The Sun.
London, England, 1864-07-20 00:00:00

sequence of this easy way of making money, one
Governor amassed a comfortable fortune of about
£lOO,OOO. The Governorship of Cuba has, accord•
ing to Lord BROUGHAM, become a recognised
method for mending the fortunes of any needy
Spanish noble, and even when a Governor like the
present endeavours to check the traffic, he finds
local interests too strong for him. The reform must
begin at head-quarters, and it is quite time that
some decisive effort were made. Oar West India
planters justly complain of having to compete with
Cuban slave-grown sugar, so that our weak
indulgence towards Spain not only injures
the negro, but our own colonists as well.
Lord RUSSELL'S explanation of the matter
is that every successive Foreign Secretary
has remonstrated with Spain, and that Government
has always professed its willingness to carry out
the treaty, bat owing to the strength of private
interests in Caba, and its reluctance to offend those
interested in the maintenance of the trade, we have
never been able to obtain efficient aid from it. This
has gone on quite long enough. If it is worth
while to send men to die of fever on the African
coast and expend the large sums which we give for
keeping up our naval force there, it is surely worth
while to put a little more energy into our dealings
with Spain. Half the men and money spent profit-
lessly in the one quarter would have effectually
settled the slave trade if properly applied in the
other. Let our Government insist upon the imme.
diate fulfilment of the Treaty or the liquidation of
the debt, and let them not accept empty words but
demand that an English official shall be placed in
each of the Cuban ports, with the right of searching
vessels—a method which will soon produce an effec-
tual change. Lord PALMERSTON can very readily
stigmatise the conduct of Brazil as "flagrant," and
our Cabinet can easily show a bold front to a weak
Power; bat when once European interests are in-
volved, a very great alteration is perceptible in
tone and manner. The interests of humanity de-
mand immediate action, or has England sunk so
[ow from her ancient position that she fears the
frowns of Spain ?

It is to be hoped that due attention will be paid
to the act for the prevention of employing young
boys as chimneysweeps. It has now received the
sanction of Parliament, and a more wise and neces-
sary regulation has seldom been made concerning
social affairs. The refinement of melt), would
appear to have reached its climax in the mode
adopted for the training of these wretched little
victims, and it is only surprising that before this
some stringent enactments have not been made to
prevent such a scandal being practised among us.
This pernicious habit has been so widely spread
that it would seem to have taken root in the minds
of those who ought to know better. The other day
it was mentioned by some who take an interest in
the putting down of the barbarous practice, that in
places where above all others regard should be paid
to the law, the open violation of the enactment took
place. At a prison one poor boy was employed,
and he suffered so greatly from the injuries he re-
ceived that he died in consequence. Another instance
was given of the practice occurring at the house of
some member of Parliament, whose infringement of
the laws was curious and most unsuitable. Time
after time the evil is done in secret, or in such a
manner that no one is likely to take note of it.
In some of the old chimneys it is fancied
by the prejudiced that machines and instruments
are not efficient for the purpose of thorou;hly
cleaning them. If this be true, there is a very easy
remedy in having them altered, but in most cases it
is only obstinacy and the tenacity with which many
cling to old notions, and think all improvements
are newfangled absurdities. The cause of humanity
is not strong encugh to plead for these little victims
who are exposed to such cruel suffering at an early
age. It is of great consequence that the stern voice
of the law should interfere, and that strict heed be
paid as to the due observance of the regulations that
are decreed. If proper attention is given to the
law now passed, no possible opportunity can occur
in which a poor child is tortured and injured by
the ,barbarous practice of chimney-sweeping, but
the mischief often happens through inadvertence on
the part of hcuseholders. Let these now set their
faces against the inhuman habit, and from hence-

forth let the cruelty be banished from among us,

No possible excuse can be made on the plea of
ignorance, because the subject has been so much

discussed that by this time everyone must be pretty
well familiarised with its details, and the neglect of
watchfulness will be nearly as culpable as the open
commission of the error on the part of others. Too
much care cannot be given to the prevention of a
practice that is a disgrace to all who are engaged
in it remotely or immediately.

The last days of the Session are approaching, and
it is doubtless with very great satisfaction that the
occupants of the Ministerial benches behold the close
of their probation. It must appear, however, to
those who attentively survey the passing events,
that even in small matters, or what may be termed
so, comparatively speaking, great cause may be
found for reprehension, concerning the manner in
which the Government has acted. A vote moved
in supply, by Lord C. PAGET, may serve to suggest
reflections of a peculiar character. It concerned
the purchase of the steam rams, and the noble lord's
offer to make any explanations that might be re.
quired, appears to have been unprofited by, and the
vote agreed to in silence. For several reasons it

is desirable that the observers of public events should
not imitate this quiescence, and copy this tacit ap-
proval of an act which is a disgrace to the adminis.
tration of the country. It was one of the most
poltroon affairs in which a British Minister has ever
been engaged. When we contrast the aspect which
this case has assumed at the commencement and
close of the Session, a warning is given to the public
for the future, not to trust overmuch to the profes-
sions of statesmen, especially when their statements
are very verbose, and their language unusually
vehement. Who but a skilled judge in such mat-

tars, or a very cynic in faith and confidence, but
would have thought that the noble Secretary for
Foreign Affairs meant something when he die.
coursed upon the steam rams at the outset of the
Parliamentary campaign. When he so deprecated
discussion, and deplored arguments concerning
them, and above all, when he fired up and de-
nounced as unfair and illegal the attempts made to
force information from him when the whole facts
were about to be brought into a court of law, aid
to comment upon them prematurely would occasion
damage to the cause of: justice, it is strange to
think that another and a very different solution
was at hand. How much more consistent it would
have been if, instead of all that palaver, the Go-
vernment had purchased the rams at first, or at
least abstained from making so much parade about

matters that they did not intend to see the light.
It is quite evident that if they had had such a good
case against the vessels in dispute as they professed
that they had, they would not have shrunk
from inquiry, and beat so hasty and undignified :I
retreat. The purchase of these vessels is alike a
confession of impotence on their part as prosecutors,
to carry out the part they pretended to be well
versed in, and an instance of weakness as regarded
the FocierAl goyernment, beonse they 4id, not *1