The Sun.
London, England, 1871-02-21 00:00:00

LONDON, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1871

shows that the class which considers itself aggrieved
by the Treaty of 1860 is getting the upper hand.
But the larger class which benefitted by that
Treaty will soon discover the difference, and assert
its interests.

IT is announced as probable that an amendment
will be proposed on the motion for the second reading
of the Army Organization Bill, on Thursday next,
to the effect that the House of Commons, while
willing to sanction any expenditure which may be
necessary for the abolition of the system of purchase,
is opposed to any increase in the Army Estimates.
It is necessary that, in addition to the expense of
abolishing purchase, there should be an increase in
the estimates for the present year; but the Govern-
,
ment give nu definite assurance that this advance
will not be maintained in future years. They add
three millions, and promise " that at least one" shall
not be required in future. There is no doubt
that an efficient army could, under proper adminis-
tration, be obtained for the sum now paid, and there-
fore, the House of Commons is quite right in attach-
ing importance to this point. Without doing any-
thing to jeopardize the bill, there can be no reason
why an understanding touching the future cost
should not be had. It must be remembered that
the Government does not very greatly increase the
number of the army. If we wanted three-quarters
of a million soldiers, a definite advance in the
estimates might be tolerated. The total of all arms,
however, is augmented only from something over
400,000 men to a little under 500p0. Surely the
immense margin of waste under the existing system
ought to provide for this additional force. If the
Government Bill does not put an end to present ex-
travagance, it does nothing.

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

ALSACE AND LORRAINE.

The statement is made in several of the French
papers that the English Government, probably with
the aid of other Powers, is endeavouring to ob-
tain the neutralization of such parts of Alsace
and Lorraine as lie between Belfort and Thion-
ville. There is reason for attaching some value to
the report. The Echo du Nord says it has
been informed to this effect by a political English
personage. It does not found any great hope cf
success upon the endeavour; but it says that such
t rms would be acceptable to France, and that com-
pensation of other kinds would be offered to the
victorious nation. The neutralisation of a frontier
district between France and Germany, completely
separating these two old enemies, has been frequently
advised ; but the German reply has always been that
such a security would be practically useless. The neutral
Powers have had too much melancholy experience of
"guarantees" to be willing to secure the neutrality
of this district, and as the Alsatians and
Lorrainers are devoted to France, they would
in a short space return to their old allegiance.
'On the other hand, ii they are annexed to
Germany as a province of the Empire, France will
certainly take the first opportunity of getting them
back.

THE Ministry chosen by M. THIERS leaves little
doubt as to the form of Government which will be
preferred in France. A majority of the French
President's colleagues are professed Republicans, and
not one of them entertains any serious objec-
tion to that species of rule. Four of the
most important posts are held by members
of the late Government : they are the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, by M. FAVRE ; the Interior, by M.
PICARD ; Public Instruction, by M. JULES SIMON ;
and War, by General LE FLO. M. LAMBRECHT,
who will preside over the Department of Commerce,
is a Liberal Orleanist. He was chosen for the Nord
Department in 1863, and took his seat near
M. TITTERS. In 1869 he failed to obtain
re-election. When the Empire was making the
promises of Liberalism, which were afterwards so
disastrously broken, M. LAMBRECHT was offered the
Prefecture of the Nord ; but his confidence in the
newly-born constitutional Bonapartism was not great,
and he declined. _M. DE LARCY is an old politician
who has lived in retirement since the coup d'etat, and
now emerges again into public life. He was origi-
nally a strict Legitimist, noted for his opposition to the
Orleanist House ; but in 1848 he frankly accepted
the Republican principle, and gained great popularity
thereby. Under the Republic he generally supported
Conservative measures. He never sat in Parliament
under the Empire, though he offered himself twice
as a candidate. M. DLTFAURE, Minister of
Justice, is another man of former regimes. He
was Minister under three Governments, but retired
when the deed of December, 1851, prostrated Liberal
France. He is an unquestioned Democrat, though
of moderate views, and readily gave his adhesion to
the Republic of 1848.

Such a Ministry points to only one possible form
of Government. Both the Orleanists and the
Legitimists are weakly represented in it, and
the one element will counteract the other.
It is a Republican Ministry, and, judging by the
utterances of the leading public men and journals,
it is a Republic, and not an Orleanist Monarchy, that
will be established in France. Their reasoning is
plain enough. "All recent dynasties have been over-
thrown by the people. The two Republics were
overthrown by military despotisms. But it is easier
to provide against a violent usurpation by one man
than against a revolution by the people. Thus, if
we had accepted the Rdsolutions Gre'vy' in 1848
and made the President dependent upon the National
Assembly, the coup d'etat of 1851 would not have
been possible. Hence, a Republic offers the best
promise of, stability. It is easier, too, to
change a Republic into a Limited Monarchy,
if it be found needful, whereas the over-
throw of a throne often ends in utter anarchy."
Such considerations as these have led many of the
foremost men in France—LAMBRECHT, LA4c3c, and
TRIERS himself—to pronounce for the Republic.
tiecordieg to all appearances the future Government
of France will be of a very Conservative hind, more
so, in some respects, than our own ; but such
an issue will simply be . owing to the fact
that the majority of the electors are not Radical.
In a free country there will be scope for progress in
these matters. As one of the French papers truly
remarks, the nation will educate itself gradually in
in spite
politics, and progress will assert itself

of all obstacles under the protection of
liberty. The constitution of the Ministry,
for instance, is not favourable to the
cause of Free Trade. M. SIMON is a Free
Trader, but he takes the portfolio of Public Instruc-
tion, whilst both the PRESIDENT and M. LAMB.RECHT,
the Minister of Commerce, are Protectionists, This

rHE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1871.

behind the bridal party was of interminable length.
On that happy morning, however, the blessings on
the Prince and Princess Teck were uttered not alone
within the chapel walls, but for miles outside, by an
admiring crowd of villagers.
MR. PEABODY'S GIFTS TO THE POOR OF LONDON.

The trustees of the Peabody Donation Fund have
just presented their annual report for the year 1870.
The origin.al fund of £150,000 has leen increasei by
rents and investments to £178,733 10s, 7d. Under
this trust there are
_at present five groups of build-
ings, situated at Spitalfields, Islington, Shad-
well, Westminster, and Chelsea, affording col-
lectively accommodation for 498 families, in
tenements of one, two, and three rooms each, at
rents varying from 2s. to ss. 6d. a week. The trus-
tees also possess a site at Bermondsey, which has not
yet been built upon. Mr. Peabody's second donation
of £200,000, which became available for building
purposes in July; 1869, has increased to 2213,918
ls. 7d. Under this trust there are now in course
of construction sixteen detached blocks of buildings
on the premises purchased last year, and formerly
known as the Magdalen Hospital Estate. When
complete, these buildings will afford accommodation
for upwards of 300 families. The trustees have also
a desirable site at Chelsea, available for future re-
quirements. To this trust Mr. Peabody ad ed, by.
his last will and testament, £150,000; but, in accord-
ance with the terms of the bequest, this latter
sum.will not be conveyed to the trustees until the
year 1873. As there appears to be some misamre-
hension respecting the organisation and management
of these buildings, the trustees wish the public to
understand distinctly that, the use of these tenements
is strictly confined to the labouring, classes, and that
no restrictions are imposed on the freedom of any
tenant, except such as are absolutely necessary to
secure the comfort and convenience of all.