The Sun.
London, England, 1860-07-28 00:00:00

may pronounce that vast army unnecessary. Ido
not mean to say that that army is raised for the
deliberate purpose of aggression, I trust it is not,
but the possession of power to aggress frequently gives
the desire to do so. You cannot, you are not

entitled to rely upon the forbearance of a
stronger neighbour. You are bound to make
your defensive means proportionate to his means
of aggression. But it is not only on land that
the arrangements of France are disproportionate
to her necessities for defence. We know that

the utmost exertions have been made, and still are

making, to create a navy—very near equal to our
own—a navy which cannot be required for purposes
of defence of France, and which, therefore, we are
justified in looking upon as a possible antagonist we
may have to encounter—a navy which would give
to our neighbours the means of transporting within

a few hours a large and formidable number o'

troops to our coast."
Now, who is it that makes these well-considered
observations, and makes them where he knows

they will be heard in a few hours in every capita
in Europe, as well as by the House of Commons
and all England—lt is the First Servant of the
Crown, and on the most grave responsibility. That
ought, with all fair-minded men of all parties, to
go for much. If there are occasions when the
Premier of England is no party man, an occasion
like this is surely one of them. We ought to do a
man like PALMERSTON the justice to believe that,
right or wrong, he spoke under the fullest sense of
his responsibility to his Queen, to his country, and
even to Europe.
But if there be a man in England likely to be
right on this question, Lord PALMERSTON seems to
us to be tho man. Few will claim superior know-
ledge of Foreign Courts, of their objects and plans.
Indeed the supposition, not probably incorrect, has
been, that he is far better versed, proportionately at
least, in foreign than in home affairs. But a yet
stronger point is, that Lord PALMERSTON of
all men would be the last to entertain
groundless apprehensions of France. He
was the first man here to congratulate
the present EMPEROR on his overthrowing French
liberties, with violence to those who occupied high
position, and ..bloodshed amongst the citizens ; and
was long under a cloud, for his apparent sympathy
with a military and despotic revolution. He has
been the avowed personal friend of the EMPEROR,
his guest, not in diplomatic and formal style, but
amid the heart-opening scenes of the chase and social
amusements. He has never shown any sympathy
here with the attacks made on the EMPEROR, but
has always repelledthera. And, finally, he authorised
Mr. GLADSTONE, with the help of Messrs. GIBSON,
COBDEN, and BRIGHT, to try their best towards get-
ting up a reciprocal trade, which should do its part
in making war less agreeable to a larger number in
both countries. He retains some faith in the ulti-
mate workings of that treaty, though he must
have noted with pain that the selfishness and
trickery of the French have made the treaty, thus
far, rather a cause of umbrage than an olive branch

of peace.
And this is the Minister who, having never
before spoken in such language, feels now obliged
to look across the Channel and to tell the Govern-
ment of our neighbour that they maintain an army
too large forhon est purposes,an d that when that army
is combined with an ever increasing navy, equally
unnecessary for defence, the conclusion is that
France can mean nothing else than, that not merely
Austria or Prussia, Belgium or Switzerland, but
that ENGLAND should regard her as a possible
antagonist.• The French Government is, we believe,
annoyed at the late mighty increase of our naval
force, and is doing what she now can to depre-
ciate her own, and to induce us to hold our
hands. First, M. KERGUEVEN is put forward to
represent a large part of the French ships as so ill
built that they are no match for ours. And but
just now a pamphlet is published, "by autho-
rity," which quotes largely from our House of Com-
mons' speeches, to show the immense additions we
have made to our navy ; while it represents that
of France as going on very gently and peacefully,
intending no harm to us, or to any one else ! One,
however, of its statements but confirms our general
argument from the convictions of such a man as
our Prime Minister, for it is just this—that Lords
PALMERSTON and RUSSELL have outdone all their
predecessors in the additions made to the navy
since they have been in office ! If this be true, it
is but another proof that o4ir Prime Minister and
his distinguished colleagues have shown their faith
in their opinions, by actions for which they are
responsible to the judgment of those who have to
pay for all.
We do not wish to lay more stress than is reason-
able on what might be ridiculed as the PALMER-
STON argument—though, amongst those who would
sneer, we know none whom the country would ac-
cept with confidence for its guides on such a ques-
tion—but we ask in concluding, Is there any man
who, while iheply regretting the never-ending
naval and military expenditure of the last few
years, does not feel that he is not prepared for risk-
ing things in the present state of Europe? Swit-
zerland feels itself wronged already. Belgian de-
puties tell their King, by describing what no
Power will dare to do at this day, what they really,
think France desires to do. German petty Sove-
reigns hurry to Baden, to anticipate bargains
with Prussia, of which their liberties shall be
the price. The monarchs of Austria and
Prussia are merging old feuds, and at
this moment are consulting for the common defence
of Germany. The SULTAN is trembling at the
thought of ten or twenty thousand Frenchmen
landing on the coast of Syria, not forgetting
Algeria, and the immobility of the French at Rome
—we may add, as significant as anything—M.
PARADOL is in prison for writing a little inoffensive
rhetoric in praise of lit erty, and M. LEYMARIE, can-
not get authorisation for a journal to discuss
with "moderation," the politics of France, be-
conk his writers are too respectable and
moderate ! A throne so weak at home
maintains an army and navy large enough to
invade England and to terrify half Europe—the
inference is that, any day, to keep a shaking
Emperor on his seat, the mad game of turning
Frenchmen's eyes to their armies on foreign soil
may be the only resort. The throne of LOUIS
NAPOLEON has cost us millions, and will cost us
millions many more yet. May it not cost us blood
also ?

......
From the telegrams last received it is evident that
the battle near Melazzo must have been fiercely
fought. We are told that the Garibaldians " lost "
780, and that the Royal troops had 1,223 " killed "
with the addition—which surely might have written
anywhere, that " there were many wounded on both
sides." The telegram is from Genoa, as is also ano-
ther informing ris of an insurrection on the main-
land at Avellino, in which foreign troops shed the
blood of the citizens. At Gaeta itself the soldiers
were shouting " down with the Constitution."
There are yet therefore not wanting men on
whom the young Bourbon may rely. Alen who
will fight and die, for him. Of what class they
are, and under what inducements they fight, we
shall learn in due time. They may be compro-
mised regiments ; they may be gorged with plunder