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Lyttelton Times, Volume X, Issue 600, 4 August 1858, Page 4

'.*■" Nobody can point out a time when the dread •of the'greatest of human calamities weighed as ja feather in the balance of her politics. In her initmost difficulty and "exhaustion England has Tushed into struggles that demanded overflowing exchequers, a teeming population, and powerful allies. A War Minister has always been a popular Minister,-and a war ever so foolish, ever so wicked, ever so desperate, has always been found a sure way to escape from home difficulties. Our old Norman kings could at anytime unite their quarrelsome barons for a crusade, or some war nearer home, but equally unprofitable; and the policy, -whatever its moral character, .••still occupies a place in the armoury of party warfare. War cannot come, indeed, without its awful penalties, its sufferings, its losses, its costs, its irritations, its hardening of the heart, and the blight it casts on all other hopes and. feelings, >all other passions and pursuits. No <pen could enumerate, no mind could embrace, the disastrous consequences of the long and terrible war that engrossed all the time and money and affections of the last generation". What 2>ersonal inconvenience, what social neglects, what-miseries and degradation did it not entail! Tet are we screthtit no suggestion of prudence, no warning of the past will have the least weight, should it ever be felt that national honour and interest were once more at stake. There may, indeed, be a stage in international difficulties, as in private disputes, when wisdom can still make herself heard amid the struggle of emotions or the-war of words; else we should *not have so many sage warnings to be taken in time. *We should not be told that 'the beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water.' But in England a peacemaker must be very early in the field, and must make his account to be quite alone in it, if he expects the least attention. 'If this indifference to a late calamity and this want of corainoa forethought be in many respects unfortunate, it is at all events some consolation to feel that the honour of England is in very safe keeping. It is in-the keeping of Englishmen, who will keep it themselves, and who are even over jealous of the hands into which it might fall. We may be very rash, . «very foolish, very headstrong, and very certain 4o tio-eurselves more damage than we can pos-sibly-inflict on our Arorst foes, but neither Parliament nor people will ever connive at the smallest national dishonour."