The Sun.
London, England, 1867-05-29 00:00:00

I' .2
tigg 441,11 t
4-44

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 1867.

All seems to be progressing favourably in respect
to the Reform Bill in the House of Commons, and
yesterday's work was a worthy sequel to that of
Monday. In fact, the franchise part of the bill
seems to have been completed, with the changes
and alterations that were yesterday introduced into
it. Mr. PoLTLETT-SCROPE'S amendment has been
a failure, which is as well under the circumstances,
for it did not seem to improve the state of things,
but rather to introduce fresh obstacles in the way.
Mr. BRIGHT distinguished himself by a speech,
which Mr. DISRAELI characterised as a piece of
" incoherent conciliation," in the course of which he
entered at some length into the question of Reform,
and took a retrospective glance at matters which
did not by right belong to the business before the
House. Perhaps some allowance must be made for
the hon. member on account of his previous disap-
pointments ; but he seems, on the whole, to be in
that state of mind iu which regret and satisfaction
are contending for the mastery. He is pleased that
the vexed question of Reform should be settled in
so promising a manner, and yet vexed that
the affair should have been arranged by
those it has been his wont to designate
the sworn enemies of all reform. With the excep-
tion of a few occasions, Mr. BRIGHT has not shown
himself adverse to the bill of the Ministers, and then
be was evidently led astray or put into an awkward
position through the indiscretion and intemperance
of those with whom he acted. At the meeting at
Mr. GLADSTONE'S, where the right hon. gentleman
was proposing to proceed to extremities rather than
let the bill go into committee, Mr. BRIGHT evi-
dently disapproved of the course proposed, and inti-

BRIGHT to arrive at this conclusion, because he haA
perpetually in his mind the irritation and annoy-
ance arising from the failings of last year; but we
arc glad to find the statesman triumphing over the
disappointed politician, and to see the right hon.
gentleman leave, what he has himself styled,
the " warm and sharp contests" in the
bill to discuss the general principles and

of the measure." As for the fuss which was made
about consistency it is a very idle arginent to resort
to, and iu truth the inconsistency is more in vision
than in reality. It is not surprising that those who
have been dilatory for years upon the stubbornness
of the Conservatives and their unwillingness to do
anything for the good of the people should feel
suspicious at their prophecies turning out false,
but if they had not exaggerated so much
there would have been no such discrepancy to
notice. There was much in the Bill of 1858,
tco, that might have been made satisfactory
and profitable to the community, but no doubt the
measure of 1867 is better, but the thanks of the
community are not due to those who persistently
opposed the former scheme, for they run the risk of
preventing Reform being settled for this generation,
or at any rate settled in a satisfactory manner.

Mr. DISRAELI was very successful iu showing
that his party had not been opposed to Reform in
itself, but they had disapproved of the imperfect,

crude, and uncertain plan of last year.

BRIGHT, as he said, had claimed the right 01

changing his own opinions in the space of
three months, while he denied them the
privilege of altering a few particulars during the
lapse of ten years. It is perfectly true, as the right
hon. gentleman declared, that neither he nor his
colleagues ever said there was no necessity. for
the introduction of a measure of Parliamentary

Reform but the hon. member for Birmingham
seeks to arrogate to himself the privilege of origin-
ality upon all questions of political power, and is
therefore necessarily captious and critical when
others presume to interfere in the matter. On Thurs-
day the Committee will have hard work enough
upon their hands, for they must then address them-
selves to the second part of the bill, and that relates
to the redistribution clauses. The disfranchising
propositions will, it is needless to say, give rise to
much opposition, good, bad, and indifferent, as the

case may be. Through all the difficulties that lie
before it, however, the committee may steer with
safety unto success if they only persevere in the
spirit with which they have begun. The Govern-
ment, we are convince], will make no fruitless ob-
jection to any reasonable proposition, and the
sense of the House has already plainly decided that
they must be supported in their endeavour to bring
this question to a settlement. We have sympa-
thised with the position of the Ministry, while they
were apparently far from realising their expecta-
tions, and hence we may well rejoice now that they
seem to have got through the worst of the toils of
the wilderness, and to behold the land of promise if
still from afar at least with distinctness.

There seems to be little doubt, according to the
intelligence brought by the Atlantic Telegraph, that
the unfortunate Emperor of MEXICO has actually
fallen-into the hands of his enemies. A telegram,
dated New York, May 27, evening, affirms that
his capture was positively anuounced in that city,
and the information was so precise as to give the
very date on which the capture was effected—the
15th of May. MAXIMILIAN himself, MEJIA, and
MIIIA3ION were said to be prisoners, and a telegram
of still later date—yesterday evening at six--affirms
that JUAREZ has ordered the E3IPEROR to be shot.
We may hope that this intelligence is not altogether
reliable. Rumours and reports of all kinds are cer-
tain to be flying about under such exciting circum-
stances, and the statement does not bear an official
character, being merely published in one of the
journals. The news which we receive from America
by the mail states that JUAREZ assured the mes-
senger sent by Mr. SEWARD that MAXIMILIAN'S
lite should be spared if he were captured, and un-
less the EMPEROR were killed in the struggle, it
seems unlikely that JAUIUIZ would be rash enough
to risk offending the Americans for the sake of de-
stroying an antagonist who is no longer formidable.
The Americans have stood staunchly to the side of
JUAREZ, and have been powerful agents in his
temporary triumph. They have refused to recog-
nise any other ruler in Mexico, and have brought
the whole weight of their influence and authority
to bear in his favour. Whether they will exert
themselves still further in his behalf is at present
uncertain, and the condition of Mexico does not
afford much ground for the belief or expectation
that the Liberal leader will be able to
restore order and tranquil'ity alone and unaided.
As soon as MAXI3IILIAN is disposed of a
dozen other claimants to the thorny dignity of
Mexican sovereignty will be certain to spring up,
and ORTEGA is already a formidable rival. Much
depends on the attitude assumed by the United
States, and JUAREZ can hardly afford to slight a
special request on the part of their Government.
The capture of the unfortunate PRINCE is greatly
to be regretted, tho,igh it could scarcely have been
averted. From a mistaken idea of l onour, he de-
termined to remain and fight to the very last for

mated that he had thought they had turned the his Thrort . It was a manifest mistake, since thee
corner ',in the awkward task of getting through Throne ,vas artificially constructed, and had its
the introduction of a Reform Bill into the House origin I
,either in the traditions of the country nor
of Commons. We believe that of the two Mr. the vi ishes of the people. No one could have
GLADSTONE is more really averse to the measure of reprOf :shed him with cowardice for abandoning a
Government than his vehement friend ; but last forloi .n hope, and all that could have been done to
night both the one and the other complimented the resto re his fallen fortunes and to tranquillise the
Chancellor of the Exchequer upon the success of his coup try MAXIMILIAN had already endeavoured to
scheme. The right hon. gentleman may well do- Whatever may be thought of the manner in
whil 1 the Mexican Empire was founded, there can
plume himself upon these acknowledgments, tardy
though they may be, and intermixed with sarcasm, be. .no question of the liberality, the courage,
if not censure of some parts of the bill. After the and the fidelity with which MAXIMI LI AN
very unfitting manner in which Mr. Brauer has entleavirired to discharge his duties to his
often expressed himself, it is a welcome change to a
[opted country. But the circumstances of the
find him giving utterance to expressions of a con- cr se were desperate, and when the French troops
trary nature. After giving some advice to those on v ere withdrawn all dispassionate observers could
the Ministerial benches, which was received with see: -that the days of the Mexican Empire were num-
shouts of laughter, he concluded by addressing him- betel 1. The rest was only a question of time, and
self to Mr. DISRAELI in earnest and eloquent terms. ht rvrever resolute the stand made by the unfortunate
"I say thatlaceept, most heartily and cordially, the Prince, it was from the first evident that it must be
proposition for the borough franchise offered by the fruitless. Had the Mexicans been a different people
Chancellor of the Exchequer, supported by hon. he might, indeed, have rallied round hint a con-
gentlemen opposite. I believe it will be found affable force in the party favourable to the
hereafter a great and good thing for the mailtenance of peace and order and indif-
ferent to politics. In other countries the in-
country, and I, who probably have given more
fluence exerted by this party has often pre-
time and attention to the question than
any other man in the House, may at vailed in maintaining a tottering dynasty or
least be allowed to thank the right hon. gentleman an unpopular individual. But in Mexico peace and
o
from my heart for the conclusion at which he has order, security to life and property, individual
been able to arrive." While we recognise the frank- rights, and the authority of civil law, were things
uess with which Mr. BRIGHT has admitted the libe- unknown. MsxxstimAN, indeed, did his best to
restore them ; but those very efforts probably made
rality of the Government scheme, we venture to
h
point out that his own language last night shows him unwelcome to the turbulent spirits who profit
by disorder and pillage. Civil war and revolution
the mistakes that all may fall into by taking too
extreme a view of any question. had long been words of course in Mexican cars, and
Mr. GLADSTONE also accorded his tribute of though this very fact afforded, so far, a justification
praise to the Government measure, declaring of foreign interference, it rendered the task of
establishing an alien form of government, under
that, looking at it as a -whole, he could not
for a moment hesitate to say "that it conferred a strange prince unacquainted with the habits, the
c
a large, liberal, and an equal enfranchisement character, the wishes of the people, an almost
hopeless one from the first. Had the sudden ter-
wereupon large masses of his fellow-countrymen who
perfectly qualified, in his belief, for a wise mination of the American war been foreseen the
and honest exercise of the franchise." No doubt French EMPEROR might have acted differently, but
it was harder for Mr. GLADSTONE than for Mr. in those days the wisest diplomatist failed to pro-

phesy that the United States Government would
so soon be free to throw the whole weight of their
influence into the scale against the new EMPEROR.
The people of the States, notwithstanding their
attachment to the MONROE doctrine, are half in-
clined to regret what they have done. Much
sympathy is expressed for -MAXIMILIAN, while
the condition of disorder and desolation to which

Mexico is rapidly becoming reduced presses pain-
fully upon the public attention. Mexico, there is
but too much reason to fear, will again present us
with such a picture of bloodshed, and riot, and law-
lessness, as to call for the interference of the civilised
Powers to check a general disgrace. Whether the
United States will endeavour to incorporate it, or
whether there will be somo joint endeavour to
establis!l a Republican form of Government
by two or three Powers, remains to be
seen. The Americans have incurred the
greatest share of responsibility from their recent
interference in the matter, and after the experience
of the Empire few European Powers will care to
dispute the question. But Mexico, rich and fertile
as it is, and great and powerful as it may hereafter
become, will be at present a source of weakness
rather than strength to any nation that attempts

to influence its destinies ; and it may be doubted
whether America is in a position to undertake so
troublesome a responsibility. The mail from New

York gives us anything but a Bettled picture

of the American interior.

Riots and

political disturbances are common, and more than
once the civil authorities have found it necessary to
appeal to the military for assistance. It is a fact
worthy of notice that the negroes who usually take
a prominent part in these turmoils are generally
found to be armed. The amended Mississippi peti-
tion to the Supreme Court for an injunction to re-

strain the carrying out of the Reconstruction Act,
has been finally dismissed, the court declaring
that it had no jurisdiction in the matter.
A truer answer would have been that the Chief
Justice had no desire to entangle himself in the
affair as to embroil himself with the Radicals. The
task of maintaining law and order cannot be a very
easy one under existing circumstances, for we find
that Judge STARKEY 13 endeavouring to procure an
indictment against General ORD for treason against
the State of Mississippi. It is well that the Ame-

ricans are accustomed to self-government and the
observance of law, but it is a dangerous symptom
when public authorities disagree among themselves.