The Sun.
London, England, 1848-07-26 00:00:00

botiting

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, JULY 26, 1848.

Intrigue is by no means peculiar to the politicians
of Mairope, and yet, obvious as this truth has become,
it requires to be repeated at intervals even at the risk
of our uttering an egregious platitude. The Com-
munists of Paris seem latterly to have monopolized
to themselves all the cunning, insolence, and cruelty
which are Of keenest weapons of the conspirator. In
comparison with their schemes of domination, there
is an absolute insignificance in the plots of the Irish
felons, of the Roman retrogrades, of the splintered
ruins of the Sonderbund, of the still palpitating but
mangled faction of the.Afrancesadoes, of the worship-
pers of CoLETTI, of !the admirers of L AMBRUSCHINI,
of the followers of METTERNICH, of the underlings of
GUIZOT, of the stock-jobbing associates of SALAMANCA,
and of the subservient accomplices of CABRAL. The
Vehmgericht was scarcely more secret in its delibe-
rations than the dark and inscrutable councils which
are now, in some measure, represented by the Club
of the Rue des Pyramides. MACnIAYELLI appears
to have bequeathed a portion of his impassable and
ruthless policy for the guidance of the Bed Dona_
gotues, who, in a four days' frenzy, almost battered
all the walls of Paris down about the ears of
its inhabitants. The proof of this can be re-
ccwis'ed in what we might almost call the
eclectic ferocity of the intriguants—that ferocity
which had about it much of the deliberation
of CALIGULA, the passion of the Arni du People,
the expediency of DANTON, and the hideous cupidity of
MATTHEW HOPKINS. And the inflammable character of
those ideas which have been the inspiration during
nearly six months past of the Fourierists and St. Simo-
nians,has been rendered still more dangerous throughout
by
the insidious agency of their more conspicuous
Oracles. The daring of the plots adventured upon
by the Paris anarchists is nevertheless attributable
not merely,
to the enthusiasm of such political fanatics
PIERRE Lmsoux and PRUnxoN, but
RUDHON,in a parti-
cular manner to those fine-spun and hair-drawn pro-
jects which captivated the philosophy •f RASPAIL, and
cajoled even the military acuteness of COURTAIS, w
those projects which developed in the sugary
diction and persuasive declamation
cmla
sation of LOUIS BLANC,
when he spoke before the ptible Commission
sitting in the Palace of the Luxembourgee
administration of the affairs of theincipient Republic
by the members of the Provisional Government.
When first that Provisional Government rodeeoln the
whirlwind, and directed the storm of the Revolution
of February, the fear of the other nations was
developed in a dread of what is known as Propa-
gandism. It was dreaded that emissaries of repu-b- '
licanism would carry the germs of revolt into the
capitals of Christendom, and that the overthrow of
the Orleans dynasty would lead inevitably, through
the instrumentality of these bewhiskered apostles of
insurrection, to the downfal of the elder dynasties of
Lorraine, of Hapsburgh, of Brandenburgh, and even
of the Royal House of Brunswick. Time has proved
that these anticipations were partially premature and

fallacious, that the anticipations of the people I
were to a considerable extent correct as to the
effect, while they were altogether mistaken as to
the means. The constitutions of Europe have been
shaken to their bases, and the reigning families have
in several instances been in imminent danger of being
deprived of their rank and authority; but the means
by which all this has been accomplished is wholly
different from what was conjectured. Propagan.
disco hasj been: enforced) by the irradiation of ideas
rather than by the incendiary language employed by
a few of the peripatetic agents from the Clubs of
Paris. The disaffected classes not only in the re-
moter regions of Wallachia, but in the neighbouring
counties of Ireland, have been inflamed mainly
by the example afforded by the anarchists
of the French metropolis. And our Govern-
ment has emulated the successive Governments
of France by pressing its heel boldly upon the
neck of the Hydra Insubordination. There is a
consolation in this resemblance, for hitherto the
cause of Moderation has triumphed within the cir-
cumference of the Boulevards—and that moreover
against a more ferocious antagonist than can ever be
discovered in the wilds of Connaught or the pas-
tures of Tipperary.

The promptitude with which Parliament responded '
to the appeal of her Majesty's Ministers—the man-
ner in which the extraordinary powers demanded by
the Earl of CLIBENDON were conceded—powers
which would justly be regarded as highly uncon-
stitutional, and which nothing but the imminent
danger in which the country is placed by the machi-
nations of the disaffected, could justify—has struck
terror to the clu.bbists, and their mischievous insti-
gators. Already " Sauve qui pee has become the
principle of action, and an overwhelming defeat has
been sustained, almost before the commencement of
the contest. The intelligence that the Bill for the
suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act had been
carried through all its stages in the House of
Commons in a single day, almost without
opposition—the certainty that it would be
passed through the House of Lords with similar
expedition, and with perfect unanimity, and that on
Tuesday it would become the law of the land, under
which the " suspected " (and their name is legion)
may be arrested and detained in safe custody, excited
the most pitiable consternation and dismay. Every
man who knew that he was implicated in the treason-
able designs of the conspirators believed himself to
be among the number marked out for immediate ar-
rest. Visions of the Bastile forthwith floated across
his imagination, and he began to discern the vast
difference that exists between the " reality of rebel-
lion," and the exciting harangues, in which verbal
defiance•were hurled at the Government, and to which
he had formerly listened with so much complacency
and satisfaction. In this emergency many bethought
themselves of their country friends, and departed for the
provinces, where they might be further removed from
the unpleasant visits of the keen-scented detectives.
It was also formally announced that the clubs would
not again assemble in their various rooms and places
of meeting.

These indications manifest the efficiency of the
course pursued by the Government. An immediate
crisis has thereby been rendered inevitable. The
Fabian policy can no longer be pursued ; the game of
procrastination must be abandoned. Two courses
only remain open for the leaders of the movement.
viz., either an instant outbreak, or an im-
mediate and unconditional submission. Either
alternative i 3 peculiarly distasteful, and must lead to
their dethronement from the position which they had
assumed, and consign them to well merited punish-
ment or equally deserved contempt.
At first the " physical force " doctrines were put
forward as a mode by which the sceptre might be
wrested from the hands of him by whom it was so long
wielded, and the leadership of the Irish transferred from
O'CoNNELL to a few ambitious and reckless young
men. On the death of the Liberator, the agitation
was carried on with greater vigour, and many per-
sons sent in their adhesions to the Confederation,
which it was supposed would strike terror
into the British Legislature, and induce a
prompt submission to the demands of the malcontents.
At that period, however, nothing was said of a total
separation between the countries, or a dethronement
of our Most Gracious SOVEREIGN from her position
as the Monarch of Ireland. The repeal of the union
was the only demand. Subsequently, however, the
agitation assumed a new shape. One energetic but
most mischievous man, emboldened by the impunity
that had attended his previous escapades, evinced
greater audacity, and spoke of an Irish republic, and of
a total severance of the connexion between England
and Ireland. His unwilling associates were dragged
forward despite themselves. In vain they attempted
to check his ardour, but they could not free them-
selves from his influence. The then organ of
the party was closed against his lucubrations, another
was speedily started, and the United Irishman
far eclipsed the ',ration in the lengths to which it

proceeded. The people ware lashed up to a pitch of
madness, and it became apparent that they could no
longer be restrained by those who had, for their own
vile purposes, inflamed their passions. At this period
occurred those unexampled events upon the European
continent which, perhaps, for the first time gave hopes
to the agitators of a successful revolution. They
fancied that there might be some prospect of with-
standing the British power. The person to whom
we have already alluded, JOHN MITCHEL, attempted
to stimulate his more sluggish coadjutors. He thought
that his own arrest and trial would hasten the moment
of conflict, and that he would not be permitted to
leave the country as an exile. Vain hope. His col-

leagues were too happy to get rid of so dangerous an
associate, who would suffer no person to: control his
stubborn disposition or to moderate his movements.
His trial and his conviction took place, but no move-
ment was made for his rescue. When the moment
of action had almost arrived the leaders began to
count the cost and to calculate the chances of success.
Too late they discovered the futility of their hopes.
They still, however, clung to their delusion with a
desperate tenacity. They would not retrace
their footsteps, acknowledge their errors, and
implore the clemency of the Government,
with promises for their future good con-
duct. They feared the anger of their wretched
dupes, when the manner in which they had been
bamboozled became apparent. The period of the
rising was postponed. When the harvest was stored
and garnered, then the long promised performances
should commence in good earnest. No doubt some
sufficient reason would have been put forward for a
further delay if the people would receive it. But in
the meantime the country was suffering from the
consequences of the insurrectionary spirit that
was abroad, and that could no longer be re-
strained by the would-be leaders. Vigorous
conduct Was necessary in order to save
the country, and that has been exhibited by the
Government. The arms must be surrendered with-
out delay, or defended, and the principal actors will
be 'corked up in safe custody. What chance would
there be for the mob, deprived both of weapons and
of leaders ? Manifestly none. If, however, they
now provoke a contest they will receive a signal
defeat, and peace will thus be restored, although,
perhaps, at the cost of some valuable lives. We
believe, however, that even this may be averted, and
that the arms, although perhaps not brought in, will
be suffered to be captured and carried off by those
appointed to search for and take them.