The Sun.
London, England, 1848-07-21 00:00:00

fr. el Inv 24101

LONDON, FRIDAY,titTLY 21, 1848.

The recent steps taken by the Irish Government
must speedily bring matters to some definite conclu-
sion in that country: The crisis which has for some
time been inevitable will be precipitated, and we shall
speedily know whether order and tranquillity can
be
restored, or if anarchy and confusion are to rgn
reign
throughout the entire kingdom. As we yesterday
pointed out, no choice remained for the Executive.
They should either have surrendered their functions
into the hands of the demagogues, and secured their
own safety by an ignominious flight, or they should
have adopted the most energetic measures sane.
timed by law. They were told distinctly and
unequivocally that the English authority_was to be

banished from Ireland—that the :;Ply question re-
specting the intended outbreak was the time at which
it should take place ; that the period was only pro-
tracted until every possible preparation had been
made, the people armed, drilled, and instructed in
military exercise, through the intervention of the
clubs, which were to be planted in every district
throughout the country—and an adequate commis-
sariat secured, by which the entire populace were to
be supplied with food during the ensuing year. This
was the chief object, and accordingly the
" harvest" was very significantly spoken of
as the time for action. Nay, further, it
was announced that the chief difficulty
of the self-constituted leaders was to restrain the
ardour, and curb the impetuosity of their enthusiastic
followers, until the anxiously-expected period had
arrived when guns and pikes were to be put into re-
quisition for a nobler purpose than the assassina-
tion of some daring landlord, who had the audacity
to demand any rent from his tenantry, or of some
obnoxious agent, who ventured conscientiously to
discharge the duties he owed to his employer. This
was peculiarly the case at the time of the conviction
and Oxpatriatiou of Mr. MITCHEL. Pending the
trial his w7sfe was informed that she need not feel
the slightest aperehension as to the result, for that if
any jury dared to envict her husband be should
most assuredly be rescued from the hands of the
Saxon oppressor. So spoke the deputation from the
"Dr. Doyle Club" who waited upon the afflicted
lady. It is needless to say how futile were the pro
mises thus made; how vain the hopes awakened.
The jury dared to convict, the judge to sentence,
and the Executive to carry that sentence into execu-
tion, and yet not the slightest attempt was made to
rescue the unfortunate !Ilan from the consequences of
his own insane and reckless enductr or to favour the
escape of the convicted felon.
An apologist, however, was found for those who
had thus incurred the guilt of violated pledges and
broken vows. Mr. T. F. MEAGHER declared that such a
proceeding had been resolved upon, but that the Wen.,
tion was abandoned at the last moment, theleaders hav-
ing discovered that they were not in a position to act
with any reasonable prospect of success, and that he
himself had most reluctantly acceded to their views,
inasmuch as he was unable to contest the validity of
their arguments. It was, however, intimated that
no further adjournment should take place, but that
the moment the crops were gathered in, the perform-
ance should commence in good earnest. Nay, elabo-
rate calculations were put forward to show the re-
sources that would be at the disposal of the Pro-
visional Government. The growing crops were valued
at 80,000,0001. sterling, of this 40,000,000/. should
be allocated to feed the entire body of the people.
while the remaining moiety would form a very Dice
fund for the new Finance Minister, and the Members
of the Executive Committee. Should the authorities
then patiently wait the appointed time—should they
passively regard the progress of the armament in-
tended for their destruction ; or should they interpose
before the project had ripened into maturity, and
while their was yet time and opportunity to avert
the threatened calamity which brooded over the land?
There can be no second opinion on this subject.
The arms must now be surrendered into the hands of
the officers appointed to receive them. The means of
doing mischief will thus be taken away, the wasp
will he deprived of his sting; or if, on the other band
there is to be an actual outbreak, it must take place
prematurely, and before the insurgents are in pos-
session of what they have themselves admitted to be
essential to the success of their enterprise—the
ultimate triumph of their arms. It may be hoped
that, when these things are calmly and dispassionately
considered, the project will be adjourned 'hie
die, and that Ireland may be spared the suffering
and misery that would otherwise be inflicted by the
hands of her own children.

In the meantime it is essential that the hands of
the Executive should be strengthened to the utmost
degree. Every additional power that may be required
will readily be conceded by the Legislature. " The
Club " nuisance should be abated without a mo-
ment's delay. There can be no doubt as to the
objects of these associations, and precedents may
readily be found for the necessary enactments. Orange
Lodges were rendered illegal ; every secret society
(save and except Freemasonry, against which the
slightest imputation could not be breathed) were
prohibited. The principle might easily be ex-
tended so as to include every association not
sanctioned by the authorities, under whatever
name or pretext it might be formed. If this be
done, and that the law is still firmly and ener-
getically put in execution, we shall have peace
restored throughout the country, and tranquillisaid
Ireland will have cause to hail with gratitude the
wisdom and decision of the CLAXENDON Adminis-
tration.

Notwithstanding the terrible events of ditne, those
massacres at Paris which disgraced the until then
" pure and glorious revolution ;" notwithstanding the
despondent sentiments with which that untoward in-
surrection filled the minds of all true reformers, the
present position of Continental Europe seems to pro-
mise the speedy realisation of those sanguine anticipa-
tions in which we indulged at the beginning of the
present year. For example, what could be more en-
couraging or of more hopeful augury than the open-
ing address of the Chamber of Deputies, now, fax the
Prat tire, assembled at Rome. This address is not
only filled with liberal sentiments and redolent of pa-
triotism, but moreover, in the calm dignity of its style
—the dignity of conscious power—we recognise the
existence of a spirit of determination which shall suc-
cessfully carry out the high promises with which the
address is filled. Royal speeches are proverbially
pieces of inanity, and the opening discourses of new
assemblies are generally little more than examples of
elaborate rhetoric, but in the case of the
inaugural address of the Roman Parliament we are
inclined to believe—as we most devoutly hope—that
it will be otherwise. The " Roman Parliament" is
perhaps not a correct appellation for the new house
of Representatives, but it is a name fraught with such
interesting historical associations that we willingly
repeat it. The Roman Parliament irresistibly re •
calls to us that greatest of Parliaments once assem-
bled at Rome—that Parliament for ever immortalized
by its orators—the Parliament where " immortal
TULLY shone ;" that Parliament whose initials
S. P. Q. R. inscribed on triumphant banners floated
over half the world—yet the ordinary proceedings of
that Parliament, as chronicled by LIVY, read almost
like so many pages taken from Hansard. We too
have had orators " whose words were sparks of im-
mortality," but it is not our purpose now to make
a boastful comparison between St. Stephen's and the
Roman Forum ; it is the new Italian Parliament
which at present claims our consideration, and if that
Parliament only fulfil the promises it has already held
forth, it will have little cause to shrink from compa-
rison with its illustrious and ancient predecessor.
The Italian Parliament very properly commence their
inaugural address by expressing their gratitude to
the liberal and patriotic Prince who, to use their own
words, "has called them to the exercise of political
life—given a reality to their rights—and laid
the foundations of a true, just, and unchangeable
liberty." They afterwards proceed to particularise their
"
own projected line of policy. Our utmost intellectual
endeavours," say they, "shall be directed to harmonize
as best we may, and in the shortest possible time, the
national unity. This is the first goal of all our
thoughts, and substantial aim of every design.,
They then express their solicitude for the establish-
ment of an Italian League, supported by " the vic-
torious sword of CHARLES ALBERT and the authority
of the Pontificate." " But as we see clearly," they
add, " that such a league could be bound by no other
tie than a National Diet, we express our most fervent
wishes that you yourself (Pius) would, in this Rome,
become its centre and commencement." Then, while
they admit that it was honourable to the sacerdotal
ministry, and most concordant with the celestial
mind of Pius that he should " pronounce among
belligerents a word of peace," they, neverthe-
less, declare their conviction that " the Italian
people ought not' and cannot lay down their arms,
but that, on the contrary, they should endeavour to
re-invigorate the war until their common country
shall be recognised in its natural frontiers"—for this
war, they add, is a defensive and just war. After
thus dwelling upon their external position, the
Italian` Parliament next proceed to dilate upon their
internal administration. They admit that at present

the State groaLs under not small evils, but "by cut-
ting off the excess of the expenses and the multi-
plicity
of offices, by reducing the pensions, by a
better distribution of taxation, by the available pro-
ductisn of the national property, and by taking off
restrictions in commerce, we do not despair," say
they, "of being enabled to surmount our
present difficulties." Verily, for an infant
Parliament this essay of statesmanship is
well enough ! There are other places besides
Rome where the suggestions of this para-
graph might be studied with advantage. It is
unnecessary for us to particularise every individual
sentence of this address. Here is one paragraph,
however, which, in justice to the noble ambition of
the Italians, we cannot refrain from quoting. "If
the difficulty of the undertaking can be surpassed by
the desire, we are heartily disposed to lend you our
support in every social improvement; we will make
it our study to eradicate the roots of guilt and misery.
What would it avail us to have new laws, were
stupid or wicked executors still to administer
them ? What would prisons avail if, instead of cor-
recting the guilty, the reciprocal tuition in all kinds of
vice were still suffered in them? Our principal atten-
tion is directed to that portion of the people whose
labour supports our life ; we will procure them help ;
we will remove obstacles from the industrious work-
man and the honest farmer, so that their bread may
be gained by the sweat of their brow, but no longer
moistened by their tears." Sentiments such as these
require no comment, they pronounce themselves their
most forcible commendation. Said we not right that
if the new Roman Parliament fulfil all its fair pro-
mises it will not have occasion to shrink from a corn-
, parison with its predecessors ?

SPAIN.

Madrid journals of the 15th have arrived.

They contain no intelligence.
MADRID BOLSA, JULY 15.—Three per Cents., 20j
paper; after Bolsa, 20i 5-16 cash. Five per Cents.,
11 cash. Passives, 41 paper ; after Bolsa, 4 cash.

TUE FRENCH REPUBLIC.

We have received the Paris papers of yesterday.
The trials of the insurgents are to be proceeded
with forthwith. The murderers of General BREA
have been recognized. The man who fired the shot
which killed ' the unfortunate General is named
CHARLES VicTou VELPERO, and was arrested at
Vitry. His accomplice is named CHOPART. It was
CHOPART who urged on his companions to massacre
the General and his aide-de-camp.
The Committee of the National Assembly charged
to investigate the causes of the insurrection has, it is
said, developed those causes in a satisfactory manner
in 4s report, which will be presented in a few days.
M. BOUCHARD is the reporter. Le Droit says that the
number of killed and wounded on both sides during
the late insurrection exceeds 8,000.
The following project of a decree has been pre-
sented by M. PASCAL DUPRAT to the Committee on
the Laws of the Press :
Art. 1. Every Frenchman, having civil and political
rights, shall have the right to publish his opinion by
speaking or by the press, complying with the following
conditions :-2. The declaration to be made before the
Pcxhiication of any journal, shall contain the HAWN resi-
donee, .7.erl profession, of the chief editor, 3. AU mane-
scripts. sign el by their authors, shall be delivered to the
printers, who siiell he bound to produce them for any
purposes of justice. 4. Preeeedings may be taken at
the same time against the Phief editor and printer for
e.wery article not signed, who shall be liable Le the same
punislimpet that might have been inflicted en the author.
a. Every wrii.er wbo shall adopt a false signature, for the
purpose of avoiding reqon,ibility, shall lose his civil
rights for a term not exaesellng Ave years, without pre-
judice to any other punishment te which he may be
liable. a. jfieaccomplices also shall be liable to the §ame
punishment. g. When a journal shall have been three
times found guilty of i,gblishing under false signatures,
it may be suppressed. B. Tins i;hief editor shall always
be included in any proceedings against any tither editor,
unless he can show WO the article bee" been inserted
without his knowledge. 9. All previous laws as to
caution money, and the responsibility 9f the conductor
of the journal, are abrogated.
According to the ,eager, both France and Eng-
land are about to send a fleet to the Black Sea to
watch the proceedings of Russia.
The promotion of M. SIBOUR to the Archbishopric
of Paris is officially announced in the Minsiteur.
M. DE Coxsania, on Tuesday, visited at Vin-
cennes the persons confined there for the attempt of
May 15. He saw MM. BARAES, ALBERT, SORRIER,
and RASPAIL. He found the three fist calm and ex-
pecting to be amnestied; hut M. RASTA= was ex-
ceedingly violent. He speaks during the night time
aloud, and at great length, as if before his judges;
in the morning he falls into a state of great prostra-
tion, and the gaolers are obliged to bathe his temples
with cold water to recal him to himself. The pri-
soners asked for permission to see their families, and
to be allowed to walk out.
Geneneral COURTAIS is still at the Cmciergerie.
M. DORNES, one of the editors of the .gationsd, and
a Member of the National Assembly, died on Wed-
nesday of the wound he received while attacking one
of the barricades in the late insurrection. M. Bixio
has been elected one of the Vice-Presidents of the
Chamber by a large majority, the numbers being—
M. Bum, 328 ; M. TRELAT, 57 ; M. VIVIEN, 26.
The vacancy was occasioned by the election of M.
ARMAND MARRAST to the Presidency of the Chamber.

BOURSE, PARIS, THURSDAY, JULY 20.

- -
THREE o'CLoca.—The business done to-day was
very limited, but the prices were firm, and with a slight
tendency to a rise.
BUSINESS DONE IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT THE
LONDON STOCK-EXCHANGE, JULY 20.
Boulogne and Amiens, 7—Northern of France, 5
Orleans and Bourdeaux, 134—Rouen and Havre, 834.