The Sun.
London, England, 1846-12-04 00:00:00

hers alone would never suffice ; they must be joined
to a sound and comprehensive view of all existing
circumstances. One of the most obvious of these
would be, what seems to be entirely forgotten by
Mr. COCHRANE, that since Lord JOHN addressed his
electors in November, 1845, the whole question of
import duties affecting grain has undergone solemn
deliberation in the Legislature, and given birth to an
Act which, for the magnitude of the interests it dealt
with, cannot be lightly superseded by an order in
Council ; and the emergency must be " extraor-
dinary" indeed which could justify a Minister in
dispensing with its enactments. Another circum-
stance is, that Parliament will now be shortly assem-
bling., and certainly there is no paramount pressure,
arising either from want of food or employment, that
imperiously calls upon us to urge the Minister to the
serious and responsible step of removing off-
hand the slight remaining and terminable
duties upon foreign corn. Practically, it is
a constitutional privilege which we enjoy of express-
ing to the Government, freely and unreservedly, our
feelings and views upon any public question, but we
are not clear that, in the present instance, the privi-
lege has been resorted to with due consideration.

The want of unity of action, of a cordial co-
operation amongst her more favoured children, for
the benefit of their common country, has long been
one of the chief causes of the unhappy condition of
our sister kingdom. The civil and religious differ-
ences that so long prevailed, the party dissensions,
the rancorous hostility with which the professors of
different political principles regarded each other,
were the sad results of long years of misgovernment
and oppression, during which the ruling powers
practised with too fatal a success the vile expedient of
fostering the animosities and exciting the prejudices,
of the people. "Divide et imperil' was the rule of
government. To one class every encouragement was
afforded; they were placed in the enjoyment of ex-
clusive rights and exclusive privileges ; they
were taught to regard their brethren as
their inferiors, to believe that they were
entitled to an ascendancy over them, that
they were beings of a superior creation,
and that they might with impunity insult and domi-
neer over the vast majority of the people, whom they
looked upon as

" Born for their use."

Party processions were encourage) ; the exhibition of
the most hostile feelings, the most inveterate preju-
dices, were sanctioned and approved of. All the
honours and emoluments of office were distributed
amongst the favoured few, while the many were
ground down by harsh laws and oppression, and sub-
jected to penal restrictions and to civil and religious
disabilities. Is it to be wondered at that a wide line
of demarcation separated the different sections, that
no cordial or friendly feelings existed between the
oppressors and the oppressed, that one party should
struggle hard to maintain the position they once
had occupied, while the other, awakened to a
knowledge of their real strength, should persevere
in their exertions until they obtained a full and per-
fect equality, and the enjoyment of entire liberty of
conscience—that each defeat should more deeply em-
bitter the feelings on the one side, and cheer the
other with the anticipations of further victories and
successes. Neutrality was impossible. The adage
of " those who are not with us are against us" was
never more strictly true than in Ireland—there could
be no halting between two opinions : the man who
hesitated about going the extreme length with his
party was looked upon as a traitor, and regarded with
greater dislike and hatred than an avowed opponent.
Such was the state of things in Ireland towards
the close of the first quarter of the present century.
There was, however, an improved feeling beginning
to manifest itself throughout both kingdoms ; anti-
quated prejudices were exploded, more liberal and
enlightened views of government prevailed. It was
felt in high places that men should not be sufferers
for conscience sake, that every man should be per-
mitted to worship his CREATOR in the manner which
he believed to be most proper, that there should be no
interference between him and his GOD.
Catholic Emancipation became an open question,
as it is termed in the Cabinet, and several of the
Ministry joined in the demand for freedom to their
Roman Catholic brethren. The then Premier died,
and CANNING succeeded to the vacant office, but he
bad not sufficient power to carry the" great question.
Ile was cut off in the pride and vigour of intellect,
at a time when the public mind:and public hope was
cxcited to the highest pitch, when all liberal-minded
Enen were looking forward with intense interest to the
:meliorations that were expected. His principles,
however, died not with him ; the good seed had been
sown, and fresh converts flocked daily to the side of
freedom of conscience. His successor said that it
was in vain to attempt to stem the torrent, to resist
tile popular will, firmly and deliberately expressed ;
he yielded, and carried the great measure of Catholic
Emancipation. But his victory was fatal to his
_Ministry, and he speedily was compelled to surrender
power into the hands of his great competitors.
It is to be regretted that the measure so carried
;vas not as full and perfect as the friends of liberty
4.0u1d have desired. It was clogged with conditions,
and certain regulations, which, though of no practical
value, and affording no additional securities, took
greatly away from thegrace of the boon, which tended
'to show the existence of suspicion and distrust, and
plainly testified that the measure was conceded not on
grounds of natural justice, but simply because there
was not sufficient strength to render further resis-
tance safe !or practicable. Obsolete laws were still
suffered to disgrace the statute-book, which, though
never attempted to be put in force or brought into
'operation, were yet looked upon as badges of infe-
riority, as marks of reproach, to seven-eighths of the
Irish nation. It could scarcely, however, be hoped
I:hat every vestige of bigotry and intolerance could be
!.wept away at a moment's notice, that ancient
prejudices would be removed without some

interval elapsing. It is unnecessary to trace
It he various ameliorations brought forward by Lords
GREY and MELBOURNE, and subsequently by Sir
ROBERT PEEL and Lord Jous RussELL, until the
last remnant of the atrocious penal code was, with all
but unanimity, expunged from our laws during the
past session. The heads of the two great parties who
ould alone hope to be placed at the head of affairs,
Ito rule the helm of the vessel of the State, have now
'cordially agreed on the principle by which Ireland is

;Henceforward to be governed, viz., that she is to be

iplaced on a footing of full and perfect equality with
England in her civil, political, and municipal institu-
tions. It may be hoped that when this great doc-
trine is fully carried out that jealousies will cease,
:and that as there is nothing to be lost on the one side
I:,r gained on the other, there will no longer be any
;reason for those ridiculous antipathies, those absurd
quarrels, that have proved so injurious to the national
interests, that have impeded and interposed obstacles
t o the attainment of every measure calculated to im-

prove the condition of the country. What is now
3required by Ireland is, that all Irishmen should
Lay aside their petty disputes and differences, and
Labour zealously in the common cause ; the great
object now with all parties should be the relief of
the existing distress, the consideration of the means
'by which the people may be fed, and famine averted
i!"rom their shores. There is a glorious field for emu-
lation, for the exhibition of zeal and activity; let

vas hope that it may be taken advantage
and that none will hang back, or refuse to avail
themselves of beneficial suggestions, because they
may happen to emanate from those who have been
heretofore their political opponents. We regret to
observe that there is some exhibition of such a feel-

ing, and that in quarters from which we should have

Loped for better things. Many noblemen and gentle-
men have seceded from, and sent in their resignations
as members of, the Agricultural Society of Ireland,
_ _

in consequence of the partial suspension of the 14th

rule. We think that they have been premature in so

doing. Nothing could be more improper than the

introduction, in such a society, of abstract political

questions, which might and would lead to the ex-

pression of different views ; but, on the other hand,

nothing would be more proper than that an Agri-

cultural Society should take into their consideration

every measure likely to be submitted to Parliament

during the ensuing session, for the development of the

agricultural resources of Ireland.

We trust, therefore, that, until the privilege that
has been conceded for the discussion of such questions
should be in some manner abused, those whose

co-operation is so desirable will still remain mem-
bers of the society, and act together for the general
welfare. The society has heretofore united persons
of every shade of political opinion, let us hope that
such may still be the case, and that all who take an
active interest in the agricultural improvement of
Ireland may still remain enrolled in its ranks. We
do not question the motives of the seceders, but we
fear that the consequences of their act may be most
injurious to the country, and we call upon them to
pause before they adopt so decided a course.

A letter from Schleswig, of the 25th ult., says :
" Two resolutions came to yesterday by the States,
one for a new and separate constitution for the
Duchies, by a majority of 36 to 2; the other for the
incorporation of Schleswig with the Germanic Diet by
a majority of 34 to 3, have caused a great sensation
here; but it is said that they are contrary to the con-
stitution of the States, which require that all funda-
mental changes should emanate from the Government,
and in this case the royal commissioner withdrew
from the Chamber, after making his protest against
the motions as illegal."
By a recent decision of the Russian Government
all the peasants of Livonia who embrace the orthodox
creed are exonerated from the tithes which they paid
to their clergy, and as a further inducement to pro-
fess the religion of the State they are to be exempted
from taxes generally. The nobles of Livonia have
petitioned the EMPEROR to annul this decree, and,
waiting his decision, have engaged to pay to the
clergy the tithes which are refused by the peasantry.
The Voss Gazette, of the 26th ult., states, from
Warsaw, that an extraordinary levy of recruits has
taken place there, under circumstances of great rigour.
It is asserted that the young men were torn from
their families during the night, and marched to
distant parts, from which they are never expected to
return.

The Aix la Chapelle Gazette, of the 28th ult., has
the following from Berlin, dated the 26th :—" It is
reported that a document has been discovered which
proves that the Royal House of Prussia has claims to
the succession of Schleswig and Holstein. It is
generally believed here that Prussia will insist on the
maintenance of the independence of the Duchies."
The Universal Prussian Gazette, of the '26th ult.,
in an article on the arguments that have appeared in
some of the foreign journals against the incorporation
of Cracow, says it can contradict, from the best
authority, the assertion that the Prussian Government
was actuated by a desire for an augmentation or
exchange of territory in connexion with the abolition
of the independence of Cracow. No pretension of
this kind, says the Gazette, was ever set up by Prussia
on the negotiations on the subject of Cracow.

Madrid journals to the 25th ult. have arrived.
The principles of free trade are making rapid pro-
gress throughout Spain. According to the Espanol,
a free-trade association was formed at Cadiz during
the stay of Mr. COBDEN in that city ; and the follow-
ing, from the Heraldo, which may be looked upon as
the financial programme of the Spanish Government,
is sufficient to inspire every free-trader with a hope
that the day is not far distant when the statute-
book of Spain will, like the statute book of England, pay
homage to the principles of common sense. " Our
most ardent wishes," says the Heraldo,
" will be accomplished, if, as we have reason to ex-
pect, the approaching Cortes shall be called to ac-
complish a liberal reform of our tariffs, so as to open
foreign markets for the wines and oils of our fertile
Andalusia, for the wheat of Castile, and for the
wool of La Mancha. If the first measure proposed
by the Government to the Cortes shall tend to a
diminution of the taxes which press upon landed
property, and if a more equal distribution of those
taxes be made, and if an impulse be given to the
works already commenced on our greattlines of com-
munication ; and if, in fine, the Government shows
itself anxious to ameliorate the condition of all our
countrymen, we shall be satisfied."
Mr. COBDEN was at Malaga on the 19th of
November.

MADRID BOLSA, Nov. 25.—The Three per Cents.
closed at 34 5-16; the Four per Cents., at 201 ; 'the
Five per Cents., at 21k; and the Debt without Inte-
rest, at 64.

We have received the Paris papers of Tuesday.
The Journal des Debats has a long article excul-
patory of Austria in she affair of Cracow. The
writer, while combating the arguments of the
Austrian manifesto, is evidently anxious to make the
worst of his own case, and to excuse those whom he
pretends to attack.'
"We are persuaded," says the Journal des Debats,
" that from 1772, to our days, it has been against her
will and against her interest that Austria participated
in the spoliation of Poland. We are persuaded that
she has ever seen and comprehended what was
her true policy, that which was at the same time
honourable and safe, but she has never pursued it;
she has ever suffered herself to be led astray,
seeing what was right and committing evil, being
ambitious against her will, and declaring it, but still
not succeeding in persuading the public of a disinte-
restedness which never appears, except by conditional
usurpations. It is to this false position—it is to this
constraint which the conscience of Austria suffers, that
we attribute the singular language of the two proclama-
tions published at Cracow when taking possession of the
territory of that ancient republic.
" There is something worse than to oppress weakness,
it is to calumniate it; this, however, is what the two
official documents which have been published on the
Cracow question do from one end to the other; and it
must be allowed that in imposing on Austria the care of
explaining the violation of the treaty of Vienna, and the
unjust and violent destruction of the independence of
Cracow, Prussia and Russia have not left it the most
excellent part in the affair. The mechant komme of 1772,
who duped so completely Maria Theresa in according
her all that she asked for, did nothing more maliciously
piquant than what Prussia, in concert with Russia, has
done to Austria. Is it not, in fact, an unfortunate equivo-
cation to say that Cracow has infringed the neutrality
which was the condition of her independence? The neu-
trality of Cracow, formally established by Art. 6 of the
to
oreeaah otter.tycofVieaThis meant, according to the treaty of, was a guarantee which the Powers gave
Vienna, that Cracow was never to be either Russian, or
Prussian, or Austrian, and it is on that account that in
Art. 6 of the treaty the independence of Cracow was
joined to her neutrality. But now it is in the very name
of this neutrality that the Powers destroy the indepen-
dence of Cracow. Strange abuseof reasoning ! And in
what has Cracow infringed this neutrality ? Has she
become Russian or Prussian with her own full consent. ?
No but she was invaded by the insurgent Poles, who
fixed there the seat of their ephemeral government I
Here, in truth, we do not know whom the Austrian Go-
vernment hopes to blind. The facts are recent ; they
passed in the open daylight. Whom, then, is it hoped
to deceive ? No, it was not the government of Cracow
which prepared the last Polish insurrection ; no, it was
not in Cracow that the conspiracy took place ; it was in
the Grand Duchy of Posen and in Galicia ; it was from
thence that the movement extended to Cracow, and it
was then that Cracow became the seat of the insurgent
Government. Prussia, better informed than Austria.
prevented the movement that was about to burst out
in the Grand Duchy of Posen. Austria, whatever
may be the reputation of her police, neither knew nor
prevented the movement in Galicia, for God forbid that
we should suppose that the Austrian police was aware of
the insurrection in Galicia, and did not prevent it, in
order to repress and punish it by the hand of the pea-
sants. But if Austria was aware of nothing, and pre-
vented nothing in Galicia, it was her want of foresight
which delivered up Cracow to the insurgents. Could
Cracow resist the insurrection of Galicia ? Nay, more;
Cracow, or at least the Government of Cracow, did all
it could to escape from the insurrection. It appealed to
the Austrians, and the Austrians entered Cracow before
the insurrection ; a proclamation of the Senate declared
that it was on its demand that General Collin had taken
possession of the city. The Senate of Cracow, therefore,
had acted quite correctly, since on the news of the plots
in Posen it had called on the Austrians to occupy Cra-
cow. Whence came it that General Collin, master of
the place, quitted it all at once ? He quitted it on
learning the insurrection in Galicia. When once
abandoned by the Austrians, Cracow fell into the power
of the insurgents, for the Senate could not defend it.
Such are the facts as they were read in the month of
]garch last by all Europe ; and eight months have
scarcely passed away when it is wanted to disfigure them
and to transform Cracow into a hotbed of conspiracies
and insurgents. Ridiculous fictions, contradicted by the
public memory and by conviction !"
The French protest against the annexation of
Cracow has not yet been dispatched, nay, it is said the
terms of it have not yet been considered in the Ca-
binet. In the political salons of Paris it is openly

stated that LOUIS PHILIPPE and M. Guizor were
both perfectly cognizant of the intention to annex

Cracow, that, in fact, Cracow was a part of the price
agreed by Louis PHILIPPE to be paid to Austria to
purchase her support to the MONTPENSIER marriage,

but that it %'its only pa; of the price. To
the private and pecuniary interests of his
family, Louis PHILIPPE has sacrificed, not

only the nationality of Poland, but the
regeneration of Italy ; and the repression of the spirit
of liberal reform manifested by the PorE, together
with the restoration of Austrian rule and influence

throughout the Italian Peninsula, is another portion

of the price which the French JEuto has consented to