The Sun.
London, England, 1870-01-24 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

The Times thinks that the result of M. Rochefort's trial
by the Correctional Court of the Police at Paris, on
Saturday, does not materially differ from what had been
very generally anticipated, and it is by no means probable
that it will affect the opinion of those who denounced the
prosecution as a blunder of the new French Constitutional
Government. We cannot say to what extent the plea of
necessity will be admitted in extenuation of M. 011ivier's
policy in this tranaction. But, even admitting that the
prosecution, however contrary, in all its forms, to M.
011ivier's deepest convictions, was imposed by 'the force of
irresistible circumstances, there will always remain, in
many men's minds, grave doubts as to its real political
results. The remedy was, to say no worse, questionable;
but will it at least prove effectual? One press offence has
been brought to justice; but will that be a restraint on
press abuses? Will it either extinguish or moderate the
Marseille-rise, or any of the other organs which vie with it
in audacity without attaining its notoriety? Will the
sentence pronounced on Saturday wear out the violence
of anti-Imperialist writers, or the curiosity of anti-
Imperialist readers? Did not the Empire exhaust
all possible means of repression, and did it not in the end
acknowledge itsolf defeated? Did it not deem it good
policy to pass from excessive severity to a laxity which
tolerated and almost encouraged the most unbridled
licence ? Will an imprisonment of six months, and
a fine of a few hundred francs, with the alternative
of a trip to Brussels or Geneva, more efficiently put
down the editor of the .41Tarseillaise at this moment
than similar and even graver measures disposed of
the editor of the Lanterne two years ago? If M. Rochefort

was at all guilty, it will be said, surely he was the
laat man entitled to the benefit of extenuating circum-
stances. He is an old offender, whose audacity has grown
with the well-experienced inefficacy of the measures
adopted towards its chastisement. The mild sentence
which has struck him will only work as a fillip to stimu-
late such energies and strengthen such courage as
may be in him, and it will have a no less emboldening
effect on other men of a stronger and more dangerous
stamp.

The Post thinks the handsome compliments which M
Thiers, in his great speech on free trade and commercial
treaties, delivered in the French Chamber on Saturday,

paid to this country, ought not to blind us to his econo-
mical heresies and delusions. All these fallacies and
sophisms are but so many variations on one and the
same indefensible assumption, that the consumer—in
other words, the community at large—is to be sacri-
ficed and taxed for the sake of a narrow class of
monopolists. Manchester, says M. Thiers in effect,
can produce cotton goods cheaper, superior, and
more plentifully than French manufacturers, and there-
fore forty millions of French people must be taxed to keep
up their monopoly; whereas the just conclusion he ought
to come to is, that as the latter cannot compete with the
former, they should transfer their capital and energies to
some industry for which France is better suited than
England, and in which she can therefore beat England in
the race of competition, so that the great French nation
of consumers may be left free to satisfy their needs by
buying in the best and cheapest markets. That there are
industries in which France beats England, because
she is better adapted for them than England,
everybody knows, and 'AI. Thiers himself asserts in this
very speech. He thinks, too, that "Franco is destined
to produce, not cheap goods, but goods of a superior
quality" compared with English. But how, then, can
free trade be injurious to France? It cannot be injuri-
ous, because her "superior goods" would not only be in
request in her own markets among wealthy customers,
but also in British markets, among the corresponding
class ; while the inferior articles of British manufac-
ture would only be purchased by the inferior class of cus-
tomers.

The Telegraph recommends the policy of extending the
spirit of the Ulster usage to the rest of Ireland. No
doubt in the three other provinces the needful reform
would demand a larger element of positive legislation, but
the principles of the measure are sufficiently indicated by
the practice of the North, and by the very complaints of
the South, especially as illustrated by the custom which
prevails on some of the largest and most peacefully
managed estates in Ireland. Those principles are, compen-
sation for actual improvements, with an allowance for the
beneficial occupancy, but with no trace of infringement on
the landlord's perfect right of ownership, including the
clearance of his land, alienation, or any other exercise of
proprietary title. Thus the most formidable difficulties
diminish to the view when we come close and grapple
with them resolutely ; and there can be no doubt that,
while even the publication of the long-desired reform will
go far to quiet agitation, excited as much by doubt and
uncertainty as by extravagant theories—even a brief
glance at the practical character of the measure
will remove baseless apprehensions. Thus, with those
who have the best opportunity of judging the situation
a it now presents itself to the view, we fully expect that
the mere promulgation of the measure will rally the
genuine statesmanship in Parliament to lend all the force
which frank and hearty help can afford, in order to abate
the difficulties and anxieties of the transition period. By
the same spirit, the common sense and good feeling both
of England and Ireland will be enlisted on the side of a
Government which has for the first time brought to the
momentous problem of the day the requisite labour and
sense of responsibility.

The Pall Mall Ga:ette complains that there is still a
comic atmosphere about all bribery investigations. A
mention of the Man in the Moon simply causes a laugh ;
though the joke must be tolerably threadbare at
Bridgwater. -A gentleman who would kick out of his
house anybody who should offer him a bag of sove
reigns continues to look at the wholesale corrup
tion of a town from a humorous point of view
Mr. Anstey and his colleagues have been guilty
of turning a broad farce into a serious performance
They have talked as if they seriously believed that bribery
was morally as well as legally wrong, and that a respectablk
solicitor really ought not to distribute £1,500 at a critical
period of an election. This severity has rather shocked
the moral sense of the inhabitants of Bridgwater, and
seems to be an unaccountable eccentricity oven to th,
British public at large. Some people sympathise with
Mr. Lovibond, not only as the victim of an overstraine(l
sense of justice, but as a man suffering persecution for a ve-
nial if not a creditable action. Of course, the censure
passed upon Mr. Anstey by the judges gives really no sor
of sanction to this feeling. They would have said the
same if Mr. Lovibond had had been a swindler or a thief
but it is to be feared that the defeat of the investigator:
may be taken by ignorant constituents as more or less a
palliation of the crime, which is an additional cause L.

regretting Mr. Anstey's. intemperance, but also for acknov.
ledging that, in spite of his errors, he was really doini
good service.

If to be forewarned were always to be forarmed, say!
the Daily News, the disgraceful rioting and violence whit;
took place in South Yorkshire on Friday last would new.
have occurred. For some time past the parish of Chapel
town, an outlying suburb of the great bolough of Sheffleh:
has been in a condition of the greatest anarchy. A fort
night before the late riot public attention had been calle.
to the state of the parish by a smaller outbreak, and fa:
a day or two before the riot the lawless condition of the
neighbourhood had been made the subject of publi,
comment. The first feeling of the public on hearing o.
such an outrage as this is one of indignation. The firs:
impulse is to call for strong measures. But why were not
strong measur:s adopted earlier ? Where were the local
authorities, that disturbances such as have disgrace(
Chapel-town for months past were allowed to go on all!
gather to a head? Tne public do not wish to interfere in
trade disputes; what they wish is to see fair play on both,
sides, and to see law and order respected, and
the peace kept between them both. This has no.
been the case at Chapelstown. There a number
of working men have had to fight for the right to
work, and the authorities have thrown on their employers
the duty of protecting them. This is not law, but lawless
ness; not order, but anarchy; not respect for the liberty
of trade combination, but failure to protect the common
rights and liberties of the subject. We are, of course,
quite ready to accept any legitimate apology for the mis
guided rioters themselves. These men might ali
have been employed if they would have given ul.
their Union. But giving up their Union means,
in their view, giving up their bond of mutual hell.
and brotherhood. It is this feeling which is the strength,
of the unions, and which, alas! under the misguidance of
ignorance, becomes hostility to others. It is useless to
fight against it ; all that can be done, all that ought to be
done, is to repress its hostile manifestations, and mean,
while to elevate and enlighten it. Has not society some-
thing to answer for in this eipeet ? Has it altogether
done its duty by these men? Has it not left them in that
ignorance which is the parent of disorder?

The Standard declares that nothing could be more dis-
astrous to trade than such an outrage as is reported from
the neighbourhood of Sheffield. It not merely puts work-
ing men in the wrong; it distorts their claim and cause it
a mannsr to create even a worse prejudice than is excitee,
by the offence itself. Every one is aware that the labour
ing population of the cutlery capital have endured great
suffering of late ; but, enheppriy, the town and its vicinity
have a character in these affairs for lawlessness and
violence which its own journals confess. But in
the present instance the breach of peace was
committed, not by a:tisans, it was the work of a
colliery mob. They had made an attempt, several
week ago, to provoke a riot, and failed; yet they held to
their purpose, which was plainly to be avenged upon the
independence of the non-unionist men. And in the result
only a wonderful good fortune saved us from a spectacle of
murder and bloodshed. As it was, swords were drawn,
barricades erected, accumulations of clothing and domestic
provision annihilated, and in the end, while many have
been bitterly injured, not one solitary individual has been
benefited, or is likely to benefit, in the slightest degree.
The non-unionists will not join the union ; their earnings
will remain as before ; punishment will visit the rioters ;
and the industrial interest of the great county will not be
tallenC9.4.in RAY SicVll) whaql.St,

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Lif,l/11

HER MAJESTY,

OSBORNE, Jan. 23.

Her Majesty, accompanied by her Royal High-
ness Princess Beatrice, drove in the grounds yes-
terday afternoon.

LATEST INTELL MEN OEA

(REUTEn's TELEGRAMS.)

AMERICA.
(Per French Atlantic Cable.)

NEw ToRK„Tan. 22.
COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
CLOSING PRICES.

Gold closed at 12011 ; the highest quotation dur-
ing the day was 1204 ; the lowest, 1204.
Sterling Exchange on London • 1081.
5-20 U. S. Bonds, 1882 ll5l.
64 " 1885 ll5l.
1867 ll4l.
10-40 "
lllinois 139.
Erie 931.
Cotton—MO. upland 2slc.
Petroleum—Standard White
Flour, extra state,.ss.loc. to $5.70c. Corn, old
mixed, sl.2c.

INDIA AND CHINA MAIL.
SUEZ, Jan. 24.

The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamers
Rangoon left at 11 a.m. and the Simla at 1 p.m.
yesterday for Bombay and Calcutta respectively.

FRANCE.
BOURSE, Jan. 22.—Three o'clock—The mark.- t
closed as follows :

II per Cent.
3 per Cent
End of mouth 73 55
Credit Mobilier ~ 207 50
Transatlantic 2OO
)redit Foncier 1770
Paris Gas 1665
Suez Canal 345
RAILWA'
_ _

Bank Shares 2920
itaFan Elves 55 15
Austrian Fives
Ottoman Loan 317 50
Do. Debt 43 95
Spanish Threes 26 75
Home Debt 22 50
Deferred .
.YS.

Cast, __
Orleans ... 9711
Western .i 625
Northern ... ll3O
Strasburg • . 5934
Lyons and Mediterranean
Southern..... 6oBt
Sardinian
Austrian BOO
Lombard 5lO
.
North of Spain
SaragosEtt
Roman 4ll

LYCEUM THEATRE.

On Saturday evening this theatre opened under
the management of the Brothers Mansell. The
house has been thoroughly redecorated itt the most
elegant and tasteful manner; altogether such a
spirited opening gives the best promise for the
future, and the new managers have our best wishes
for their success. 'The two pieces selected for re-
presentation were bath new, the first being a
" comedy- drama" by Mr. Marshall, and the
second, " Chilperic," an opera bouffe by H rva.
The comedy-drama opened very favourably,
but after it had proceeded a short time it became
apparent that the author was over elaborating his
subject, and the result was anything but a success.
The plot turned as usual upon an unprincipled
scamp (Sir Victor Pearlstoce) endeavouring to re-
cover a squandered fortune by marriage with a
girl who he has accidentally discovered to be an
heiress. The two acts lasted nearly three hours,
but the audience, by way of encouragement to the
young author, sat it out quietly, but their
verdict at the conclusion was not a favour-
ibis one. The weariness produced by the
irst piece, however, instantly gave • way
on the appearance of Mrs. Keeley to speak
the opening address. The reception of this great
public favourite was of the warmest. description, and
her task having been admirably performed site
retired amidst enthusiastic appiause. The opera
bouffe then commenced and resulted in a triumph-
Ant success. Chilperic, King of the Gauls, accom-
panied by his brother Sigebert and his suite, while
anuting in the forest, consults the Druids as to the
chances of the war about to take place in the
king's domains. When they have finished these
transactions they come across a beautiful sliep-
tterdess, Fredegoudt-, with whom be falls desp,r-
ttely in love. Ile persuades her to accompany
him to his Royal palace, and there she
causes a great scandal. But when he has be-
come somewhat tired of her, a Spanish princess
is introduced, to whom the king is about to be
married, and thereupon the country beauty is
turned out. A war then takes place ouzaLte the
town, and through the fidelity of a f age the king
is not only able to subdue his enemies, but to dis •
cover an act of treachery which would have caused
the death of his new princess. In consideration of
the victory, however, all parties are forgiven, and a
joyful termination is the result. The entire music
A the opera is of the Offenbach style, and remark-
dale, for its sparkling brilliancy and melody. The
tuthor, M. Herve, supported the character of
.he ping, and made a must successful debut
both as a singer and actor. Miss Fitzluman,
,s the country girl, was particularly good, and
tliss Delano as the Princess 6-alsninda made a most
:avourable impression on the audience. Her voice
is clear, fresh, and remarkable for sweetness, and it
,s evident she has all the intelligence and taste to
make the best use of it. Miss Roinanelli also is de-
serving of high compliment, and, iu fact, all who
took part in the opera deserve great commendation.
the scenery, dresses, and entire mounting of the
piece was superb, and the enthusiastic ayplause
which followed the descent of the curtain was well
merited. Space prevents us entering at Largth
into the many beauties of the opera as a musical
composition, but certainly it is of the highest
order, and we congratulate M. Hera on his well-
deserved success. The house was crowded in every
cart.