The Sun.
London, England, 1870-02-09 00:00:00

LONDON, IVEDNI4,-.SDAY, FEB. 9, 1870.

Few persons will care to criticise the English of the
QUEEN'S Speech, which we uresented to our readers
yesterday. A more splendid program me was never pre-
Dented by any Ministry. It not only fulfils all our

most sanguine expectations, but far surpasses them.
If Mr. BRIGHT'S "omnibus!' speech at Birming-
lam was intended to stimulate the country,
.nil, through the country, the Government, it
.ias succeeded most admirably. If he is really
le faineant Minister that he appeared to be, he has
low before him such a mass of work as must appal
,he man who, in his days of independence, thought
;be State, the Church, the Universities, and everything
n the heavens above and the earth beneath might
)3 set to rights in a single session, but who, now
lat he "is in office, finds one first-class measure
mough. Not only have Ministers included all the
measures wo expected, and all those which we
thought it barely possible they might undertake,
Jut others also that wo did not even venture to

Anticipate.
The first paragraph of the Speech is almost the

only unsatisfactory one. The QUEEN is prevented
oy indisposition from opening Parliament. Fortu-
nately this is merely a personal misfortune—one
which we all regret, on account of its cause, but
which involves no real disadvantage to the State.
the next paragraph contains something more than tho
phrase which, since the Palmerstonian regime came
to an end, has happily become stereotyped. Not
Ally is England at peace with all the world, but
there is a crowing disposition among nations gene-
rally to quarrel less frequently, and when they quarrel
to consult their neighbours and common sense rather

than resort to the unsatisfactory and illogical
Arbitrament of the rifled gun. The reference to
New Zealand is of the briefest ; but this
brevity is no measure of the importance of the sub-
pet, nor of the vigour wherewith it will be discussed
when the promised " papers" are laid before Parlia-
ment. What with two sets of taxes and imposts,
extending even to the parish hearse, Mr. Lown is
lot in good favour just now. So he is naturally
Anxious to let us know as quickly as possible what
;ood things he has in store for us. Hence it is we aro
;old that the estimates are in a forward state of prepa-
:ation. A foretaste of coming bliss is given us in tho
Announcement that while the public establishments
tutve been effectively maintained they will impose a
liininished charge upon her MAJESTY'S subjects.
There is no fly in the pot of ointment this year; there
is no little Abyssinian bill to meet. Ordinarily it is only
the financial paragraph which is devoted exclusively
to the House of Commons ; but this year there is an
Addendum in the shape of a reminder that the
Reform Bill of 1807-8 has not yet brought our
electoral system to perfection ; and that the
[louse of Commons Select Committee which met last
session will do well to recommence its sittings, and
bring its inquiries to a definite issue in the shape
of " early legislation ;" a periphrasis for the Ballot,
wrapped up in gentle words, so as not to offend Con-
servative ears.

Thus we are led on to the principal part of the
entertainment. First there comes the Irish Land
Bill, whichwill, Ministers hope, improve the relations
between the several classes in Ireland who are en-
gaged in agriculture, and inspire confidence in the
law among those in whom it is now wanting. This
is the honey, but there is also vinegar. Let us mix
them, though the State cooks keep the two dishes
far apart. Referring to their penultimate paragraphs,
we find that the QUEEN is filled with painful concern
at the recent extension of :agrarian crime in
Ireland ; and while she
,hopes that wise changes
in the law will remove these evils, she will not hesi-
tate to recommend the adoption of special provisions,
should they be required. This is as it should be.
u3tice has two aspects. One, conciliatory;
the other, menacing. If the first does not win, the
second will compel. If the Irish people are not
satisfied with the disestablishment of the Irish
Church, and with a just land law, then they must bo
prepared for the suspension of Habeas Corpus, for
proclaimed districts, and for flying squadrons. It will
be a scandal to the British name if the present reign
of terror continues. If it cannot be soothed by
gentleness, it must be suppressed by force.
The other subjects in themselves constitute anoblo
list. Ono cause of dispute with the United States
—the question of naturalisation—is to be settled by
Act of Parliament, and thus there will remain
only the Alabama and the San Juan question. Then
comes the greatest surprise. Government proposes
to legislate during this session on the report of the
commission on the Courts of Judicature, so as to