The Sun.
London, England, 1857-03-09 00:00:00

LONDON, MONDAY, MARCH 9, 1857.

Lord PALMERSTON'S chief glory as a statesman
rests, as everybody knows, as England knows,
as the whole world knows, upon his Foreign
Policy. And how—in thiS crisis in the destinies
of Parties—how precisely, at this present moment,
does Lord PALMSESTON'S Foreign Policy stand in
the cognisance of Christendom ?

Setting on one side the late pacification with
Russia, a pacification wo ourselves have always
regarded as most unfortunate in it 3 character,
because, to our mind, to say the very least of
both, Precipitate and unsatisfactory I Setting the
recent Treaty of Peace with Russia altogether on
one side as un fait accompli, and, be it said, un
fait accompli in which the principal ingredient{ in
the late " Oxford Mix%re" were implicated—par-
tieularly, for example, the Noble Lord the Member for
the City of London who returned in such hot haste,
so obsequiously and conciliatively, from the Vienna
Conferences, as well as the threel*zht hon, gentle-
men who withdrew so very precipitately, in the
midst of a Great 'War, from the councils of her
Britannic MAJESTY'S Government ! Stttiug wade,
we repeat, as a deplorable .event done and paa,
this miserable Peace with Russia, for the insuffi-
cient conditions of which Lord JOHN RUSSELL, mid
Sir JAMES GRAHAM, and Mr. HERBERT, and Mr.
GLADSTONE are, if possible, wore responsible even
than the Noble Viscount at the head of
the present Administration How, precisely,
apart from this One Question of the Rus-
sian Compromise How, exactly, at ,this
juncture does Lord PALMERSTON'S Foreign
Policy stand within the knowledge of Christen-
dom? Has it abated one jot of its dignity, of its
precision, of those chivalrous and patriotic quali-
ties which are among the moat conspicuous of its
distinguishing characterist:c3 ? At the present
moment, when the Majority of Sixteen suddenly
compels the Prime Minister to announce his
tention of Appealing, as soon as it is MU practic-

able, to the Country, through the Constituencies
—what (briefly and simply) are the prominent
foreign achievements recently effected, or now in
process of being effectA, under the auspices of
Lord PALMERSTON'S Government?

There is the Persian War, for example. Well
—so bold and decisive has been the course pur-
sued by the British authorities in regard t the
Court of Teheran, that w;thin a very brief period
from the abrupt seizure of Bushire and Karrack,
the SHAH has yielded to the demands of England,
announced to him through his representative
FERIIKEI KKAN, his Minister Plenipotentiary !
Then again there is that wretched, long stand-
ing, apparently interminable Greek Embarrass-
ment ! Well—there, too, Lord PALMERSTON'S

Cabinet has so far contrived judiciously that mat-
ters really appear at last, in spite of every obstacle,
to be gradually approaching something bearing
the semblance at least of a satisfactory termina-
tion. The final departure on the 28th ult.
of the restricted but sufficient Anglo-Gallic
Army of Occupation preparing the way for
the labours (already commenced) of the diplomatic
Commission at Athens, Presided over—by whom ?
By a Greek Diplomatist? By a Russian Diplo-
matist? By—even--a French Diplomatist? No—
as if in solemn assurance, or deliberate guarantee
that the deliberation shall at any rate have the
most desirable " tendency "—the Commission
inaugurated at Athens has for its President no
other than Her Britannic MAJESTY'S representa-
tive ! That laborious, liberal-minded, and con-
scientious ambassador, who has now for eight
years, eight momentous and most responsible
years, been watching with such jealous
and vigilant care over British interests in the
classic capital of two of the Crowned Satraps of the
Russian AUTOCRAT !

If again in regard to the government of the
Two Sicilies, the joint interposition of Imperial
France and Monarchical Britain, has proved no
other way effective, it has in a very marked manner
vindicated both countries from the odium otherwise
inseparable even from p3wers who would merely
connive in silence at the harsh, and cruel, and in-
human policy upheld at Naplea by King
FERDINA ND.

If, moreover, the combined mediation of the
Western Allies, with a view to the settlement of

the Neuchatel Difficulty, has not even yct
arrived at a definitive conclusion—at any rat.)
Lord PALISIERSTON'S Cabinet is exonerated from
the crime of consenting to witness the triumph of
Prussian aggression and the violation of the in-
alienable rights of the Swiss Confederacy.
As to the chivalrous, patriotic, and energetic

policy of Lord PALMHRSTON in regard to the
Chinese Question—that we all know is literally,
absolutely, and immediately THE source of the en-
thusiasm in favour of the Government now spread-
ing, more or less widely, throughout the whole
electoral population. Considering all which—it
must be perfectly obvious to every really dispas-
sionate observer that, so far as regards his Fo-
reign Policy, Viscount PALMERSTON may appeal
with confidence to the constituencies for a favour-
able -verdict upon his Administration.

All is now bustle and preparation for the com-
ing contest in every electoral district throughout
the entire country. Noble Lords, Right Honour-
able and Honourable Gentlemen, have to render
stringent accounts of their respective stewardships
—to explain clearly, distinctly, and unequivocally
the manner in which they have discharged the
important duties confided to their hands. Happy,
indeed, are they who can do so with an easy
conscience, who are haunted by no grim visions
of tergiversation, negligence, or factious votes, to
rise in judgment against them on the all-important
days when they must meet their constituents face
to face, and submit to not over-flattering estimates
as to their conduct. How gladly would intend-
ing candidates refer to their annual visits and
merited votes of approbation from those whose
suffrages they were again soliciting. These matters,
neglected in too many instances by those who only
thought of the passing hour and left the future to
take care of itself, now assume immense import-
ance. "The day of reckoning" is rapidly ap-
proaching, and many will shrink from the ordeal
that must be encountered should they venture to
solicit a renewal of confidence which they have
not merited nor justified.
To the great question that has precipitated the
crisis it is scarcely necessary to allude at any
length. The voice of public opinion has spoken
trumpet-tongued throughout the length and
breadth of the land in favour of English pluck
and English policy. The great fact that "Eugl and
•loves not Coalitions" will be strikingly exemplified.
Faction will bo compelled to bide its diminished
head, or wherever one justly amenable to the charges
may venture—with greater courage than discre-
tion—to appear, a heavy blow and great dis-
couragement will be inflicted. Promises—ex-
press or implied, that long shared the fate of
pie-crusts—will be raked up from the limbo of
broken vows and violated faith to heap shame on
the offenders. Errors of judgment may be for-
given ; the faults of the head be regarded as
comparatively venial ; while those of the heart,
originating in corrupt or improper motives, will
be sternly pronounced inexpiable.
But while there can be no doubt respecting the
primary issue, to be submitted to the Grand Na-
tional Inquest, there are other points of vast im-
portance to the happiness and prosperity of the
community that cannot be neglected or dis•
regarded. Fiscal, financial, monetary, le-
gal, and Parliamentary reformers must
take advantage of the golden opportunity
before them. If that be neglected or misapplied,
many years may elapse before another equally
auspicious occasion can fairly be anticipated, and
no really sincere reformer can remain apathetic or
indifferent under existing circumstances. As we
recently declared, Lord PALMERSTON owes some-
thing to the nation. Ho will receive a generous
and disinterested support, such as, we believe,
was never yet bestowed on any Minister of the
Crown—a support that will render him also the
"Minister of the People"—the object of the
national choice—which no potty intrigues or Ger-
manic influence can displace or set aside. His
gratitude for-such unprecedented favour might to
be certain, and that can only be displayed by
meeting, and if possible anticipating, the popular
wishes. But these wishesshould be ciearlyexpressed.
There should be no doubt or uncertainty. No
pretext for setting them at. defiance. Every can-
didete must be strictly questioned as to his views
on matters of domestic interest, and if not in ac-
cordance with those of the electors, another
equally sound on foreign politics may be found,
who will not be the tool of the moneyocracy, nor
the advocat) of uneq.e.l and unfair taxation.
The most
.important, zlnough,* perhaps, the
least understood question, is that of the currency.
As wo have, repeatedly stated, "a circulating me-
dium, adequate to the wants and exigencies of the
country, is the very life-blcod of industry."
great desideratum be achieved, every
to exert himself, may
Should
hat
larre'aP'reagTcleaindasivilliignndependent) for he will
b) curtain of obtaining "a fair day's wages fo:
a fair day's work." But Sir G. C. LEWIS has ex-