The Sun.
London, England, 1858-05-05 00:00:00

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LONDON, WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 1858.

It was fortunate that the House of Commons
took so correct a view of the question last night
♦entilated by Mr. GLADSTONE. The very decisive
majority of 178 has removed the difficulty that
might otherwise have impeded the operations of
our diplomatists at the new Parisian conferences.
We have happily induced France to take the same
view of the important subject as ourselves. There
is "a perfect identity of sentiment and of policy,
in the widest and truest sense," between these
great powers ; and when they are agreed, and
Austria, Turkey, and Sardinia are favourable to
the same course, it requires no extraordinary
powers of vaticination to say that it will be
adopted, and that the interested designs of Russia
will be defeated.

The former conferences at Paris left the ques-
tion open, a most unfortunate legacy to future
diplomatists. The difficulty could easily have
been surmounted, the enigma solved, at the time ;
but each party thought that they could ultimately
carry out their own views, and they got rid of
the troublesome topic by leaving it over for future
consideration. It was an ad captanduns argu-
ment, to say that the wishes of the inhabitants
should be consulted ! But how were these wishes
to be ascertained ? How could it be known what
were the real desires of the great body of the in-
habitants ? It was certain that extraneous influ-
ences were to be brought into operation, and that
no efforts would be spared to falsify the lists, and
Make it in accordance with the policy of Russia.
The result of the first election for Moldavia
was completely adverse to the union. That was,
however, objected to, on the ground of alleged
abuses and corrupt practices, on the part of the
Kaimakans, a very severe pressure was put on
Turkey, in order to induce it to annul the retarns,
and consent to a new appeal to the Moldavians.
This was accordingly granted, but not until the
representatives of several nations had struck their
sags, and there was an imminent danger of a sus-
pension of diplomatic intercourse, with all its in-
conveniences. The second election was just as un-
fair on the other side, and, in fact and truth, the
one may be properly set off against the other, so
that the result is nil. Besides, on such a point, the
interests of Europe must be taken into considera-
tion. It would, indeed, be injudicious to create a
slumbering volcano, that might explode at any
moment and occasion terrible mischief in the

eruption.
From the very commencement we pointed out
the perils that must necessarily attend on the
union of the Danubian Principalities under either
a native or foreign Sovereign. It would be
to create a second Greece north of the
Damube....a, petty kingdom, subservient to
Russia, whose titular Sovereign would be but
a more creature—a modern satrap of the Ca irs.
Besides it would reverse the policy for which the
late war was uudertakeu, would destroy the integ-
rity of the Ottoman Empire, to maintain which
r) many: and such serious sacrifices were submitted
Britain would join in the division of
the eiCik man.
assets, not for its own benefit, but
for Ike aggrandisement of Russia, and the estab-
liiumentof sMusemte Viceroy on the banks of the
Danube.

The great object of thetreat!racivras. to secure th 9
neutrality of Wallachia
atia m
,pres3rving
the very modified supremacy of the SULTAN.
Eapremacy that has never been used to the (1. et A - '
ment of the inhabitants. If, however, they
are
erected into an independent kingdom they
are',
forthwith exposed to all the intrigues of Russia,
until the nominal ruler becomes a mere puppet,
the strings whereof are pulled at St. Petersburg.
Re could never withstand the bribery, cajolery,
or threats that would be resorted to whenever
any important object was to be attained. '' - '

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It is but justio9 to say that Lord PALMERSTON