The Sun.
London, England, 1857-04-28 00:00:00

selves !

Several weeks back we ourselves suggested—
it was at the very outset of these proposed war-
like operations in the Canton river—that troops
should be despatched for disembarkation on the
China seaboard, not simply all the way from Eng-
land, but from British possessions more conve-
niently contiguous. From Hindostan, for ex-
ample—and not simply from Hindostan, but from
those neighbouring portions of the Persian em-
pire to which we had recently transmitted
important fragmentary parts of our Anglo-Indian
army, no longer needed in that earlier and kindred
demonstration. We took occasion, at the same
time, to insist—as we had insisted with the same

fervour and earnestness two or three years pre-
viously, while our Baltic Fleet was fitting out for
the intended attack upon Cronstadt and Helsing-

fors—upon the urgent need, upon the absolute
necessity, of our sending out at once to the aid of
Admiral SEYMOUR'S squadron an adequate supply
of gun-boats and floating batteries. We main-
tained, eight or ten weeks ago, that those
and other equally vigorous measures ought
to be adopted promptly and energetically.
It was insisted here, in these columns of

The Sun, that nothing but thorough de-
termination on our part could at all exercise
an appreciable, much more, let us add, an advan-
tageous influence, upon these very mundane
savages—the Celestial Barbarians. Ultimately,
the same tone was adopted 'elsewhere. It began
to be recognised that here, again—for we were

only giving utterance to what was actually the
national as well as the rational opinion—the
popular instinct was in the right. The feeling

at first gradually, and afterwards rapidly, spread
among our more influential contemporaries. The
Times proclaimed the same course to be really and
truly, after all, the most adviaable. Tho Edin-
burgh has come, in its turn, to precisely the same
conclusion. It says, as plainly as words can say
anything, identically the same we ourselves said at
the very commencement. It observes, at the close
of its resume of the whole question of our "British
Relations.with China," in the number just issued
from the press—" It is important that the British
Government should not show a moment's hesitation
in the despatch of the effective force already detained
for China." Adding to this—" Lord ELGIN'S
success will mainly depend on such evidence of
the determination of his Government to meet the
danger with which our interests have been me-
naced, in a manner •commensurate with their im-
portance." Precisely. And that, as we have
said, has been all along the Popular Instinct.
It is ex.actly what we ourselves have all along
maintained. The Chinese aro a people who are to
be argued only with cannon balls and musketry—
and not simply with paper pellets diplomatically
prepared by a Minister Plenipotentiary.
Send out Lord ELGIN, of course. All well and
good. But with him—before him—after him,
send out also adequate military and maritime
armaments. Then, but not otherwise, your En-
voy will be in a position to negotiate.
Reinforce Admiral SEYMOUR'S fleet with more
—and more—men-of-war ! Despatch to his aid,
from home, gun-boats and floating batteries—
from Persia, the troops no longer needed there
for the prosecution of a conflict now
virtually brought to a satisfactory termina-
tion. Gun-boats, floating batteries, troops, war-
' vessels—all are now actually "prepared" for the
emergency. The requisite weapons are at hand.
Apply them to the occasion ! That is simply what
we have argued in this matter. And the request
is altogether in itself so very reasonable that—
what was the Popular Instinct has happily be-
come, we believe, the Policy of the Government.
Our troops originally intended for Persia will be
so employed. Floating batteries and gunboats—
lying idle on our hands after the premature close
of the Russian War have some of them
already taken their departure. More, con-
siderably more, than these ought to be despatched
after them immediately. We ought not to do
things —this time at least—by halves ! With
Lord PALMERSTON confirmed in power (if he prove
only A Reformer) by the result of his recent Ap-
peal to the Country—with his hands strengthened
(upon that ono simple condition) by a ready
friendly Parliament—we ought, in reason, to lock
. for nothing but the most determined demonstra-
tion against the Chinese by our own Government.
A thoroughly energetic policy like this, we can-
not but regard as incumbent upon Ministers, at
the present moment, and under existing circutn-
stances. It is the Will of the Nation. It has
become the• unanimous demand of the Pres-a It
will be infallibly and inevitably the decision of
Parliament. Aud it is the policy dictated at
once by humanity and by prudence. For it is
the only way calcatted to lead to a speedy settle-
ment of this savage and sanguinary contest—
a contest which has already rendered the
name of China doubly execrable, by the wanton
barbarities encouraged by its Government and
practised by its population. By the blood-money
placed by YEA upon the heads of Englishmen !
By the poisonings at Hong Kong—and the mur-
ders on board the Thistle—and the incendiarism
in the suburbs of Canton—by the lawless brut di-
ties perpetrated at Whampoa and Sarawak—atro-
cities like these must, as speedily as possible—we
will not say, be avenged—they must be brought
to a termination—they must be prevented.
Neither of which objects can England in reason
expect to attain—save by bringing the Chinese
Savages to reason by means of an overwhelming
warlike demonstration. For the which, be it
said, England looks at this juncture hopefully
and confidingly to VigoOuut PALMERSTON'S Go-
vernment.

The questions at issue between Austria tthd
Sardinia still remain unsettled, nor does there
seem to be any reasonable prospect of a satisfac•
tory arrangement, Strong in conscious rectitude
the Cabinet of Turin maintains the even tenor of
its way, It was not the aggressor in any manner.
It was from Count BUOL that the very indiscreet
note proceeded, which may be regarded as the
first step in the untoward controversy. To that
Count CAVOUR replied temperatily, but firmly, as
one who fully knew his rights, and was resolved
to maintain them, but still had no desire t ooffensl
his opponent. Ile clearly and distinctly ex-

plained that Count Bum, was mistaken as to the But there is another and, so far as the Corn-
actual facts in some respects, and in others, that mittee of the Stock Exchange are concerned, a
the constitutional law of Piedmont would not more valid reason why they should interfere at
allow compliance with his demands, pointing out, the earliest stage of the transaction. The state
at the same time, the mode by which any real of the English money market is such as to render
grievance would be promptly and completely re- it highly impolitic to encourage any pro-
dressed! It was Count Buor. who lost his temper ieet that must necessarily cause the with-
and closed a discussion in which he was decidedly
drawal of a large amount of bullion from
defeated, by withdrawing his ambassador, and
this country. As we have already stated, every
suspending all diplomatic intercouse with the Go-j
shilling must be paid up in specie, and with the
vernment of VICTOR EMMANUEL. The Piedmon-.
tese Minister merely followed suit. It would have existing monetary code it requires no arguments
t) point out the inevitable 'consequences of so
been decidedly infra dignitaton to permit a rc.pre- heavy a drain, ~ldition to those which are ab-
sentative of Sardinia to ri no in at the Court s ,!.-.t0;37. inevitable. This alone is sufficient to war-
Vienna, after the AuArian Envoy had been with-
drawn from Turin. The first step then, towards interferenceof thecommittee, and
I we earnestly hope that it will be promptly and cffi.
a reconciliation, must be taken by Austria, either ciently applied. At the same time we trust that