The Sun.
London, England, 1864-10-24 00:00:00

The Spanish Elections.

MADRID, Oct. 18.
The Minister of Justice has addressed the an-
nexed circular to the presidents and public authori.
ties cf every tribunal throughout the country :
" Madrid, Oct. 17.
" The royal decree of March 7, 1861, h• a the fol-
lowing in article 21 :
" Magistrates, judges, and individual public
authorities, being bound to limit themselves to
freely giving their personal vote in elections, and to

abstain in every case from interfering v.ith al
influencing the elrctors, whether directly or indi-
rectly, in favour or to the prejudice of any cFtndi,
data at a public election, every act or fect contrary
hereto, the rather becluse it does not amount to
crioe legally punishable, will be considered cs joss
cause for the dismissal or removal to a d:fferent post,
according to the gravity and importance of tht
offence, of any person who shall commit such
fault.

"It is unnecessary to explain the high object of
this peremptory order. To none more than th 6
classes above mentioned is it of greater importance
to exercise their liberty of action, and abstain from
private conflictq, in which it is not rare, and where,
indeed, it would be often inevitable to see the ac-
cuser, in his quality of a minister of the law, striving
against the accused, and the judge brought into
collision with a party.
" Justice thus administered would not have a
political character, but might appear to possess it ;
and, upon the other hand, the consciences of all must
be aware that justice with a political bias wou'd be
cne of the greatest evils a country would have to
deplore.

"Nevertholess, it is not to be apprehended that
the members of the Depertment of Justice, whether
judges or magistrates, will for an instant forget
this important part of their antics. If, however,
notwithstanding this stringent and still existing
order, the contrary should take place, such acts
could not be committed with impunity. To ob-
viste all possibility this present communication has
been drawn up, which confines itself to recommend-
ing the vigorous and punctual execution of the
above cited royal order, under the respousibilit)
specified.

"I bring this to your knowledge by order of the
Government, for due execution and being carried
into cffect according to law.

"May God preserve your excellency many years,
(Signed) " ARRAZOLA, Minister of Jastice."

Our Financial and Commercial Relations
with Japan,

(E.ona the difeneTlforkt Review)

We are not disposed to regard another display of
febrile violence on the part of the rulers in Japan
directed against foreign settlers, as unfavourable to
oar financial and commercial interests in that
quarter, provided the occasion be token advantage
of to define more clearly our national relations, and
widen the basis of our trading transactions in ac-
cordance with the spirit and letter of Lord Elgin's
treaty,the provisions of which have been continuously
and systematically violated by the Tyc00r.,.3 Go-
vernment. This violation has comb in the share of
official intervention to the free intercourse, the plac
ing of a wholy factitious value on Japanese goods,
. _

he withdrawal of merchandise brought to market

the turning back of produce on its way to consular
ports, unreasonable exactions and duties, the en-
couragement given to the non-fulfilment of contracts
on which money advances have been made, and the
extreme and arbitrary variations in the rate of ex-
change of Alcxican dollara for Japanese currency.
Every disturbance affecting the power of the Ty-
coonate shakes also those internal engagements by
which that potentate endeavours to sceure, as far as
possible, the prOfits of our trade to himself—profits
. . . .

for which the Daimios arc equally revenues. The
pow a: of the Tycoon i 9 confessedly on the wane,
but it allows just that amount of cohesion between
the native princes which will allow any arrange-
ments with him on our part to obtain, in name at
least, the force of general law. Now is the
golden time for the revision of our commer-
cial relations before the composite political
structure falls to pieces. Our first object is, of

course, the extension of our trade. There is nothing
in the treaty to prevent our holding direct commu-
nication with the native Powers at ports in their
own territories, instead of confining ourselves alto-
gether to Government towns. Although it is true
that the Daimois would rob the native merchants
quite as readily as the Tycoon, the way would be
thus prepared for closer contact with the people ;
markets for our camlets end woollens would be mul-
tiplied, and Japanese exports would be increased
both as to quantity and variety. The Prince of
Shendai could supply us with timber that would
compete successfully with India teak; the Prince
of Matsmai could furnish us with manufactured
copper to any amount; and Satsuma's agents would
most probably fulfil the offers of trade they made
subsequent to the bombardment of Jiagosima.
It is time that we should demand, too,
a 3 a portion of rcdr is for any additional
insult to cur flig, an extension of commer.
cial
privileges. No concession would be more ser-
viceable than the immediate opening of the remaining
treaty ports, including Osacca, that great central

market of the empire, with its neighbcuring en..
trepot of lliogo. We may fairly assume that had
we compelled the Japanese even to ect up to the

erms o' the existing treaty, the value of the trade

in goods at the consular ports in the pr .gent year
would have reached £25,000,000, whereas it cannot
exceed £3,500,000, involving, besides, a large
balance in favour of Japan, which must be settled
in silver specie and bullion. It is not to be expected
that a country able to supply us with tea, silk, to-
bacco, oils, and increasing quantities of cotton and
copper, with a variety of minor articles, including
porcelain, lacquered ware and medicinal drugs will
absorb for some years our manufactured goods to
the same calm—but both imports and expo-.:s
admit of immense development, and, were no arti-
ficial obstructions created, it is obvious that as sup-
pliers of manufactures we should ultimately be the
greatest gainers. Each succeeding season our trade
appears to receive a new-impulse; new firms spriog
up at the different settlements; the tone of the
foreign community is improved ; land increases in
value; and tonnage both for China and Europe is
enlarged. The establishment from time to time of
new branch banks constitutes an additional sign of
promise. What is now demanded is prompt action
on the part of the Foreign-office in favour of the
interests of oar merchants and bankers, and,
amongst other things, a settlement of the longs
pending question of the Japanese currency. The
key of access to the empire may be pronounced to
be in Art. X. of Lord Elgin's treaty, which pro-
vided for the exchange of foreign for Japanese
coin, of the same sort, weight for weight, and for
the general circulation of the foreign coin at a
fixed rate of valuation.

We trust Sir It. Alcock will,be instructed to urge,
among other things, on the Tycoon's Government
the propriety of establishing the practice, now dis-
allowed, of Japanese merchants submitting to a lien
on their goods as security for advances.: At present
the money advanc- of our merchants are made to
irrc3ponsible petty brokers, whose business it is
to shield their principals when the fulfilment
of the contract proves inconvenient. Merchants
are ready and willing to give these liens, but they
must not come to the knowledge of the Japanese
officials. Here is a branch of business in which
our banks will be enabled to perform most effec-
tual service. Add to this the removal of existing
obstructions, arising solely from the desire to limit
trade by the Tycoon, and ,o secure the main profits
to himself, and it is easy to sce that the face of the
empire will bo quickly changed, its available
wealth be doubled, its resources utilised, and a
new condition of things brought about in which
the present conflicting political and national ele.
meats will disappear, or assume more favourable
phases. We are in Japan simply as a trading nes
Lion, end it is the bounden duty of the Foreign-
Office to pursue henceforth an uncompromising
course in the interest of commerce. By these means
we shall soon secure in our dealings such a hold on
the material interests of the country as will prove
the beet gwrantee for a h sting and prosperous
Face,