The Sun.
London, England, 1856-10-31 00:00:00

TILE REASON WHY ?

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(From, the Morning Advertiser.)
What we have been seeking to impress on the British
public for some time past, relative to an alliance beirg
in the course of formation between this country and
Austria, is now at last cc,nfirmed by the Paris correspon-
dent of the Times. Such an alliance, in the very nature
of things,_ presupposed the breaking' up of the alliance
between England and France. No one, indeed, who has
watched for some months past the conduct of the two
Governments towards each other, could fail to perceive
that an estrangement had taken place between them,
and that if a friendship still appeared to exist, it was in
appearance only. For several months past there has
been no cordiality between the French and English Go-
vernments, and it was with difficulty that even the sem-
blance of friendship could be kept up between them. It
would now seem as if even the forms of friendship could
no longer be kept up. France has thrown herself into
the more congenial arms of Russia, while we have taken
into our embraces perfidious and tyrannical Austria.
For this contingency none of the readers of this journal
can have been unprepaof red. We have earnestly and
repeatedly warned them its approach. We have not
only spoken of it as a probability, but as of a moral
certainty. We have said that Louis Napoleon was, in
his heart, the friend of the Czar, and that when he
thought the convenient moment had arrived, he would
openly avow his preference. That moment has come, or
will come, before many weeks have arrived.
Nothing could be more plain, from the passage we
have quoted, than the fact, that France has been a regu-
lar drag-chain on our movements with respect to Naples.
Count Walewski, to whom the Emperor has, for some
months past, in effect, delegated the administration of
the affairs of France, is the particular personal friend of
King Bombe. Ferdinand stood godfather to Count
Walewski's last child, and, therefore, the latter is not
likely to hurt, if he can help it, the godfather of his last-
born. It would be very ungracious if ho did.
It is clear, from all this, that the alliance between Eng-
land and France no longer, in reality, exists. It is no
small consolation to know that we shall not be losers by
the severance of the connection which for the last three
years has existed between the two countries. We are
rejoiced at the result. The alliance has done us no
good ; it has done us much mischief. Why should we be
hunting after Continental alliances at all ? We need no
alliance with any other country in Europe ; for all the
great European States are over bead and ears in the
mire of despotism. We are the only really free country
in Europe ; and Freedom and Despotism can never cor-
dially unite. There never was, and never could be, any
real concord between England and France. With our
natural advantages of situation, our boundless wealth,
our military resources, our formidable fleets, we are well
able to protect ourselves—aye, and also to punish any
country, no matter what country it may be, that may
either insult or seek to injure us. Let the despots of
the Continent band themselves together as they please,
we are in a position to smile defiance at them all.