The Sun.
London, England, 1827-01-24 00:00:00

WAR- OF OPINION.

(ratvAra conayspo-snr-sca.)
,-Piiirr,,-,TAN.-22.--3ltch has been, of late, said, on both-
t.ifies of the Channel, of the effects and consequences to
which a war of-opinion might-lead; but let us look to the
causes which have grown and are growing up, on which
the 'public rest theirfears, as to the 'results- to be appre-
hended' from a wad. of Unfortunately for the
European commonwealth, France has, or rather -(to he
quite:jule.tnlyards her) her Government ht* perpetrated
twtx dangerous political crimes. Lonis had scarcely, felt
the Crowii upon his head, which the power of Great. Br-
itain had recovered for him, when he adopted the principle,
be-called into action, in after times, so fatal to.'
_
throbes; of invading an independent and neighbouring
nation, while in the-confusion inseparable from a first at-
tempt to establish free institutions. In this :measure he
has left open the way to the destruction, in a moment of
distress, of tile gOvernment and independence of any one
4r morel:foyers.. Spain; the holding of which will-he the
eaukt6f "the'neit European- struggle, would have had- a
fixedg:4eiiimrent by this: time but for French interference.
LO4s,Ts*n.tdithrone;.inT.the ' .of Peers told the
worlkthat- pone. but "_ wicked spirits," ascribed to the-
Qor4:lpn,on the, frontiers an inyading character.
Its.brst movement was.&general invasion of. Spain.
-Charies.X.,. like Louis -XVII 1., swore on the altar, before
Oa& and:his country, to maintain inviolate that Charter,
one--of:'the most important articles of vhich is- the liberty
of ffie'presz. Can °Frenchmen be blamed for-distrusting
Thrones' and Governments where- such bad faith is-itePt;
where their dearest interests are annihilated ? What sin-
nOw exist tOr our, future liberties.- It is. no doubt
the jnterest of England to remain at peace, as it is that of
Francei and Charles: X. has lived too long among the
Engligb; not to.l*now their good faith, and to be, able justly
to estimate their' character. We must, therefore, rest our
hopes on the mutual knowledge.of each other,.rather than
on a war of opinions, or on the bigotted and fanatical past-
ilOffis of vain politicians or statesmen ; and on the obserr-

ance of principles; the reCoiling of which can never endanger
the permanence-or the tranquillity of Our' ttablishments.
:the evacuation of Spain by France vvonld be worthy of a
'brave and warlike people; as it would be ebriSiqest with her
permanent interests, and would proveher-iincerity ; and, in
the eyea.ef. all Enrope,lpanifeither.good faith;
.thy character
for:which, for.,egei, among the nationi,-has. been_tlii•Prine
SCILaCe of.the power and greatness. of. England, , We, hero,
-have otilyitof _recent days, been accustomed to .the free
extirtioiforrOf public opinion - within the wails of Parlia-
melit;car4:thereforeitis that Frenchmen are,lnore agi-
tited:itukir their 'iiiighbours- at the violence of opinions
=hat aiid-England -are not to be dirertect - from the
right line, by
.agitators, nor by the vanity or the folly of a
Cb,iiteaubriand or of a PeyrOnnet--nor by the unsound and
dangerous dOctrineV.a Canning, that a political outrage
itr one, country cani4e:•repaired by securir
.advautages in
.auother—Jhat the tenure, of old Spain by us, is neu-
-tratized by his commercial connexion with the New World.
Spain • has- attempted, not openly, but -with her modern
perfidy; to-injure Portugal at the most interesting crisis of
her history,'when she was preparing herself to rise under
the happy-intinence- of a free Government. Portugal can
never forget-Spain can never forgive. Let the words of
the Poetliezkept in mind !--
"Ifurnanuni test odisse quem lieseris."
And let the motto of the two leading- and' most warlike
. nations of guropebe, "1-ionestv is the beSt ; for,
." nemo me. impune lacessit,7, has been felt on hothsides
.of. the water. :Let not Chateaubriand injure ;the interests
of-Enropeiby trying to pull down Villele at the expense
oltuglanci: The latter, no doubt, dismissed-himlather
thellihistry;- but'. let the former. bear in
mind ho* Muds-- of- the hunched thousand millions
ikttetiioiided`lik'groatrintßritaiii for the -4iteceit 'of that
.saulmunliet:rilriCTre*Od7..rinee'to;lhe Christian eom
Wei of -of free
inatip*opf, .to. the European CommOnWea4b..
" Exper. doeit sap.'