The Sun.
London, England, 1863-11-23 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER - 23, 1863.

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needlework. One consequence is the crowds of ill-
paid and half-educated governesses, who struggle
for situations, each trying to outdo her fellows in
the extent of her professions and the mode-
ration of her charges. Another result is to
be seen in the letter before us. Had some
of these hundreds of women been trained in
early life to bookkeeping, watchmaking, or other
trades where delicacy
of finger, care, and skill are
the chief requisites, how much misery might have
been saved ! But all these occupations require to
be learned carefully; not caught up in a hurry
when the pupil must work or starve. One branch
of employment, indeed, there is which would em-
ploy large numbers of respectable women in work
well adapted to their strength and tastes, and open
to admit those whose youth missed the training
needed for so many occupations. We allude to shop-
serving, which, in our " nation of shopkeepers," con-
stitutes no unimportant item of the national indus-
try. Why custom, whim, or prejudice should be
allowed to stand between women starving for want
of work, and an employment for which they are
especially fitted, is a question hard to answer in
these days of practical sense and earnest endeavour.
It would appear to an impartial observer, that in a
large proportion of the shops of this busy metro-
polis women are much better suited to the task of
serving customers than men, and yet in how few
do we see them ? If our large linendrapers were
to inaugurate the change, how great a blessing
would they confer on hundreds of desponding
females. Let those who by act, word, or influence
can promote the cause, not hesitate in doing so, since
the wages inadequate for an active and intelligent
man would support a woman in decency and com-
fort. Meanwhile other plans must be tried, and
other schemes set on foot, that we may hear no
longer of " thousands" of either men or women being
in our midst, willing to work, but unable to obtain
even such wretched employment as will bring them
1 in a farthing and a half an hour.

The new Chamber of Deputies has inaugurated
its career in a worthy manner, Indeed, there has
been evinced a spirit and decision that must eventu-
ally exercise a beneficial influence on public affairs,
and in the peculiarly trying position of politics at
present it must be a great relief to those anxious
about the future to note this significant starting
that has been effected. The Ministers have adopted
a wise course, whether merely to carry out their
game and gain a particular point, or whether be-
cause they are really impressed with the importance
of events, and seek to propitiate those of whom
they are afraid —at all events, the latest intelligence
from Prussia affords, in its way, more satisfactory
information than has been sent for some time lately.
The Ministry have published a Royal decree, which
is in conformity with the article 63 of the Consti-
tution. " This decree withdrawsithe order of the
Ist of June, referring to the prohibition of news-
papers and periodicals." This is certainly a step
in the right direction, and too much credit cannot
be given to those earnest and energetic members
who have fought the good fight, and so soon
gained their end. The decision of the Ministers,
as expressed in this decree,has soon followed on the
intelligence conveyed of the discussion on the sub-
ject in the Chamber. Whatever maybe the duration
of this Chamber, or whatever success may attend
their efforts, and good results crown their deli-
berations, it is a most satisfactory solution of
one great difficulty, and a notable conclu-
sion to a disturbing discussion, to notice this ad-
justment of the ordinance question. ;The rescind-
ing of such an order is the best thing that could
possibly befall the nation. We may now indulge
i❑ some hopes that may not prove groundless, and
entertain some idea of an improvement taking place
in the prospects of Prussia; at all events the ardent
patriot, the earnest wellwisher, and the philosophic
observer of events in the country may rest satisfied
that there will be some outlet for public grievances,
some expression for wounded feelings, and some
record of national wrongs. Tho notion of suppress-
ing all free mention of important events, all unre-
stricted comment on the mutation of measures, and
all indignant or disappointed remarks on great na-
tional changes, is in reality sapping the foundation
of the power and prosperity of the country. A more
short-sighted proposal never emanated from an infa-
tuated Cabinet, or was sanctioned by a mistaken
Monarch. It is well that at the eleventh hour a
patriotic Parliament has come to the rescue, and
in defiance of difficulties, and regardless of opposi-
tion, declared their honest conviction, and professed
their honest purpose. It is to be trusted that this
arrangement may ba a final one, and that the day
may never come when the country of Prussia suffers
such decadence and degradation, and her sons allow
themselves to be so stultified. In a great measure
a nation that has once gained any sort of pre-emi-
nence has its fate in its own hand, for if it use its
opportunities and guard its privileges, it will be
next to impossible for any King, however tyranni-
cal, or any Ministry, however unworthy, to circum-
scribe to a great degree the limits of public privileges,
or to invade the stronghold of popular rights. It
was once remarked by Mr. DISRAELI, in alluding to
social advantages, that when nations fall, it is be-
cause a degenerate race intervened between the
class that created and the class that is doomed."
This is very true, and therefore the anxiety
of all lovers of freedom and discerners of
events.. The issue that waits on the actions of
the Prussian representatives is a mighty one, and
far off generations may have to bless or curse the
day which sent them forth to the trial ground to
fight the battles of their country's rights,and vindi-
cate her claims before the nations of the world.
In the Upper House it is something to notice that a
protest was made against the proposal of the para-
graph " which expressed gratitude to the Govern-
ment for the measures adopted against the spread
of the insurrection in Poland." Unfortunately, the
earnest appeals of Count BRINOKI did not produce
any decided alteration in the terms of the address,
but at all events they must have produced some
beneficial effect upon the Assembly, and the dis-
cussion called forth the virtuous indignation of
Herr VON BISMARK, who expressed himself in no
measured terms concerning the suggestions of the
Count. It would be ludicrous if the subject were
not so serious, and if the consequences were not so
lamentable, to mark the want of sequence in the
arguments of the Minister, and the absurdity of
some of his opinions. When he goes on to state,
however, that "Government has a political, social,
and moral interest in the movement of Russian
Poland not bsing victorious," it is sad to reflect
that these cruel words, and heartless sentiments,
ate uttered by one in so important and influential a
position, and charged with such solemn responsi-
bilities, As is usual, the case with these one-sided
arguers, and these wiseacres of politics, who speak

with what has been aptly described as "splenetic
authoritativeness, and factious sophistication," we
find plenty of abuse of opponents and the ordinary
share of unfounded statements and inexcusable
inuendoes. Thus Ilerr BISMARK actually announces
to us the fact, that a movement must not be
allowed to be successful
"which soils itself with
unheard-of crimes, and which delights in the
apotheosis of assassination." It would be
difficult to discover 'whether this sentence
is most remarkable for its insolence, die-

tinguished for its injustice, or characterised by its
falsity." Well might the poet have exclaimed in
his matchless delineation of the horrors of the Polish

invasion,--

" Oh I sacs ed Trul7, thy triumphs ceased awhile,
And Hope, thy sister, ceased with then to smile,
When leagued Oppression poured to northern wars,
ller whiskered pandoors, and her fierce hussars."
There is nothing which more strongly marks the
style of these apologists or defenders of tyrannical
measures than the extraordinary departure from
veracity which marks their statements. Their
cause is so bad that they are obliged to start by
denying its attributes, and falsifying its work-
ings. So we learn from the Emperor of all the
RUSSIAS himself that his policy is a merciful one,
and all his actions inspired by the most benig-
nant motives, and also Herr BISMARK kindly in-
forms us that the Poles are to blame for their
reckless unconscionable conduct. What must they
do to horrify men who throw infants in their cradles
out of window, and subject females to the most
cruel sufferings. All these vituperations are idle
in the extreme, because those who judge both sides
will not be biassed by them. The CZAR and his
myrmidons may exhaust themselves in eloquence
through the length and breadth of his dominions,
which exceed in extent the limits owned by any
other power, but they will never bring Christian or
heathen lands to believe that the men who are
trampling the soil of Poland beneath the iron heel
of conquest, and denying the slightest quarter to her
aged, her sick, and her infirm, are walking in the
ways of pleasantness, nor can the people crushed by
such cruelty and tortured by such inflictions be said
to tread the paths of peace. Nothing is more sig-
nificant than the vehement defence of the Russian
policy, which has been constantly made by Herr
BISMARK, and therefore it especially behoves the
Chamber of Deputies to take heed to their efforts,
that the storm may not find them unprepared for
its assaults, or taken by surprise at its sudden
advent: Steady courage, firm endurance, and a
resolute spirit can alone avail to nerve them for
the day of trial, and to give them a happy issue
and a successful conclusion out of the fitful
le.

strugg

Rumoured Resignation of Lord Russell,

We (Spectator) have received a statement on
what should be first-rate authority, that Earl Rus•
sell retires from the Cabinet, and is succeeded by
Lord Clarendon. We record the report with deep
regret, for though we cannot support or admire
Earl Russell's recent policy in Poland he is the
truest representative the noblest of English fac-
tions ever had.

(From the fforning Herald.)

A rumour has been current for the last two or
three days to the effect that Earl Russell has re-
signed the seals of the Foreign Office, and that.
Lord Clarendon is to succeed him. We cannot pre-
tend to be in the secrets of the Cabinet, tor can
we trace the rumour to any reliable source. We
must be content, therefore, to publish the report,
leaving it to time to show what it is worth. There
is certainly some prima facie evidence to justify
it. Lord Clarendon has within the last fort-
night had interviews with the Queen, with Lord
Palmerston, and-Earl Russell. It is currently re-
ported that the policy of the latter nobleman has
given rise to grave discussions in the Cabinet, which
are not likely to be terminated except by his
retirement, and his opponents point to certain
damaging articles published in journals notoriously
influenced by the Premier, as evidencing some-
thing like a break-up of the alliance between the
two Whig leaders. Moreover, if Earl Russell
fancies the ..11inisterial craft in danger, we know of
old that he is the first man to desert. On
the other hand, it is not unreasonable to
conclude that Lord Clarendon's interviews may
have had reference solely to the Congress
and to various questions of foreign policy now
pressing for solution. His lordship has for some
months past been exceedingly busy on the Conti-
neat, and may be supposed to be well " posted up"
on most of the subjects that are likely to bc:
brought under discussion at the Congress. It is,
perhaps, natural that he should be anxious to
fight over again his battles of 1856, and favour
civilisation with another " Declaration of Paris"
about the rights of belligerents; and it is quite
possible that Lord Russell has only been seeking an
associate when he was supposed to be looking for a
successor. Perhaps some of our Liberal contem-
poraries will set the doubts of the public at rest by
informing us whether we shall retain the services
of the hero of Blairgowrie, Birkenhead, and Kago-

LATEST INTELLIGENCE. I

[REUTER'S TELEGRAM.]

THE SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN QUESTION.

GLUCKSTADT, Nov. 23.

The officials of the Superior Court of Appeal for
the whole of Holstein in this city have unanimously
resolved to refuse to take the oaths of allegiance to
the new King.

JAPAN,

LIVERPOOL, Nov. '23.

According to advices from liakodadi, dated 6th
October, received via San Francisco, the authorities
had ordered all foreigners to leave Nagasaki, but
the foreigners refused, and the Japanese Governor
resigned. The Chief Minister and three other
Ministers of the Cabinet had been dismissed because
they were in favour of peace with the Christian
nations. The Mikado had issued an order that no
Daimio should purchase any foreign vessel.
The Prince of Nagasaki had issued orders that
the Japanese pilots, who conducted the American
vessel of war Wyoming to Sunoniski, should be
killed. One of these pilots was murdered soon
afterwards.