The Sun.
London, England, 1851-09-03 00:00:00

EVENING,

LONDON,

SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS. similar circumstances, to pursue a similar course
FEOM THE MORNING PAPERS OF THIS DAY. The Prince de Joinville proclaims in stentorian tones
TIMES —Tne singular uncertainty of the reports that be cares nothing for France—that self is with
from Cuba, though forbidding any conclusions re- him the great ruling principle—and that if he can
specting the immediate destinies of that much- ' only thereby subserve his own private ends, he cares
coveted island, leaves the general aspect of its politics not what disastrous results to the country may spring
substantially unaffected. The truth is that the peril from the suspense which is felt as to what the course
is constant, though the moment of convulsion may of events under his inspiration will be. "He would,
be undeterminable. Whether the actual Government and he would not." lie would be a candidate, and yet he
of the colony may or may not be presently over- shrinks from the open avowal of being a Presidential
thrown is a question of mere conjecture, but it is a aspirant. This undecided, unstraightforward conduct
fact beyond disguise that it exists from year to year must not only diminish but extinguish whatever
under conditions of incessant exposure to the very respect may have been hitherto felt for him. It must
same dangers which are menacing it now. The also do great injury to the Orleans family. He is
island of Cuba is a possession of vast territorial value compromising others, as well as himself, by the course
dependent on a Power of declining rank and feeble he is pursuing. He is creating a prejudice against
resources ; it lies contiguous to one of the most vigo• the entire Orleans family, which must prove eminently
rous and aggressive States of the world, and the cir- prejudicial, if not fatal, to their pretensions to the
cumstances of its internal politics are such as to first magistracy of France, at any future period.
create in fatal abundance the elements of revolutionary Even had the other members of the family disap-
explosion. It is thus perhaps hardly probable that its proved of that course, they would still have been
Government can long remain unchanged, and yet the sufferers from it ; but the injury which it will
I greatest difficulties are discernible in every proposal entail on them will be doubly great when the fact
for commuting either its tenure or its constitu- transpires, as it forthwith will, that they are parties
Lion. The parties concerned in the solution of to it. They approve of it, and must, therefore, share
the problem are four in number—the Govern- in the responsibility. They are not merely suspected
men ts of Spain and America, the free inhabitants of the of concurring in the double-dealing of the Prince
island, and its slave population. The Spanish Crown de Joinville with respect to the Presidency ; but
clings to this relic of its colonial dominion with the the fact is proved. They have been convicted of
combined tenacity of avarice and pride, and its here- the crime—for such we regard it—against France.
ditary rights are guaranteed by Powers which would The Times of yesterday, through means of a corn-
be bound to their duties by private interests no less munication from Paris, which that journal authenti-
than treaty obligations. The American Government cates, by the very form in which the communication
is not perhaps disposed to wrong, hut is powerless is ushered into the world, makes an unreserved
against the American people, and the American revelation on this subject. Our contemporary gives
people are wholly undisciplined in the duty of sub- the day and the dates of the conversation which
ordinating national passions to public law. The white he describes. The circumstances, too, under which
population, in number about 400,000, is discontented the interview between M. Guizot and tbe Duke de
with the Imperial yoke, and impatient for political Nemours, in the presence of a great many other
freedom, but apprehensive, at the same time, of slave persons, took place, are given with a minuteness
insurrection, against which it recognises the only per- which is a guarantee for their scrupulous accuracy.
manent security in the arms of the Imperial garrison. The meeting took place at Claremont, on the 27th
The slaves amount to about 325,000, but of this of August, the day on which a great many of the
number nearly two-thirds sue adult males, so that in most devoted friends of Louis Philippe had assem-
the event of a collision their force would inconteste bled there, from all parts of France, to commemo-
ably predominate. On further inquiry, however, it rate the anniversary of his death. M. Guizot, in
seems quite impracticable to discover Into what coin- the presence of them all, and in the presence, too,
binations these several elements of power, are of the ex-Queen, the Duchess d'Orleans, the Duchess
to enter—with what aims, or with what pros- de Nemours, and other members of the exiled
pects of success. The Americans are for up- family, inquired of the Duke de Nemours the views
setting the existing institutions, and trusting for of the Prince de Joinville, and the members of his
the ultimate result to those laws of gravitation family, with regard to the impending election for
and attraction which are operative in political no less the Presidency of the Republic. The Duke de
than dynamical science. Their cry is republicanism Nemours' reply was, that the policy of the Prince
and independence, and with independent Republicans would be a policy of abstention. He did not mean
they profess themselves ready to fraternize against all to move in the matter. The answer was deemed
adversaries whatsoever. But this cry issues chiefly unsatisfactory by Guizot, and by all who were
from the slave States of the Union, so that all the co- present. The question was then put in
loured population of the island, whether slave or free, plain terms, and it was intimated that the
would be enlisted from the strongest personal inte- friends of the Orleans family had a right to a
rests against these intolerant oppressors of the negro plain answer. Such a question, as our contemporary
race, and it is possible that for the time they might remarks, addressed directly and firmly, though re-
even make common cause with the Spanish troops. spectfully, under circumstances so peculiar, could not
The party of Cuban independence, or, as they are be evaded. The Duke de Nemours was compelled
termed, the "patriots," could of course look to Ame- to be more explicit. He was forced to admit, that
rican sympathizers only for the aid which might be while he had not declared himself to be a candidate,
found desirable against the forces of the Monarchy, nor authorised any one to put up his name as such,
but their success, if obtained, could only be secured yet that, on the other hand, he had not prohibited his
by annexation, and to annexation there would on this friends from bringing him forward, nor disowned
same score of slave institutions occur objectione almost their acts when they had done so. And be it ob-
insurmountable. Meantime the Federal Government served, that this course of procedure on the part of
is sorely disconcerted by the conflict between its the Prince is not only not repudiated by the Royal
manifest duties and its probable necessities. It Family at Claremont, but is directly approved of by
shares, perhaps, the traditional sentiments of the them. It was vindicated by the Duke de
Union regarding the prospective acquisition, but Nemours, by the ex-Queen, by the Duchess
it also acknowledges the obligations of public right, d'Orleans, and the Duchess do Nemours.
and it is sensible in a greater degree than democratic There is good ground, in the absence of actual posi-
orators of the accountability of all Powers, great or tive proof, that the line of conduct pursued by the
small, to European opinion. It is manifestly impo- Prince de Joinville has the special approval of all the
tent, however, to check the practical aggressions of members of the Orleans family. France, at any rate,
its own subjects, and few persons can anticipate that will come to that conclusion, and she cannot be blamed
in event of "a conquest" by such agency it could re- for doing so. The fact, then, stares us full in the
sist the popular demand for securing the prize. As face, that in the intensity of the selfish views of this
an escape from these intricate liabilities it has been son of Louis Philippe, he is quite prepared, should he
some time since suggested that the United States see any chance of success, to plunge his country into
should deal by Spain in respect of Cuba as they dealt a sea of the most frightful troubles, in his anxiety to
by France in respect of Louisiana—that is to say, obtain the Presidency. Nor does ha reck the means
conclude a regular bargain of sale. If the resources by which the object he has in view may be accom-
of Spain are inadequate to the preservation of the plished. He knows it could only be by an alliance
colony, and if its honour revolts against a submission with the Socialists and Red Republicans, who would
to violence, what alternative more natural than to sell be willing to abet his plans, not because they are
for a fair consideration what is liable at any moment friendly to him, but because they cherish an intense
to be lust without one ? Even the sum which might dislike to Louis Napoleon. They do not love the
reasonably constitute the purchase-money Prince de Joinville, but they hate the present occu-
-100,000,000 dolls.—has been mentioned, and though pant of the Presidential chair. It is only, we repeat,
the amount seems large, yet as the annual revenues of by an unholy and unnatural alliance with these
the colony are already computed at 20,000,000 dolls., desperate demagogues that the Prince de Joinville
and would undoubtedly admit of a large augmentation could have the most slender hopes of success. And
under abler management, the bargain could certainly yet he is quite ready, perfectly prepared, to form an
not be disadvantageous to the purchasers. Against this alliance with the enemies alike of all morality and
suggestion, however, it has to be observed, that there of society,—the unrelenting enemies, moreover, of
is scarcely any party whose views would be met by his father, Louis Philippe. Though the passive can-
the transactions. The Spanish Government might didature of the Prince, under these circumstances, is
object to the compulsory tender, its allies would al- well calculated to create alarm in France, because its
most infallibly do so, the colonists might resist a success would be tantamount to the ascendancy of
transfer in which they were treated as ascripti gleba, Atheism and Anarchy, yet we feel persuaded that in
while as to the Americans we are now plainly told the end, the thing will prove eminently advantageous
that this intelligent people might very likely be indis- to the cause of Louis Napoleon. If there had been a
posed to buy what they have so fair a prospect of ob- doubt before in any one's mind, as to the propriety of
taining gratis. Over and above these considerations re-electing Louis Napoleon, there can be none now.
it has recently been argued with some acuteness, He will not, in the coining contest, be opposed, as on
though singular tardiness of perception, that the ac- the last occasion, by a genuine Republican, and an
quisition of Cuba would, after all, be prejudicial to the ingenuous honourable man. Instead of Caveignac,
interests of the Union, or to those, at any rate, of the the stern and true Republican, his opponent this time
States which have hitherto been most influential in will he a Monarchist, under the transparent guise of
kindling agitation on the subject. The reasoning Republicanism—one whom all, the friends of order
given is as follows e—As slavery is only maintained will oppose, and whose whole strength will be in the
in the States by domestic propagation, and as these tupport which the more desperate characters in the
means of increase have proved insufficient to aug- faubourgs can render to him. What the worth of
went, or occasionally even to maintain, the number that support will be we need not stay to state.
of the slave population, any speculation creating a Neither need we mention what the result of a contest
clew demand for slaves to be employed in fresh with Louis Napoleon will be, should the Prince de
localities must speedily denude the slave States of Joinville be so profligate and imprudent as fairly to
their negroes and assimilate them to their rivals of the embark in it.
north. If California, for example, had been recog- DAILY NE W S.—A fearful visitation has befel-
nised as a slave state, these unfortunate creatures len the kingdom of Naples. The villages and towns
would undoubtedly hove been drained oft to the north- of one entire region have been laid in ruins by the
west coast of the Pacific, where their labour would sudden and repeated shocks of an earthquake. At
have been far more remunerative than on the partially Torento many dwellings were overthrown in a few
exhausted plantations of the south. Still more cer- moments. For many miles round, in the district of
tainly would this occur in the event of the annexation Basilicata, the fatal convulsion of nature spread terror
of Cuba. The novelty of the acquisition and the and dismay, while at Bari and Melfi whole streets
allurements of sugar planting would for a time make and all the principal buildings were levelled to the
the people of the States "Cuba-mad," the value of
slaves would be enhanced 25 per cent., and the drain, ground, hundreds, if not thousands, of human victims
being overwhelmed in their fall. No previous pertur-
as an inevitable consequence, would tend to the island bation of the elements seems to have presaged the ap-
from the American main. None of the frontier proach of the relentless foe. The summer air was
states, indeed, could be expected to resist, and it is the calm, and the clear wave broke upon the strand as it
opinion of a journal " sincerely anxious to preserve had done every morn and eve for 70 years before.
slave institutions in the American Union," that, Household traditions had indeed preserved the tale of
" should Cuba be annexed, slavery will cease within
similar disasters some time about the year 1789 ; but
five years thereafter to have more than a nominal the details of horror had long since come to be re-
existence in Delaware, Virginia, Maryland garded as almost fabulous among an illiterate and
tucky, Missouri, and perhaps Tennessee. " Itre enjoying people. The difficulty of realising such
should receive," adds the article in question, a catastrophe is of itself so great, that simple folk
"an insular increase of slavery, it Is true, may easily be forgiven their practical incredulity.
of over 300,000 head, but would that coin- Let any book-learned and unfeeling cynic try to
pensate us for the Congressional territorial imagine or explain to others how the earth, without
and numerical strength of which we shall indubitably opening her mouth, can suddenly seem as though
be deprived ?" These curious arguments are interest- she had swallowed up the busy multitude that
ing, as exemplifying the endless perplexities contin- laugh and sing upon her bosom, so that in an in-
gent on institutions so unnatural as those of slavery,
stant they go down into the pit—and we shall
and they may, perhaps, be not without weight in the then believe that it is possible readily to conceive
eyes of those to whom they are addressed. We can-
the panic and consternation of those who have
not, however, anticipate that any such considerations escaped hurt or unhurt from such a scene. Nor let
will influence the desperadoes in whose hands peace or
the cold and sceptic temperament on which, perhaps,
war may prove to be lodged for the present. The we are sometimes too apt to plume ourselves in this
object of these marauders is plunder, and their pur- chillier latitude cif, ours, judge too superciliously or
pose piracy—scarcely disguised by pretexts of political
too severely the feelings wherewith the circumstance
propagandism, and but poorly excused by that rest- above adverted to is dwelt upon, that it was at the
lessness of the national character which renders it beginning of the prolonged convulsion of political
impossible for an American to remain contented at
Europe, a like portent visited the trembling realm of
home. The adventurers actually departed on this
southern Italy. Superstition, whether social or reli-
flagitious enterprise arc not perhaps numerous, but a
pious, is sad enough to contemplate; we are among
little spark may kindle a conflagration in a comma-
the last that would say a word in palliation of the
nity so constituted as that of Cuba, and there is too
much blame justly ascribable to the systems of misrule that
reason to fear that means are at hand to improve
generate its existence. We can infinitely more readily
the first successes, as well as to shield the offenders
forgive the constitutional perjuries of the court of
in case of failure from the due penalties of their crime.
Caserta, and the baseness of its vassalage to trans-
ADVERTISER.—The feeling of gloom which alpine tyranny, than the deadening and demoralising
has for some time past prevailed in Paris has not yet system of ignorance in which it deliberately holds
subsided. Nor is it likely it will, so long as the down its subjects. To tie or maim a people's hands is
Presidential question remains in its present state. We guilt enough ; but to tamper with its eyesight is
stated a fortnight ago that the belief in the the sin against the spirit of mercy, justice, and free-
best informed circles in Paris then was, that the dom, for which there is no forgiveness. Nevertheless,
Prince de Joinville had withdrawn his pretensions to if so be that government and governed are thus per-
the Presidential chair, and that, consequently, one mitted to subsist, and that the gloomy shadow of
great cause of uneasiness had been removed. The intellectual darkness overlays the land, may not one
cience
i
Parisian public reasoned in the same way. In the suppose that out of the depths a voice of con s
refusal of the Prince to allow himself to be put in may perchance arise, warning despotism of its ap-
nomination for the Presidency, they discerned a pointed destiny, and " checking the exuberance of its
marked improvement in the position of political riot ?" If the King of Naples or his accomplice
affairs, and the funds, as a natural consequence, im- councillors fear not the God who bath made all men
mediately improved. It appears, however, that both equally in his own image, and if they are deaf to the
ourselves and the people of Paris were mistaken in shout of shame with which all emancipated Christen-
supposing that he had declined to become a candidate dom rings on account of their " cowardly and savage
for the seat which Louis Napoleon now fills. He has cruelty' to the political dupes of their sworn profes-
since then been playing fast and loose—seeking to sions of constitutionalism, is it not conceivable that a
run with the hare and hold with the hounds. He rag of conscience may still be left, that an indistinct
does not openly avow himself a candidate for the Pre- and shapeless recollection of the fate which seventy
sidency of the Republic ; but neither, on the years ago befell their predecessors in oppression, may
other hand, does he disavow the fact of his being recur to their minds, and that the physical calamity
in the field. He is attempting to please two may have startled them from their day-dream of
of the leading sections into which France irresponsible power, were it hut for an hour ? We
is divided those who think he ought to venture not to preach to such impenitents from so
stand, and those of the friends of his family who terrible a text. We loathe the dull
.presumption
think he ought not. To the former he will not admit that arrogates to itself the right of Judging the
that he is not in the field ; to the others he will not inscrutable visitations of Providence, and labelling
acknowledge that he is. Such conduct is disingenu- them as special punishments for this or the other
ous and impolitic in the extreme. It displays a want error of mankind. But it is nowise inconsistent
of candour and straightforwardness of conduct which with the humility and charity of the principles in
must very much lower the Prince in the estimation question, that we should hope, even against hope,
of all those, in every-part of Europe, who are capable that a Sovereign whose ears are smitten with the
of appreciating honesty, ingenuousness, and manli- funeral dirge of myriad-, of his people, on whom,
peasprinciple- No one can respect this scion of amid the hum of peaceful industry, the sun hat'n sud-
the of
house of Orleans when they find him pursuing a denly gone down while it nee yet day—should be
course so utterly unworthy of the position which he conscience smitten too, and driven to reflect, remorse-
fills, and so directly at variance with the universally fully, on the course to which he has so long and reek-
received notions of what constitutes high and honour- lessly given himself up. The King of Naples is a
able conduct. The very humblest peasant in France Bourbon; can any member of that doomed family
would feel lowered in his own estimation were he, in lay his head upon his pillow without remembering
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