The Sun.
London, England, 1863-09-07 00:00:00

zbiz

LONDON, MONDAY, SEPT. 7, 1863.

The rumoured drawing together—in alliance—of
France, Russia, and Prussia, is, in many respects,
as it appears to us, a thing incredible. Supposing,
for the sake of argument, that it should, notveith-
Standing our incredulity, turn cut to be an arrange-
ment actually in preparation, it would be a distinct
abandonment, all of a sudden, by NAPOLEON 111.
of the whole intricate scheme of his European
policy, such as it has unquestionably been hitherto.
Cossack or Republican, and that within less than
half a century ! Such, as every student of modern
history knows full well, was the startling alterna-
tive held in terrorem over Europe by the
Political Seer who was the founder of the
Dynasty of NAPOLEON HI. Such was one of the
last and most memorable predictions uttered by
NAPOLEON the FIRST shortly before his death in
exile upon the rock of St. Helena. And, with a
very slight modification indeed, that famous pro-
phecy is now, within the easy recognition of all, in
rapid process of fulfilment. Simply reading, for
Republican, Constitutional—it is already virtually
fulfilled. Virtually, we say, because, wherever
Constitutional Government has not been actually
established already in Europe, it is either being
established, or it is more or less confidently pro-
mised as the goal towards which each absolute ruler
is hastening or affecting to hasten, Everywhere
the "forms" at the very least, if not the principles,
if not the practices, if not the rights, if not the
prerogatorics of Constitutional Government have
been introduced. Everywhere the blessings of
Constitutional Government are vaunted even by the
Satraps and the Viziers of the more arbitrary Rulers
of Christendom. The insensate inheritor of the
Crown of FREDERICK' THE SECOND ("called the
reat,"as his most eulogistic biographer has it naively
upon his very title-page), even that blundering,
stumbling Swashbuckler of a KING who seizes his
diadem, at the time of his coronation, as being his
by " right divine," rather than vouchsafed to him by
the permission of GOD and the will of the people
he rules—even he, through this last arbitrary act
of his, the abrupt dissolution of the Chambers,
evidences, in a distinct though left-handed way,
his recognition of the rights of popular representa-
tion. Nay, the Russian Autocrat himself, while
striving, through the bloody thongs wielded
by his creature MoURAVIEIT, to scourge the
unhappy Poles back again into subjection, affects
the virtue, though he certainly has it not, of
being desirous to ensure to his people the
consolations of a tranquil, and regular, and even, tna
certain extent, of a representative form of Govern-
ment. Since the death of ABDUL MEDJID, his
brother and successor, the new Sultan Caliph,
ABDUL AZIZ, has not simply inaugurated, but has
ever since its inauguration been firmly and steadily
consolidating, at Constantinople, a new order of
things altogether, both politically and socially, a
sort of translated version of Constitutional Govern-
raent, done into Turkish, and revised and
Inodifi o d by the Moslem Padischab, 'Upon
a smaller scale, under the auspices of the
Ottoman Porte, the new Pasha of EGYPT, son of
,
Relent, grandson of MAHOMET ALI, the en-
lighte
successor of those able and gifted Vice-
roys,
doing the like with regard to his own pro-
vince. Seei
and Portugal have, each in turn, long
since committed themselves fully and frankly to the
free air and the broad noonday light of Constitu-
tional Government
Al'. Germany is rousing itself
to political activity,
after a period of protracted tor-
por, at the summon,
of the KKiser, himself ; and this,
at the very period in the annalst of Austrian's absolu-
tism, when theEmeeetonof
hat great central Power
of the European Continent has but just freshly in-
scribed, so to speak, upon his banners, upon his
imperial gonfanon, the symbols of the insignia of
Constitutional Government.

From the very outset of
his accession to
supreme power at Paris, NAPOLEON 111.
mean-
while has persistently and ostentatiously held
people as the new
order
out to the French
of things distinctly within their view, almost
within their reach—as the goal clearly before
them, in perspective, and that not by any means
afar cff—a certain form or kind of Constitutional
Government. Imperialism based upon Democracy.
An Imperial Throne upon Democratic institutions.
An EMPEROR., a C,ESAP., a NAPOLEON pre-
siding over a Representative or Constitutional
Government. S:owly, very slowly indeed, here
end there, his Majesty has been making good his
word upon one or two points. But—in regard to
the main points of all—in that grand programme ?
Remembering his last magnificent and magnani-
mous speech, referring in terms of profound admira-
tion to the liberty enjoyed here in England under our
Constitutional form of Government—How far, we
may ask, has NAPOLEON advanced towards the
realisation, for France, of any kindred institutions ?
Freedom of speech, of meeting, of writing, of
printing ? where in Franca is the concession
of freed,,m to the journalists and to the occu-
pints of the Parliamentary tribune ? "Patience"

yet may be the watchword, it is true. But to talk
now—under these circumstances—of anything like
this rumoured alliance between France and Prussia
and Russia is—again we say it—a thing incredible.

The autumnal season generally atones for the ab-
sence of political excitement by the number of its
provincial gatherings; and although we cannot this
year complain of dulness with the affairs of
America, Mexico, Germany, Poland, and Denmark
pending in the balance, our Parliamentary cele-
brities are unwilling to let slip their usual oppor
tunity for " starring it" in the provinces. Accord-
ingly we find the annual celebration of the Cutlers'
Feast calling to Sheffield several of the habitues of
St. Stephen's, prominent among them being, of
course the member for the town, outspoken Mr.
ROEBUCK. A Cabinet Minister, too, formed one of
the company, and the honour was duly
appreciatedby theYorkshireme n , who on this auspicious occasion
broke through their ordinary regulation of avoiding
party questions, and drank the health of
o"nHeHer
MAJESTY'S Ministers" for the first time at
these banquets. The compliment was p
tooionkteodecbay.
Mr. DUNN, who, in proposing the
toast,
Yorks sion to dilate on the merits of thoerkirshviirseitmora.n
aSiar
CHARLES," said he, " is a good
yquwaelilfieocniateionins
ggoodives AhVi
mh era, " g
oThegood
r ifgohr mt etro o
af thheeasret
e apprehend, prove a
since the liberality of
Stelas
se ffip
popular
atrhreeleaotrot emir
ewilltdi
0,
1:v,
the Whigs has fallen into disrepute. The respon-
sibility of the office held by Sir CHARLES WOOD
was described in strong language by Mr. DUNN.
" If I was asked," he said, " to point out an office in
which the wealth, the power, the good feeling, the
morality—nay, more, the Christianity of this
country could be exercised with most effect, 1
should point to the office of Secretary of State for
India." After summarising the great events which
have recently happened in that country, end
dilating upon the difficulties attending legislation
among the remains of an ancient and superficial
civilisation, the speaker added that he knew of no
public office which afforded a statesman greater
opportunities of distinction. Five years ago, who,
he asked, would have ventured to anticipate that
India would be now in its present hopeful condi-
tion—" self-supporting, paying its way, making
its roads, its railways, and its laws, and offering
to the natives a share in the administration ?" It
is indeed a matter for rejoicing, and in some mea-
sure for surprise—none the less that the right hon.
baronet the member for Halifax has held the reins
of authority for so considerable a period. It is
naturally not surprising to find Sir CHARLES
WOOD very unwilling to accept all the praises
offered to him, and with comfortable self-
complacency attributing all the beneficial changes
that have taken place in India to his own
excellent government. With modest satisfaction
he contemplates his own doings, and disclaims any
wish to overrate his merits. " I do not wish to
take more credit than is my due, but since I have
been in the office which I now hold the Govern-
ment of the country has been re-cast, and natives
admitted to the council, the judicature has been
revised, the penal code has been improved, penal
proceedings and civil proceedings facilitated, the
army and navy have been re-cast, and also the
civil service, the tenure of land has been fixed, and
indeed, I hardly know any point in the legislation
of the country in which administrative improve-
ment was required in which it has not been ac-
complished, whether rightly or wrongly is not for
me to say." These supplementary words evidently
indicate Sir CHAS. WOOD'S quiet conviction that
all the changes he mentioned are due to his own
agency. On one or two points, however, his
memory is somewhat defective, and needs prompt-
ing. The transfer of the Government of India
from the Company to the Crown, was accomplished
under the auspices of his predecessor, Lord STAN-
LEY, and with that laborious and difficult task, Sir
CHAS. WOOD had very little to do. The framing
of the Constitution, as it now stands, was com-
pleted by the same able legislator who himself in-
augurated the new system. The amalgamation
of the Indian troops with the royal army is very
little for anyone to boast of, seeing that through
a petty and short-sighted saving, many of HAVE-
LOCK'S veterans were disgusted with the service.
Sir CHAS. WooD, if blameless in military matters,
may claim the questionable distinction of opposing
an able successful financier in his calculations,
and of reversing Lord CANNING'S wise and en-
lightened measure for the save of waste lands.
With regard to the assistance he has afforded
to the tardy development of the vast na-
tional resources of India, we may refer him
to Sir ARTHUR COTTON for a character. That
enterprising engineer is not quite so well satisfied
with the administration of the India-office as is the
member for Halifax. He tells us strange tales of
great national undertakings stopping short for want
of funds, of confused accounts, of the proceeds
already forthcoming from the half-finished works
at the Godavery going to swell the creditor side cf
the general expenditure, while the works them-
selves are left incomplete on the plea of want of
funds. We hear, too, startriog statistics of the
amount contributed to the Exchequer by Madras,
where the old regime is in full force, compared with
the sum furnished by the other Presidencies. An
equally striking contrast is manifested by the re-
sults of Lord CANNING'S regulations for the sale of
waste lands, and of Sir CHARLES WOOD's legisla-
tion on
meneeamsuieres.
aCnenr
ot at i nal
eye
nt
shoe phriems eno tf
the
Secretary's worstsame
carelessness or precipitation, for his most active
efforts have been in reversal of other people's pro-
gressive steps. India is, doubtless, a very different
country from what she was at the time of the
mutiny, but whether she would not be still
better had her ruler been a man of a dif-
ferent stamp, may, perhaps, be questioned. Sir
CHARLES WOOD did not escape from the banquet
without a word of warning, addressed, however, less
to himself than to his colleagues. Mr. ROEBUCK,
in a short but animated speech, took occasion to
comment on the state of things in the North, and
paid a tribute the justice of which all must acknow-
ledge, to the wonderful patience, moderation, and
fortitude with which the Lancashire men have
borne their trial. He observed that their conduct
.was the best testimony to the advance of political
knowledge among the people of this country. But
he reminded the Ministry that these men would
soon be asking
question Ministers
return
themselves whether their sufferings
might not by
this
time have been be ene
nn
dreevl
ae
tviendg.
answer,
but
but we are not sorry that they should have it put
publicly before them by a man of note. The high
political position of this country
is not, as Mr.
ROEBUCK reminded his hearers, altogether due to
our " statesmen and legislators. There are in
the people themselves a prudence, knowledge, and
virtue, that have vindicated for themselves this
great power which they possess." He acknowledged
that the rulers had often shown some deference to
public opinion, and that they had yielded to it
when it was too strong for them. In the art of
knowing when and how to do this lies the great
success of an English rule:. MACAULAY attributes
much of ELIZABETH'S popular exercise of despotic
power, in contrast tQ JAMES TUE SECOND'S

to this very knowledge, and there is probably a
good deal of truth in his distinction. It is a lesson
which some of our statesmen of the present day
would do well to learn if they would reconcile
power and popularity—independent action with
constitutional government.

-
The resolveds t
lhaas tt hdeeoshall
not altogetherf lb) Re
IT
fsos oitst e
for.
doubtless T he
isdi
sas
osltur
tainogn e
ofo n et,naen
rd
raul
st
so
igaent hoe ru
aumnbc
ea
rl uncalled di s
intended as a very clever move at this preclsejunc-
o
relikely that it will fail in realis-
ing utwords of the decree are ti buts object.i tis mostTh
them-
selves sufficiently explanatory. It is said that by
virtue of an article of the constitution, and on the
proposition of the Ministry of State, the dissolution
takes place. It is doubtless the secret of the trans-
action. The Ministers have advised the adoption
of the plan, and the KIN G is shortsighted enough to
sanction their proposal. The Ministry is intrusted
with the execution of the present decree, and they
are sure to carry out the project with zeal, as it is
entirely their own notion, and so fully coincides
with their own views. The Ministerial report
which precedes the decree is sufficiently arrogant
and prejudiced to emanate from such statesmen as
the present Prussian Ministers have shown them-
selves to be. It commences by stating that "there
is no prospect that further negotiations with the
present Chamber of Deputies would lead to any
understanding." This is very likely so far true,
but whose fault is it. Had not the Ministers thrown
every obstacle in the way of all liberal mea-
sures there would nut have been any of those
awkward disagreements between the advisers of
the Crown and the popular representatives.
They also refused to listen to any representation
on the part of those who felt themselves
so cruelly aggrieved. Every opportunity was
seized to take umbrage at the conduct of the depu-
ties, and every advantage was !taken of circum-
stances to make all things suit the views of des-
potism. The state of things in Prussia, it is said,
"has not offered any ground for a change in the
propositions of the Ministry which his MAJESTY
had approved. So far as public opinion has
been expressed throughout the country,
,it has
gone direct against the policy of the Government,
indeed, in many instances, addresses were made,
and remonstrances urged against the late vio-
lent measures which were emphatically denounced
as unconstitutional. The next paragraph refers to
the outward condition of affairs. " Tendencies
have manifested themselves within the limits of the
German Federal Constitution, the evident aim of
which is to reduce Prussia from that position as a
great Power in Germany and Europe, which is her
well-earned inheritance from our forefathers, and
which the Prussian people has at all times been
determined not to relinquish." This is hardly a
fair way of putting the question, when it is an
acknowledged fact that no pains have been spared,
and no chances thrown away, to induce King WIL-
LIAM and his Ministers to take part in the debates
of the Congress recently held at Frankfort. It is
of no use to disguise things in that way, because
people will not believe the subterfuge, however in-
geniously it is worded. Whatever motives may have
actuated the Austrian Powers, the Prussian:Minis-
ters could not prove that their object was an inimi-
cal one, when they refused to take part in any of
the discussions, and rejected the propositions
in toto, without hearing them. Of course
so good an opportunity of making politi-
cal capital out of the stirring scenes
just enacted was not to be lost sight of, hence we
find an energetic appeal made to the nation to rally
round the Executive at this trying juncture. The
occasion of the approaching elections will furnish
an epoch for a general expression of unity
throughout the country, and the people are urged
to make use of the event. Thus they may exhibit
that " no difference of political opinion is so deeply-
rooted in Prussia as to endanger the unity of the
people, and the immovable fidelity with which
they are attached to the Royal House." This sounds
very grand; but if the people at all respond to
these patriotic utterances and loyal sentiments, it
will not certainly be owing to the good offices of
those in high places, nor to the consideration of the
Sovereign, but to; their own inherent spirit of
nationality, and the respect and reverence which
they owe to their fatherland. It may be all for the
best, as regards the future interests of Germany,
that there should have arisen these differences be-
tween Austria and Prussia. United they might
have striven to consolidate their power, and pre-
serve intact their privileges; but, now that they
appear in direct antagonism, and complete dis-
severance as regards the settlement of the disputed
questions, some new and brighter hope may spring
up, and as a star in the darkness irradiate the
prospect. If these disputants would commence
their work of adjustment by sacrificing their
cherished schemes of personal ease, or their darling
objects of political ambition, how different would
things become. The Princes who refused to sign the
protocol were unfit to have been members of it at all.
Where is the benefit of convoking a great national
assembly, and then only using the opportunity and
taking up the time of the members in making stric-
tures on the impracticability of this proposition and
that decree, because it is not exactly in accordance
with their views, and runs counter to their doc-
trines of right and wrong. It can hardly be, after
all this excitement, that affairs should relapse into
their old routine. Some impetus must have been
given and some influence spread abroad relating to
the cause of constitutional government in their
wisest and truest sense. Some glimpse may have
been caught,
aght, though as yet far off and dimly
shadowed in the future, of the spread of popular
principles, and the establishment of great and
lasting States.
11 lf any solid good be eventually
n
g s thesewill
i l
l n
o t h excitements,ave
been
throwny ng s
acv , anday
heartburni .
The Prussian
people may draw a moral for them-
' selves from all this outcry, and resolve to embrace
the opportunity thus fortuitously presented by
' expressing their deep-rooted sentiments and firmly-
fixed opinions in a manner that cannot or will not
be mistaken. These elections are not taking place
to suit their interests, but to serve the convenience
of their rulers. This is no reason why the oppor-
tunity should not be taken to stamp upon the occur-
rence the resolution of an entire nation that cannot
be moved unless for good and great purposes.
Respect for the throne and unity together are
admirable exponents of a nation's faith, but there
are other important attributes in the character of
a
P spirit and a steadfast
resolveen dP
maintainend theirenceof
rights.

rie,
whCoahpatsai
hnithreartlonbeeellne,accordingidthehuntertothe of the
always riding on buffaloes, or falling into quicksands, or
oi)r,,
Journal,prai
fighting grisly bears, or being lost in deserts, now comes
before us as the author of a treatise on the popular game of
croquet, with full instructions and a complete set of rules
to meet every contingency of the play.
ARCHBISHOP WHATELY of Dublin is better, but
his foot remains in the same state, and he is more feeble.
The age of this distinguished philosopher, though advanced,
knot extreme, he being only in his 77th year. There was
no improvement reported in his condition on Saturday.
Mr. STRELL has completed the clay model for
the brot ze statue of the late Professor Wilson, which is to
be erected at the north.-west corner of East Princes-street
Gardena, Edinburgh,

~----.