The Sun.
London, England, 1857-03-12 00:00:00

L -- I't tN, THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 1857

Many of the Coalitionists will speedily expiate

the factious and un-English vote given on the
Chinese question. The leaders themselves will
not escape scatheless. Mr. COBWIN himself, the
mover of the obnoxious resolution, has received a

very decided notice to quit from his constituents.
He will not be allowed further opportunities of
spouting the twaddle of the Peace Society as
member for the West Riding. He was selected

for that important and honourable position as &

recognition of the vast services he had rendered
to the cause `of Free Trade ! But greatly as the
electors valued the results, to the attainment
whereof Tae had contributed, they are not prepared
to sacrifice the prestige of the United Kingdom, or

to svcfer their native land to descend in the scab-
of 'nations. It is not that they love free trade
less, but that they love the honour and interests of
their country still more. And as the Hon. Gentle-
has proved incorrigible, as his re-election would be
considered equivalent to an approval of the fac-
tious policy of the mongrel coalition, they are
prepared, albeit with respect, to exclaim—

"Richard, we loved you well, but never more be
officer of ours."
The Hon. Gentleman, rightly deeming discretion
to be the better part of valour, will not venture
to show himself on the hustings. In this he acts
wisely, for an overwhelming majority would cover
with confusion himself and the cause of which he
has so unfortunately become the advocate.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL, the leader of the scanty
remnant of a once powerful party, will meet with
a similar fate in the City of London. It is to be
hoped, for his own sake, that he will imitate the
prudence of his recent ally, and retreat from a
contest in which victory is wholly out of the
question. In memory of byegone days we
would not desire to see the Ex-Premier
disgraced in the sight of the country. The days
are past and gone when he could come forward as
the honoured representative of a large and inde
pendent constituency. Should he still desire to
take part in public affairs he may "hide his
diminished head" in some nomination borough,
where there is what is euphoniously termed " a
prevailing influence." It is indeed deplorable
that the once popular Reformer, the proposer of
the modern Maria Charta, should be "so fallen
from high estate," with "none so poor to do him
reverence ;" but he has only himself to thank for
this untoward state of altars. So long as he
advocated an English policy minor errors might
be disregarded ; but his offence is rank, and can-
not be endured. He has been permanently dis-
qualified for the representation of the City of
London.

It is also by no means certain that "Focia,
junior" will retain his appellation as " the Oxford
Pet." Of all the parties to the recant compact
the Peelites may be regarded as the worst, and
the already attenuated clips will be reduced to
infinitesimal proportions in the next Parliament.
For some time they were looked on as a species of
legislative engineer corps—all officers without
soldiers. But the " half-pay list" will probably
receive a large addition, and many, if not all, will
be transferred to the non-effective branch. GLAD-
STONE, CARDWELL, GRAHAM, PALMER, &C., Sic.,
have their work fully cut out for them, and it
it is more than doubtful that they will be per-
mitted to appear again in the same character.
The great point to be decided is the foreign
policy of the empire. But although that is the
primary, it is not the only consideration 1 There
aro many questions in which the voice of public
opinion must be legitimately expressed at the
hustiegg. Men may be sound on the Chinese
question, but ♦ery unsound on other matters of
vita consequence to the welfare and prosperity of the
nation. It is necessary that candidates should be
strictly catechised ou many other points. Never,
perhaps, was there a time when so many interest-
ing topics were oa the tapis, to pass which cannot
bedisregarded or slurred over. The iniquitous Bank

Charter Act will be renewed for a further term.

The commercial, manufacturing, and all the vari-
ous industrial interests will be condemned to penal
servitude for a weary period of ten years, unless
they speak distinctly and unequivocally while
there is yet time. "The light cloud is rapidly
passing from the face of the moon," and if the
gollen opportunity bo ne4leeted or misapplied,
they will mourn "in sackcloth and ashes" their
culpable apathf and indifference. The day of
retribution will unquesti)nably arrive, and

the cup that
will be
bitter, inde d,
must be drained to the very dregs by
those who conceive the question too abstruse for
satisfactory solution. Parliamentary, fiscal, finan-
cial, and legal 'alarms must also be pressed for-
wards ; the last traces of bigotry and intolerance
must be eradicated from th• national statute book.
No restriction on civil and religious liberty can be to-

lerated. Marriages must be rendered free, and
the unfounded prejudices of one sect or party
cannot be permitted to fetter the freedom of
choice in the most important relation of life ; that
on which the happiness of so many respectable
and conscientious persons greatly depends. If can-
didates whose views on the Chinese question are
satisfactory cannot be induced to entert Lin whole-
some opinions on these and many other points, to
hick we cannot allude this day—others may and
will be found—who are "allright" in every respect.
Generally, every elector must press for categor:
cal replies, and not suffer the candidates to ride
off on vague generalities. We earnestly hope that
d to votew power,
for,th no Dissenter will give his vote for any person who
only ple
nigeea himself
in his po
will not
buta.t to
-
raidavgaeris cebyevery
Affinity Bill," brought in by the Earl of
St. GERMAIN& A gentle pressure on that point
will prove very effectual at the present emergency.
It must be admitted that the Act of 1835 is not
only a disgrace to the national statute-book, but a
libel on the religion of every Dissenter from the
Statcireligion throughout the length and breadth