The Sun.
London, England, 1851-10-28 00:00:00

THE SUN,

CASABLANCA that was confided the task of collect-
ing together the " illustrious obscure," who
form the Cabinet ; and as M. CASABIANCA is
known in public life solely for the blind, unreasoning
canine, like fidelity with which he has attached him-
self to the fortunes of M. LOUIS NAPOLEON BONA-
PARTE, the instincts (we cannot is such a case call
them principles) of the colleagues of M. CASABLANCA
may be easily guessed. That the policy of the new
Cabinet will be, therefore, the exclusively personal
policy of the PRESIDENT of the Republic is abun-
dantly evident, and he has, therefore, now an oppor-
tunity of showing to France and to the world
what his principles really are ; whether he still
entertains the Socialist doctrines propounded
in his works published during his captivity
at Ham, or whether he has been converted
by the politico-economical arguments of M. LEON
FAUCHER ; whether he still approves of the policy
laid down in his letter to M. EDGAR NET, or whether
he is now prepared, in conjunction with M. MONTA-
LEMBERT, to make a campaign of Rome in the in-
terim ; at all events he must now, unless he wishes to
be utterly ruined as a political man, adopt some one
decided line of policy and maintain it. He has pur-
sued the plan of compromise and vacillation so long,
that he has materially damaged that reputation for
wisdom, which his silent impassibility had acquired
for him at the commencement of his career; the time
is passed when republican hostility can he dis-
armed by liberal writing at the same time
that reactionary support can be secured by despotic
acts, the ruse of writing a liberal letter to an unac-
credited diplomatist at Rome, and at the same time
delivering up the educational freedom of France to
the Jesuits, cannot be practised a second time, as M.
Louts NAPOLEON BONAPARTE has already found to
his cost. His declaration in favour of universal suf-
frage, coupled as it was with the declaration of the
state of siege of the departments of the Cher and
Nievre, was an attempt at a repetition of the ruse of
two years since, which has signally failed.
The Ordre declare„ that the PRESIDENT before
the formation of this Ministry sent for M.,llucos, and
offered to him that, whilst the Presidential Message
should contain an absolute demand for the abrogation
of the law of the 31st May, it should be competent
to the Ministry to propose to the Assembly merely a
modification of that law. We cannot believe that
the PRESIDENT could have been guilty of such an
act of egregious folly. Such a proposition can only
be regarded as an act of political suicide. The
PRESIDENT has chosen his part, and he must abide
by it; his only chance of escaping from political an-
nihilation is to demand purely and unconditionally
the repeal of the law of the 31st of May, and taking
issue with the Assembly on that point, and on that
only, to conduct the controversy strictly within
the legal terms of the Constitution, so that in May,
1852, he may be enabled to go to the constituencies
as a candidate, not for the Presidency of the Republic,
but for a seat in the new National Assembly, as the
representative of the principle of universal suffrage.

That the forthcoming session of Parliament is to
be inaugurated by a new Reform Bill may be re-
garded as a matter of almost perfect certainty. The
PREMIER has long since discarded the notions of
" finality," that at one period threatened to prove de-
structive to his fame as a Liberal Minister. He has
not only recognised the propriety of a large extension
of the franchise, and the abolition of the property
qualification for Members of the Commons House
of Parliament, but he has deliberately pledged him-
self to introduce a measure comprising these
points. A more solemn undertaking could not
have been given to an expectant people, and
we think not so meanly of Lord Jouß Rus-
SELL as to suppose it possible that he could even for a
single moment contemplate any evasion of his volun-
tary promise. There can be no doubt, therefore, that
a Bill will be introduced, but there our knowledge
terminates. Beyond that we are completely in the
dark, nor is it probable that any authentic informa-
tion will be received on the subject until the author
of the modern charter of the national liberties shall
enunciate the Ministerial views and intentions respect-
ing the necessary supplement to that just and salutary
measure in the representative branch of the Legis-
lature.

But it is not the public only that are ignorant of
the: nature and extent of the contemplated measure.
We believe that the Ministers themselves are at this
moment involved in equal obscurity, that no practi-
cal decision has yet been arrived at on the point.
Much will depend on the popular feeling and on the
popular demonstrations by which that feeling may be
made clear and intelligible in the darkest recesses of
" the Cabinet." We might place some degree of con-
fidence in Lord JOHN RUSSELL himself, and if the
matter rested solely in his hands, that he was to carry
out his own opinions without let or hindrance,
there might be some reason for awaiting patiently
the denouement. But, unfortunately, we can place
no such reliance on some of the colleagues of the
Noble Lord. There is a clique in the Cabinet,
which, although it might not venture to support re-
actionary measures, would, if practicable, arrest the
progress of all useful legislation, and would maintain
the most glaring abuses in rank luxuriance. If the
more liberal members of the Government be
not supported by the voice of public opi-
nion, the do- nothing section will cripple and
neutralize the moat energetic efforts of their
enlightened colleagues, and emasculate the anxi-
ously looked-for Bill, which, in place of being
received with joy and gratitude, will excite only feel-
ings of mingled disgust and indignation.
The persons thus ready for mischievous inter-
ference on every favourable opportunity are, however,
fortunately made of the most "squeezable materials."
As they will yield to nothing, however equitable or
expedient, unless enforced by " the pressure from
without," so they are prepared to surrender their
most cherished opinions, to step forward briskly,
when stimulated by that wholesome pressure; not
possessing much principle themselves, they will yield
a slavish submission to " expediency." Although they
would gladly annihilate the democratic element in the
British Constitution, and make the liberties of
England depend on the stipulations of "a snug
family compact," they would, on the other hand, go
any lengths if their own retention of place, power,
and emolument were involved in the result. In
plain language, they will give as little as they
possibly.can, but they will concede whatever they see
that the people are determined on obtaining, with or
without the agency of a Whig Ministry.
Under such circumstances, meetings similar to
that held at the Town-hall, Bury, Lancashire, on
Friday last, are peculiarly valuable. There was an
earnest determination exhibited to obtain a measure
adequate to the emergency, which cannot fail to in-
fluence the minds of the Ministerial waverers, and to
stimulate the hangers-back. The first resolution
submitted to the meeting, which was carried unani-
mously amid the most rapturous and enthusiastic
acclamations, fairly embodied the views of all true
Reformers, and may be adopted as a model and pre-
cedent for future declarations in the meetings—the
numerous and influential meetings—which, we hope
and believe, are yet to take place throughout the
length and breadth of the land. After alluding to the
promise of Lord Jone RUSSELL to introduce a
measure of Parliamentary reform, and call-
ing on the people to lose no time in
e electoral
thattnr
aaladyistricts
giving expression to their wishes, the meeting de-
clared measure which does not re-arrange
the
tenemein t, extendpratee tth
the
efr
voter
en
tcahri franchise tt oh
e everybal
occupier of a.
lot, shorten the duration of Parliament and abolish
the property qualification resjuired of 11, embers, will
fail to satisfy the just expectations of the people—will
be ineffectual in preventing the corruption,
elections,on,intimi-
intimi-
dation, and oppression now prevailing at
and in securing the full and free representation of
towns should
This
eipa people liendienedth, ethCe otmrumtbon; sanHd oifusaetheere
laentdheuvsearffded
every one
at Bury, we
of " the points" so
enmo udloauteb
tt
thhea texeaamchp
clearly and distinctly put forward may be obtained
in a greater or less degree. The electors of Bury
have peculiar cause of complaint of the
duration of Parliament. They have been for
many years partially disfranchised, because
ens of chosen representatives wanted either
leisure or inc
dutieslinatio n
n histeotteerteeed to
seat: and to discharge
the
importanthis charge by Lis
fellow ourge-ises.
Unfortunately, we are unable to notice at any
length the eloquent and impassioned addressee of the

LONDON,

gentlemen who attended as a deputation from the
National Parliamentary and Financial Reform Asso-
ciation. The speeches of Mr. W. J. Fox, M.P.,
and of Mr. TYNDAL ATKINSON, the eminent barrister,
(of the Northern Circuit), which will be found in
another part of this day's impression, are eminently
worthy of a calm and attentive perusal, and dispas-
sionate, and unbiassed consideration. Mr. Fox was
eloquent, brilliant, and impressive, while his talented
coadjutor, Mr. ATKINSON, exposed the fruits that
spring from the corrupt and demoralizing system, and
gave the soundest advice to the middle and working
classes, to forget or disregard minor differences,
and to unite against the common enemy
Mr ATKINSON was peculiarly felicitous on the pen-
sions payable to illegitimate descendants of that pious
and amiable monarch CHARLES IL, out of the Post-
office and Excise revenues. Where such things are
still sanctioned and tolerated, it is manifest that
there must be something radically wrong in the
existing system, and that a large and comprehensive
measure of Parliamentary reform is imperatively
required to remove those blots from the national
statute-book.

THE FRENCH REPUBLIC.

We have received the Paris journals of yesterday.
The Moniteur publishes a list of the new Ministry,
which we have given in another column.
The drawing of the lottery of Lingots d'Or is fixed
for Sunday, Nov. 16.
The PBE3IDENT of the Republic has approved of
a decree by the ex-Minister of the Interior, M. L.
FAUCHER, dated October 12, by which it has
decided, in order to attempt to remove the com-
plaints made of the immoral and dangerous po-
litical tendency, and the literary imperfections of
a great number of theatrical pieces, that the fol-
lowing prizes shall be annually given :—A sum
of five thousand francs to the author of a successful
dramatic work in four or five acts, in prose or verse,
represented at the Theatre Francais, and which shall
be moral in character and brilliant in execution. A
sum of three thousand francs, to a piece of the like
character, of less than four acts, represented with
success at the same theatre. A sum of five thou-
sand francs to the author of the work in four or five
acts, in prose or verse, represented with success at
any theatre at Paris, or even, if given for the first
time in a provincial theatre, " which shall be
of a nature to serve in the instruction of the labour-
ing classes, by the propagation of sound ideas, and
the spectacle of good examples." A sum cf three
thousand francs to the author of any such piece of
less than four acts, represented with success in any
Pariiien or provincial theatre. A commission, con-
sisting of the director of the department of fine arts,
of four members of the academy, and of four members
of the commission of the theatres, is to make a report
on the pieces to be recompensed, and the Minister is
to choose the author from the list it is to present. The
funds are to be taken from the subvention of the
Theatre Francais, and from the budget of the
Fine Arts. _

3/.1. DE WILDERMETH, Prefect of Oran, bas been
appointed Prefect of the department of the Hautes
Pyreheea, in the room of N. MASSY, who is nominated
a member of the Council of Prefecture of the depart-
ment of the Seine. _ _

A letter from Paris, in the Independance of Brus-
sels, dated Saturday, says—"A meeting was, it is
said, held eight days since at the house of M. MOLE, at
which it was resolved not to show too much hos-
tility to the PRESIDENT, from the fear of driving
him too far towards the Left. Two days
after, in a meeting of the same persons, it
was resolved, on account of the undecided
conduct of the PRESIDENT of the Republic,
to advance and to carry the war on the Elysean ter-
ritory. What is more positive, is the resolution taken
yesterday by the Legitimatise Committee. This com-
mittee is composed, as is known, of twelve notable
members of the party, amongst whom are M. BER-
RYER, N. VATIMESNIL, N. BENOIT D'AZY, Duke des
CARS, PASTOERT, VALMY, DE NOAILLES, SAINT-
PRIEST, &c. In this meeting, three points were
unanimously settled : 1. Immediate and energetic re-
sistance to the PRESIDENT ; 2. Formal rejection of

the pure and simple repeal of the law of the 31st
May, and adjournment of the discussion of the pro-
jected modifications, in order not to appear to cede to
the presidential pressure; 3. An understanding
with the chiefs of the other fractions of the ma-
jority to reconstitute an offensive and defensive alli-
ance.' Another correspondent of the same journal
says that at a review of the 10th battalion of the
Chasseurs of Africa, and of some companies of en-
gineers, passed by the PRESIDENT of the Republic at
Saint Cloud on Saturday, he addressed the soldiers
as follows, in distributing some crosses :—" Soldiers,
it is with regret that I see the brave 10th Chasseurs
and the companies of engineers, who have already
given so many striking proofs of their devotedness to
the country, leave Pans. Know that France calcu-
lates on your co-operation, and on that of the whole
army, to secure her salvation, and that far or near, if
ever the country should be in danger, I shall always
recal to mind your zeal and devotedness."
There was very little business transacted at the
Bourse. The Five per Cents. opened at 90f. 70e., and
closed at 90f. 45c. for the end of the month ; the
Three per Cents. closed at 55f. 70c.; Orleans Railroad
shares, 857 f. 50c.; Rouen, 556 f. 25c.; Havre, 207 f. 50c.;
Great Northern, 457 f. 50o.; Avignon, 212 f. 50c.;
Vier= 425 f.; Basle, 145 f; Bordeaux, 381 f. 250.;
Paris and Strasburgh, 351 f. 25c.; Tours and Nantes,
255 f.

BUSINESS DONE IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT THE
LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE, Our. 27..

The only transactions reported to-day were—Northern a
France, 14—West Flanders, 174.

SPAIN.

Madrid journals of the 22d have been received.
GONZALES BRAVO has been appointed Ambassador
to Naples.
It is rumoured that BRAVO MURILLO will retire
from the Ministry, and be succeeded by Senor
ISTURITZ.

MADRID Boma, OCT. 22.—The Three per Cents,
were done at 36k for time ; the Four per Cents. at
141 ; the Five per Cents. at 161; the Debt Without
Interest at 6 ; and the Coupons at 8.