The Sun.
London, England, 1839-03-30 00:00:00

cious proceedings in Wales, against the Dissenting
Churchwardens of the Parishes which rejoice in the
incumbency of the ever-to-be-celebrated Ea ENEZER
MORRIS, bear testimony—trumpet-tongued testi-
mony—against the Apostolical Chinch. Poor JOHN
THOROGOOD, of Chelmsford, is another instance of
the tender mercies of our Spiritual Mother.
When the Reverend ST. JOHN MILDMAY
comes to give in the final account of his deeds
of charity, let him not forget to note the
yearnings of compassion which he has undergone
for this conscientious Dissenter's sufferings. Ten
weeks' imprisonment and bonds for refusing to vio-
late his conscience ! 'Tis a pretty little item against
a Minister of the Gospel, is it not?
Tuesday next is the day on which the elec-
tion of Parochial Officers takes place through-
out England and Wales. Let the Dissenters
and their friends be upon the alert. Let them
muster all their strength, and strive to appoint only
such persons as they know will discharge their
duties with moderation. If they neglect this op-
portunity, they will have no right to complain of
the exercise of ecclesiastical tyranny during the
ensuing year.
As to the conduct of the Abolition Society
towards Mr. THOROGOOD, alluded to by Mr.
CHILDS, we need not make any remark. They
must answer for themselves.

The National of Wednesday observes with some
truth, that " representative Monarchical Govern-
ment is now suspended, or on the point of being so,
throughout Europe. In France it cannot form a
Ministry; in Belgium it is sustained by only two
or three Ministers ; at Madrid it is in the same
condition ; at Lisbon it only exists under the pro-
tectorate of Great Britain ; in Germany it merely
vegetates, hardly- tolerated by the despotism of
Austria and Prussia ; in England, finally, the
model and classic land of these institutions, it has
nearly arrived at a crisis more dangerous than any
perhaps which has yet shook it." Our own
Journalists seem to take a somewhat similar
view. The Chronicle, and other Liberal Jour-
nals, are advocating, as indispensible to pre-
serve our representative system, a very great
change in it ; and the Standard finds it neces-
sary to discuss abstract principles of Govern-
ment, and dilate on the advantage of known and
fixed laws. Now this coincidence in pursuit, and
almost in sentiment, in the Journalists of the two
counties, and this co-existence of similar facts in
the different countries of Europe, must have some
common and general cause. It is undoubtedly
true that our representative Government has not
gathered strength by the Reform Act, and it is
equally true that representative Government is
scarcely tolerated in Germany, and can be scarcely
said to exist in the Peninsula. It is at the same
time true that despotism in its mildest form is no
where approved of, and is sinking faster into disre-
pute and powerlessness on the Continent than repre-
sentative Government. Despotism is extinct in the
Peninsula. Though Prince ERNEST has almost
put an end to legitimate representative Government
in Hanover, he is farther even than was WILLIAM
IV. from having a despotic power in that country.
Though the Sovereigns of Austria and Prussia are
not hampered by a Parliamen t :they are botk
compelled by the march of events, or opinion, rather
to relax than lighten their reins. Louis PHI-
LIPPE, to whose sagacity Sir R. PEEL lately paid
a splendid homage, more probably from admiring the
object at which he aims than his success, has tried
in vain to re-establish despotism in France. The
NAPOLEON of Peace has been obliged to succumb to
the aristocracyof talent; and the Monarch must asso-
ciate M. TRIERS, the ci-devant editor of a news-
paper, in the exercise of his power, and must allow
him and his colleagues the lion's share. Thus it is
equally true that despotism is at a discount, as well
as the old systems of representative Government, and
the people are every where looking for political
changes and political improvements.
This general restlessness, however unpleasant to
rulers, is not to be lamented or decryed. It is the
offspring of that general law which is implanted
in the breast of competitive man, and ever irre-
sistibly urges him onward to improve his con-
dition. He may be mistaken in the means,
but the impulse he obeys is the source of some
of his noblest actions. But because this de-
sire for improvement disturbs the listlessness of
rulers, and forces them to exertion, or threatens
their power, they are apt to devise means to divert
it from its legitimate object, and turn it to foreign
conquest or aggrandisement, that they may have
peace or safety at home. "To have recourse to
foreign war, in order to put an end to civil contests,"
says the National, " has always been the tactics of
the Tory party." In this sense, however, the word
"Tory" has a wide meaning, and embraces nearly
all the ruling powers. Even many honest and.vir-
tuous citizens, who have no share in the governing
power,• entertain the opinion that foreign war is
necessary to carry off " the ill humours of society."
Against this opinion and these tactics it seems now
necessary to caution the public ; and something
may be done to calm apprehensions by remarking
that the restlessness is the necessary consequence
of the progress of population.
Throughout the Continent the people, as we
know from the late discussions on the Corn-laws,
are increasing rapidly. Railroads, promoting fa-
cility of communication, are not confined to Eng-
land ; and it is now more easy for a manufacturer or
a capitalist to transfer himself and his skill and in-
genuity from Manchester or Birmingham to Swit-
zerland or Belgium than it was a hundred and fifty
years ago to remove the woollen manufactures from
Kent to Yorkshire. A similar kind of rapid in-
crease of people is therefore going on throughout
Europe, and everywhere the facility of communi-
cation is increasing. Now, though we cannot, any
more than our brother Journalists, tell what
this will end in, nor foresee what is to supply
the place of a decaying despotism and feeble
representative Governments, we look forward with
great hope and great confidence from seeing
that this general restlessness is the consequence
of the general multiplication of the people,
which in all ages has been the parent of good.
However contrary, therefore, new theories may be
to old prejudices, and however unable our rulers
may be to see their way out of the present turmoil
of opinions, assuredly the Tory principle of en-
gaging in foreign war, or encouraging mankind to
cut each others throats, is not the way to conduct
to a ha issue.

LPPY

The whole of the Paris Papers of Thursday have
been received, but with the exception of their an-
nouncement of the continuance of the Ministerial
crisis, they bring no news of moment from the
French Capital. We quote from the Journal des
Debats an account of the fruitless negotiations of
Wednesday :

" It is quite true that the King requested M. Thiers
yesterday to form a Cabinet, giving him ample latitude
both in persons and measures. It is also true that M.
Thiers declared himself unable to accomplish the honour-
able mission intrusted to him by his Majesty ; and it was
affirmed yesterday in the Salle des Conference' of the
Chamber of Deputies, that the King had received a letter,
in which M. Thiers confirmed his verbal declaration, and
developed the motives which hindered him in his own
opinion from forming a Cabinet. It is equally true that some
of the Deputies of the gauche and centre gauche went yes•
terday afternoon to Marshal Soult, to attempt to modify his
determination. We believe, however, we may venture to
affirm that the Marshal again, and very positively, refused
to take part in any combination in which he would liive M.
Thiers as a colleague. The report of this peremptory re-
fusal has been currently received, and we have reason to
believe that a written communication to the same effect has
reached M. Thiers himself. We will say nothing of the
readiness with which, as was asserted, all the members of the
centre gauche combination, except M. Humann, who could be
easily replaced, were again to range themselves under the
Presidency of the illustrious Marshal ; but his readiness
has appeared rather doubtful to several persons. Nobody
is ignorant that M Passy, M. Dufaure, and other mem-
bers of the combination, manifested five days ago their dis-
approval of the demands and the exclusions of M. Thiers;
and that M. Passv in particular appeared but very indiffe-
rently disposed to follow his Ministerial fortunes. As to
M. Dupin, notwithstanding the denials of the Mcsseger,
we conceive ourselves warranted in asserting that he main-
tains his repugnance to entering into a Cabinet of which
M. Thiers might have the pretension to be the leader."
It was well understood that the KING was at
the bottom of the intrigue by which the rupture
between SO ULT and TH EI RS was effected, thong n no
person appeared more deeply to deplore such a mis-
understanding than his MAJESTY. We extract
the very pertinent remarks of the Siecle upon this
very disgraceful transaction :
" We announce with deep regret that the odious machi-
nations which have been going on for some days have been
crowned with success. Before the way was opened for
M. Thiers, all the issues were carefully closed. Marshal
Soult's mind had been worked upon, and his pride, which
might have been thought superior to such contemptible
weakness, exalted beyond measure by infamous ca-
lumniators, who, throughput the whole of these ne,
part, but whose
gociations base playcd double