The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-03-28

the people of England anil France seem to have
altered their origin a view Of the Cars death,
and 80 have made up their maids that, after ell,
the war went on for some grayer reason than
the "perversity Of one despotic old man,
We congratulate them on the additional light
they have received. Whensoever the people Of
England shall understand that the present war
is not by any means the trait Of one mans am
bition or one mans perversity, but that it is q
concession--and tardy ene-to the heart cry
of a whole people, burning to regain the homes,
and the churches, and the burial places OF their
fathers and the cradle Of their faith; then, but
not till then, will negotiation be likely to be
followed by peace. For the present, the British
masses utterly misconceiving the question at
issue, the wretched aristecracy writhing under
the detection of its incapacity and its
folly, the French Emperor scorning the
notion Of recalling his eagles I'M
crowned by laurels, and already chatting at the
restraints Of British parliamentary committees,
free presses, and so forth, the chances of peace
seem infinitely slender.
II know" said the Emperor Nicholas at one
period of his reign, "that I ana not as popular
as / might be with my subjects, because will
not declare war against Turkey" After q
time, he found it impossible to restrain the tor
rent any longer, and it broke forth. War was
declared against Turkey. 1t was followed by
an invasion OF Russian territory by two foreign
Powers who are now encamped on Russian SOIL
besieging the strongest Russian fortress of the
IN nj ha M n1
In the battles that have been fought, the Rus
slams have been defeated; in the last, with great
slaughter, by inferior numbers. Now, under
circumstances like these is it possible that
Alexander can make peace? 1t is said that his
accession has been peaceable, and tina. his bro
Their Constantine was the first to take the oath
of allegiance to him. This is all very well;
but we know perfectly that Russia, and espe-
cially the army, contains large body of dis
affected individuals who would be glad Of
pretext TO rebel against the new Gear. The
Socittf du midi is not yet extinct. What
better pretext could these conspirators de-
sire than q tendency towards peace dis.
played by the new Gear at q time when
the honor and interests of Russia required the
vigorous prosecution Of the war And is it
natural, is it at all reasonable to suppose that
Alexander, who Is Of course fully aware Of
their schemes would do them SO good turn as
afford them this chance? We think not. A
brief truce may yet be declared, ii the ne y
Gar is not fully au .fait of the duties of his
station. But peace, never, until the demands
Of Russia are granted, or the power aud
strength OF the Western Powers broken.
What OF England? The Committee of In
quiry drags out its length, and there is de-
cided tendency on the part Of the aristocratic
managers to make it mere farce. The minis
try exists still; but the prestige Of Lord Pal
merston is badly hurt, if not gone, and the
old complaints about aristocratic imbecility
are as loud as ever. Day by day, more evil
deDce of the utter r0tteDness of the military
system comes to light. Officer after officer
turns States evidence and confesses that out
Of the whole army of England the officers who
have any practical or scientific acquaintance
with their duties may be counted on the fingers.
A sort of lethargy appears to have succeeded
to the excitement produced by the first news Of
the disasters at SebastopOl.
France begins to chafe at the alliance. Nap,-
leon will not allow his troops to act in concert
with those of EDgland if the committee Of the
House of Commons. continue their investiga-
TONS Lord Clarendon crosses-express-
Boulogne to tell his imperial majesty the COM
mittee is oil sham, hoax, intended to throw
dust in the eyes Of the people. But Prince
Napoleon shows up the British alliance in
pamphlet, in which the advantage of breaking
IL is forcibly impressed on the attention OF the
people Of France; and the soldiers in the
Crimea are not backward, now, in expressing
their dissatisfaction at being obliged to encamp
on equal terms with allies who cannot cook
their own food or keep themselves alive with
immense supplies of provisions and fuel only
eight miles of.
Altogether, the news may be summed up in
two words war, confusion Both must 60 on
little longer before any net result can be
obtained.
The OPPONENT or HENRY A. WISE AND
MS PLATroRM-We published yesterday, the
platform of Thomas S. Flournoy, the nominee
of the American party in Virginia for Cover
nor. Upon the whole, il is sound and ssnsi-
bic platform in its local and domestic views.
lie is, perhaps, somewhat too hard upon the
Catholics; but time and q little experience will
rub of all such rough edges Of the general
policy of his party. In o national view, Mr..
Flournoy is eminently conservative; and oocu-
pies substantially the American Live Oak State