The Sun.
London, England, 1870-04-22 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENINU, APRIL 2 1870.

SII/111IS LIST.

SPIRIT OF THE PRESS.
THE PLEBISCITE.

RAILWAYS-LORDINARY SHARES AND STOCKS

The Times remarks that the French Senators have gone
through their work preparatory to the plaiscite. They
have accepted the draught of the revised Imperial Con-
stitaticn, and this will now be submitted to the approval
of the people. The announcement of the plebiscite is
hourly expected. It will be made through a proclama-
tion of the. Sovereign and a manifesto of the Ministers.
M. 011ivier and those of his colleag-ues who are still in. his
Cabinet, though they did not suggest this experiment,
look upon it now as a " proper means to obliterate
the Coup d'Etat ; a fitting act by which to
abolish absolutism and inaugurate a new regime."
There is every appearance of France acquiescing in the
good pleasure of her Imperial Master. The " disgust and
apprehension ''' with which, as we are told, the Emperor's
resolution had impressed every upright and rational mind
are rapidly abating. Constitutional politicians seem dis-
posed to look upon the ordeal through which the country
will be made to pass as the alternative between " liberty
and revolution," and the discord which is already, as
usual, spreading among the ranks of the extreme parties
leaves no doubt that the choice lies at least between order
and hopeless confusion. The French Emperor has made
a correct estimate of popular instincts. He is sure
of a large majority, of course, or he would hardly run
a gratuitous risk. But it would still be open to his oppo-
nents to qualify his triumph by a.considerable number of
negative votes, or by a well-concerted abstention. It is
evident, however, that the Liberal party are unable to
agree on any plausible plan of operations. Mutual mis-
trust, ill-will, and intolerance are everywhere breaking
out in their_ ranks. In no country is it possible to save a
people against themselves. If the result of the forth-
coming experiment turns out to be that the French nation
is of one mind with its ruler—that its choice is for an
"Imperialism tempered by Plebiscites," what grounds
will the world have to arrive at a different concluskon ?

THE ENGLISH CHURCH IN WALES.

The Standard says we are met with the complaint that
the Church in. Wales is the Church of a minority. The
best answer to this is to ask who are the majority. No
single sect is in a position to take up this ground. It is
true that, taking the entire population, the Church is in a
minority, but it is equally true that no one of the sur-
rounding communions has a right to dispute her title to
the position which she enjoys. No doubt the
Dissenters constitute a majority; but they are
not a homogeneous body. Their majority is
made up of scores of rival sects, each with its
separate grudge against the other, and incapable
of united action, save when it is a question of damaging
the State Church. It is the old story of the "fortuitous
concourse of discordant atoms." We hold, with the
Quarterly, that the Legislature cannot deal with the case
of the Church in Wales apart from that of the English
Establishment. The question must be treated as a whole.
If we are to follow the precedent which the member for
Denbigh seeks to establish we shall have the time of Par-
liament occupied with provincial or parochial legislation.
The House of Commons will be asked to disestablish the
Church in Lancashire, or in the Isle of Dogs, or in St.
James's, Piccadilly, and we shall be presented
with the anomalous spectacle of a Church estab-
lished and endowed in one parish, and disestab-
lished and disendowed in that adjoining it.
It is, no doubt, a difficult and perilous opera-
tion to attack an institution so powerful, so rich, so influ-
ential, and so triply guarded in its hold upon the affec-
tions of the nation as is the Church of England but if
this is the work to which Mr. Gladstone and the Liberal
party have devoted themselves, they must set about it
openly and in the light of day. The system of strategy
which feels about for weak points, and directs its advance
by covered ways, will not find favour with the House of
Commons or the country. Whatever may be the inten-
tions of the Welsh Radicals, Mr. Gladstone cannot sup-
port their tactics without revealing himself as the de-
clared enemy of the Church of England as by law estab-
lished. We incline to the opinion that the right honour-
able gentleman will not see his way thus far, at least dux
ing the present session.

BANK OF ENGLAND RETURNS.

An Account, lursuant to the
for the week ending Wei
ISSUE DE
Notes issued . £83,971,580

&ct 7 and 8 Victoria, cap. 32,
lnesday, April, 20, 1870.
'AILMENT.
Governmt. Debt £11,015,10
Other Securities 3,984,900
Gold Coin and
Bullion
Silver Bullion

£38,971,580
BANKING D

X 33,971,580

l'roprietors' Copt-
tal
Rest
Public Deposits
(including Ex-
chequer, Sav-
ings' Banks,
Commissioners
of National
Debt, and Div.
Accotlnts 7.660 221
Other Deposits.. 16,976,618
Seven Days and
other Bills 431,31'J

PARTMENT.
Governmt. Secu-
rities(including
Dead Weight
Annuity) ....412,827.812
Other Securities 18,342,2.48
Notes 10,607,355
Gold and Silver
Coin

..£42,729,6:8

£42,729,C78

THE BANK OF FRANCE.