The Sun.
London, England, 1863-12-28 00:00:00

received a heavy blow. M. Tin ERS, by his amend

ment," says the Constitutionnel, " hasledto aschism

on the Opposition benches. M. EMILE OLLIVIER
pleaded for peace, 'While M. GUEROULT and M.
HAVIN expressed ardent wishes for war. Without
heeding those petty struggles of fractions, the
majority restored to the question its real character.'
That is—it did so by the point blank rejection
of the amendment. Not unnaturally the Journal
des Debats cannot by any means see this so plainly
—even if its can acknowledge to seeing it at all.
" Apparently," it insists (with a wonderful hint at a
distinction without a difference, in so speaking),
" Apparently M. Tnians has been defeated, as the
Chamber rejected the amendment. In reality, how-
ever," argues the journalist, "he has succeeded almost
better than he could have desired. His debut in the
present Chamber is therefore a real success, and we
by
iwell
would willingly say that his first speech is a
triumph if the ideas of vain pomp
accord awakened
very
that antique word, and which
with the kind of effect aimed at by the formal elo-
quence of young beginners in the rhetorical profes-
sion, did not clash with the free and familiar
manner of M. THIERS. That style, sa vivacious,
just, positive, and simple, which has maintained
itself free from all alloy with the spurious flourishes
introduced into the political language of France by
the Girondins, and since remaining in fashion—
that style, we repeat, so thoroughly French, accord-
jog to the ancient meaning of the word, has, in
fact, where others have only the sound of a
t
Referring to the " split" caused in the
Apposition
by reason of the inconsiderate wording
r m wings,
pe t "
of the amendment, the Opinion Nationale, as, an
organ of that Opposition, acknowledges frankly,
" The schism which took place among the Left is
deeply to be regretted, but'' it adds, "we do not
think that has anything irreparable." Yet, after
saying this, it goes on to remark immediately,
"there has, doubtless, been in this affair more than
a misunderstanding !" There is, observe ! about the
discussion that has taken place " more than a misun-
derstanding," and yet it is not by any means to be
regarded as a division in its way " irre-
parable !" The Patrie, instead of indulging in
mere generalities goes, at once right to the
core of the meaning of the rejected amend-
ment, where it says—" After readingiiMr. TIMERS'
speech, notwithstanding certain protests made in
the name of the honour of the country, no one
can deny that the supporters of the amendment had
not solely in view the equilibrium of the floating
debt." The direct object of the speech, according
to the Patrie having been to give the bill a
purely pacific character ! The object of the Oppo-
sition, as shown by the amendment, in truth was,
it argues anything but the enforcement of a merely
economic question, their design being to limit the
resources which military preparations might require
in the instance of any subsequent emergency ! It is
curious to observe, that in the division that took.
place upon the amendment, M. TRIERS himself
abstained altogether from voting, as was made
evident, indeed, by the Moniteur.

There has of late been several melancholy cases
of persons dying in the metropolis from absolute
want of food and shelter, and under existing
arrangements considerable uneasiness has been felt
lest they should prove the precursors of many more
such casualties during the inclement months before
us. The means of providing temporary relief and
accommodation to those in urgent need do not ap-
pear to be sufficient or satisfactory, and as this is
the time of the year in which such cases are inevi-
table in a city like London, we are glad to find that
the attention of the proper authorities has been
directed to the subject. A minute of the Poor-law
Board, just issued, gives us some statistics of the
numbers of destitute persons receiving tem-
porary relief, and also sets clearly before
the Guardians and officers of the Unions the
nature and extent of their duties. According to
the returns obtained from the different metropoli-
tan Unions, showing the accommodation provided
for destitute wayfarers during the first weeks of
January, March, May, and August in the current
year, provision is made for 997 such persons in the
several metropolitan parishes. This accommodation
is, however, totally inadequate, not only from the
restricted number, but from the inequality of its
distribution. Some parishes have little or no accom-
modation, and, consequently, the homeless vagrant
is driven to take refuge in one of its baiter supplied
neighbours, who, having incurred an extra expense
by the fitting-up of proper wards, have also to meet
expenses which ought to fall upon others. It is
the duty of the guardians, as the President of the
Poor Law Board very plainly reminds them, " to
see that all necessary and reasonable arrangements
are made for affording to every destitute person the
requisite relief, whether in food, clothing, medical
attendance, or lodging." Notwithstanding the
many respects in which the Poor Law fails to meet
the requirements of the people, it has yet, as Mr.
VILLIERS reminds us, a fundamental principle,
which is, that every destitute person, without re-
ference to the question of settlement, is primarily
entitled to relief where he is actually destitute
Yet there can be eo doubt that the existing arrange-
ments entirely fail to meet the necessities of the
case. In some instances it may be the fault of the
relieving officer, as in the case of Caroline James
and others ; but more frequently such neglect is
owing to the want of proper accommodation, the
exaggerated fear of imposture, and the indifference
of the guardians, whose principal object too often
appears to be to reduce the expenses of the rate-
payers to the lowest possible amount. A night's
shelter in a pauper's bed, a meal of workhouse fare,
no such wonderful boon that officials should be
45 chary of giving it, and it is always possible to
exact „ from the recipient an hour or two's work,
welch
'ball pay for the expense incurred, as well
as test he,
queerity. It is surely not so difficult for
those long accustomed to deal with the vagrant
,classes to distinguish the real necessity from wilful
imposture. 14 some places the experiment has been
made of entreating
police with the duties of
and this plan is under-
satsosoisd to have worked t
Y well. It would be wise
to try it in London, Where
they would probably
prove more l
more discriminating,
h
übelarrabofficials. It
than
a nthe r e
gi
would be easier for
wanderer and
them to discern between the fanl4hea
doors than is 411
the idle impostor, though we believe fewer of these
besiege the workhouse owed for in
these minutes. They can certainly not expect very
good fare or very luxurious shelter, and the mornings
task is not much to their liking. It would
always
be possible to guard against abuse of the twee%nao.
dation by providing only for the barest necessaries,
and by strictly enforcing the labour in return. But
after all, however ear neatly the Board may recom-
mend the temporary admission of destitute
vagrants,
the great difficulty st ill lies in the way—the want
of accommodation. The plan of erecting district
asylums for the relief! of the casual poor has been
sanctioned by Act of Parliament but never put into
practice, chiefly, acco cuing to the present minute,
from the want of co• everation on the part of the
guardians. Here, to rain, cornea in tak anxiety to
beep down the rates; but there can be little doubt
that the scheme was a.-wise one, and, when modified
by time and experience it would have worked, It