The Sun.
London, England, 1858-04-03 00:00:00

LONDON, SATURDAY, APRIL 3, 1858.

In another part of our impression we have
extracted an article from a morning contemporary,
the Daily Netts, in reference to the modern
attempt at universal empire. We should gladly
do all in our power to shelter and protect the
EMPEROR from the machinations of those who
would resort even to bloodshed, for the purpose
of promoting their own objects. But the end
can never justify such means. Assassination is
fatal to any cause. The sympathies of disin-
terested and unprejudiced men are invariably
excited on behalf of the party attacked, and more
especially when there was a recklessness with
regard to innocent persons, such as that displayed
in the sanguinary attempt of the 14th January.
In our impression of yesterday a letter was
extracted from the Daily News, referring to
articles written by the late WILLIAM COBBETT in
the year 1900. Now, notwithstanding the high
character of the writer, we cannot approve of the
sentiments contained therein, nor should the
letter have appeared, if it could be considered at
all applicable to the events of the present-day. But
it is nearly sixty years since these opinions
were promulgated. The hand by which they were
penned has long since crumbled to dust. Had they
been written at the present day, and in reference
to the present EXPEROR, the author would doubt-
less have been required to answer for what might
be considered as an incentive to murder. We
must, however, remember that it was a French
writer, generally supposed to have received his
inspiration from a very high quarter, that resusci-
tated passages that might better have remained
unnoticed.

But however earnestly he may condemn such
opinions, we cannot permit our own constitu-
tional laws to be changed, and all our English
feelings to be violated by the introduction of a
system of espionnage repugnant to every British
heart. We detest spies and mouchards who
tempt their victims into crime that they may
afterwards betray them, and live in luxury on the
blood money. We shall never sanction what are
termed "domiciliary visits" or arrests on sus-
picion, vague charges or arbitrary punishments.
When a man is found to be guilty of any offence
against the law, let a suitable penalty be in-
flicted. But there shall be no interference with
the liberty of the Press or of the people, whether
British subjects, or foreigners, who have
claimed the hospitality which was never denied
to a political refugee, but which should be so
far respected as to induce the parties receiv-
ing it to abstain from any acts contrary to
the laws existing in the sanetuary which they
have sought.

Wsrlvarmot approve of what has taken place,
or what, we regret to say, is still of daily occur-
rence in France. But these are matters beyond
our jurisdiction. It is for the people themselves
to decide on the manner in which they are to be
governed. If they are satisfied to see their bre-
thren led into captivity, or exiled without any
offence beyond that of incurring the suspicion of
some police agent, it is their own affair, not ours.
But most assuredly we shall not tolerate such
practices on British soil, or render suspi-
cion equivalent to proof. " Notoriety," as it is
termed, will never be allowed to prevail against
any person, unless he is guilty of some overt act
in. contravention of the lex loci.

It is not against England alone that demands
infringing the rights of an independent power
have been urged. Count \VALEWSKI has also tried
his hand against Sardinia and Switzerland. Mr.
HODGE was to be victimised, but fottunatcly
the new Government was inaugurated, and the
Civic Britaitnicus received real protection. IL
waa against Switzerland that the strongest and
Most untenable claims w,-re advanced, that very
Republic to which NAPOLEON owed a debt
of deep gratitude—that Republic which had re-
fused to deliver himup, and was prepared to brave
all the power of France rather than infringe on
the right of a fugitive on their territory. The
♦ery same thing was required by the Minister of
the man who was saved by their resolute deter-
mination. They were asked by NAPOLEON to do
that which he had praised, and thanked them for
declining at a former period.
It is, as we have said, an effort at universal so-