The Sun.
London, England, 1870-05-17 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY, MAY 17, 1870.

nevertheless, that, during these last few years,
one by one, those very men have passed out
of existence, until the last of them has disappeared.
Notwithstanding which—the wire-pullers having
every one of them, vanished —the supposed puppet
has still contrived somehow to remain Master of
the Situation. For one and twenty years the man
thus spitefully depreciated by the more malignant of
his enemies as little better than a cretin, has remained
unshaken upon the apex of the great pyramidal
government of France, the broad foundation of which is
Democracy. Time after time the sinister prophecies
put forth in his regard have been very conspicuously,
we might even say, very flagrantly falsified. It was
declared, for example, that he could never, with
impunity, quit the scene of his Government. Yet he
visited Algeria, France being still maintained in tran-
quillity during his absence, while he was traversing the
Algerian provinces, while be was crossing and recross-
ing the Mediterranean. It was afterwards in-
sisted, when he undertook the responsibility
of being the Commander-in-Chief of the
French army in Italy, that he would be in-
evitably doomed to discomfiture, as a most rash
and a most insensate aspirer after military distinc-
tion. Yet, in rapid sequence, after this, he
himself, as leader on the field of battle, won the two
great victories of Magenta and Solferino. Those
who least understood him, here, amongst ourselves,
insinuated for a long while that his de-
signs in regard to England were the most
sinister imaginable, that he cherished at
heart the design of pitilessly avenging Waterloo.
The historical fact being, to us all, very well known
by this time, that this suppposed intriguing Avenger
of Waterloo has proved himself to be, through-
out the whole of these twenty odd years
during which he has been at the Head of
France, the most faithful of our allies. His unfal-
tering consistency as our ally he has shown, not
merely by Crimean campaigns, during which the
soldiers of the two nations fought side by side,
"brothers in arms and rivals in renown"—not
merely by Commercial Treaties like that one negoti-
ated in Paris by our greater Free-Trader, Mr. COB-
DEN, a Treaty through the medium of which the
Emperor infused some of the subtler principles of
Free Trade into the mercantile system of a nation
hitherto enamoured of the old-world phantasy
of Protection—but by ignoring the tem-
porary infuriation of those among his own
more devoted adherents, when, as on a memorable
occasion, the Colonels of his Guard besought him
passionately to lead them against that " den
of assassins" in which NAPOLEON himself only
bore in grateful remembrance that, in the days
his exile, he for years had found shelter and tranquil-
lity. During nearly two decades the irresponsible Dic-
tator of France, wielding the imperial sceptre for
eighteen years as her supreme ruler, when he began
to speak at length of his ulterior designs as to the
Crowning of the Edifice, his intimation was said to be
nothing more than a deceptive mot, a fair phrase, full
of illusive promise, in reality signifying nothing.
Yet Liberty of Speech and Liberty of Writing have
since then been conceded, and France at this mo-
ment is in possession under the rule of the
Third NAPOLEON, at one and the same
time, of an Imperial and of a Constitutional Govern-
ment. It is in the remembrance and recognition of
all this, that seven and a half millions of the electors
of France have deliberately accorded their approval
to the EMPEROR through the recent Plebiscite.

The condition of the homeless poor has been a
subject of great anxiety to those who are acquainted
with their prospects, but unfortunately little or no
progress has been made in the matter by thcse who
have exerted themselves in their behalf. The House
of Commons had to deal with a troublesome part of
the question on Friday night, for if not so painful
in their details as that section which relates to actual
pauperism, the chronicles of vagrancy are most irri-
tating to peruse and dwell upon. What to do with
the actually needy is bad enough, but there seems
little or no remedy for the determined vagrant.
Dr. BREWER, who called the attention of the House
to the subject, pointed out the blameable practice of
distributing relief indiscriminately to the genuine
poor and the impostors. The remedy he proposed
for the evil was that the management of vagrant
relief should be put into the hands of the police. Mr.
GOSCHEN did not, however, approve of this proposal,
and he argued very forcibly that Dr. BREWER'S
scheme would not work in this country as it does
abroad, because here the po!ice are not under central
direction as they are abroad. The right bon. gentle-
man also showed that the suppression of vagrancy
was impossible, unless the public would aid the
efforts of the Home-office and the Poor-law Board.
It is satisfactory, at any rate, to learn from the speech
of the right hon. gentleman that the Government
have taken the matter under their consideration.
Mr. GOSCHEN has acted his part with so much
vigour, and been actuated by such an earnest desire
to learn the truth of the condition of the poor, that
far more confidence may be placed in him than in
many of his predecessors in office. Among the
many suggestions that were made on the subject
that of Mr. WHEELHOUSE is deserving of considera-
tion. He proposed that a general test should
,be
applied in all the workhouses, so that a line
of demarcation might be drawn between the
criminal classes and the pauper population.
Another plan to alopt would be to apply a labour
test, for all who know anything of the habits of
vagrants are aware how much they dislike work,
that is to say, steady hard labour, which enforces the
exercise of strength and the endurance of fatigue.
Unfortunately the authorities do not act with suffi-
cient alacrity in the matter, and thus valuable op-
portunities are lost, and the means of discovery cast
aside with recklessness. Sometimes the adoption of
an apparently simple method may serve as an effec-
tual cure when more elaborate schemes have
failed, and grand purposes are powerless.
A remark made by Mr. GOSCHEN may be
applied with advantage by many well-meaning
but thoughtless persons. He said that while the pub-
lic persisted in giving alms in the streets it would be
impossible to check vagrants. It is important to
bear this in mind, for the class which benefits by this
dangerous practice is the last that is deserving of
help. A very little exercise of time and trouble
could not fail to discover many more worthy objects
of assi,tance than those who follow the role of street
beggars. The subject is an unsatisfactory one to
dwell upon, for difficulties start up at every turn,
and the more it is studied the more complex does it
appear. The only consolation is, that we are be-
ginning to realise our own ignorance and mismanage-
ment, and that is a step on the right road after
having taken so many that are in -the 'wrong
direction.

The curtain has just fallen on a very varied poli-
tical drama in the antipodes. It is now some years
since the whole political machinery of Victoria came
to a deadlock. A difference arose between the two
branches of the Legislature, and the Governor of the
colony, Sir CHARLES DARLING, espoused the cause of
the Lower House. He was recalled by the
Home Government, who considered that he had
played au unconstitutional part, and there-
upon the members of the Lower House, who
naturally resented his removal, were determined to
show him some mark of favour. As Sir CHARLES,
from his position under the Crown could
not accept any donation, it was resolved to
make a grant of £20,000 to his wife. Upon this
grant the storm between the Houses broke out afresh,
and the whole colony was in commotion. Every time
the bill went to the Upper House it was rejected in
whatever form it presented itself, and the House of
Representatives at last resorted to the expedient of
tacking it on to the Appropriation Bill. The Coun-
cil were not to be so entrapped, and again they re-
fused to pass it—refusing of course at; the same time
the necessary yearly appropriation of the public
funds. Neither House would yield, and the whole
political system came to a deadlock, which seriously
affected the business of the colony. The public ser-
vants were not paid, the Ministry had to act on their
own authority to carry on the simplest transaction,
money lenders reaped enormous profits, and general
confusion prevailed. So matters went on until the
cause of colonial self-government was seriously im-
perilled, and had not a compromise been arrived at
the representative and constitutional principle might
have come to an abrupt conclusion in Victoria.
The whole transaction has become a matter of
history, and had probably been welluigh forgotten
by many to whom it was recalled a few weeks since
by the death of Sir CHARLES DARLING. That news
was received in Melbourne by telegraph, and the
assembly immediately adjourned as a mark of
respect. On the next day letters were read
stating that Lady DARLING and her children
had been left totally unprovided for, and a mo-
tion was immediately made to grant Lady
DARLING a pension of £l,OOO. Mr. M'CuLLoCH
thereupon suggested that, as in case of such a grant
Lady DARLING'S sons would be left unprovided for in
the event of her death, it would be better to give one
large sum, which could be divided among them. This
was now the only suggestion made on this once
much-vexed subject, and during the next two days
the bid slightly altered was passed by general assent
through all its stages in both Houses, and on the
third day the Governor came down and gave the
Royal assent to it. The, two great peacemakers,
Time and Death, had done their work effectually
and the famous DARLING grant was no longer a fit-
ting subject for party dispute. We are afraid that
legislators on either side of the Equator will
be slow to profit by the moral, yet they
might learn from it coftelusively the folly and
shortsightedness of that party strife which would
sacrifice permanent interests to temporary irritation
or personal antagonism. We, in this older country,
have learned on all great national occasions to su-
' bordinate the political differences of the hour to those
fundamental principles of honour and patriotism on
which all agree. Our younger dependencies have
yet to learn the lesson taught to us by many a cen-
tury of struggle and of trial. LA us hope the moral
of the Legislative dispute in the Southern seas may
serve, at least, as a sign-post for the future.

Apart from the Irish Laud Bill the business trans-
actions in the House of Commons last night possessed
no feature of general interest. The forty-first clause
was vehemently denounced by several members
of the Opposition, as introducing an entirely
new principle, and as one calculated to pro-
duce socialism. The Government urged that the
scheme as embodied in the clause was tentative, and
subject to the control of Parliament. The clause on
a division was agreed to. Several new clauses were
discussed, and the House adjourned at 12 o'clock.

HER MAJESTY.

WINDSOR CASTLE, May 16.

The Queen went out this morning, accompanied
by Princess Beatrice. Prince Leopold also went
out.

His Majesty the King of the Belgians, attended
by Comte Van der Straten, visited the Queen to-day,
and remained to luncheon. His Majesty afterwards
visited his Royal Highness Prince Christian at Frog-
more, and then returned to London.

The Prince of Wales drove out.
The King of the Belgians visited the Prince and
Princess of Wales at Marlborough House.

His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales after-
wards visited the King of the Belgians at Claridge's
Hotel.

The Princess of Wales, attended by the Countess
of Morton and Mr. Holzmann, went to the Royal
Italian Opera, Covent Garden.
M. J. T. Boyes has had the honour of submitting
the autotype reproductions of the Sextine Chapel
frescoes to their •Royal Highnesses the Prince and
Princess of Wales.

AN APPEAL.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SIR, Would you kindly allow me space for a few
lines to the charitable, whom I earnestly entreat to
aid, in votes or money, a most afflicted and de-
serving young man, a candidate for the
benefits given by the Royal Hospital for
Incurables, at the election on the 27th instant. He
is blind, helpless, and almost penniless ; and unless
speedily assisted will be compelled to seek parish
relief, which will render him ineligible for what be
seeks. Contributions gratefully received by Messrs.
Bosanquet, Salt, and Co., 73, Lombard-street ; Mr.
Shirley, chemist, 2, `Vestbourne• grove ; and Mr.
Bell, stationer, 28, Alexander-street, Bayswater.—l
am, Sir, your obedient servant,

PHILANTHROPOS.

FUNERAL OF THE LATE MR. EDWARD
HERBERT.

The remains of Mr. Edward IL C. Herbert were yester-
day afternoon laid in the vault of the Carnarvon family in
the old parish church of Burghclere, Hants. The church
was densely crowded. Shortly after two o'clock the fune-
ral cortege arrived, and was met by the clergy. The
funeral was attended by many of the relatives and friends of
Mr. Herbert, among whom were Mr. G. H. Escott and the
Rev. H. Sweet Escott, his uncles; the Earl of Carnarvon
the Hon. Auberon Herbert, M.P., Mr. Robert Herbert, the
Earl of Portsmouth, the Rev. R. B. Barter, Mr. S. Bouverie
Pusey, the Earl of Ducie, Mr. T. D. Aoland, M.P., Mr. H.
Jenkinson, cousins of Mr. Herbert; the United States
Minister ; Lord Muncaster, Mr. W. IL Gladstone, &c. The
weather being, fine, a large number of persons drove long
distances to attend the funeral.