The Sun.
London, England, 1865-01-07 00:00:00

her resources been wisely and economically employed cap. 68) in no way infringes upon these provisions,
of founding a flourishing and durable monarchy. No it must be presumed that it confirms them in their
English statesmen will doubt what ought to have privileges •, and it would be a very curious interpre-
been done. A system of protection fatal to the in- tation of the statutes to find the same incident law-
dustry of the country and to the interest of revenue, ful enough under one Act of Parliament but illegal
should have been swept away ; intolerant laws, cal- by another. There are, however, many phases of
culated to drive away strangers and to keep the na- the entertainments generally given in music halls
tion itself in ignorance and barbarism, should have which would not be thus able to shelter themselves,
been repealed ; the debts disgracefully repudiated but which would certainly come under the category
should have been scrupulously paid, not merely for of " stage plays ;" and the certainty, therefore, be-
the sake of preserving the honour of the nation, but eomes daily more and more manifest that, not only
the sake of that credit without which a poor country does the intricacy of the question require higher
must wait centuries for improvements which might jurisdiction, but, in all probability, extended legis-
otherwise be effected in a few years. Such was the lation. But it is quite obvious that, in this struggle
course marked out by the commonest precepts of between managers of theatres and proprietors of
good sense, but Spain was rich in experience, and music halls, the interests of a third party, equally
she did not lose any time in applying it. She entitled to consideration, have been entirely lost
had an inveterate ,hatred of the Moors, and, sight of. In the name of the "public," we submit
therefore, lost rio time in picking a quarrel with that this is a question which should virtually be de-
them, out of which she has reaped much loss and tided by themselves. In these days of competition
little profit. She had a vivid recollection of the and free trade we cannot see why monopoly and
glories of her colonial empire, and so she undertook a protection should still be -retained for the theatres
crusade in San Domingo, from which she seems that be. We can perceive no reason why music halls
likely to retire with nothing to show for great exer- should not be licensed for whatever representation
tions and large expenditure, and now she has entered they please, subject of course to the approval of the
into a quarrel with her own revolted colony of Peru, requisite authorities. Licences would naturally be
in the commencement and prosecution of which she necessary for revenue, and also for purposes of
occupies, on her own showing, a position equally supervision ; but there need be no restriction to
undignified and discreditable. In a circular addressed their number or purpose any more than to
to Spanish ministers at foreign courts, Senor Llorente, the number or destination of licences for
the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, purports public vehicles. The public knows best what
to explain to the representatives of Spain in foreign it wants, and how much of it it wants. .
countries. the causes of quarrel between the monarchy Profit or loss would very soon determine that
and Peru. But the statements are so sweeping and average. If the public desires to witness "Hamlet,"
so general, and there is so careful an avoidance of or " Doing Banting," whilst it is eating its supper,
any distinct statement of facts, that it is quite im- why should it be deprived of that gratification? If
possible to form any judgment upon it. For some it finds increased enchantment in a ballet through a
reason or other Spain has never recognised by treaty thin veil of tobacco smoke; where is the necessity of
the independence of Peru, and there having ensued interfering with its eccentricity ? There will always
between the two countries, in consequence, exactly be theatres enough for those who prefer their
those difficulties which were sure to flow from such a theatricals " neat ." but that is no reason why those
state of things, there was no means of settling guar- who enjoy them flavoured with comic songs, stump
rels, and the outrages and difficulties which natu- oratory, tight-ropes, and contortionists should not
rally arose between a country so imperfectly civi- be allowed the choice of finding them all under one
lised as Peru and a country so haughty and dicta- roof. The public, in fact, is the real judge of what
torial as Spain were consequently allowed to fester it wants, and it at least ought not to be fettered in
and become envenomed without any satisfaction its choice by mercenary considerations. The theatres
given or received. Matters were at last brought to would have no right to complain of such " free
issue last summer by the seizure, on behalf of the trade," on the ground of capital invested in their
Spanish Government, of one of the most valuable speculations, for one glance at the Alhambra, as
pieces of property belonging to the State of Peru— at others of its class, demonstrates the proof of
the Chincha Islands, for the purpose, as was an- enormous outlay. They could scarcely murmur at
flounced at the time, of revindication—that is, as the tavern advantages over them, for there is not
we understand, of reannexation to the Spanish mo- o:pit or gallery in London that does not provide re-
narchy, to which, as part of Peru, these islands ori- freshments almost as comprehensive as, and as much
ginally belonged. The Spanish Government thought to the detriment of, the bar of the neighbouring gin
it necessary to disprove the expression " revindica- palace. Nor can they in any fairness object that
tion," and to disclaim all designs of aggrandise- the privileges which they obtain under their licences
ment, and having as it believed possession of a should be shared by as many minor establishments
powerful means of influencing the Peruvian Govern- as please to apply for them, since if they thus ad-
ment, it hastened to declare its readiness to acknow- vocated a halt in progress of the theatrical age, an
ledge its independence, probably for much the same expansion of such a theory would place themselves
reason as the King of Prussia is anxious to sup- once more under the harassing restrictions formerly
port the title of Denmark to the Duchies which it exerted over them by the arbitrary privileges of the
has been compelled to cede. Spain has also for- "Patent Theatres."
borne for the present from appropriating for its
own use any portion of the guano, but the Peruvian
Government has not responded as was expected to
so many signal proofs of moderation and prudence.
It actually seems to consider itself as greatly ag-
grieved by the seizure of these Chincha Islands, has
withdrawn its consuls, and even presumes to demand
satisfaction, and threaten war if that satisfaction be
not given. Under these circumstances the Spanish
Government perseveres in the ultimatum which it
offered, but feels greatly harassed by the detention
of its squadron in the Pacific waters and by the
necessity of reinforcements. It, therefore, announces
that it is still willing to accept the terms proposed
by it in June last; that it again disavows any in-
tention of aggrandizement ; that it adheres to the
occupation of the Chincha Islands as a measure of
coercion ; that it may be induced to seize upon the
guano for its own profit, and that it will have re-
course to some ulterior measures when the limits of
forbearance are reached. We greatly fear that
these words point to some bombardment or other
means of coercion, after the infliction of which it is
the intention of the Spanish GovernMent to aban-
don its quarrel in the Pacific. Surely it would be
more in accordance with the dignity of a great
nation dealing with one of its own revolted colonies,
which it disclaims all wish to reduce again under its
allegiance, to quit a scene where it has by its own
admission gone far beyond the limits of discretion
and propriety, without leaving behind it any futile
memorial of its vengeance. It is quite clear that the
Statesmen of Spain are thoroughly convinced the
time has arrived when the aggressive policy hitherto
adopted to satisfy the misdirected ambition of a
nation just awaking to a consciousness of its own
reviving strength must once for all be abandoned.
Would it not be better to make the change hand-
somely and at once, and not to throw in the way
of the return of peace any impediment such as
might he created by violence, which may embitter
the feelings but can hardly coerce the conduct of
the Peruvian Government ? What will it avail to
lay in ashes Callao or any other of the beautiful
cities which she herself has founded in the New
World, if all that is to follow such a proceeding
is the withdrawal of Spain from a contest which
she finds it utterly hopeless to carry on to a suc-
cessful result? It is quite clear, asjQueen Isabella
iiays, that the state of the Spanish ikonarchy is not
satisfactory. Her ambitious policy has outrun her
resources, and she finds herself absolutely obliged
to change it for one less glorious but more suited to
her power. Let her do so with a good grace. In
this respect we may venture to our own example
for her imitation. Let her consider what we have
borne from the Americans, who are the descendants
of our own revolted colonies, and from the Aus-
tralians, who have not yet revolted, and that with a
flourishing exchequer and the command of the sea ;
and she will perceive how much wiser it often is to
put up with small insults than to avenge them,
and how little is gained by a demonstration of
strength toward those on whom it is discreditable
to exert it.

COUNTRY MARKETS.

POST.--Some four years ago the united managers
of the London theatres tried the question of how
far the music halls might venture to offer " theatrical
representations" to their audiences. They succeeded
in prevented anything in the shape of dialogue be-
tween two or more persons taking place on the
stages of those resorts of amusement. They advanced
the plea that this constituted a " stage play," and
therefore came under the Act .6 and Victoria, re-
quiring. a licence from the Lord Chamberlain to
render the performance legal. It was of course
understood at the time that the attractions of the
music halls, whose visitors were enabled to add to
the delights of the concert room the convenience of
the tavern, were very materially interfering with
the profits of the licensed theatres. It therefore
excited no surprise that a determined resistance
should be offered to the production of anything
approximating to a " stage play" at the former,
that being the only privilege left by which the
latter could hope to maintain their position in the
public estimation. But inasmuch as the music
halls, despite this prohibition, have continued to
increase in attraction, another attempt is now in
progress to clip those pinions with which they are
soaring too high in popular favour. The music
halls took refuge in ballet, and now the managers
declare that a ballet is a "stage play," and requires
the Lord Chamberlain's license as clearly as a dia-
logue. They seem thus to argue that a music and
dancing license such as is granted by the magistrates
at special sessions only permits of dancing by the
public, not in presence of them, and that, because
the action of a ballet is intended to express or con-
vey some incident or other, it comes under the pro-
visions of the Act 6 and 7 Victoria. The proprietors
of the music halls dispute that issue, and Mr. Tyr-
whitt promises his decision on the point in a few
days, premising that, in his opinion, the question,
involving as it does interests of great magnitude, is
a fitting one for the judgment of the superior courts.
Those who were present at the Marlborough-street
Police-court on Wednesday, and heard the proceed-
ings which have arrived thus far in the matter,
might have imagined that the managers were illus-
trating a stage play well known to their repertory,
"-Much Ado About Nothing." Whole hours were
wastedin demonstrating through professional wit-
nesses whether what takes place nightly at the Al-
hambra was, in a " professional" point of view, a
" theatrical representation" or not. Why did they
not produce a few of the audience, whose decision on
such a point would be far better worth having.
Any lawyer's clerk would have told them that he
had entered what was to all intents and purposes a
theatre, save only that where is usually the pit were
to be found tahles (for the further convenience of
eating and drinking) as well as seats. Anyone who
holds this distinction to be fatal to the proposition
might as well argue that " Astley's" was not a
theatre when it had a circus in front of the orches-
tra. At the Alhambra the visitor finds himself oppo-
site a vast proscenium, draped with the usual curtain.
H e sees an orchestra well filled. A capacious stage
is illuminated by a brilliant " float." The curtain
raised, discloses side wings, drop scenes, and flats. A
troop of 50 or 60 agile damsels glide on and go through
for his edification a series of graceful evolutions, in
which there is at least one consolation, that any-
body may interpret them exactly as he pleases. He
sits and looks at all this, and if he be not in a thea-
tre, where on earth is he ? and if this be not a thea-
trical representation, what on earth is it ? But, on
the other hand, it would seem impossible to hold
that such an entertainment is not rendered to all
intents and purposes lawful by the licence which
enables that building in which it takes place to be
kept (to quote the very words of the Act 26 Geo.H.
cap. 36) for " publick dancing, musick, or other
publick entertainment of the like kind." As the act
for the better regulation of theatres (6 and 7 Viet.,