The Sun.
London, England, 1867-03-26 00:00:00

IHE SIN, LONI ON, TUESDAY EVENING, _MARCH 26 1867.

among the working classes ;" and in the next, " I
would ask any man who was anxious to prevent
a settlement of this question to continue agitation
whether his imagination could devise a more effec-
tual method of doing so than by establish-
ing enfranchisement on artificial qualifica-
tions, separating man from man, making
distinctions between one voter and another,
—not those which circumstances of birth or edu-
cation may have created, and which we may look
upon as dispensations of PROVIDENCE, but distinc-
tions arbitrarily created by Parliament, which would
be found in practice to be worth less than the paper
on which they are written." We would ask the
right hon. gentleman what is the distinction between
£7 and £6 but a " distinction arbitrarily created
by Parliament?" Very certainly it is no conse-
quence of his birth or education that he pays £1
per annum more for his house, neither can it

exactly be included among the dispensations of
PROVIDENCE. Yet Mr. GLADSTONE did not

see any injustice or impropriety in founding
a Reform Bill upon this arbitrary principle. These
epithets, these nicknames, have no logic in them.
All speculative legislation must be more or less
arbitrary in its character, and in spite of what either
side may say the work before the House of Com-
mons is now in a great measure speculative. To
make it really productive of good, not only party
feeling but prejudice must be laid aside, and the
house must fearlessly enter upon new paths, which
may be none the less direct, and none the less valu-
able that they have been hitherto untried.

In some respects we consider that Mr. ROEBUCK'S
speech was the most important in last night's debate,
because, in the first place, he is a thoroughly inde-
pendent member and a tried Reformer of many
years' standing, and also because he is a man of
great weight in the house, and his opinions must be
duly considered and well weighed. Mr. ROEBUCK
then came forward as the champion of the Govern-
ment last night, not as the devotee of the Ministe-
rial scheme pure et simple, but as the exponent of
those who seek to retard its course, if not
altogether to assail its existence. We commend
the speech of the hon. member for Sheffield to
the earnest attention of all those who may still
waver as to the course they shall pursue when it
comes to a division, feeling convinced that they will
find therein expressed sound judgment and an ener-
getic spirit. First of all, asks Mr. ROEB UCK, why is
it that he supporta the second reading of this bill ?
and why does he wish for Reform at all ? And in
connection with this theme he declares that he does
not seek to " better the character of the House."
We entirely agree with this last sentiment, and, in-
deed, we may find a great deal of the
mistakes that are made by Mr. BRIGHT
and others is this, they are always directing
their attacks upon the House of Commons,
as regards its intrinsic worth, instead of merely en-
deavouring to extend its influence and improve its
representation. Since the House has been reformed
in 1832, as Mr. ROEBUCK emphatically remarked,
" it has produced a body of legislation such as the
history of the world cannot offer." Of course the
combating of minds is of great service, and great
advantages arise therefrom ; the " timid meet the
bold, the hasty the slow, and the courageous the
diffident." Mr. ROEBUCK does not claim to be en-
rolled among those who seek to establish the
" natural rights of mankind ; but he seeks
Reform because the people are not satis-
fied with the present system of represen-
tation." We think that a very wise distinc-
tion is drawn in this speech between those who are
against all reform, and those who go to the other
extreme and demand manhood suffrage, and such
like improvements. All portions of the artisan or
labouring class may aptly be represented in the
House ; but that is no reason why the whole should
be represented there. As Mr. ROEBUCK says, an-
other portion is not educated, is vicious, and totally
unfit to have the government of mankind in their
hands, and to such we may well be afraid to intrust
the destinies of this great country.
A very plain course is thus put before the House,
and the hon. member for Sheffield asks Mr. GLAD-
STONE if he agrees in this object, and if he does
not, can he, or will he, state plainly what it is that
he does want. There is much to admire in the
straightforward manner in which Mr. ROEBUCK
always explain himself, and we make bold to say
that the house must have felt it a relief to listen to
a man who came direct to the point, and boldly
declared what he wanted and what he did not want.
After ha' ing listeneel so long to the eloquent dis-
course of one who certainly subscribes to the
doctrine that language is given to us to conceal
our thoughts, Mr. ROEBUCK says plainly that he
wishes to exclude some from the franchise, and does
not intend to mince the matter at all. The Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer has shown them a way to
do so, and has brought forward a very wise pro-
posal. The provisions of the measure are put in
because it is desired to admit the " worthy portion
of the artisan class," but Mr. GDADSTONE came
forward and declared that you must make no dis-
tinction at all, it is not fitting to do so. Why,
argues Mr. Roebuck very powerfully, " I must
make a distinction, unless I go to manhood suf-
frage; but the right hon. gentleman the leader
of the Opposition persists in saying that you
must look to a man's worth, intelligence, and
virtue." The only way in which we can presume
to judge of the existence of these qualities is by
examining how a man lives ; and hence the desira-
bility of following the proposals of this bill, or some
scheme equivalent to the same. Men of common
sense must concur in the advisability of applying
some test, and not going haphazard into the matter.
We think Mr. ROEBUCK'S remarks must have
been very annoying to those who were seeking
to make mountains out of molehills, and yet
would not come to the point and let one
understand what they wanted, "instead of harping
on the eternal string that the bill before them would
not do." " There is no use," said he, "in mincing
the matter or going into these minute pettifogging
questions which we have heard discussed; let us take
a large and broad grasp of the subject." Going on
with the consideration of the best means virtually
to reach the desired end, Mr. ROEBUCK confessed
that he thought they were more likely to suc-
ceed if we followed the course already indicated
by the English Constitution than if we had
everything divided into squares like a map.
The representation of a variety of interests is the
only thing that is really needed in the House of
Commons, and those who aim at more or less will
not reform the House as it ought to be reformed,
to suit the wants and wishes of the nation. Mr.
GLADSTONE and Mr. BRIGHT, and others, seem to
forget that by giving an undue preference to any
particular aka they are injuring others. Thus to
let in an overwhelming number of one section will
swamp the others, and thus virtually render the
scheme of the Constitution ineffective. There will
be danger in entrusting the power of voting to those

not fitted for it, and we may say so boldly, and
make up our minds to it, instead of taking up what

may be in some degree the most popular side of the

question, and capsizing things and misleading per-

Sons.

We would direct particular attention to that part

of Mr. ROEBUCK'S speech in which he criticises Mr.
GLADSTONE'S criticism of the Government Bill, as
he shows up his unfairness and exaggeration. For
instance, be said that the bill put fines upon voters
who lived in ten-pound houses ; but Mr. ROEBUCK
showed the fallacy of this argument, declaring that
the scheme was one of plain common sense, and
that the invidious word " fine " was not worthy of
the right hon. gentleman ; the man thus victimised,
according to the theory of the leader of the Oppo-
sition, is in reality only called upon to bear his fair
share of the burdens of the State. In concluding his
eloquent and impressive address, Mr. ROEBUCK
urged on the Ministry not to "shrink" in the matter,
but to persevere in their endeavour to pass a Re-
form Bill. "Depend. upon it the virtue, the intel-
ligence, and the sagacity of the country are, at the
present moment, desirous of seeing a settlement of
the question, and that every hour we daily over it
increases the danger by which it is surrounded. I
beg right hon. gentlemen opposite therefore to
pluck up courage, and not to be frightened by the
terrible anathemas they hear spoken of themselves,
or by pettifogging cavils." This is bold language,
and comes direct to the point at issue ; we hope
the Ministers will pay due heed to it,
and not allow themselves to be dismayed or
daunted at the prospect before them. Another
danger which awaits them was pointed out by Mr.
ROEBUCK, when he entreated them to disregard the
taunts of their opponents, and not stick to pre-
conceived notions merely because they were pre-
conceived, but with "large hearts and willing spirits
to yield where truth, and knowledge, and intelli-
gence taught them to yield."
The Solicitor-General's speech was very much to
the point, and he exposed a good many of Mr.
GLADSTONE'S errors and mis-statements. The fact
is, that the right hon. gentleman seems, to have
wound himself up to oppose the Ministerial plan in
Coto, and has therefore become rather reckless in his
sweeping assertions and violent denunciations re-
garding it. After an able discourse, in which he
explained the real purpose of the Government
scheme, the Solicitor-General referred to the lan-
guage of Mr. GLADSTONE himself last year, when
he said that the question of Reform was an interest
common to the whole House of Commons, and to
every party and section within its walls, and ex-
pressed a hope that a fair and candid consideration
would be given to the Government proposal.
The debate is adjourned till to-night, when
it will no doubt be resumed with spirit. On the
whole, we do not consider the House can be called
averse to the bill, and, notwithstanding the bitter-
ness and hostility which Mr. GLADSTONE has thought
fit to display, we do not despair of the bill finally
receiving the sanction of the House. If the Min

sters are firm and steadfast, and if they will make
needful concessions, we think that they may succeed
in their arduous endeavour, and that the question
of Reform may meet with a settlement in the pre-
sent session—a result earnestly to be desired, and
worthy of all toil and trouble.

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

PARIS, Monday Evening.
The bulletin of the Moniteur contains the follow-
ing news :
" On the 20th of March, in the Chamber of Re-
presentatives of Hungary, the general discussion
commenced upon the report of the Commission of
Sixty-seven Members respecting the organic modi-
fications of the Constitution and affairs in common.
It is hoped that these important debates may be
concluded before the Easter holidays.
" The Italian papers are unanimous in the asser-
tion that the Speech of the King Victor Emmanuel
on opening the States has produced a very favour-
able impression in Italy.
" The Italian squadron of evolution anchored on
the 20th of March at Speziia, where it will remain

for some time. This flotilla is composed of the
ironclad frigate Prince de Carignae, the screw
steamer Re Galantuomo, the screw frigate Maria
Adelaide, and the steam corvettes San Giovianni
and Messina. All these vessels , are last from
Cagliari.

" There has been a great change among the
foreign diplomatists in RUSBI4."
The commission appointed to consider the proposed
reorganisation of the army met on Saturday, and
appointed M. Larrabure president. An important
discussion upon the subject of the army arose before
the appointment was made. The details of the
proposed plan were discussed very anxiously and
minutely. The majority of the members, however,
agreed in the necessity of increasing the army of
France in proportion to the augmentation made by
foreign countries in their armies.
Poor England ! Listen to the denunciation of a
jourzstloifseSmt.enPt of thy etersburg.lt says Oh Albion
the inhumanity
will take place
ere long. Post thou not hear the hollow murmuring
of the popular masses who land in all directions
upon the soil of Ireland. The Fenians are assuredly
not so unhappy, so oppressed as the Greeks ; and
yet, where is the new prophet who will recall to the
recollection of the English Ministry the energetic
words of the Holy Gospel Aures habent et non
audient, oculos habent et non videbunt 1'"

_ .
I visited the Exhibition yesterday and several

times last week. It appears, I repeat, in a very
unfinished
state, h
tabt
what wasutthe activitya
sc displayed there is
so wonderful r
ce
ly
begun to-day
is on the morrow fully completed. All this activity
and progress, however, is carried on with the most
perfect order and precision. Already, too, the
hotels and cafes have a goodly number of visitors.

When the weather is at alt bright the park and its
walks and arbours have a picturesque appearance.
Among the foreign constructions which strike the
eye in passing is a very fanciful and elegant kiosque
prepared by Prussia, which is destined for a mili-
tary band. Austria has built an immense restau-
raunt, surrounded by exchange houses, which pre-
sent a specimen of the constructions of Styria,
Wallachia, the Tyrol, Upper Austria, Hungary,
and Gallicia. Holland exhibits in a special build-
ing every article connected with railways, car-
riages, machines, rails, and some adjuncts of a
peculiar description differing very much from those
in use on other railways. One very interesting
portion of the Dutch department will be the spot
for cutting diamonds. There will be seen the
workmen employed in cutting and polishing dia-
monds sent from the Indies and America. These
operations will give a perfect idea of the transfor-
mations which the diamond undergoes from the
time when it is taken from the mine until it shines
upon a lady's hair, << Like a rich jewel in an
Ethiop's ear."
Russia has many annexes. One of the most
prominent is an Isbah, a summer residence of a
rich Russian merchant. It is of very singular
construction, unlike any chateau or villa to be
seen in any other part of the world. Near this
summer retreat is a tent of the Cossacks of the
Don. It is formed of thick skins, and has a very
light wooden roof.

Turkey exhibits a mosque with a minaret, in
which resides the muezzin, that is to say the person
who at the rising and setting of the sun calls the
Mussulinans to pray. Near this mosque is a
Turkish school and a house of Lebanon. The
Viceroy of Egypt has sent many dazzling and
curious objects. Amongst them is an oven for
hatching eggs. It has been supposed that artificial
hatching of eggs is a modern idea, but a French
authority says that Diodorus de Sicile devotes a
whole chapter to instructions for this operation.
The inhabitants of the Regency of Tunis have
erected the tent of their Bey in the park. It is of
solid brickwork, and curiously ornamented outside.
The Emperor of Morocco has also caused a tent to
be erected similar to that used in his empire. The
palace of the Bey.will be splendid, There are many

more extraordinary features and constructions which
I shall describe on future occasions. To-day my
last reference will be to the small Belgian palace
destined for a museum. It cannot fail to excite
attention. The porch is very elegant, and is after
a model of the famous Loggia of Florence. A letter
from Constantinople states that probably the Sultan
of Turkey will come to the Exhibition. At all events
his sons and nephews intend to be present. More
than 10,000 persons are now daily at work upon the
Exhibition. As a general remark the Oriental con-
structions present features of luxury, decoration,
and ornament. Those of France, on the contrary,
are more plain and simple. The old oak and the
style of the Renaissance dominate. I❑ the
garden devoted to the kingdom of Prussia on,
the right side of the grand alley which leads from
the Palace to the Ecole Militaire, a colossal eques-
trian statue, in bronze and gilt, of his Majesty King
William, has just been erected. The artist is a
Prussian statuary of note, M. Gladenbeck. The
King is in full military uniform, and wears a
cuirasse under his cloak.

An Egyptian caravan, with a large menagerie of
animals, arrived at Paris on Friday.
Marshal Valiant, Minister of the Emperor's
Household and of the Fine Arts, commenced on
Saturday a series of receptions as Vice President of
the Imperial Commission of the Exhibition. There
were present members of the Exhibition Commis-
sions of various countries, and a great many ele-
gantly-dressed ladies connected with the aristocracy.
The saloons were brilliantly illuminated and taste-
fully ornamented with flowers. One great source
of pleasure to the guests was the representation of
the "Misanthrope" by the comedians of the Theatre
Francais.

The weather continues fine and warm, but it is
still of rather an April character, that is to say there
are occasional showers. The wind is rather violent
and weather prophets see more atmospherical dis-
turbances.

The general committee appointed to manage the
subscription for the purcha3e of the tower of Joan
of Arc at its last sitting at Rouen announced that
the maintenance of this monument is now an ac,:om-
plished fact, that tower and about 600 metres of ad-
joining territory having been sold for a sum of
60,000 f. So France seems determined to stick to
her reminiscences of Joan of Arc, and the Planta-
genet statues.

In the Hanes Centrales there is now a fair show
of strawberries and cherries from Algeria. At pre-
sent, however, they are by no means cheap. Indeed
there is a tendency to a rise in everything—the
Seine included. Within about a month bread has
rien from four to five sous per pound. The Palais
Royal Restaurateurs give notice that from on and
after the 31st of March, "in consequence of the
dearness of provisions generally" there will be an
augmentation in the price of breakfasts and dinners
to the extent of about 20 per cent.