The Sun.
London, England, 1860-03-31 00:00:00

COMING EVENTS.

For so powerful a system, the French Empire is
strangely irritable. ^ A Constitutional Government

keeps the tenour of its way without fearing the
comments of public opinion or the operations of the
Exchange. Although liable to the criticisms of a
free press—although its measures must bear the
examination of the shrewdest men of business, the
Government of a country like ours never interferes
with the money-market, or attempts to control the
expression of private opinion. It would seem, how-
ever, that the Government established across the
Channel is inclined to return to the practices which
two years since excited the disapprobation, if not
the disquietude, of England. The French press
once more exhibits in some of its organs that hos-
tility to this country which distinguished it up to
a recent time—in fact, to the eve of the com-
mercial treaty. We can hardly bring our-
selves to speak seriously of the Opinion
Publique, which has just. thrown out its defiance
of England, and dared us to reorganise a coalition
after the fashion of Pitt. We are all accustomed
to those revilings which are poured out under the
permission of the police, and cease as soon as the
author receives a hint that the superior powers desire
him to restrain his patriotism. We are not affected
by the fragments of news which the central offices
of Paris send to the departments, nor are we sur-
prised that 24 hours should suffice for the recom-
mencement of a system of vituperation which is
evidently not spontaneous, inasmuch as it begins
and ends at the '*ill of some central power. To
argue with the French press and its conductors we
know to be vain. As all opposition to the will of
the Government has now vanished, the Parisian

newspapers are only the organs, more or less ener-
getic, of the opinions which prevail in official quar-
ters, and we may expect that during the,course of
the present complications they will with one voice
join in any cry for which men in power may give
the signal. The annexation of Savoy is an act
which has been completed in defiance of assurances
of every kind. Three months ago the disinterest-
edness of France, and the attachment existing be-
tween the Sardinian King and all classes of his
subjects, were matters which no one was allowed
to doubt. That Savoy would be ceded by the
Prince who derives his earliest title from its terri-

tory, and that France, after concealing her inten-
tions for months, would suddenly appear as the
promoter of this disruption, would have been re-
pelled as infamous calumnies by
.every Parisian
journalist. At the end of last year it was afi article
of faith that France went to war " for an idea," and
that, if she supported the rights of Austria and the
banished Princes, it was only out of respect for
good faith and the strict observance of treaties.
What would have been the outcry if it had been
asserted in the English Parliament, or in any Eng-
lish newspaper, that the French ruler, when he first
gave his support to Italy, had bargained for Savoy,
and that when he made his treaty with Austria he
had determined on the price which he would take
for assenting to its being broken ? It is all the
same, however, to the writers whose productions
we shall read for the next few weeks. Exaggerated
invectives against all who dispute the right.of the
French .
Empire to extend itself in any direction
which pleases will take the place of political
reasoning, and even of common morality.
But what are the little efforts of Imperial jour-
nalists to the operations of the Empire itself? The
Patric or the Pays may endeavour to show that
France cares nothing for Lord John Russell's ob-
servations, but the Paris Bourse, under the guid-
ance of Imperial functionaries, actually demon-
strates the fact. Lord John Russell spoke strongly,
and the house cheered loudly. A great effect was
produced in England, in France, and over all
Europe. It was the object of the powers that
exist in France to show that Lord John's words
were wind, and that France did not care for
them at all. And, indeed, the effect on the
money-market seemed wonderfully to con-
firm this fact. Lord John's speech might be
naturally expected to send the funds down ; in fact,
the English funds declined somewhere about one-
half per cent. But, wonderful to relate, the exact
opposite took place in Paris. So cheerful did the
prospect of English estrangement make the Paris
sceculators that the Three per Cents. actually went
up from 68f. 30c. to 70f. 35c. We in this country
of insolent and unbridled freedom cannot under-
stand such a reault. It is reserved for nations with
a more cautious and paternal government to con-
nect warlike rumours with increased confidence.
Dare we whisper that the favourable result on the
Bourse was in some measure caused by the applica-
tion of funds not exactly the property of private
speculators, and that Imperial France interested
itself to prove that it was not affrighted by the re-
marks of the British Secretary. The result of this
interference was, of course, decisive. For two days
French securities bade defiance to all the hatred of
a perfidious rival, and even the lifeless five-franc
pieces obeyed he genius of Government manipu-

lators. But, unhappily, a reaction has come.
After a short period of inflated credit, the Three
per Cents, have sunk to their former level, and,
perhaps, may be destined to a still further decline.
It is, after all, plain that no cleverness and no po-
litical juggling can much change the course of me'
notary affairs, and that.the affectation of indiffer-
ence to European criticism is an artifice too easy
of
detection for a wise Government to attempt'''.
Times.