his countrymen. On all ques-
tions connected with the War he has pursued a
thoroughly English course, befitting a true-hearted
Englishman. With him the honour and interests
of Great Britain have ever been the paramount
object. A better selection could not have been
made of a leader to direct the first attack on the
errors of omission and commission that have un-
fortunately occurred since the commencement of
the Eastern difficulty.
The Honourable Gentleman not only fully
maintained, but greatly enhanced, his well-
merited reputation, by his wonderful effort last
;tight. For more than four hours he kept the
House enthralled. The dinner hour was for once
forgotten, and no member thought of moving
while the enchanter wielded his magic wand.
The veriest " Waiter on PROVIDENCE" could not
stir—he was spell-bound for the time being,
and compelled to listen to the unanswerable
bill of indictment preferred against the ,

The advocates of the Bill, cf course, keep its
offensive features as much as possible in the back-
ground.
It serves their turn bettor to point to
the alleged superiority of the county system, as
apparently shown by cooked, or at all events un-
reliable, statistics. The old or constabulary sys-
tem, they tell us, does not protect society like
the new, more crime being committed and more
criminals escaping detection under it. Mr. HEN-
LEY'S comment on this assertion is the production
of statistics showing that where the police is most
numerous the greatest number of offences is com-
mitted, and the amount of detection 14 the small-
est ! His statistics, however, are said to prove
too much: those who say so affecting to be unable

THE SUN; LONDON, TUESDAy EVENING, APRIL 29, 1856.