The Sun.
London, England, 1858-12-09 00:00:00

THE lONIAN ISLANDS.

The wisdom of the course adopted by Sir E.
Bulwer Lytton in entrusting. an important mission
to Mr. Gladstone is already justified by the results.
The last mentioned gentleman arrived in Corfu to-
wards the end of November, held communication
with the principal authorities, addressed the
lonian Senate, received a reply, and had within
the lapse of a few days produced a favourable im-
pression upon those with whom he came in con-
tact. The people seem generally gratified at the
dignified yet conciliatory policy of the British Go-
vernment, and instead of clamouring for imprac-
ticable schemes, or evincing an unwillingness to
co-operate in a well-meant endeavour to improve
their condition, display an anxiety to aid the Lord
High Commissioner Extraordinary in his investi-
gations. In fact, the anticipations formed by Sir
E. Bulwer Lytton in seeking the valuable assist-
ance of Mr. Gladstone, have been fully realised.
The reputation and the lofty attainments of the
member for the University of Oxford command the
respect of the lonians, of all classes, and they feel
convinced that in entrusting such a mission to a
statesman whose character is so well known and
appreciated in Europe the Government were ac-
tuated by a sincere desire to find a satisfactory and
therefore an honourable, solution of the 'difficulty.
In reply to the unjust remarks of captious critics,
a few days since, we explained the nature of Mr.
Gladstone's mission, showing the question raised in
the dispatches, fraudulently obtained and hastily
published, did not come within the scope of the
same. Mr. Gladstone, in his temperate and judi-
cious speech to the lonian. Senate, clearly enforces
this view. After some preliminary remarks on the
nature of his commission, the anxiety of her Ma-
jesty for the welfare of the lonian people, and the
embarrassments that have heretofore from time to
time beset the action of the institutions established
under the Treaty of Paris, he proceeds to explain
the actual terms of the relationship existing be-
tween Great Britain and the lonian Islands, and

the objects of his mission, in these words On
the one side the British protectorate over these
islands, on the other the substantive existence of
the lonian state and its title to constitutional
government, having their respective roots in the
Treaty of Paris, are derived from a source higher
than the will of any single state, whether sovereign
or subordinate. They form a portion of the pub-
lic law of Europe, They cannot be infringed or
altered by any authority, inferior to that from
which they flow. It is, therefore, readily to be
understood, alike from the terms of the commission
and from the reason of the case, that my, mission
avoids every ulterior quer:tinn that could derogate
from the relations in which, by the concert of
so many great states, England and the islands
have been reciprocally placed. The liberties
guaranteed by the Treaty of Paris and by the
lonian law are, in the eyes of her Majesty,
sacred. On the other hand, the purpose for which
she has sent me is not to inquire into the British
protectorate, but to examine in what way Great
Britain may most honourably and amply discharge
the obligations which, for purposes European and
lonian, rather than British, she has contracted."
There are certain sapient authorities who pretend
that the Ministerial interpretation of the treaty by
which England wields the protectorate over these
islands is altogether untenable, and they will
doubtless not abandon their error on account of its
exposure by Mr. Gladstone. The majority of the
public will, however, receive the clear and just ex-
position given by the honourable gentleman in
preference to the prejudiced views of dissatisfied
writers.. It is not. therefore, to upset but to deve-
lope the advantages of existing institutions, to find
a remedy for what is bad, and to -strengthen what
is good:that her Majesty has been pleased to ap-
point, and Mr. Gladstone to accept, this important
mission. England, as the protector of the lonian
Islands, wishes to ensure the welfare,and repose of
,their inhabitants, and with that view will do any-
thing consistent with her own dignity as well as
with that of the lonians themselves. Any viola-
tion of the obligation of existing treaties could not
'be for a moment entertained, and those writers who
have attempted to misrepresent both the intentions
of the Government at home, and the objects of Mr.
Gladstone's mission, will find in the proceedings
before the lonian Senate a complete refutation
of the fallacies which they have put forth, and the
severest condemnation of their unconstitutional
proceedings.
Information andrcoun:il do the state of the
islands and the laws are sought by Mr. Gladstone,
and more particularly information and counsel that
may assist the protecting power in the benevolent
object for the attainment of which a Lord High
Commissioner Extraordinary has been specially
appointed. The President of the lonian Senate
responded to Mr. Gladstone's appeal for aid and
co-operation, promising that every information,
every document and assistance that might be
required, should be readily furnished. Thus, in a
short time, the way has already been paved-for a
better understanding between Great Britain and
the lonian Government and people, as evinced in
the reception accorded to Mr. Gladstone, and in
the favourable impression the honourable gentle-
man has made upon members of all classes, both
those who have had personal experience of his mo-
deration and sincerity, and those who only know
of them from the report of others. A difficulty'
encountered in this manner may be said to be half
conquered, and we venture to augur the most
auspicious results from this much-maligned mission.
A better feeling is rapidly springing up amongst the
lonians themselves, and we have reason to believe
that many are already convinced of the folly of advo-
cating impracticable schemes while the British
Government displays such a strong desire to do
everything to promote the welfare and to protect
the liberties of the inhabitants of these islands,
placed under its care. At a public levee, held by
Mr. Gladstone at the Palace of St. Michael and St.
George, the attendance of the respectable portion of
the inhabitants was, in spite of very unfavourable
weather, most numerous ; and the honourable gen-
tleman is hourly growing more popular, and win-
ning golden opinions from the lonian people of
every shade of opinion and rank in life.
It is more than probable that a satisfactory solution
of this perplexing and ion g-agitated question will be
amongst the servicei rendered by Sir E. Bulwer
Lytton during his career at the Colonial-office.
The influence of a better and more enlightened
policy in th's department of the Government has
already made itself felt, and we can hardly wonder
at the annoyance and harsh criticism of the ad-
mirers of the old system of red tape and routine.
What they declared to be an insuperable obstacle
is speedily removed, and by the eXercise of common
sense, impartiality, and sound principles, even the
most formidable perils are overcome. Had the late
Ministry remained in office the lonian difficulty
would in all probability have gone on increasing,
until either menace or calamity suddenly aroused.
public attention to the matter. Sir Edward
Bulwer Lytton had the sagacity to perceive
that prevention is infinitely better than cure, and
determined to put an end tt, a state of affairs at once
unseemly and embarrassing. Hence the origin of
iM r. Gladstone's mission, from which the happiest
results are already anticipated. The English Go-
vernment, by entrusting to this., distinguished
statesman so delicate a task, have convinced even
the lonians themselves of their desire to render
justice, and whilst maintaining the integrity Of
treaties, to place their institutions upon a firm and
satisfactory footing, and to secure to them those
blessings which invariably follow a rigid enforce-
ment of righteous laws. A chronic condition rei
agitation is not favourable to progress and prosperity,
and none have suffered more than the lonian people
from the idle and useless clamour-raised against the
tartish protectorate.

THE ATLANTIC CABLE.—A memorial has been
forwarded to the Lords of the Treasury fromthe Manchester
Chamber of Commerce, praying them to afford immediate
assistance towards the laying of a new telegraphic cablea
between Great Britain and North AMerica, either by.
guarantee upon fresh capital subscribed, or by a subsidy
In
aid of renewed operations, or by such other means as in
their wisdom may appear best calculated effectually to
secure the cleared object,