The Sun.
London, England, 1851-12-27 00:00:00

Obi:lent= altlt

LONDON. SATURDAY. DECEMBER 27, 1851

Already the Absolutists are in ecstaciea at the ex-
pulsion of Viscount PALMERSTON from her MAJESTY'S
Government. The fact is significant. Scarcely has
the intelligence of the retirement of that Noble Lord
from the Cabinet reached Paris, when the Assemblie
Nationale breaks out into paeans of exultation. Now
the Assemblie Nationale [strange anachronism even
in name] is the organ of M. GLIZOT, and M. GUIZOT is
he mouthpiece of the tyrannical Governments of the En-
ropean Continent. The delight with which the journal
in question repeats the announcement of this political
crisis in England is a tolerably fair testimony of the

light in which it is regarded by the friends
of Northern Despotism. It is the very antithesis
to the emotion excited some two years since by
an administrative event equally unexpected. The
removal of PALMERSTON from office is the vengeance
wreaked for the ignominious downfall of MLTTER-
NICIL But it is a vengeance that must prove short-
lived. By effecting the change here spoken of, the
persons who have been long intriguing to bring about
an alliance between this Government and the deEpotic
Governments of the North, dream—credulous and
short-sighted visionaries as they are !—of placing the
heel of absolute authority on the prostrate liberties of
Christendom. Such xs the avowed anticipation of M.
GUIZOT, as expressed through the columns of
his Parisian newspaper—an anticipation cherished,
moreover, at this moment by those who sympathise
with him in his aspirations. As to the real and in-
evitable consequence of these transactions, we feel
that with the majority there cannot be much diversity
of opinion. The day has gone by that could witness
the revival of the system of government formerly
maintained by the bayonets of the allied Sovereigns.
Nations can no longer be hoodwinked by the pomp 3
of the KAISER, or by the terrors of the AUTOCRAT.
According to LAMARTINE the slope of Russia is
towards the east, while according to the proofs afforded
during the last half-century,the slope of the western
and neutral races of the continent is as certainly to-
wards Republicanism. Hence our confidence in the
result of any political changes or transformations that
may be effected either by the secret or avowed
enemies of the popular advancement. Whatever may
be the apparent retrograde tendency of those changes,
or of those transformations, we feel assured that in

the end they will turn to the material advantage
of the multitude and aid very marvellously
in the development of the principles of
Democracy. The hour has passed in which any
doubt could be entertained as to the nature of the
fulfilment of that famous prediction made by the most
wonderful man of modern times, the founder of a
dynasty, though the child of a revolution. Every-
one is familiar with that prophetic dictum pronounced

from his exile at St. Helena by the Emperor NAPO..
LEON, that before fifty years had elapsed Europe
would be either Cossack or Republican. The cele-
brity of those words has extended over the
surface of Christendom, and already the
fact has been rendered sufficiently appa-
rent that the western and central portion of the
continent has preferred the freedom secured by De-
mocracy to the abasement required by Autocracy.
The choice has been made. There remains no longer
a chance of its modification, any more than there is a
possibility of witnessing the addition of more than
two branches to an alternative. Yet the perversity
and blindness of the so•called Defenders of Order
lead them still to imagine that the awe in-
spired by power may triumph over the seduc-
tions of liberty. Madmen that they are,
they continue perpetually to renew the struggle
with their antagonists—accumulating additional
vengeance for themselves by the increasing atrocity
of their intrigues. The moment for warning has-
vanished.
We refrain, therefore, from bidding them
beware of ttle, punishment they are invoking upon
their own head% from so many
outraged and deceived
Punishment we believe to be now
inmatpieonndailnitgie. That
The final.s
act of the friends and pro-
moters of Absolutism has triturated almost to the
last fibre the thread suspending the sword of the poli-
tical DAMOCLES.
Beyond what we have hitherto remarked .
refer-
ence to the late extraordinary events at Paris and
at
London, there are other obiervations to which we would
earnestly direct the attention of the general Com-
munity. The coup d'etat of Louis NAPOLEON was
an effort—and happily by no means an unsuccessful
one—to strangle the latest, and in many respects the
worst, of all the sinister conspiracies of Absolutism—
of Absolutism allied with Socialism. The coup (taut
of " the GREY Iniquity," is an effort to redeem for
Absolutism the ground lost by the sudden and com-
plete triumph of the French PRESIDENT, and an effort,
the success of which yet remains to be accomplished.
The sympathies of Lord PALataasToN were with the
former of these two remarkable movements, and he
was consequently rendered the victim of the latter.

The correctness of what we are here asserting is

visible in all directions, is a matter of notoriety on
all lips, and is nowhere more clearly demonstrated
than in the organs of Absolutism both in England
and on the Continent. For these reasons we be-
hold the attacks directed against the late Foreign
Secretary of Great Britain both in the Times and in
the Assemblee Nationale. We listen, moreover, to
the vituperations showered upon the head of the
twice elected of more than six millions of
Republicans. The deduction to be drawn
from all these facts is obvious. Viscount PALMERS-
TON has been ousted from the Cabinet becauae he was
the only Minister in it whose policy was at once
national and cosmopolitan—national in maintaining
the dignity of the country, and cosmopolitan in pre-
serving a friendly alliance throughout Christendom.
He was abandoned by his colleagues because he was
the only one amongst them who would not consent to
truckle to the insolent requisitions of Northern
Absolutism, because he aspired to witness the
continued vindication of the freedom of
contemporary nationalities, because the prin-
ciples upon which he conducted his foreign
administration were those of conscience, c)n-
sistency, and patriotism. He was removed from
power because he applauded the proceedings by which
Louis NAPOLEON on the 2nd of December effectu-
ally crushed the alliance between despotism and
anarchy, between Absolutism and Socialism, between
the worst and bitterest enemies of Society and Civili-
zation. Our sympathies are consequently to the full
with the late Foreign Secretary in her MAJesTY's
Government, and we look to the fact of his temporary
expulsion from power as in reality one eminently,
though in regard to its authors unintentionally,
calculated to forward the cause simultaneously of
Order and of Freedom—the cause sanctioned by no
less, in all likelihood, than from seven to eight mil-
lions of votes, the votes yielded through ballot and
through universal suffrage by the adult French popu-
lation.

There appears to be a firm determination on the
part of the Irish people to resist the sacerdotal do-
mination with which they have been threatened. The
arrogant ukase of Father COOPER, of Marlborough-
street Chapel, or, as is has been denominated, " The
RockiteNotice" of the Reverend Gentleman to the edi-
tor of the Freeman's Journal, has attracted universal at-
tention, and received as universal condemnation. The
novel censorship of the press, thus attempted to be
introduced, has, as may easily be imagined, been re-
pudiated with disdain, and something more, by
journalists of all shades and varieties of_-political
opinions. Even those who were willing to surrender
the education of their children into the hands of the
priesthood, who were ready to abandon the cause
of mixed and unsectarian education—once so
loudly praised—are yet startled by the
attack upon free journalism. The vital im-
portance of a free press is too well known
to permit of its being given up without a
struggle. Accordingly, "the protesting" party have
gained considerable strength from the rash and im-
politic missive.
We have extracted into another part of this day's
impression an article from an esteemed and talented con-
temporary, the Southern Reporter, which so fully and
ably disposes of the question, that any additional ar-
gument on the point would be mere surplusage. The
Southern Reporter has ever maintained its independence,
it has ever assumed a poiition in the vanguard in free-
dom's battles; it has manfully and faithfully held
its ground without truckling or time-serving, .and
has never sacrificed for a single moment principle to
expediency. Its testimony, then, is peculiarly valua-
ble, for we may be well assured that it is given
honestly and conscientiously, and that the opinions
therein expressed have not been influenced by fear or
prejudice, favour or affection. We may ourselves
differ in many points from our contemporary ; when
we do so we are sure of meeting a fair and straight-
forward opponent ; while, in the far more
numerous cases in which we are arrayed
under the same banner, we hail with pleasure
the assistance of an ally in every respect so vigorous
and efficient.

Mr. COOPER will not speedily forget the comments
which his extraordinary missive has elicited from the
Southern Reporter, which justly expresses its as-
tonishment " at the audacity of its tones and the in-
discretion of the writer." The idea " that any
journalist, not reduced to the condition of absolute
servitude" should be capable of submitting to the
preposterous and dictatorial command, is justly
ridiculed ; but it was, perhaps, not so "pre-
eminently absurd " as the supposition that
"the country at large was sunk to such a
point of baseness, as to concede that he
was justified in issuing them." " A grosser insult
to the intelligence and independence of Catholic Irish-
men (adds our contemporary) we really could not
conceive possible."
" Who, or what, we should like to know, (it asks in
a fine spirit of indignation) is Mr. COOPER, that he
dares to forbid the publication, by the Irish press, of
an appeal to the Irish people, by certain of their re-
presentatives, on a subject in which they are imme-
diately and seriously concerned ? By' hat authority
does he assume to intermeddle in the busi-
ness? Is it as curate of one of the metro-
politan churches that he constitutes himself censor
of the press?" It then adds—" But, as it is hardly
probable that he acted in his simple capacity of
curate, in what other did he warn' the Freeman ?
Is he Censor of the Press' in petto Does the Pri-
mate intend the Reverend Gentleman for this distin-
guished post ? If so, we must warn' him that he
has made a great blunder, in anticipating the period
of his appointment. Ireland has not yet been ultra.,
montanised' enough to begin this sort of work. Our
countrymen have been accustomed so long to so
much freedom of the press, at least, as consists in the
publication of letters from patriotic M.P.'s, that they
will by no means understand Mr. COOPER'S mode of
dealing with them. It would demand, at least, a few
years' acquaintance with the curriculum of the uni_
versify that is to be, to bring their minds into accord.
ance with that of the metropolitan curate."
This is speaking out plainly and intelligibly. It
proves that the Irish people are not reduced to that
state of slavery which their implacable enemie s and
unceasing calumniators pretend to deplore. Who is
there that could say the men who conceived or re•
ciprocated these sentiments are not fitted for the enjoy-
ment of every political privilege, or that they will
surrender their opinions into the hands of their
pastors, and submit to be led blindfolded at
the mere will and pleasure of a domineering
priesthood ? No. They respect their clergy in
the performance of their sacred duties, and
in everything with which they can legitimately in-
terfere, but the moment a despotic power is assumed,
or attempted to be assumed, then the people will
boldly and manfully assert their rights, and laugh
to scorn the puny attempts of the would-be tyrants.
We trust that other Irish journals will follow the
noble example afforded by the Southern Reporter, and
that they will, one and all, repel the audacious and
insolent attack of the curate, writing in the name and
under the authority of the Roman Catholic Primate,
with similar spirit and ability to that displayed by
our respected. contemporary.

SMOKE TR TUE CITY OF LONDON.-0a Friday
next a provision in the new City Sewers Act with respect to
smoke from furnaces will come into force. It is enacted by
the 48th section " that from and after the Ist of January,
1852, every Furnace employed or to be employed in the
working of engines by steam, and every furnace employed
or to be employed in any mill, factory, printing-house, dye-
house, irontoundry, glasshouse, distillery, brewhouse, bake-
'house, gasworks, waterworks, or other buildings used for
the purposes of trade or manufacture within the City,
although a team-engine be not used or employed therein,
shall in all crises be constructed or altered so as to consume
the smoke rc:ising from such furnace, and if any person
shall, after the let of January, use such furnace which shall
not be cons tructed so as to consume or burn its own smoke,
or shall so. negligently use any such furnace as that the
smoke arish Ig therefrom shall not be effectually consumed or
burnt, or ab carry on any trade or business which shall
occasion an, y noxious or offensive effluvie, or otherwise an-
noy the nei
.ghbourhood or inhabitants, without using to the
satisfaction el the commissioners the best practicable means
oin:e of Canada
A f :tee; .
osotnprsreventi ng or counteracting such annoyance, every per-
,:ltihnagns4hoa3l.l ffoorrfeaintd in and
rpeasypecat
osuf meyneoryt
daym oredurn
thanig
which, or a ny part d
51., n
which, such furnace or annoyance shall
Six per Cent. Deben-
tures was 14 de yesterday to the extent of 400,0001. at the
be so usedura
ter reo
issue
price of 103, the whole of which were taken up immediately
by private (g ipitalists. The dividends date from the let of
March nest, and the principal is redeemable at Baring's and
Glyn's, in I i. 176. About twenty months back similar deben-•
tures to the aatount of 450,000/. were negotiated at par, the
price of Con vol, being then 96.