The Sun.
London, England, 1867-03-23 00:00:00

that the truth of this should be fully realised by the
nation at large, because this is the very thing in
which the Italians are likely to fail. They are
always greater and more distinguished for their
deeds abroad than their acts at home, and return
from successful encounters with foes by land and
sea to mar the effects of victory by contentions
with friends and disputes with their coadjutors.
We think that the KING has performed a very
friendly part if he has thereby undertaken rather
an invidious service in reminding the Parliament of
this vital (Illation. lle says that the country
must develope in repose and tranquillity the " ele-
ments of vitality and prosperity which she hts
received from PROVIDENCE." To effect this it will
be necessary for the Chamber and the Government
to forward the work with all their skill. There is
no more difficult task than that of creating institu-
tions which are to last, and to take deep root iu the
love, respect, and confidence of a mighty people ;
and almost equally arduous is the effort to improve
and foster their growth and influence. It is to this
undertaking that the King of ITALY now addresses
himself, and invites his Parliament to work with
him. I-le undertakes this in no over-confident
spirit, but rather seeks to impress upon them the
great difficulties which beset the way, and the
many obstacles they will meet with. Nothing,
however, is allowed to be of sufficient magnitude
to prevent the accomplishment of the desired end.
The chief object then to set before them is to show
the people that the State is organised in such a
manner that they need not fear the cause of liberty
will be injured.

The Government will set before the Chamber a
bill for " administrative reorganisation" which pro-
mises, so far as we can now judge of it, to be a very
desirable one, and likely to simplify the work of
Government through the country. The provinces
and communes are to have more liberty than for-
merly, and the chief of the province is to have more
extended powers conferred upon him. Unfortunately
the burdens of the State will not as yet permit any
reduction to be made in the taxes which weigh so
heavily upon the people; but a bill is to be introduced,
having for object to make the taxes more simple
and uniform, and to institute some desirable reforms
into them. Great stress is laid upon the importance
of changing the system of taxation, and justly so,
because at the present time it is a subject of great
importance to Italy. As the KING observes, indeed,
" The financial question is not only a question of
supreme interest, but also one of honour and national
dignity." We hope that the serious attention of
the Parliament and the zeal and efficiency of the
Government will work out the desired end, and that
the nation will speedily be relieved from much that
now weighs it down and retards its due advance-
ment in social matters as well as in its relations with
other countries.

This speech concludes with an eloquent
appeal to the gentlemen of the Senate and
the Chamber of Deputies, that they will bear in
mind the great importance of the task that has been
entrusted to their hands. On many occasions the
Italians have pledged themselves to the nations of
Europe that whenever they gained a national ex-
istence they would show themselves worthy of the
privilege. "Now is the time to redeem our pledge,"
observes the KING, " and to fulfil the hopes
that have been placed in us." The honour,
the safety, and the future of Italy are
in the hands of its representatives at pre-
sent, and it is most earnestly to be trusted that
they will prove they arc duly mindful of the
responsibility that rests upon them. They have
enough to do to make them careful and cautious,
and also enough to incite and urge them on to
render them spirited and steadfast. Let them, then,
address themselves to the great work of accomplish-
ing the glorious destiny that was before them, and
strong in the faith of their freedom, and secure of
the approval of the people, press forward to their
goal of promise. " If," as the concluding para-
graph of this speech observes, " it was a glory to
have accomplished by so many sacrifices the work
of independence, and to have endowed the nation
with the activity and vigour of life, it will be no
less a glory for them to organise it at home—to
make it sure of itself, respected, and strong."

It seems pretty certain by this time that the
French will not look favourably upon the plans of
the Prussian; or regard the project of German
unity with much complacency. The last accounts
affirm that considerable surprise and dissatisfaction
has been experienced in Paris at the intelligence of
the alliance that has been entered into between
Prussia, Baden, and Wurtemburg. The reflection
that the Berlin Government can thus virtually
count upon the co-operation of the mili-
tary forces of Germany is not calculated to
make a very favourable impression on the minds of
French politicians; and, indeed, it is said that the
chances of war are thereby greatly augmented.
The remarks of some of the journals on the subject
are very significant, and seem to indicate the general
feeling that prevails. The Avenir National says
that BISMARCK is still amusing himself at the ex-
pense of our statesmen. No sooner has the Corps
Legislatif declared its conviction that the new state
of things Li less dangerous to France than this mis-
chief-maker shows forth his last manoeuvre, and
publishes to the world the treaty offensive and de-
fensive by which Baden and Bavaria show their
readiness to act with Prussia.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

THE NORTH GERMAN PARLIAMENT.
BERLIN, March 23.

In to-day's sitting of the North German Parlia
went, Art. 5 of the Draft of the Federal Constitu.
tion, with the addition proposed by Herr Twestein
was adopted by a large majority. The amendment
of Herr Zechariae was rejected.

PRUSSIA.

BERLIN, March 23.

The Berlin papers of this morning confirm the
statement that the King, at his reception of the
Diplomatic Body yesterday, particularly distin.
guished M. Benedetti, the French Ambassador, and
gave him the most positive assurances of the main-
tenance of peace.

Berlin was splendidly illuminated last night in
honour of the King's birthday. The most brilliant
display was made at the hotel of the English Em-
bassy. The illumination of the Austrian Embassy
also attracted great attention. It consisted of the
following words, in illuminated letters, taken from
a popular German song, "Heil dir im Siegeskranz"
(Hail to thee, laurel-crowned victor).
A Royal decree has been published to-day creat-
ing a new artillery regiment (the 12th), which will
be exclusively destined for besieging operations.

KOSSUTH AND HUNGARY.
FIUME, March 23.

Herr Kossuth has published a statement denying
that he approves of the course of events in Hun-
gary, and expresses his opinion that Hungary has
committed political suicide as a state and a nation
by her arrangement with Austria.

TURKEY.

CONSTANTINOPLE, March 22.

The French Ambassador in this capital energeti-
cally advocates the improvement of the position of
the Turkish subjects without distinction of their
religious belief.

TIIE RIOTS AT ROUBAIX.
Pan's, March 23.

M. de Lavalette, Minister of the Interior, has
issued a circular to the prefects, dated 21st inst.,
with reference to the late workmen's riots at Rou-
baix, in which he says:---,, The Government is
firmly resolved to maintain the public peace and
respect for individual liberty."

SPAIN.

MADRID, March 22 (Evening).

A Royal decree has been issued respecting the
measures to be taken to restore public order in the
event of a riot. Under this decree suspected
individuals may be arrested, and conveyed wherever
the Government may think fit. Foreigners enter-
ing Spain must be provided with a document
certifying their identity, otherwise they will be
arrested.

We agree with this journal in its remark that
French diplomacy will hardly have cause to boast of
its last campaign. The Temps also believes the
publication of these treaties to be intended as a sort
of reply to the French interpretation, and one
which " it is impossible to deny is disastrous to the
policy of France." It is not likely that all this will go
on for ever, and that the indignation of France
at the assumption of Prussia will confine itself to
words and phrases, instead of seeking a more direct
form of expression. Hitherto the policy of the
Empire has been peace, and too much latitude has
been given to the grasping and greedy Power which
nothing can satisfy. There is, however, such a
thing as going too far and presuming on prece-
dents, and it may yet have to be the fate of
the Prussian Government to overreach itself, and
have to cope with a Power that cannot be easily
put down, for the French are very different
soldiers to the Austrians ; and the feeling of the
country is so decidedly averse to all the latter indi-
cations of Prussian policy, that the Government will
not dare to trifle with the matter should hostilities
commence. It is certain that the subject is always
more or less on the tapis just now in Paris ; and
first one thing and then another occur to prove
that all the caln► that prevails is merely temporary,
and that there cannot, at present, be an entente
cordiale between two nations so diametrically op-
posed to each other.

PORTUGAL.

LISBON, March 23.

Meetings against the proposed new taxes continue
to be held in Lisbon, Oporto, and various provin-

cial towns.

The King and Queen will leave for Paris about
the sth April.

The late heavy rains have caused the Tagus to
overflow its banks.

TILE BRAZILS.

PARIS, March 23.

Advices received here from Monte Video to the
14th February, state that the American Minister
has declared that the belligerent Power who re-
jects the mediation of the United States in the
pending difference between Brazil, her allies, and
Paraguay, will be constrained to accept peace.

THE SUGGESTER OF TIIE GOVERNMENT REFORM
BILL.—Mr. Cox, the Recorder for Heiston, and
editor of the Law Times, ought to be a proud and happy
man. If we rightly remember, about this time last year
he addressed a pamphlet on Reform to Lord Derby, the
leading feature of which was household suffrage, qualified
by a two years' residence, and still fmther made useless by
various checks or counterchecks, all of which are, more or
less, in spirit, though not in substance, embodied in Mr
Disraeli's new Bill,

HIE SUN, LONI ON, SATURDAY EVENUNG, MARCH 23 1867.

IREL AN D.

DUBLIN, March 22.
Judges, grand juries, and public meetings, held
for the purpose of giving expression to their loyalty
and devotion to the Throne and the Constitution,
have been loud in their praises of the Irish Consta-
bulary, and in some instances subscriptions have
been set on foot to reward those who specially dis-
tinguished themselves in putting down the Fenian
insurrection. It is not improbable that Parliament
may take some notice of the uniformly loyal and
heroic conduct of the force ; and there is no doubt
that sound policy, looking to the future as well as
gratitude for their recent achievements, should dic-
tate some substantial recognition of their invaluable
services. Without indulging in any extravagant
eulogy or exaggeration, I may be permitted to set
before you, as briefly as possible, some considera-
tions which, I think, deserve the attention of the
British public.
It should be observed, in the first place, that the
attention of the Fenian conspirators wculd naturally
have been directed particularly to the corruption of
this force—an object for the accomplishment of which
no amount of American gold would have been con-

sidered too great. Their physical power, their train-
ing, their knowledge of the country, and their per-
sonal relations with the peasantry and the farming
class would have made their assistance in conduct-
ing the insurrectionary movements of the utmost
importance. The Fenian leaders thought they had
good reason to suppose that they could be won over
to the cause of the Irish Republic, which would re-
store the land to the class from which they sprung,
and, in many cases, to their own kindred. They
lived among the people, isolated in their little bar-
racks, connected with their neighbours by mar-
riage and friendship. If a revolution could be
brought about, their personal qualities and military
training would have secured for them rank and pay
as officers in the Repub!icau army. They had,
therefore, to resist the strongest temptations ad-
dressed to their cupidity and ambition. These temp-
tations would have greater force from the fact that,
owing to the dearness of provisions, the pay of the
constabulary was felt by them to be inadequate, aad
the consequence was that many of the best men in
the force when they were must capable of serving
the public had been obliged to resign and seek other
employments, or to emigrate. Fortunately, the
Treasury under the late Government had considered
their case and made some additions to the salaries.
However, it is a memorable fact that under all these
circumstances of peculiar and powerful temptation,
strengthened in the majority of cases by social re-
lations, national sympathy, and religious feeling,
not one man out of 12,000 betrayed his trust, or
proved disloyal to his Sovereign—a rare, if not an
unparalleled instance of fidelity in so large a body.
But we shall not fully appreciate the strength of
their case if we do not take into account the dangers
to which they were exposed, and the extraordinary
courage required to maintain their positions against
numbers apparently so overwhelming as to suggest
a ready excuse for surrendering their arms to the
rebels. The moral effect of their successful resistance
in preventing the concentration of the enemy,
baffling their combinations, and paralyzing their
organization at the outset, can scarcely be over
estimated.

When the history of the Fenian movement comes
to be written, three of the encounters between the
constabulary and the Fenians will demand special
attention. First the affair at Tallaght, in the
county of Dublin, where, owing to the prompt and
judicious arrangements made under the command
of Mr. Curtis, county inspector, Mr. Burke, sub-

inspector, arrived just in time with only 14 or 15
men to repel a body of insurgents of almost as many
hundreds, seizing a quantity of their arms and am-
munition, and preventing the intended muster and
encampment on the hills in that neighbourhood. At
Drogheda Sub-Inspector Gardiner with only 25 men
boldly faced and put to flight, after a sharp engage-
ment, a large body of armed rebels, who had assembled
in the open day and had taken possession of the town.
And at Kihnallock head constable Adams and his
small party heroically defended their barrack against
an assault which lasted for three hours. In the nu-
merous minor conflicts the constabulary evinced the
same unflinching bravery and unwavering loyalty.
No matter how well disposed the men of the force
might individually be, or how excellent the raw ma-
terial of which it is formed, it is impossible that it
could have exhibited such an admirable spirit, or
behaved so nobly in a most trying crisis, if the offi-
cers had not been men of very superior merit. To
them, therefore, in a very large measure the public
gratitude is due. About 12 months since a Treasury
commission, at the head of which was Mr. E. Knatch-
bull-llugessen, M.P., sat in Dublin to inquire into
the financial affairs of the Irish constabulary. The
result of their report was a considerable improve..
went in the circumstances of the men. But the case
of the officers was not sufficiently considered by the
Treasury, although they were at least equally affected
by the evils complained off. There was then what was
called long-service pay—that is, a trifling addition
to the regular pay of both officers and men. This
long-aervice pay was abolished by the Commissioners
and added to the regular pay as salary. For example,
if an'officer had £l5O a year salary, and £36 a year
long-service pay, the salary was set down at £186;
but by a very ungracious, and as it will now perhaps
be felt, short-sighted economy, the addition was not
to count as a portion of the officer's salary when re-
tiring. The impolicy of this course will be seen in
the fact that there are in the Irish constabulary offi-
cers who have served from 35 to 40 years, and some
few even longer. Owing to this unjust deduction
from their retiring pensions they remain in the force
to the last moment, however inefficient some of the
oldest inspectors and sub-inspectors must necessarily
become. In whatever other way the Government may
propose to recognise and reward the signal services
which the Irish constabulary have rendered to the
country this injustice ought to be at once removed,
so that the aged and infirm might be enabled to retire
from the force and make way for younger and more
vigorous men, fitter for active service in these
critical times.

The Lord Chancellor has resigned. For some days
there have been mysterious announcements and
authorised contradictions on this subject by the
Dublin Conservative journals. The Irish Timer
would have it that Mr. Blackburne had sent in his
resignation and would be succeeded by Mr. Brew-
ster, now Lord Justice of Appeal ; that the latter
would be succeeded by Baron Fitzgerald, and that
the Attorney-General would fill the vacant seat on
the Bench. This was contradicted on authority by
the Mail and Express. The last journal gives this
morning the secret history of the transaction, and
the change of purpose in the highest quarter seems
rather ominous as to the existence of the Ministry :
—" It appears that about ten days ago a gentleman
filling a high judicial position waited upon the Lord
Chancellor as the bearer of an official communica-
tion from some member of the Irish Government.
This was, in plain English, a request that he would
resign the Chancellorship in order to facilitate some
arrangements which these gentlemen
had in con-
templation. The Chancellor lost no time in com-
municating with Lord Derby, at whose request he
accepted office. He transmitted to the Premier
evidences of the most conclusive kind that the illness
from which he suffered was rapidly disappearing,
and that he would have been as capable of fulfilling
the duties of his high office as be was on the day
when he accepted it. Lord Derby's reply was what
night have been expected from the Minister and
the man. Ile peremptorily refused to accept Mr.
Blackburne's resignation, and there the matter
ended. Yesterday the Chancellor had no intention
of retiring. On Monday, however, Lord Naas went
to London, and had an audience with Lord Derby.
Its result was embodied in a second letter, from
which it would appear that the Premier had been led
in the meantime to look upon the suggestion of the
Chancellor's retirement in a different light. This letter
arrived yesterday morning. The Chancellor, natu-
rally an willing to compromise his dignity by even
the appearance of clinging to office, immediately
transmitted his resignation to Lord Derby. Thus
ends the judicial career of one of Ireland's greatest
magistrates. As Master of the Rolls, Lord Chief
J ustico of Ireland, Lord Justice of Appeal, and now
for the second time Lord Chancellor of Ireland,