The Sun. — 1861-02-06 (London, England)

MAJESTY. I hardly know anything more calculated to impede a measure for the reform or reconstruction of this house than to bring it forward at a time when there is no probability of its being accepted and carried. I think that the Minister would have incurred the gravest responsibility by bringing forward the subject merely from an erro• neous interpretation of a sense of honour to a party which was not unanimous in supporting his original proposal." And so the matter has dropped for yet another year. And so, after all their grand flourish of trumpets last year, Ministers begin the session of 1861 with "bated breath and whispered humbleness." It is without doubt exemplary. But is it indicative of a Strong Government ?  We cannot congratulate the Tories on the strategical skill with which they have opened the session. They have attacked their opponents on what, with all its defects, will certainly prove their strongest side. If there be one thing which more than another keeps the present Cabinet in office, it is its foreign policy. In Law Reform the Conservatives would certainly do as much, and as well as the Liberals ; in Parliamentary Reform the two parties have proved themselves not to have any difference, which the public can diseern. It is just the difference between the MALMESBURY and the RUSSELL policy abroad, that makes the country unwilling to turn out the' present Government. It what is said often be true, and there is, we believe, some truth in it, we suppose one main reason for indifference to Parliamen• tary Reform is the greater interest taken in the struggles of foreign peoples to get parliaments at all ; and if there can be no doubt of the mind of Britain respecting the claims;of struggling peoples, not of torturing despots, on our moral support, then was it surely political suicide to open the Session by displaying to the public those leanings to hereditary despots, of which the Tories are more than suspected.  As independent Liberals, were Italy and Hungary well out of their difficulties, and Austria cut down to her own proper Archduchy, including, perhaps a few small adjacent territories she might have learned to treat decently, we would hardly give a toss of a penny for the difference between the two leaders, PALMERSTON and DEttn-r. Yet Lord DERBY and Mr. Disn.A.ELI took the opportunity of the first night of the session to show the country that they were in feeling, least,auoutr . at variance with it on the question of the The Emperors of FRANCE and AUSTRIA, therefore, bid fair to prolong the reign of Lord PALMERsToN. When Lord DERBY points, haw_  ever to the co nduct of the Emperor of the FRENCH he will have b ath Lord PALMERSTON and all of us with him. W i are pleased that France and her Ruler should see that her hostile preparations, while her spee ch is fair, do not fail to awaken in this couut ry appropriate sentiments. It is undeniable that France is running a naval race with us, and tha.t it oannot be forpurposes of defence, as our naval preparations are, but must contemplate possible and ultimate aggression. We cordially adopt Lard DERB'eS language on this subject, when he says that "'unquestionably it is a state of doubt, and apprehe asion, and uncertainty that places on the people of this country an amount of taxation -which is absolutely unprecedented in time of peace, which is perfectly intolerable, and which is only made more intolerable by the financial freaks of the Chancellor of the Exchequer." With what good reason these remarks, were made is apparent enough from those of a member on the opposite aide of the House of Commons, Mr.