The Sun.
London, England, 1870-06-14 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY MORN ING, JUNE 14: 1870.

political leader have at last been numbered. His
party had broken away from him altogether. The
right hon. member for the University of Oxford was
said to be already virtually installed as his successor
as leader of the Opposition in the House of Com-
mons. As for the ex-Premier, or, in other words (as
it was significantly intimated in a sort of stage
aside) the ex-Leader, he was about to be
quietly and comfortably cushioned by being called
to the Upper House, let us suppose, as Viscount
BEACONSFIELD. Awkwardly for the prophets, how-
ever, upon the very morrow of the most confident of
these—supposed to be authoritative—predictions
there, has come out some untoward little incident,
like this one of Saturday, where, by the assem-
bling just as usual at Mr. DISRAELI'S summons, at
Mr. DISRAELI'S private residence, of the leading
members of the late Cabinet, that is of the Cabinet
over which Mr. DISRAELI presided for eleven months
as Prime Minibter, he somehow appears to be as
firmly as ever in the saddle, with his whip-hand well
"in,"and—using the word in no invidious sense—with
his sinister grasp as tenaciously as of old upon the
elastic reins of the policy with which he has so long
been mastering his restive Buzephalus.

AFTER Whitsuntide the House of Lords comes
prominently under public notice, and from that period
until the end of the session engages twice as much
of the general attention as falls- to its share during
the remainder of the year: Those who content them 7
selves with speculating on its uses and abuses during
the dull time of its forced inaction, are only too
unpleasantly aware of its existence when it is called
upon to decide the fate of measures which for months
past have been the theme of discussion in
public and private circles. Under these cir-
cumstances unusual interest attaches itself to
the remarks of one who has only recently been
added to that august assembly, but who speaks with
weight and influence. On the occasion of the ban-
quet at the Merchant Taylors' Hall, Lord DERBY re-
turned thanks for the House of Lords, and availe d
himself of the opportunity of giving advice, or, at
least, of offering timely suggestions. He considers the
idleness of the Upper House to be as , much their
misfortune as their fault, but be the negative advan-
tages of the earlier period of the session what they
may, he foresees that the happy time has passed, and
they are rapidly approaching the time when they
will be on their trial before the country. In a few
days the most important measure of the Session will
be in their hands, and many serious consequences
in the present and the future will depend upon the
decision at which they shall then arrive. Not that
he claimed the gift of prophecy; he was not about
to disclose the secret of the Lords' intentions with
respect to the Irish Land Bill. He knew one thing
at all events, which was what they ought to do. It
is true that Lord DERBY speaks rather the language
of a statesman than that of a politician, but a question
like that of the Irish Land Bill should not be
regarded from a factious point of view, or excite the
hopes and fears of partizans. " There never was a ,
case," said the noble lord, " when it was more our
duty to act at the same time, temperately, cautiously,
and firmly." No doubt many who agree with the
truth of this in the abstract, will object to its work-
ing when the details are put before them ; but it may
be a sound doctrine after all. ("It will be our duty to
accept all we can get, and to aim at nothing more
than we can carry.") Had this principle been
put in practice last year during the debates
on the Irish. Church Bill, what vexatious
discussions might not have been avoided, and what
undignified compromises have been dispensed with.
Lord DERBY stands by the privileges of his order,
and is not inclined to follow the couase which the
Premier has somewhat arbitrarily marked out for the
Peers. In prudence and policy they are to resist
only what they must, but then it will be their duty
in self-respect to adhere firmly to that which they
have upon deliberate reflection adopted. Should
the majority of the House of Lords be induced to
adopt this straightforward policy it would produce a
most favourable impression upon the country,
and exert a far greater influence on the House of
Commons than the most so-called spirited Opposition
could ever effect. A collision between the Houses is
always to be deplored, but differences of opinion must
arise, and the only possible way of avoiding the
danger will be for both sides to make concessions.
It has often been reproached to Lord DERBY, that
he takes too cold an impression of things, and
measures men by too exact a standard. No doubt if
his advice is but partially followed, or only a portion of
his theories put in practice, the House of Lords will
present a very different scene during the debates on
the Irish Land Bill from that which took place
during the discussion on the measure re-
lating to the Irish Church. The question, however,
is under which aspect will it appear in the best light
as the exponent of enlightened principles, or as the
jealous defender of its particular prejudices? It
revived the splendour of past days of palmy
oratory by the brilliant flashes of rhetoric
which distinguished its debates of last year,
but it will be reserved for the debates of IVO
to call forth the more lasting respect if the country
can really feel that the hereditary branch of the
Legislature is approaching a subject of great public
interest and importance in a spirit commensurate with
the occasion.

THE affairs in the Iberian Peninsula are just now a
great mystery. The Spanish Cortes having decided
that no one shall be elected King of Spain who has
not the votes of one-half of the Chamber, plus one,
renders the parliamentary choice of a sovereign
impossible for none of the candidates possesses an
absolute majority of adherents. The great
question as to whether the country shall be
governed by King Log or King Stork therefore
still remains undecided, and is likely to remain so
until the latter potentate takes the matter into his
Own claws. General Plum bears no love for MONT-
PENSIER7 who is the most formidable of competitors
for the Crown ; and as the master of many legions
PRIM is not likely to let the Orleanist win
the prize. The position is complicated by the
strange drama that is being enacted in Por-
tugal. The octogenarian SALDANHA appears to
he even more master of the situation in Lisbon than
the comparatively youthful Pnisi is in Madrid. SAL-
DANHA has chosen to quarrel with the Ambassador
of Italy, the county of his _ Sovereign's consort, and
his excellency has been packed off; and official diplo-
matic relations have been suspended. Wo learn also
that SAMPAIO has left the SALDANHA Cabinet "on
account of his opposition to the scheme for dissolving
the Cortes and instituting a Dictatorship." What
does it all mean ? Portugal still has a constitutional
King, at least in name, though Dom Luis
would seem to be little better than a puppet in the
hands of the reactionary old militaire. Does
SALDANHA mean in his old 'age to extort what he
could not obtain in his prime—the consent of th©
Sovereign to rule despotically ? And are we to
see both portions of the Peninsula—Spain as well as
Portugal—brought under the rule t,f a Dictator?
The problem gives room for boundless conjecture.
Doubtless SALDANHA and PRIM very well know the
real solution, for it rests with them. Perhaps the
Spanish Cromwell will let Europe into the secret in
the speech which he has promised to make to-day.

The House of Lords reassembled last evening
after the Whitsuntide holidays. The report of the
amendments of the High Court of Justice Bill was
brought up, and the Lord Chancellor explained that
he had made certain amendments to meet the ob-
jections raised against the measure when it was
last discussed -by their lordships. After a slight
discussion the report was received. The reports of
the amendments to the Norwich Voters Disfran-
chisement Bill and the Bridgewater and Beverley
Disfranchisement Bill were also received. In the
House of Commons Mr. Gladstone stated that with
the view of making progress with the Education
Bill it, was deemed desirable to hold a morning sitting
on Friday next. The House went into Committee
on the University Tests Bill, and a number of
amendments were almost summarily disposed of.
In. the division the Government were in the majority,
and by nine o'clock the bill passed through Com-
mittee. There appeared to be nothing like orga-
nized opposition to the measure. Tho Stamp Duty
on Leases Bill in Committee occasioned considerable
discussion, but it was eventually passed through the
stage with the omission of clause 2. The Merchant
Shipping Code Bill and the Board of Trade Bill
were read a second time. Several other measures
were advanced, and the House closed at one o'clock.

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

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