The Sun.
London, England, 1857-05-18 00:00:00

The resolution wts then put and agreed to.
The Hon. W. Fox STRANOWAYS moved the next
resolution, declaring it to be expedient to continue
to give a vigorous support to the Polish cause. He
was sure that Lord Palmerston, so far from being
adverse, was exceedingly favourable to the cause of
liberty in all such countries as Poland and Circassia,
and in those two countries particularly ; and he be-
lieved that nothing but insuperable obstacles, or
what appeared to be insuperable obstacles, had
prevented the Government on so apparently favour-
able an occasion as that which presented itself last
year from pushing their desires to the utmost
extent. (Hear, hear.) He was, therefore, bound
to believe that those difficulties did occur, but be
was not bound to accept the result as perfectly,
agreeable. (Hear.) That was quite another ques-
tion. The resolution which he had moved was one
ot re-assurance rather than of expectation. He
believed that some harm had been done by the con-
stant tone of expectation which had been kept up
for so many years. Great events did not happen
every day, and if the imagination was always kept
on the stretch much commonplace work that was
useful was often neglected. In the calm which
now existed there was no cause for depression on
the part of the Poles. It would hardly be for the
credit of the Polish nation that the world should
imagine that they required a sea of trouble anda
time of agitation in order to induce them to bestir
themselves. He believed the Polish character was
as firm and calm in peace as it was terrible in war,
and he trusted that during the present apparent
stagnation they would use their utmost exertions
to improve their condition. There were two or
three circumstances rather favourable to the cause
of Poland in that point of view. One was, that
the character of Russia and the character of Poland
were better understood by England and by. Europe
than they were before the commencement of the
late war. The consequence of that knowlege had
been to increase the distrust which was felt regard-
ing Russia, and that distrust would continue to in-
crease until another favourable opportunity might
arise of resisting the encroachments of that power,
and he imagined that it would not be very long be-
fore such an opportunity occurred. (Hear.) He
wished to see a more frequent and steady commu-
nication with the liberal parties in other countries
which were nearly in the same situation as Poland.
(Hear, bear.) The question of the Danubian Prin-
cipalities was not yet settled, and whether the re-
sult would be the union of those Principalities or
not, they might turn rgainst the enemies which most
nearly beset them. He entertained strong hopes
with respec tto the Danubian Principalities. During
the last generation there had been a great spread
of educa,ion which must, after the lapse of a
few years of settled government, show itself
favourably towards Poland. (Cheers.) He trusted
that any opportunity which might occur of con-
necting the affairs of Poland with those of Moldavia
and Wallachia would he readily taken advantage
of. (Hear.) The Polish people hardly knew how
much their cause had been studied and reflected
upon in countries distant from their own. He bad
never heard the cause of Poland more .earnestly
prayed for, or her wrongs more bitterly lamented,
than in Sicily, which was equally oppressed. (Hear,
hear.) Although the Sicilians and Neapolitans were
generally supposed to be at daggers drawn with
each other, that was far from being the case with
the liberal parties in those two countries. (dear.)
He trusted that the Poles would make peaceable
use of the calm which now prevailed, because such
a course of policy would puzzle Russia more than
any other line that could be adopted, because, from
her general principles, she would not be able to
understand it. (Cheers.)
The Earl of HARRINGTON, in seconding the reso-
lution, said that at the last meeting of the associa-
tion they were recommended not to criticise too
freely the conduct of Russia, because it was not
politic ot that time to do so, and if any one ran
riot on that occasion it was himself. (A laugh.)
They were too well acquainted with Bussiau diplo-
macy to believe that any of the anticipations which
had been held out would be realised, and time had
proved that those who entertained such opinions had
a correct view of the subject. Absolute govern-
ments under pressure might, like Austria and
Prussia and the states of the Pope, give very satis-
factory promises, but when the pressure was re-
moved those promises were never acted upon ; and
the constitutions which had beau promised hat not
been given. (Hear.) Russia during the last war
lost from 300,000 t 0,400,000 men and expended all
her money, so that it would have been impossible
for her to carryon another campaign ; and if the
spirit of Lord Palnerston had prevailed in our
councils and in the councils of our allies he had.not
the least doubt that Russia would have been hum-
bled to the dust. (Cheers.) But alter being thus
beaten her despotic wisdom was about to restore
Sebastopol and its fortifications. She had attacked
Circstisia, and, be was happy to say, had been well
- •be den. Shehidstirredup a war between England and
r ersia, and he rejoiced to think England had'been
victorious not only in her arms but irCher
(Cheers.) But the most dangerous step
which had been taken by Russia was that of con-
structing railroads. It had been said that she
would never raise the money, but, he had no doubt
she would obtain quite sufficient for the purposes
she had in view. If Russia, eluting the late cam-
paign,. bad had railway facilities she would lave
taken down her men, and guns, and provisions,
and most have been victorious. Her Present ob-
ject no doubt was to bring down her munitions of
war to the Mediterranean, and to form a powerful
fleet iu the Mediterranean, and to take possession
of Constantinople. She would bide her time, and
had the power of keeping the peace. She might
wait ten or twenty years, and then her power of
attack would be immensely increased. She would
follow the example of Napoleon, and bring immense
masses of troops to bear OD one particular point,
which with the assistance of railways she would be
alfe to do. (Hdar, hear.) Europe had been saved
only by the recent alliance, and he believed that
alliance would continue scr long as the present Em-
peror of France bore sway iu that country ; but, in
the event of his death, that alliance would not be
secure for a single day. Our chief dependence then
must be upon Poland, and it should not be foreot-
ten.that although Poland was tranquil during the