The Sun.
London, England, 1862-05-27 00:00:00

PRUSSIA.

M. Grabow has been re-elected president of the
Second Chamber by 276 votes out of 288. A pro-
gressist and a member of the Central Left have been
re-elected vice-presidents.
The following was the speech of the President of
the Chamber after his election :

" Gentlemen—At the beginning of my political
career, in 1840, I heard, in company with thousands
upon thousands of enthusiastic Prussians, the follow-
ing words from the lips of the King The path
of kings is watered with tears, if they have not
with them the hearts and minds of their people.'
In those lofty words the great, the noble, and glori-
ous principle of the union of prince and people was
pronounced in its largest acceptation. From that
principle flows the power of liberty, the well-being
of the state. This principle has been in all time
the ca.z.vcoi. 11.16.cenaollern dynasty, the
most precious jewel of the Prussian nation, which is
so great in history ; and this union we, the repre-
sentatives of the people, do not wish ever to see dis-
turbed. It is that which we wish to maintain, faithful
to our august King, and intimately bound in fidelity
to the nation. It will help us to keep sacred and
inviolable the constitutional rights of the Crown ;
it will help us to guard faithfully the sworn rights
of the nation ; it will destroy the electoral cry
which has been for some time heard amongst the
Prussian people, so faithful to their constitution,
The dynasty of Parliament'—(loud applause)—it
unites us all at the beginning of my functions in
the reply, ' Nothing but the constitutional dynasty,
with its constitutional Chamber of Deputies'—
(applause)—and in the enthusiastic cry' Long live
King William I. and all the august house of Hohen-
zollern !' "

A few details have transpired relative to the
address which the chamber are about to adopt. It
commences by protesting the firm and unalterable
loyalty of the great liberal party; it then energe-
tically blames the manner in which the elections
have been conducted, and the attempts made to
bring the King into the contests of parties ; and
it concludes by announcing the satisfaction of the
chamber at the attitude which has been assumed
with regard to Hesse Cassel.

MR. STANSFELD'S MOTION.

(From Correspondent of the Manchester Guardian.)

One hears a good deal of speculation just now—
speculation as to Mr. Disraeli's " little game'—as
to the line he will take on Mr. Stansfeld's motion
pledging the Government to reduction of expendi-
ture, how far he is prepared to go for support from
the advocates of retrenchment at all costs, and how
long he can combine advances to Mr. W hite and
Mr. Bright, The O'Donoghue and Mr. Pope Hen-
nessy, with the leadership of the Opposition. Then
there is speculation as to the line Government will
take on Mr. Stansfeld's motion, which is ingeni-
ously -worded. Mr. Stansfeld moves, that in the
opinion of the House the national expenditure
is capable of reduction, without compromising
the safety, the independence, or the legitimate
influence of the country. The Government can-
not accent this. as they often can accept an abstract
resolution 'without practical consequences; but
they will contend, and with force, that, if there be
any intention of charging the Government with ex-
travagance, the proper mode of doing so is by rais-
ing the discussion on the estimates, and not by
moving a resolution after the money for the year
has been voted. An effective and careful speech
may be looked for from Mr. Stansfeld, who has
already taken rank as the best speaker, after Bright
and Cobden, among the unattached Liberals. The
only fault one hears him charged vith is too much
finish and elaboration. His art is not yet suffi-
ciently hidden. But this is only a fault in an old
hand. In a young member it is rather a virtue, as
marking deliberation, care, and the determination to
achieve a position. Mr. Horsman, who will move
an amendment on Mr. Stansfeld, is by many con-
sidered the best speaker, after Gladstone and
Bright, in the House of Commons. The debate
sustained by such antagonists cannot but be inte-
resting, The narrow escape of the Alderney forti-
fication vote, and the defeat of the I3ritish Museum
extension scheme, are naturally much commented
on. The former is construed into in expression,
not only of di3satisfaction with the particular work
going on at Alderney, but of the growing convic-
tion that this locking-up of men 'rid money in
stone forts is a mistake altogether. This conviction
will not, perhaps, be so deeply shaker as Ministers
hope and profess to expect by the nev report of the,,
Defence Commission, which will be in members'
hands in a day or two.

THE SESSION.—The "slaughter of the inno-
cents" has been commenced at an earlierrried than usual
this session. It was inaugurated last cycling by the with-
drawal of the Education (Scotland) Bill a Government
measure, the order for which was, on the notion of the Lord
Advocate, discharged. There is still busintsp enough, how-
ever, of a useful bharacter befor© the hose to keep the
legislative machine going to the end of Jul'.