The Sun.
London, England, 1858-12-28 00:00:00

pardon (!) was supposed to be given on account of
the. -anniversary of the 2d December, a day to
which- M. DE MONTALEMBERT must have loojced
-back with anything but pleasurable feelings. It
-was recalling to the people of France that the
illustrimth writer had, for a time, participated in
thz., measures which changed the whilome prisoner
of Ham, the exile of Camberwell, the special con-
stable of April, 1848, the President of the Republic
for a limited period, into a despotic autocrat, who
could trample out the remains of French liberty
without difficulty or compunction. This, must,
indeed, have proved a bitter reminiscence to M. DE
MONTALEMBERT. It was adding insult to injury,
and could not fail to induce him to reject the ten-
dered amnesty.

But; so far as can yet be known, the present
pardon is clogged by no such humiliating condi-
tions. The battle has been fairly contested, and the
party vanquished, not by the weakness of his cause,
but the partiality of his judges; cannot insist on
undergoing the undue penalties which they pro-
nounc ed for his quasi offence. He cannot, if he would
spend three months in prison. The gates would
not be opened to receive him, or if he did obtain
admission, and endeavoured to remain, he would
either be forcibly ejected or speedily starved out.
The payment of the fine would be equally rejected,
unless, like some of the income-tax defaulters, he
sent it, anonymously, as conscience money—and
that would be a practical confession of guilt.

It was, as we have stated, the result which we
anticipated. The EMPEROR could not punish a
minor, when he had previously declared a higher
one worthy of pardon ;- nor could he see the mere
publisher, who had never seen the article com-
plained of, punished in person and in pocket,, while
the author had been relieved from all the conse-
quences of the publication in which he had spoken
too justly of England and the English to be pleasing
to some ears in the vicinity of the Tuilleries.

Kidderminster versus Birmingham is the grand
contest with which the year is closing. The
honourable member for the great borough person-
ally advocates his own bill from the platform—
tile honourable member for Kidderminster enjoys
the anonymous advocacy of the Times. We know
editorial etiquette, of course, too well to think of
asserting that Mr. LOWE can be the writer of the
aeries of articles epitoMised in his Kidderminster
oration, and of others which followed in commen-
dation of the views.which thus for once found a
voice as well as a pen. The coincidence, however
exact, was doubtless casual. If we knew the
anonymous writer, we should find him to be some
gentleman of the same habits of thinking; of
the same political connexions, and the same inde-
pendence as the honourable member for the Carpet
Borough. We cannot, however, be thought to
violate any reasonable etiquette, if, regarding the
Times as leading counsel for Kidderminster, we
speak of the pleadings in the cause in the names of
the principals.
Now, what has struck us as rather remarkable
in these pleadings is the intense aversion of
Kidderminster to the Ballot. It does not like
extension of the suffrage ; but it plays fast and
loose with that. Any near approach to representa-
tive, equality is totally rejected, still, something
must be done in correcting the glaring anomalies
left by the Reform Bill. But the Ballot—that is
not to be endured. Contempt, invective, ridicule,
attacks on " the American elective system," exclu-
sion of answers to the attacks, even from one so
entitled to a hearing as the hon. member for
Bristol—everythingis fair provided it be but to get
rid of the Ballot, or only to keep it out of sight.
Yet most provokingly, as every fairly reported
meeting shows, the only point on which reformers
exhibit no variation of opinion is just this—that
in any Reform Bill, meant to satisfy the people the
Dallor must XUEIII toil CJt7ClLLLulpua L. LUCIA:LW t",
Reform of Parliamentary Representation is not to
be octroyed to us by Tories and Whigs, but to be
adapted to the wishes and wants of those who elect
the representatives, there can be no question about
the matter.

Almost in a fit of desperation the other day he
of Kidderminster made his appeal to the employers
of labour. Hitherto their electoral supremacrhas
been unquestioned—are they content quietly to sur-
render it? "Do the manufacturers and other chief
employers, of such towns as Manchester, Liverpool,
and Birmingham, desire household suffrage and the
Ballot ? If they do not speak out now, they will
deserve Universal Suffrage and the Ballot, little as
they are likely to suffer from such inflictions in our
days." Now, we like this. It is speaking out at
last. Masters are fairly warned that, if they do
not get up public meetings, and "put down" this
odious outcry for an extended suffrage, coupled
with a provision to make it a real extension, they
may find themselves outvoted by their own men ;
just as the landlords, if the voting were free, might
be outvoted by their own tenants. Now, we should
much like to sr:e employers of labour get up meet-
ings to resist extension of the suffrage and the Ballot.
Why should they not? Is the hon. member for
Kidderminster and his leading counsel never to have
one meeting, no not one borough or county meeting,
to resist the threatened innovations ? Is it safe to
rely on the House of Commons alone, unsupported
by the voice of the people ? However much the
present or any succeeding House may be averse to
conceding an extended and free suffrage, it doubt-
less must do it, if the public meetings and petitions
are all on oneside, and are numerous and earnest too.
Wo do hope that a public Anti•Ballot-and-House-
_hold-suffrage meeting will be called in every
borough at least of the kingdom, and well pleased
shall we be if county meetings be convened also.
Not content with appealing to masters against
permitting votes to be conferred on their men,
Kidderminster appeals to the men, too, against the
Ballot. Having described a model master's-man,—
an - servant, his children too in, the
same yard or factory, his cottage adjoining,
his very bread depending on the master--
are-told that he is " not the cowardly fellow
who is supposed to be silent for three years, and
then to speak through the Ballot-box."' He lives in
the light of day, not on a camera obscura." We
thank the Times for teaching us that word. The
camera obscnra is beyond all question the most
perfect device for securing faithful representations
that was ever yet devised by the wit of man ; and
we have not the shadow of a doubt that the camera
obscura of the Ballot-box would give us such a
perfect representation of the opinions of electors as
we have never seen before. It would render the
House of Commons a photograph of the consti-
tuencies. True, all their less pleasing features
would be there as well as their best. We have no
Utopian fancy that a real representation of im-
perfect men,- of any class, would make a perfect
Legislature; but we do affirm that it would be at
least what it purposed to be--a representation of
the majority of the electors, and not of those who
may have the power to command their votes.

(From the Derbyshire Courier of Dec. 24,
The scythe of Time is mowing
Another swath of life,
And the seed that we've been sowing—
Grain of Peace or tares of Strife—
Has been gathered safe and fast
In the garner of the past,
To lie for ever !

Have we done the best we could
With the ways and means we hold ?
Have we wrought the things we should
With our judgment or our gold ?
Have we played our mortal part,
By our hand, or brain, or heart,
With fair endeavour ?

The steeple pulses beating,
With rapid strokes of mirth,
Loudly tell our days are fleeting,
Like molten snow, from earth ;
And the fitful carol strain
Is a warning once again
To the soul!

Have wo dozed among the sleepers ?
Have we stirred among the quick ?
Have we comforted the weepers ?
Have we watched beside the sick ?
Have we flyvelt in nnvn
Or groped in selfish blindness
Like the mole ?

Come, let us ask our bosoms
If we earnestly have sought
To nurture all the blossoms
In our pathway as we ought ?
Let us ask if we are giving
As much love to all the living
As we can ?

'Tis a fitting hour to reckon
Not only yellow store :
For passing old years beckon
Where no wealth can win the shore !
'Tis a day for Age and Youth
To sum up their, debts of Truth
To God and Man!

The glossy branches twining
In beauty o'er our head ;
They are but garlands shining
In a pomp that greets the dead.
And a trace of holy gloom
Makes a temple of the room
Where they are seen.
Let the feasting and the drinking
Be as goodly as it may;
Yet the wise ones will be thinking—.
As they hail the festal day__
Time is hushing us to Test
As he rocks us on his breast, .
Of Christmas green !

Year after year is going ;
So work while there is light ;
Let us keep the rust from growing,
Let us wear our spirit bright.
And 'tis only honest labour,
And the love of friend and neighbour,
Can do this.

So, while Old Time is mowing
Another swath of Life,
Let us pledge the cup that's flowing
To the heart that shuts our strife;
For, amid all selfish blindness,
It is only Peace and Kindness
Make our bliss.

ELIZA COOK

MEDITERRANEAN TELEGEAPH.—It is appre •
headed that telegraphic communication.-between-Cagliari
and Malta will not be resumed for some little time to come.
Advices received in London mention that her Majesty's
steamer Caradoo had been placed at the disposal of the
agents of the Mediterranean Extension Telegraph Com-
pany, who were thus enabled to examine both enda of the
cable. The result of their investigations leads to the belief
that a fracture will be met with about the centre of the
cable, tho shore ends being perfect. Fortunately a steamer
belonging to Messrs. Newall and Co., who originally laid
the cable, is now in the Mediterranean, and will prove very
useful in the carrying out of the requisite operations, which
will probably include the raising of the central portion of
the cable, and perhaps the splicing on of a new piece.
GOVERNMENT EMIGRATION.—The Government
emigrant ship Conway, 1,167 tons, Captain W. H. Duguid,
which sailed from Liverpool on the 10th of June, in charge
of Surgeon-Superintendent John Carroll, with 19 married
couples, 233 single women, 77 single men, 34 boys between
the ages of 1 and 12, 32 girls between the same ages, 11
male infants and 3 females, making a total of 428 souls, equal
to 381 statute adults, arrived at Melbourne, Victoria, on the
15th of September. Two births occurred during the
voyage.

ALLEGED MURDER IN LIVERPOOL. Thomas
Owen, William Owen, and Daniel Johnson, were brought
before the magistrates at the Liverpool Police-court yester-
day (Monday), charged with having caused the death of a
man named Toole. From 4e evidence of a carter named
Knowles it appeared that be, in company with the de-
ceased, James Toole, went to the house of Johnson, who
sells beer, &c., in Eaton-strtet, on Friday night, and there
met the ee prisoners. They had some drink together,
in the course of which Wiliam Owen made use of some
abusive language to the diceased, who became irritated,
and walked out of the house. The prisoners remained some
time drinking, but eventually went away, with the excep-
tion of Johnson, who kept the house. Shortly after the
departure of the two Owens, Toole came in and asked for
some beer, which after he ltad drunk he walked out, when
he was met by the Owens. Johnson and Knowles then
came up, when the latter vas knocked down by Johnson,
and Toole was struck a sore blow over the head with an
iron bar, and otherwise severely injured by repeated kicks
and blows. Knowles mewed to escape without any fur-
ther injury, but the dece4sed, in endeavouring to crawl
home, received such featftil ill-usage from the prisoners
that he died shortly after. Mr. Mansfield remanded the
prisoners, in order to allow of a post mortem examination,

We are told, moreover, that such men, the sup&
rior trusty sort of men just referred to, do not
want the Ballot ! They are as independent as
tradesmen and professional men. Suppose they
were so, it would be a poor independence, no class

DOA, TUESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 28, 1858.
•

of men being in more fear of affronting their cus-
tomers. But notoriously they are more dependent.
They resemble rather the miserable farming tenants,
since their whole dependence is ordinarily on one
man whom they dare not affront. We have, how-
ever, lying on our desk three essays by working
men on the Ballot. One is by a lithographic
printer, another by a book canvasser, and the third
by a wool-comber. They were all written in
answer to a prize offered by the Bradford
Review to working men—the subject being
" whether, in the present state of English
society, the Ballot be a necessity in any compre•
hensive measure of Reform —or in caso of
the enfranchisement of the working classes—all
ratepayers for instance—are there any practicable
means apart from the Ballot, by which the inde-
pendence of this class of voters can be effectually
preserved." These essays, and they all, especially
the first, do great credit to the ability of the
writers, completely answer the Kidderminster
appeal of last week to working men. They deny
that there is any known means of conferring inde-
pendence on the operative who is a voter, but the

Ballot. They show that even in the case of a good
master and a skilful hand, it is impossible for the
receiver of wages to feel himself free to vote as he
pleases. Even if there be no present danger of
discharge, he will fear standing in the em•
ployer's black book as the first to be turned off
when a slack time comes.

We were even warned the other day in some re-
marks on the dictation of Trades' Unions to those who
belong to them, that it would be awful to put suck
an engine as the Ballot•box into their hands; and
this, after a picture of the terrorism exercised by
the Union over its members ! Why, the Ballot-box
is the very antagonist of all terrorism, whether it
be that of a wealthy landlord or of a union of poor
men. But, in the same trial, it was recorded that
"the rats"--those who refused to join the Union—

outnumbered the Unionists. They surely might
be relied .on to out-vote those who
wish to oppress them. If there be
any means of thwarting unfair combinations, none
can be so effectual as the ballot. It is in secrecy
that the guilt of deeds, which we half forget when
acting openly with others, most strikes us. If

secrecy and silence be ofttimes opportunities for
fraud, they are also the most effective awakeners
of conscience. Men will not do individually
what they will often do in a crowd or even in a
corporation ; isolate the voter by secrecy, and he
will recoil from giring the very vote to which he
had wrongfully pledged himself.

A CHANT FOR CHRISTMAS DAY.