The Sun.
London, England, 1852-03-18 00:00:00

THE SUN,

the same time the removal of all fur-
ther inducements to the bribery and corrup-
tion recently found to be so painfully and even terri-
bly rife in electioneering. We would see the sanitary
movement of late years completed by the adoption of
measures, such as would secure for the people the
blessings of wholesome water, of sufficient drainage,
of proper ventilation, of extramural cemeteries, and
extramural slaughter-houses—advantages inevitably
leading to an enormous and appreciable diminu-
tion in the general mortality. Having obtained
reforms thus reasonable and comprehensive, we would
then see the long-desired and long-despised cause of
national education triumphant over all existing diffi.
culties—difficulties not the least formidable of which
arise from the diversity of the religious opinions of
the population. Such constitute the merest outline
of the social and political improvements for the de-
velopment of which we are more especially solicitous.
That ultimately these reforms must be secured is by
this time, we conceive, rendered altogether indis-
putable. The genius of the age requires them,
and against its mandates no power on earth can pre-
vail. It is for these changes in particular, therefore,
that we look with eagerness and anxiety to our suc-
cessive Governments. Because Lord JOHN RUSSELL'S
Cabinet would not accord them to the demands of the
population it was destroyed, and it was because of
this very fact that we exulted in its destruction.
There is a possibility that Lord DERBY'S Ministry
may, in bidding for the popularity essential for its
very existence, yield some, at least, of those
reforms—legal reforms, sanitary reforms, and even
educational reforms—thereby effecting more (unin-
tentionally) for the interests of the democracy than
the so-called Reformers constituting the bulk of the
late do-nothing Administration. It is from our hopes
in this direction that we have been disposed to await
calmly the unfolding of the policy of the present
Government. From the late Cabinet we could
look for nothing in the way of real,
social, or political improvement. From its
successor there was, and still is, just the chance that
the people may reap some advantages from the neces-
sity of its position, as above indicated. By
tarrying for the result we are wasting
no more time than we should actually
have wasted in expecting, vainly expecting, a com-
prehensive and adequate series of reforms from Lord
JOHN and his colleagues. Besides, the Whigs are
more likely to prove themselves practical Reformers
now that they are once more in Opposition—urging
the wants of the age more and more strenuously
upon our existing admistrators—men who must
strive to secure to themselves popularity, and who can
only secure to themselves popularity by taking the
initiative in reforms such as the legal, the sanitary,
and the educational. By so doing they will alune
enable themselves to be tolerated even for a while
in the offices of the Government : and to us it matters
little whether the advantages ref erred to come from

the hand of Whig, Radical, or Conservative, so long
as they do come, and, by coming, work out the
sublime problem of progressive civilization.

We have never been the advocat es of coercion, of
any restrictions upon the libertiets of the people, or
undue interference with the administration of the
law. We, however, willingly admit that occasions
may arise when, for the preservation of order and
tranquillity, and the bestowing of that protection
which it is the duty of the State to afford to every
citizen, stringent and extraordina:l, powers should be
conferred on the executive, for the prevention of
crime and the fitting vindication of the majesty
of the law. If it should bQ shown that a
deep-seated and organized conspiracy exists in
any district that unlawful confederacies are
in the habit of carrying on their nefarious pro-
ceedings with impunity, that thexe has practically
been a failure of justice, it is essential that a strin-
gent and searching inquiry should 'be instituted into
the causes that have led to such an untoward state of
affairs, with a view to their speedy removal, and the
establishment of a better order of things. It signifies
little what might be the nature of these causes, whe-
ther the peasantry were induced. to abstain from
coming forward in the cause of order, through the fear
of the consequences which might happen to them-
selves or families if they incurred the displea-
sure of the fearful confederation, or whether the same
result was produced through sympathy with the ob-
jects of the sanguinary band. The effects in either
case would be the same, and there, ould be an equal
necessity of providing Lan adequate remedy for the
wide-spread and formidable evils.
In whatever way, then, we regard the subject,
whatever may be the influences :in operation, we
must distinctly and unequivocall.:7 admit that the
ATTORNEY-GENERAL for Ireland has made out an
ample case for the appointment -ctf the Committee
for which he moved on Tuesday evening. The mo-
tion was temperately and ably br ought forward. It
was not framed for the purpose of obtaining tempo-
rary popularity on his accession to office. The
Right Honourable Gentleman had long before given
notice of his intention of applying
.for such a Com-
mittee. He had conferred with the ex-Secretary of
State for the Home Department, 'had conformed to
his views, and Sir GEORGE GREY, with a just and
proper appreciation of the abilities. of Mr. NAPIER,
had decided on leaving the matter in his hands and
offering no opposition to the motion- It was a hand-
some tribute of respect to such an (ypponent to confide
to his charge the important duty of :tarrying into prac-
tical operation one of the most urgent: recommendations
contained in the Speech from the TI- trone. It was,how-
ever,.fully merited, and one that we's equally honour-
able to both parties. Whatever d ifferences might
exist between Whig and Tory, .erotectionist and
Free-trader, there would be an equal. anxiety amongst
all for a due and sound administrat;inn of the law—a
perfect and complete security for life, liberty, and
property.

- It is admitted on every side that The great want of
Ireland is the introduction of capital sufficient to
develop its extraordinary natural capabilities.
Bat capitalists are a sensitive race ; they
will not incur risk, no matter how great may be
the temptation in other respect. A safe 3 per cent.
will be preferred to a doubtful 30 per cent., although
the hazard may be amply covered by 2 or 3 per cent.
of that amount. The only reason. why English
capital has not hitherto found its way into Ireland,
may be found in the agrarian outirttges that have
been reported. A single murder, s etch as that of
Mr. BATEMAN, may have nipped the most promising
speculations in the bud, and occasioned a marked
depreciation in the properties offered: for sale under
the auspices of the Encumbered :Estates Com-
mission. If we ask how it is that eligibly
el'entastanced lands held in fee, -and with an
unimpeachable title, are disposed of for less than ha
half
i
their actual
twelve years' value, or, n other words,. for eleven or
purchase, we are told that no man, how-
ever pure his motives or guarded his conduct, can
be considered safe from the machinati erns of riband-
ism. Any real or fanciedl be sufficient
to a member of the
terrible association viil
e sufficient to call down a
frightful retribution. The party will be placed on
trial before a sanguinary and
opportunity
and jury
unscrupulous tribunal.
He can ,know nothing of the nature of the
o f offering the
charge,
nor is there any
explanations that might satisfy even the bloodthirsty
accords the
attentively
Vehm-gericht isten
The
sec r e amn tosdtehr ant
cmreedmebnecres,to
and;t
h r
stoamethealnacoosmt of members,
statements
that some of our metropolitan magistraeo s do to those
of policemen. Unless some
champion should unex-
pectedly arise the matter is a foregone con elusion. The
charge is preferred, the evidence of th s accuser is
heard, and as the party implicated has n e. opportunity
of clearing the matter, which he might v, rith due notice
be easily enabled to rebut, and as 0(1 gentlemen
(Ribandmen) present generally stiic;k together
with edifying unanimity, acquit t.%15 are of
rare occurrence. The verdict then is brought
in, the sentence is pronounced in a tone
of awful levity and the exec:u tioners are
selected by lot, if volunteers anxious to distinguish
themselves (! do not step forward in ;31nindance.
But it is not merely
among the
.less wealthy
classes that the organization has spro ad. It has
entered into the jury-bor. And when we find that
jurymen have, after returning their was diet, rushed
forward to exchange greetings and shale, s hands with
the discharged prisoners on whom the: t, have been
sitting, and whose life or death has been dependent on
their decision, and that the liberated cri,inai has

LONDON,

boasted of the outrage for which he could no longer
be responsible, we must acknowledge the necessity
of • change.

In calling for a Committee of Inquiry, rather then
Introducing measures under the Ministerial sanction,
the Irish ATTORNEY-GENERAL has acted fairly
and consistently. It is, of all others, a
matter in which the Government for the
time being should; sharel the: responsibility with a
judiciously selected Committee, and we are quite
convinced that the subject has not been thus referred
for the purpose of being shelved, as was too fre-
quently the habit of the Whig Ministry, but that it
is intended to have a really searching inquiry, and to
bring forward measures calculated to carry the sug-
gestions of the Committee into practical execution.

THE FRENCH REPUBLIC.

We have received the Paris journals of yesterday.

The MOniteur publishes a decree for the re-organi-
zation of the order of the Legion of Honour. The
members are to swear fidelity to the PRESIDENT of
the Republic.
The Constitutionnel announces that the budget of
1852 will be published in the Moniteur of to. clay
(Thursday). It states that the salaries of the "high
functionaries of state, such as ministers,l bishops (sic),
ambassadors, magistrates, and prefects, will be found
raised to what they had been before the reductions
made by the Provisional Government. Ministers are
to have 100,000 f. aayear. The Minister of War and
the Minister for Foreign Affairs will be allowed
130,0001. a-year. Chief judges and procureurs
generaux, from 20,000 f. to 14,000 f. The President
of the Cour de Cessation and Procureur-General,
30,000 f." The same journal contains an article in
justification of the Orleans confiscationidecrees. The
signature thereto is that of GRANIER DE CASSAGNAC,
formerly editor of the Epoque, Ministeral organ of M.
DUCHATEL, and ultra-devoted partisan of the Orleans
family.
The Bishop of ORLEANS has deolined the functions
of member of the Superior Council of Instruction.
The election of M. CARNOT, the opposition candi-
date for Paris, is denounced by the Pays as a Socialist
manifestation, showing that the party is not yet put
down and would, on the least encouragement being
given, raise its head. The Siecle, on the contrary,
claims for the bourgeoisie the merit of the victory :
, " A few Republicans in the Corps Legislatif would
not have signified anything one way or the other.
We only desired that France and Europe should
know the actual opinions of the capital, and that the
free manifestations of these opinions by enlightening
the Government might induce it to give up a system
of severities which is not in accordance with our
times, and to replace it by measures of conciliation
and pacification." Adding, in the words of Scrip-
ture, " man does not live by bread alone," but re-
quires such satisfaction of his moral wants as liberty
alone can give.
Count WALEWSKI, the French Ambassador to the
Court of England, whose recent arrival in Paris gave
rise to some absurd speculations in an English
journal, was to leave yesterday to return to his post.
The mortal remains of Marshal MARINIONT are, says
the Presse, to be brought to France, and deposited in
a vault which he caused to be prepared in the Church
of S!. Vorles, at Chatillon-sur- Seine, the village in
which he was born.
The election for Lyons has been again adjourned.
The Government candidate had been returned for
Nantes. The opposition candidate was in the majo-
rity at Lisle. The Government candidate is in the
majority at Arras.
The Debuts again attacks the conversion of the
Five per Cents. It dwells strongly on the fact of the
division of the Rentes amongst very small holders,
for if the million who hold Ihis stock, Five per Cent.,
ventures to say that upwards of eight-tenths (indeed,
it says nearly 900,000) receive only 5001. or less. As
a consequence it argues that a panic must follow,
calculated to shake public credit. Another argument
is that a fall of 3f, or 4f. would compromise the ope-
ration, and it would not require a very extraordinary
event in the present state or the public mind to bring
down the Funds below par. Then, as regards the
saving to the country, it 'contends that it cannot be
so great, because hospitals, public establishments, and
communes or towns, have investments in stock, and
their incomes must be made up in some other way.
To this add necessary diminution of private expendi-
ture, and what will the stato gain ? Conversion might,
it concludes, have been effocted under the monarchy,
when the Five per Cents. were at 1251., and
the Four-and-a-Half per Cents. at 1061., but at pre-
sent it considers the measure totally unjustifiable.
Oa the other hand the Constitutionnel says, that al-
though a distinct office has been opened for receiving
applications for ranboursement, not a single demand
has yet been made. The Assemblie Nationale states,
that the hospitals and other charitable institutions
are preparing petitions ag sinst the reduction of in-
come, which must follow the conversion of the Five
per Cents.
On the English newspapers there is now an in-
creased postage charge (12c.), but they do arrive in
Paris as usual in due course ; so that the notion that
they would be prohibited turns out to be erroneous,
people having been misled by the wording of the de-
cree on the press, which, with respect to foreign
journals, read rather ambiguously.
The Bourse was heavy, except for railway shares,
which all rose. The Five per Cents. opened at 1001.
50c., fell to 100 f. 10e., rose subsequently to 100 f. 60c.,
and closed at 100 f. 55c. for the end of the month; the
Four-and-a-Half per Cents-, closed at 100 f. 750.; the
Three per Cents. closed at 69f. 95c.; Orleans Railway
Shares, 1,190 f.; Rouen, 707 f. 50c.; Havre, 277 f. 50c.;
Great Northern, 6471. 50c.; Avignon, 262 f. 50c.; Vier-
zon, 565 f.; Basle, 2321. 50c.; Bordeaux, 565 f.; Paris and
Strasburg, 550 f.; Tours and Nantes, 342 f. 50c; Paris
, and Lyons, 600 f.

BUSINESS DONE IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT THE
LONDON STOCK EX CHANGE, MARCH 17.

- -
Boulogne and Amiens, 12% —Dutch Rhenish, 4',4—Great
Indian Peninsula, 43/4—Luxembourg, 3q—Namur and Liege,
63/4—Northern of France, 211/,—Orleans and Bordeaux, 129
—Paris and Strasbourg, 21%—Rouen and Havre,
111~—
Tours and Nantes, 10%.