The Sun.
London, England, 1851-09-17 00:00:00

WEDNESDAY

of citizenship, it is absolutely essential that the country
should secure to itself beforehand the long hoped
for and long delayed boon of national education. It
is from a conviction as to the peril of precipitation in
regard to a comprehensive extension of the franchise
that we have insisted so repeatedly upon the necessity
of obtaining, first of all, a comprehensive system of
national education. The priority of the last men-
tioned reform is requisite, we feel assured,
if we would guard against a countless multitude
of difficulties. For the proper exercise of the
privileges accruing to an elector cannot possibly be
secured without imparting to him first of all some
reasonable estimate of his position and its responsibi-
lities. Denied up to the present moment the advan-
tages of a national system of education, the people
have only one resource left, namely, that of interest-
ing themselves upon all matters essential for their
initiation into the mysteries of popular government.
Towards the acquisition of this species of know-
ledge, the knowledge of the duties of an elector,
together with that of most of the great questions
upon which he finds himself called upon to decide,
eachindividual member of the community in the
United Kingdom struggles on instinctively until such
time as he can actually exult in the realisation of his
patriotic dreams of ambition. Among the opportu-
nities afforded him to this end possibly the most ser-
viceable are those presented by the local discussion
during the recess of topics debated throughout the
session within the walls of the Imperial Parliament,
such opportunities, in short, as those yielded by
periodical interviews between the constituencies and
their respective representatives. Sir HENRY WARD,
previously to his removal to the lonian Islands, was
accustomed to stimulate in this manner the political
self-education of Sheffield by bringing home imme-
diately to the comprehension of its inhabitants the
difficult problems submitted for elucidation to the
Commons House of Parliament. Mr. HUME in like
manner is celebrating his restoration to health—a cir-
cumstance to us, and we doubt not also to every Re-
former in the country, fraught with considerations of
the sincerest pleasure—by aiding in a similar way in
the political self. education of Montrose. Apart from
the benefits of a general character resulting from such
interviews, it might be argued, with no incon-
siderable show of reason, that they are
somewhat calculated to act as a stimulus
to the exertions of the popular representatives,
inciting them to the more efficient discharge of their
duties as Members of the Legislature, and acting
upon them by anticipation as warnings against any
very serious dereliction. It were superfluous,
however, to expatiate upon a truth Bo
glaringly obvious as this, not less superfluous
indeed, than to enlarge upon the more immediate
benefit of this annual shriving of the legislators to
their respective constituents, the benefit of maintain-
ing a good understanding between themselves and
their political supporters upon all the principal
themes connected with the cause of the general
advancement. What we have been desirous to re-
mark upon the subject, nevertheless, has been already
expressed in the course of our preceding observations:
the moral we have wished to draw from the public
meeting held the other day at Montrose being
one of a nature, we conceive, welcome to
the sympathies of Mr. HUMS, namely, that
interviews of the like kind are useful to the
community in the absence of a national system of
education, and that by influencing the public mind
thus beneficially, they are preparing the way in the
most effectual manner for a safe and comprehensive
extension of the Elective Franchise.

Our anticipations respecting the new Austrian loan
have, up to this period, been completely verified
Not a single transaction has taken place on the
Stock-Exchange. There is no quotation whatsoever.
The heaviest discount cannot tempt our dealers to
speculate in the new stock. Notwithstanding the
reputation for gullibility so generally affixed to the
English character on the continent, John Bull has,
on the present occasion, kept steadily aloof from
temptation, and rejected the glittering bait held
out for his capture. It now appears that it
has not been much more successful in the
favoured cities where subscriptions might be re-
ceived and the dividends are promised to be paid. I❑
every place exempt from Austrian control the opinions
are stated to he " very unfavourable" as to the pro-
spects of the loan, and there was by no means that
anxiety to participate in the advantages tendered for
general acceptance that had been confidently antici-
pated by the financial department of the Aus-
trian Government. Even the bonus of two
per cent. offered to all who came forward
on or before the 16th instant was a total
failure. Prudent capitalists abstained from the
trap, and waited for further demonstrations on
the various " bourses" of Europe before they com-
mitted themselves irretrievably. The limited period
has now expired, and as yet nothing very striking has
been accomplished. The promise that all the stock
written for will be given to every applicant may
easily be redeemed ; and the fortunate speculators do
not appear to excite any jealousy on the part of those
who let slip the lucky moment and bided their time
before they resolved upon joining the movement. One
per cent. only will now be given, and the time within
which that can be obtained is limited to a single week,
as it will expire on the 23rd instant. We cannot,
however, suppose that parties who refused to aecept
two per cent. will now endeavour to obtain one per
cent. under far more unfavourable circumstances,
when the matter has palpably and notoriously
become an unmitigated failure. There have
been some subscriptions unquestionably, but
they have been at Vienna—by parties living under
an absolute Government, where there is not even the
shadow of a constitution. We can easily conceive how
wealthy parties may, under such circumstances, be
desirous of conciliating the " powers that be," even
at a certain pecuniary loss to themselves. We know
tolerably well how the aids and benevolences used
to be got up even in this country in the
olden time. We have also heard of " forced
loans," that were frequently resorted to during com-
paratively modern periods ; but the screw has seldom
been more stringently applied than at the present
moment in Vienna. The unluckly capitalists who
are " expected" to come forward know that they may
as well do so with a good grace, whereby they may
have a chance of getting something back, as wait
until the moment when a much larger sum is forci-
bly wrested from them. Isaac of York, when called
upon to lend a handful of bezants to JOHN, endea-
voured to ascertain the smallest quantity he could
pass off as satisfying the conditions of the demand,
viz., as amounting to a handful. He well knew that
he could not resist the application ; there was ample
power to enforce obedience. Like a prudent man,
therefore, he tried to get off as cheaply as possible.
So it is with those now living under despotic autho-
rity ; they try to evade the confiscation of their all
by the voluntary sacrifice of a portion, and by keeping
a good countenance, they hope to get even that off at
the beat possible price.
But there are others who are also disposed to
render assistance, although outside the lion's den,
and safe from the influences that prove so potential to
wealthy Austrians. The Jesuits are "delighted"
with the proceedings of the Austrian Cabinet. The
return to Absolutism has been hailed with the utmost
enthusiasm, and every exertion is to be made to in-
duce them to persevere in their "virtuous courses,'
and to strike some deadly blows at the freedom
of thought and liberalism of opinion so deeply to be
deprecated. It is said, therefore, that they have
determined to persuade the parties having power to
do so to subscribe the available funds of the
various convents under their jurisdiction or influence.
Something may be obtained from these quarters,
although we believe that it will not be quite so large
as has been anticipated. It is said that wealthy Jews
have also been appealed to, and persuaded to• come
forward for the sake of their co-religionists who
were living under the Austrian yoke. Despite
all those convulsive efforts, however, the loan still
hangs fire, and from what we have heard from well-
informed quarters, we believe that not one-fifth,
perhaps scarcely one-tenth of the amount will be taken
up by parties desirous of obtaining permanent
investments. We congratulate our countrymen once
more at the indignation manifested towards their
audacious liberalism by the Ministers of the boy
AUTOCRAT, which led to the exclusion of England
from the advantages of the transaction, no place
being appointed in this country for the receipt of