The Sun.
London, England, 1849-08-27 00:00:00

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.... PEACE ASSOCAOL
''',.,,-. •-- ,7 . .: , ;.- 1 / / one of the most peculiar, usefuOttid glorioutisolitiM
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lit, 1 /--, ,its of Englishmen is that of ahociating forl certa a
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~, ; of forming a body which is tqa.eceiietfunds,teppoiet
___ er.-s, become. what fort ignerstelll a prapagantia; aid
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4 a a \.. Jt in public to instruct the pubc,-,4itiel eneoneaga eta'h
zy
,a',
‘iffk. Aber by expressions of feeling a; # 4 lio "mice Dr_ by
''' i I argumentative discourses, destine%
//-Z ' . "spraerld'ebni;icti i
through the press. These means a , aAeleatt killit itior..
mentative agitation form ono of the noblest products uf
our free constitution. And it requires a country ofmte It
steadiness and wisdom in the practice of freedom to en-
joy such an institution without the certainty of its 'boil g
abused. Other countries have been more frbe thee
England, at least in the theory of their charters. 1314
none, save the United States, have ever been able ol
enjoy the benefit of political associations—and it may L.I
doubted whether, in the United States, it is not grossly
abused and turned to evil.
There arc, however, more ways than one ofneutralising c r
bringing into di,credit, the power ofassociation. It may .1
turned, for example, into treason; at a time, too, wh# it
all the objects to be obtained by the most suceessad
treason are to he obtained by constitutional and pacifist
efforts. This is the Irish and the French way of de.
stroying or annulling the right of association. 'There is
also another way—for instance, that of employing the
grave extreme of political association for idle, for triflinr,
or for needless purposes. There are associations whie a
wo could name, got up with no higher aim then merely
to kill the leisure or gratify the vanity of individuals.
The efforts of some single person, who has marked out
himself as the paid secretary, who has succeeded in be-
coming such, and whose activity perpetuates the issocia-
tien for no better reason and to no greater end, hate
sufficed in a majority of cases to originate them.
Of these trifling associations, however, there are for-
tunately but few and unimportant. Public opinion doel
justice by them. There are others which have filled the
world with their success and their fame, which have en.
listed all that was generous, liberal, able, and clequent
in their ranks, which have overwhelmed the public with
their appeals, nay more, which have beat down
powerful opposition, even that of the prevailing political
purl, and which have won their way despite of every
obstacle in Parliament, and every hesitation on the part
of the most practical and eminent men. Such was the
Anti-Slave-Trade Association. Yet what have been its
results? Glorious some, but doubtful others. For it
disdained to attempt less than the utter destruction of
abuses, which an association of less power and zeal might
more wisely have remained content with the resolution
to mitigate and correct.
Since the palmy days of the Anti-Slave-Trade Asso-
ciation, we have bad those of the Anti-Corn-law League,
one of the most just, most noble, and most ably-worked
agitations that any couutry has seen. Its very success,
and the political elevation of all engaged in it, bee
tempted a variety of able and of liberal men to instittre
similar associations without well considering whether the
aim justifies such means, and whether the very principles
and habits of political association may not be weakened
by its application to unfit objects.
The Peace Association, whose congress at Paris now
attracts public attention, is certainly one of the boldest
yet attempted, since its sphere is not merely confined to
England, but extends all over Europe. We may, never.
theless, doubt if its members are quite conscious of the
degree of political boldness necessary to the right dis-
charge of their self-appointed functions. They trulit
beware, that for the sake of tolerance or favour they
are not led to flatter princes and make light of popular
interests. That may be the path of peace and tolerati ;t
to them, but it is not so for the great mass of the peop:e
whom they would relieve. Preach mutual peace to
France and to England. None will gainsay. For what
possible good or right would come of a war between the
two countries? But will you at the same time and in
the same breath preach peace to Poland, aad to Hungary,
and to Italy? What can peace mean, in an exhortation a.
the people of these countries but submission? If the Peace
Association preach that, it will be justly despised. On the
other hand, to preach justice., mercy, and truth, in re-
spect of popular rights, to a Czar of Russia or an Em-
peror of Austria, is a mission more for a war society
than for ore of peace. Is not, indeed, the new holy
alliance a war congress in direct opposition to that ( f
peace? Does it not found its right and permanence
upon bayonets and bayonets only? Is not the very
principle of the new league of Government, to which
France has disgracefully adhered, the maxim that the
army is the true and only support of Government, ma
that the :one-half or one-third of the male populatiets
should be kept idle, in arms, in uniform, and in pay, i a
order to support a chief governor and a dozen politiciai a
in the task of coercing the rest?
Armies, in fact, are now avowedly kept for the pur-
poses of police, and not only for police at home, bt.t
abroad. Russia would invade Hungary and Bove, a
Poland. Austria has stipulated to do the same b,
Bavaria. The King of Prussia is the great police magi,-
trate of Germany. What is Louis Napoleon but 8,
general of gendarmerie, not only for his own purposes
in France, but to do the cardinals' bidding in Rome. If
it is this power of mutual oppression that the associatiea
whose congress has met in Paris purposes to abet, thee,
give us a war and resistance association, as somethii g
more frank, more manly, and more for the interest , f
humanity at present, and of permanent peace for the
future.
The wars now prevailing in Europe are those of dy-
nasties against nationalities. We doubt its being in the
power or within the scope of the Peace Society either to
persuade dynasties to give up those nations which abhur
them, or to persuade nationalities to forget what is most
riveted in the popular affections. The only solid basil
on which to establish peace, would be the allowance te
each nationality to develope itself according to its nature
and its tendencies. Let there be a French, a German,
an Italian, a Sclavonian, and a Russian empire. Euch
would be too strong to fear the other, each too content
to desire conquest. But the will of the nation in the: e
and other things should prevail over the interests and
caprices of a dynasty. A dynasty is warlike. A developed
nation is never so, unless when provoked or oppressed.—
Examiner.

[PRIA SD•

THEATRE ROYAL, MANCHESTE R
DEBUT OF MADAME SONTAG.
This year the manufacturing districts have every
species of good fortune. The merchants of Manchester
have just had the singular felicity of enjoying the ex-
quisite talent of Madame Sontag in Norina, in Doi
Pasquale, a part in which she never played in past time,
and in which, from delicacy towards Madame Albon,
she did not appear at her Majesty's Theatre this year.
It is needless to say how admirably she is adapted for the
interpretation of this character. Grrrce, elrgance, spirit,
and espieglerie marked I.er acting, whale in the celebrated
morceaux of the opera her voico revelled in the most
fanciful passages of ornament: at one moment Ella
uttered traits of pure and curiously melodic power; next
came chromatic diversions in the highest degree eccen-
tric; but at the same time severely correct, and never
so much detached from the ruling intention of the
composer as not to be perfectly germane to the subject.
The contrast between her sylph-like figure and thq
giant feral of Lableiir toil with the greatest effect, and
the manner in which the two unrivalled artists elicited
each other's perfections, in the harmony of vocal execu-
tion and dramatic action, was truly admirable; almost
every morcfau of the opera was encored. Calzolari's
"Come gentil" met with the same honours. F. La •
blache, who, at a moment's notice, took the part f
Iletti (who was suddenly indisposed), was warmly
and justly applauded. As to the great prima donna, nos
sort of ovation was omitted—encores, recalls, and
bouquets attended her exertions. She will, no doubt,
remember Manchester with pleasure. Off the stage she
has been the object of the greatest respect: the principal
noblemen and gentlemen came from the neighbouring.
seats to psy their devotions; the kind and amiabl 3
mayor of Manchester tendered his services immediately
on her arrival, and the manufacturers whose establish-
ments she visited not only personally attended upon her,
but insisted upon her acceptance of samples of their
manufactures.

SOUTIIAMPION.—About a fortnight ago a French
gentleman and his lady, with a child and a female ser •
vent, came to Southampton from Jersey. They put up
at Goodrich's hotel and lived in first-rate style. After
remaining several days in Southampton they took a csda
to Bishopstoke station on the Loudon and South- Western
Railway. The servant was ordered to return to South-
ampton and desire the landlord to pay the cabman; the
gentleman with the lady and child started for London.
When the servant returned to the hotel the landlord re-
fused to pay for the cab, as his bill had not been paid;
and it being discovered on inquiry that several trades-
men in the town had been victimised in a similar
manner, the Southampton inspector of police proceeded
to London and stationed himself at the Post-office at St.
illartin's-le-Grand, where it appeared from a letter
written iu French, in the possession of the servant, the
gentleman expected letters directed to initials. The
lady and gentleman appeared, were given intoo custody,o
and were conveyed to Southampton gaol onlacalhamrgaeisf
swindling. They were taken before
related to noble
distinguishedt magis-
trates, a tes, and stated
Englishth t they
families,w et e
andacquainted the
owith someg
pa} what
remittances
from 11;ortmlicFnrafnacmei.laiensd,
remanded back to prison to await the arrival
They were
ftuhlalyt
intendedtlie fully
prison
They call themselves Count and
They have written several letters
tCoofodutinhs tteei nsgs up: sa remittances.hßdr. persons, both in England and France,
while in prison, requesting funds.
It was announced when the distribution of prizes
was made by his Royal highness Prince Albert at the
Society of Arts in June last, that the Society hoped to
be enabled to organize a great national exhibition of
manufactures in 1851. We have reason to believe that
since that time his Royal 'highness, as President of the
Society, has been actively engaged in devising a plan of
an exhibition which shall worthily represent the present
manufacturing position of this country. We hear that
it is contemplated that, for the first time in the annals of
similar institutions, this exposition shall not be national
only, but as far as possible universal, embracing the pro-
ducts, machinery, and manufactures of our own country,
our colonies, and all nations. It is proposed to give
large money prizes and medals, which shall be awarded
by a tribunal so elevated above al, the interests of cora-
potion as to inspire the utmost confidence. The whole
undertaking is in some way to have a national sanction
given to it, but the taxation of the country is not to be
cal!ed upon to provide the funds.—limes.
DEVONPORT—FATAL ACCIDENT.— On Friday
evening, a very melancholy accident occurred, which
has resulted in the death of the Hon. Thomas Graves
(son of Lord Grays), a naval cadet on board of her
Majesty's ship, lalprignable, at, present stationed at this
port.t
e ryoung
gentlemen,
The decaised, who was an arniabla aryl promising
youth, v
the harbour in company pith some
h
when the boat upset, and they
ola s c oes lnegm
were precipitated into the water. They were, however,
soon picked up, and all were saved, with the exception
of is Graves. The body has been found, and au in-
plot is to be bell