The Sun.
London, England, 1859-05-16 00:00:00

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We will prevent your—with " Well—of L'ourSe—
eal to
under the circumstances—Yes ! you may Aw
the Country ! You may dissolve Parliament ! We
CAN'T prevent you !" The spectacle, in oach in-
stance, we repeat, was only calculated to dc .rogate
from the position of dignity hitherto occupi'ed by
the two noble lords, the CASTOR and PoLLI,I% of
soi-disant Liberalism—the Whig ORESTES Wild
PYLADES reconciled under very mysterious circum-
stances, after a painful tiff and a prolonged
estrangement—the " LONG and the SHORT" of it—
the Arcades ambo leading the ranks, on either side
of the gangway Qf the Opposition.
Now that the frank appeal of Ministers to the
country has been answered as frankly by the con-
stituencies—are we, let us ask, again to wit-
ness, on the reassembling of Parliament, the
renewal of these miserable party " dodges," are we
to have a repetition of those coarse (almost disloyal)
personal taunts directed against the chiefs of the
Administration? For the honour of the character
of our public men—we hope not. For the sake
of the reputation of eminent statesmen like
Lord JoHN and Lord PALMERSTON—we hope
not. For the credit of party, for the fair fame of
our representative institutions—we do sincerely
and earnestly hope not. More particularly when
it is borne in mind that Parliament will assemble
under very different auspices from those which
marked the period of its dissolution. It will as-
semble, not upon the possible eve of the rupture of
the peace of Christendom—but in the presence of an
actual war between two of the mightiest powers on
the European Continent. While war is raging be-
tween Austria and
.France on the plains of Lombardy,
it were miserable to witness the perverse perpetua-
tion of these paltry, petty, party strifes in the Bri-
tis la House of Commons inaugurated of late and led
On ih_-‘placably- by the rival chiefs of a disunited
Oppositlon, The enterprise upon which the new
House of Commons should at once adventure in the
presence of .iie great war now actually commenced
in Sardinia ought assuredly to be—not a struggle
of Party, but a !struggle of Patriotism.

The belligerents in Piedmont seem to fancy
" sayings," far more than " doings." The heavy
rain which has fallen ig ;made the excuse for in-
action. The Austrians, however, seem to have
discovered the grave mistake they committed in
declaring war before they were prepared to carry
it on vigorously and energetically. They are,
therefore, acting on the defensive ; while Louis
NAPOLEON on " martial thoughts intent," and
resolved on rivalling his uncle, has already arrived
at the scene of action in order to strike a fatal
blow, and even, if possible, another Marengo, or
eclipse " Lodi" and consign " Arcola" to oblivion
by a more striking triumph. These matters, how-
ever, are more easily arranged than carried into
' execution ; and notwithstanding the bankruptcy of
the Exchequer at Vienna, and the emptiness of the
military chest, there will be hard fighting before
the Franco-Sardinian army penetrate into Lom-
bardy, or occupy the palaces of Milan or Venice.

Count BUOL, the chief of the Cabinet of Vienna,
has, it appears, retired from office—whether on
resignation or dismissal, it is difficult to say. Count
RECHBERG, who is said to be a very able diplomatist,
but of the most absolutist tendencies, is now the
Minister of War. He was sent for at a very criti-
cal period, when acting as President of the Federal
Diet and Austrian ambassador at Frankfort. This
extraordinary proceeding proves, beyond the pos-
sibility of doubt, that that there must have been
some serious difference between his Imperial mas-
ter and himself. It may be that FRANCIS JOSEPH
objects to the contest in which he has been in.
volved ; but judging from the antecedents of
Count RECHBERG, it is ..far more probable
that he desires that it may be carried on
with greater energy than the veteran statesman
believed could be effected. Meanwhile, the Aus-
trians are retreating from the position they had
assumed, having contented themselves with levying
heavy contributions on the inhabitants—but, it is
only justice to say, without having committed the
atrocious brutalities that too frequently indicate the
presence of an invading army.

The French EMPEROR has transferred his head-
quarters to Alessandria. He has very judiciously
taken up his position in the strongest for-
tress of Sardinia, and long before the
enemy can make any considerable onslaught
he will receive sufficient reinforcements to assume
the offensive, and compel the Austrians to abandon
their position. Indeed, there will not be very
great exertion required for that, purpose. The
rain has been even more effective than all
the power of their opponents. Sickness and
disease would be more destructive than the steel
and lead of the French army.
Great Britain is, however, as we have already
observed, to preserve a perfect neutrality. She
will neither interfere as a State nor permit any of
her subjects to lend assistance to any of the "con-
tending parties." She keeps her "powder dry,"
ready for any emergency, but fully resolved not to
waste it, save on compulsion, where her honour,
dignity, or security may be concerned. We are un-
questionably a pugnacious race. An Irish peasant
would not more readily engage in what our Hibernian
brethren term a "rookawn " at fair or pattern,
than England would plunge into war on the
slightest possible provocation ! Happily, how-
ever, the existing feeling is very different. All
classes of society, men of every grade and variety of
political opinion, are anxious that we should observe
a strict neutrality. And for an excellent reason.—
because none of the conflicting parties are
worthy of aid. It has often been said that
" there are faults on both sides" in every quarrel ;
but in the present instance, "all in the wrong"
would appear to be a More correct definition of the
transaction.

Prussia has sent forth some ominous hints
respecting her intentions. It is not merely
that she has placed all her levies on a war footing
—that would be but a proper, and, we may add,
a necessary precaution ; but she is " determined
to maintain the bases of European public rights,
and the balance of power in Europe!, She is
jealous of Austria, would wish to lead the German
Confederation, but still will prevent, so far as
practicable, any invasion of the Fatherland. The
lesson taught nearly a century ago was too
painful to be/forgotten either by the survivors
or their children. They may not interfere on be-
half of Lombardy, but they most assuredly will do
so the moment a French soldier has entered on
German soil.

Monetary affairs will, however, bring the Cabinet
of Vienna to reason. They say that " money makes
the mare to go," but certainly money is essential to
warlike operations—without it they cannot be
carried on, and as Austria has none she must come
to terms with her opponents, and consent to the
liberation of Italy, conferring a constitutional
Government on the Lombardo-Venetians, and
abstaining from undue interference with other
States. •

Among the passengers on board the Royal Mail
Steam-ship Arabia, which arrived at Liverpool on Saturday
with the New York mails, were Lords Cavendish and Cecil,
and the Hon. E. Legge and E. Ashley. It will be recol-
lected that a statement appeared in the newspapers some
time ago that these four gentlemen had been murdered by
the Indians in North America.