The Sun.
London, England, 1858-03-23 00:00:00

LONDON, TUESDAY, MARCH 23, 1858.

The Oaths Bill has once more, and we earnestly
hope for the last time, been before the House of
Commons. It is surely time that something de-
cisive should be done to carry out the views and
wishes of every true-hearted Liberal throughout
the length and breadth of the land, and to pre-
vent the partial disfranchi:ement of the metropoli-
tan City, which, in its determined assertion of a
great question of civil and religious liberty, has
consented for a series of years to relinq wish the
benefit of the actual attendance in the House of
one of its sitting members. This decision was
alike honourable to the constituency and to Baron
Rarilsesan. It proved that, from the highest to
the lowest, from its 'merchant princes to the hum-
blest voters, all were willing to display the most
convincing proof of their inflexible resolution. To
Baron Liom Da ROTHSCHILD it was no ordinary
compliment to be selected as the " representative"
man in such a contest. We know the high esti-
mation in which he is held, not only by his
fellow-citizens, but by every Government and
State in the civilised world. In any pecuniary
difficulty his aid and that of his family are eagerly
sought after. And the absence of some members
of the firm would be justly regarded as a doubtful
circumstance, calculated to cast doubt on any im-
portant financial operation, and to depreciate the
securities for which a bidding is required. And
yet this man, so universally honoured and re-
spected, who "holds his head so high on 'change,"
is not to be entitled to take the seat to which he has
been chosen by one of the most important con-
stituencies in the United Kingdom ! Baron
ROTHSCHILD, whose mere word would be taken
for millions sterling by the most suspicious capi-
talist, whose name is recognised in any part of
Europe or America, we believe we might add Asia
and Africa, is not to be entrusted with the manage-
ment of a turnpike bill, or with the application of
any portion of the fiscal imposts to which he is so
large a contributor. He, one of the largest fund:
holders, would, if the opportunity were allowed
of participating in the national councils to himself
and three or far coadjutors, be disposed to injure
his own securities!

We may now ask, who was the only other Jew
ever returned to Parliament Mr. Alderman
SALOXONS—one who in all the relations of life,
public or private, and as chief magistrate of the
metropolis, and in many other capacities, won
golden opinions from all who had the opportunity
of knowing his worth. Although a Jew, his
charities were not sectarian, and the son or
brother of the most strenuous opponent of his right
to take the seat to which he was elected, if he
could win, might wear and enjoy the profits and
emoluments of the scholarships founded by the
Alderman. Let Mr. NEADEGATZ answer whether
the Jew, or his Christian. opponents, appear to
greatest advantage under the actual circumstances
of the case.

But althoigh we have thus spoken of the
wrongs of Baron ROTITSCHILD and Alderman
SALomoNs, they are not the parties most deeply
injured. The. unquestionable privileges of the
electors of London and Greenwich have been dis-
regarded. They were entitled to send to the
Imperial Parliament the men whom they con-
scientiously believed to be best qualified to repre-
sent their wants and wishes. None can deny
that 80 far as personal worth was concerned,
their choices were discreet. But because the
Persona selected disdained to avail themselves of
an easy mode'of getting rid of that which never
was 'intended to affect them or their co-
religionists which was directed against a
danger, or rather an alleged danger, of a
very different character ; because they would
not meet one quibble by another—they were
deprived of their seats, and their con-
stituents and the nation of the benefit of their
services. The sceptic, the atheist, the scorner,
might, join in the deliberations of the Legislature.
Those who disregarded all obligations, human or
divine, might speak and vote in their places in
Parliament ; not so the honest and honourable
4". 'rho would not suffer it for a moment to be
inlP"l4 that
_11: abandoned his ancient
faith,lor
be
might
ikel,:iu,.4.l:batuitse under cover whereof
The Bill is manisestia7o:iolzin quvestior, so far
as the Government is
the House of Commons, the pit*. Leader of
of the
Admiralty, the Attorney-General, L"aanti
recorded their votes favour of the measure
in
Mr. .DISRAELI,rr
Sir JOHN PAKINGTo, and Sir
FITZROY KELLY supported the cause of truth and
justice, while Mr. ViTALroLE, General PEEL, and
Sir EftrGn CAIRNS were to be found in a different
lobby. We believe, however, that the ques-
tion will really be Ettled during the present
Session ; and the more so, that Sir B. BETHELL
has pledged himself to bring forward a measure
for the admission of Baron RoTIISCHILD, by a

resolution of iihe House on his taking the oaths in
the manner which he declares to be the most bind-
ing on his conscience. It certainly will not in
any degree be impaired by the advent of Lord
DEZBY to place and power.
We can readily understand the soreness of
the Roman Catholic members at the unwise
and impolitic distinction maintained between
themselves and their fellow-representatives. But,
and we say it with the most perfect good feeling,
it would have been better had they brought for-
ward their demand for relief in a separate form.
They are sufficiently influential to demand redress.
We earnestly hope that the form of oath to be
taken by every Member may be made identical ;
that nothing should be allowed to remain to ex-
hibit distrust in one any more than another, :or to
recognise a distinction. But still it is better not
to embarrass the Jew question by an additional
element. Let the Roman Catholics obtain ample
relief, but let not the Jews be embarrassed in the
attempt.

The vexations attendant on the recent passport
regulations will this evening be brought under the
consideration of the representative branch of the
Legislature. They may indeed be described as
intolerable, and if persisted in must seriously im-
pair the intercourse that should subsist between
friendly nations. As we have on several occasion
explained, these "tickets of leave " afford but
little, if any, protection against the conspirator,
or indeed wrongdoers of any class. All these
persons can easily provide adequate substitutes.
But they constitute great annoyances and formid -
able obstacles to those who may desire to visit
France for purposes of business or pleasure. The
former will find the loss of time and expense, and
we may add degradation, of seeking a banker's or
magistrate's recommendation, a matter that may
induce them rather to entrust their affairs to resi-
dent agents than to see after them personally. The
latter will consider more closely the claims of the
many picturesque spots to be found in the United
Kingdom. The railways and hotels of England,
Ireland, and Scotland will largely profit by the
virtual exclusion of those who have but a few
days or weeks to spare, and there can be but little
doubt that every inducement will be held out by
the parties se strongly interested in taking advan-
tage of the favourable opportunity. But it will
be at the expense of the railways and hotels of
France, whose directors and managers have no
objection to British gold. They will have
ample cause to deplore the results arising from
Imperial fears or Imperial jealousy. Even the
schoolmasters and shopkeepers will participate in
what, if persisted in, must prove a heavy blow and
great discouragement to their respective callings.
The Emperor has an unquestionable right to
make such regulations as he may think expedient
for the management of his own subjects, and be
may refuse to permit any stranger to visit his-
dominions save on specified conditions. But we
must say that he has no right to constitute our
Foreign-office one of his bureaux of police. It is
a principle of our law that every British subject
is to be deemed innocent of crime until he is con-
victed by a jury of his peers. He has a right to
the protection of his Government either at home
or abroad, whithersoever he may please to go.
He should not be compelled to enter into a history
of his birth, parentage, and education, or have
all his antecedents investigated, and days wasted
before he could be allowed to visit Boulogne, Ostend,
or Calais, which, for all practical purposes, should be
as accessible as Liverpool or Manchester. At all
events, if there is to be an impediment, that
should not be obtruded on him at Downing-street.
The French authorities should not frame regula-
tions to be enforced in the British metropolis
against British subjects. If they want to estab-
lish a system of espionage it should be carried out
through their own detectives. Our officials should
lend no aid thereto.

It is but justice to the present Government to
say that they did not introduce the obnoxious
system. It is not very easy to alter existing
regulations. We are, however, convinced that tem-
perate but firm representations would be promptly
attended to. The French police would easily
understand the injuries arising both to England
and France from an obstinate adherence to these
highly injudicious rules.
At all events,' a resolute course, on the part of
intending tourists, will go far to remedy the
grievance. For once let British scenery receive
fair play ; let those who have a month to spare
determine to devote it to an investigation of the
beauties of their native land. Their time will not
be wasted. They will not find " all barren " at
home. There are matters worth seeing at the
Lakes of Cumberland or Killarney, the Highlands
of Scotland or Wales, Fingal's Cave, or the Giant's
Causeway. Benlomond, Skiddaw, Snowdon, or
Mangerton, will well repay a visit. Nor need we
say a word in favour of Derbyshire, or Devon-
shire, Worcestershire, Wicklow, or Connemara.
The most varied taste may be gratified. Every man
may find a suitable place of recreation, without
passing from under the protection of British law, or
encumbering himself with a passport beyond that
contained in his purse. Such a course pursued
for a single season would have far greater effect
than all the arguments of diplomatists. Let
pleasure-seekers do their part, and railway and
steam-packet companies and hotel-keepers fairly
respond to the invitation, and in due time
announce their intention of so doing, and the
object will be accomplished.