The Sun.
London, England, 1867-01-21 00:00:00

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LONDON, MONDAY, JAN. 21, 1867.

The French EMPEROR is a man of so much
judgment and acts so very warily in all he does
that his words possess double the meaning which
they otherwise would from his high position and
influence. The letter which his Majesty has ad-
dressed to the Minister of State, and which bears
date from the Palace of the Tuileries, January 19,
is therefore certain to attract interest and attention,
and more especially so as it relates to Reforms in
France. Ever since the period when the present
EMPEROR assumed his present responsible duties
this has been a very vexed question indeed,
and yet all the ardent expectations that the
lovers of liberty have formed have been doomed to
disappointment in a great measure, if not entirely,
while irritation and indignation have hardly re-
strained themselves in strict limits in many direc-
tions. It seems, then, high time that some change
should be made, and that the general progress of
men's minds should be allowed a more full and free
development than they can ever hope to gain under
the present regime. The letter in question com-
mences by considering whether or not the institu-
tions of France have reached the " limit of improve-
ment," or if they are to have new improvements.
Until now the Minister has had enough to do in
silencing " inopportune" demands, while for the
EMPEROR has been reserved the task of initiating
such reforms as necessity should demand. He now
considers that the moment has arrived for giving a
new extension to public liberties without interfering
with the power intrusted to him by the nation,
and also that it will be expedient to let the institu-
tions of the Empire become fully developed. No
one can deny that the French EMPEROR is a
master of composition, and that he seizes
adroitly upon the very expressions and
phrases which may best suit the case be-
fore him, and serve to illustrate his meaning.
Thus he remarks that to " govern is to profit by
the experience of what has been acquired, and to
foresee the wants of the future." Like many other
philosophical politicians he does not always succeed
in putting his precepts into practice, but at the same
time his language is full of point, and might be
copied with advantage by any one in his position
as a guide to others, and an exponent of their
own intentions. The decree of the 24th No-
vember, 1860, is said to have been intended to
associate more closely with the Government the
Senate and the Corps Legislatif, but the desired
end has not been answered by the debates which
have been held on the address, for the consequence
has been that public opinion has been needlessly
excited, and a loss of time occasioned to the affairs
of the country. Therefore it is now deemed advis-
able to substitute for this the privilege of putting
questions to the Government. While we think that
some great advantages may probably accrue to the
French people from these proposed changes, we
may well pause to consider the great difference that
exists between the customs of England and France,
and wonder at the absurdity of those who are always
ranking other countries higher than our own, and
confuse the
ri a effectted.
vvuntil w
would
uh
ledy
Mr.ancdausuneinfiot
ignorantmistaking
say if it was a question with us whether or not
there might be a debate on the Address,
andif all
questions put to Government must be "
inctually
regulated ?" It is also intended, says this
letter,
that the Minister should be sent to the Senate, and
the Corps Legi.slatif to take part in certain debates,
and this by virtue of a special commission. It ap-
pears that the Constitution does not admit of
any
"solidarity" among the Ministers, but makes them
dependent upon the chief of the State only.
The most important change indicated, however,
is that relating to the Press. A law is to be pro-
posed for the purpose of " assigning the jurisdic-
tion over offences against the press law exclusively
to the Correctional Tribunals, and thus suppress
the discretionary power of the Government." It
is also intended to regulate legislatively the right
of assembly, while restraining it within those limits
which public safety demands. The EMPEROR con-
cludes his impressive letter by declaring that
he said last year that his Government de-
sired to walk upon ground consolidated and
capable of sustaining power and liberty. " By the
measures I have just pointed out," adds he, "my
words become realised. I do not shake the ground
which fifteen years of calm and prosperity have
consolidated, but I increase the strength by render-
ing my relation with the great public powers more
intimate by securing to the citizen by law fresh
guarantees by completing the crowning of the
edifice erected by the national will." While it
is impossible as yet to judge very definitely
as to the nature of the proposed altera-
tion, it is in all probability to be expected
that they will be received at present with
satisfaction, and that further on they may be found
to have conduced to the national progress and pro-
sperity. The laws which have ratricted the press
have been most vexatious and irksome, and as all
the obstructive policy has been carried on by Go-
vernment, it has of course had the odium of being
most directly connected and concerned with the
oppression. Under the new order of things it may
be possible for a better state of feeling to exist, and
for more general improvements to be carried out
in the workings of the laws. We hope and trust
that this may prove only the foreshadowing
of more extensive and comprehensive reforms, and
that the EMPEROR, having begun the work, will not

slacken his efforts, but go on in his praiseworthy
endeavours. The French people have many things
to contend against, and in some respects the
stern decrees of past years may have been
beneficial in keeping back those who seek
to interfere with the peace of the country.
We think, however, that it is high time
for some alteration to be made, and for more con-
fidence to be reposed in the nation at large. The
EMPEROR'S power is not so secure, and his Govern-
ment, to use his own term, is not so " consolidated"
that surely he might in all safety be more advanced
in his views, and more liberal in his policy. It will
be all the more desirable for such a beneficial course
to be pursued, because the state of Germany is very
significant, and it will never do for the Emperor
NAPOLEON to allow it to be said that the Prussians
have stolen a march upon him, and are even in name
more advanced in national progress and development.
With one thing and another this last year has not
been a favourable one for France, and no one can
better feel this than the EMPEROR ; but he may
more than redeem the drawback of the past if he
now inaugurate a Liberal poliey,which, as time goes
on, will increase in strength and win the respect
and confidence of the people.

The news which the Atlantic Telegraph transmits
t 5 *s, bearing date January 18th, is of the briefest
possible extent, but it is, nevertheless, highly impor-
tant. " The Supreme Court," so runs the message,
"has decided that the test oathis unconstitutional."
This is a most significant step, and it confirms Mr.
JOHNSON'S anticipations of the support which he
would receive from the judicial authorities. It is a
severe blow to the Radical party, and deprives
them of many of their most specious pretexts. It
remains to be seen what step will be next taken by
the dominant party. If their own proceedings
are declared upon unquestionable authority to
be unconstitutional they can hardly censure the
PRESIDENT for having refused to endorse them.
The illegality of legislating in the name of the
United States, without any reference whatever to
the wishes of eleven of those States, has always been
apparent to unprejudiced observers. Even supposing
the proceedings of Congress had been in accordance
with the tone and temper of American legislation, it
would have been unconstitutional and unjust; but
when the Radicals boldly and openly endeavoured to
rule a large proportion of the great free country by
force, it was quite evident that all respect for consti-
tutional law and for the safeguards of national liberty
was gone, and that the people had nothing to look
for from those who should have been the best guar-
dians of their rights.
President JOHNSON long ago
declared that the road upon which the Radicals
were entering would lead to centralisation and
tyranny. At that time he was in more favour with
the party who elected him, but he did not fail to
perceive the dangers which threatened the States
through their means. Some of the motions which
Mr. JOHNSON most strenuously resisted tended, as
he pointed out at the time, to the increase of his own
power, and, therefore, to a curtailment of the rights of
the people. The subsequent conduct of the Radical
party, both in and out of Congress, has fully con-
firmed his opinion, and they have made it only too
manifest that the liberties of the people are their
last thought. What steps the leaders of the party
will think fit to take under this rebuff is as yet un-
certain. They can hardly proclaim their indiffe-
rence alike to the Constitution and the Supreme
Court ; if they do they will be showing very plainly
how little they are to be trusted, and to what dan-
gerous lengths they will hFry their followers if
still supported.

The annual meeting of the Sheffield Chamber of
Commerce was held on Friday last, and the pro-
ceedings derived some interest from the presence of
theborough
w hohad
amember,
gone
d()
down
Mr.n n BucK.
purpose
ROEBUCK-
t
in the:meeting, was elected an honorary member of
the Chamber, and received a vote of thanks from
his constituents for his constant attention to their
affairs. The trade of Sheffield, however, is im-
portant and interesting enough to attract the atten-
tion of those not so immediately connected with the
town, and the various commercial questions of the
day were brought upfor consideration in the report.
Stretching beyond the actual condition of prices and
markets, the report entered upon a wider range,
the wonderful links
reßntyly discordant agencies,
and dismissed the possible and probable effects of
the great political changes of the time upon the
of Germany, the political
important part of Shef-
field industry
unite
troeyf t
h conventionst
eh
me iro stt oa NNp•
pn a.
of the steel alone ex-
portedrivalries of America, exercise their influence on the
manufacturers and factory hands of Sheffield. The
Amerl
d ibe
last year was more than £700,000. During
uasni
et
er
sasd
;e fot
the
me svaa
lvueery
the last three:years the exports of all kinds have been
constantly increasing, having risen from £782,226
in 1864 to £1,545,878 last year. It is therefore
very much to be lamented that the protectionist
policy of America threatens such evil to the trade
of Sheffield. Mr. ROEBUCK, as a staunch Free
Trader, spoke strongly of the evils of the protective
system followed in most countries. The Canadians
are happily making a move in the right direction.
Mr. ROEBUCK, amid the laughter of his audience,
declared his belief that there would be, in conse-
quence, so large a smuggling trade to Canada to
escape the protective tariffs of America that Shef-
field would ultimately benefit. As for America
itself, Mr. ROEBUCK said, truly enough, that it
was not simply the desire for protection
which brought about the tariff. " There are
many parties in that country, and every
party fights for their assistance. There are
large bodies of men who want protection, and in
order to gain their help as party men protection is
established throughout the United States." Of the
Canadians Mr. ROEBUCK spoke strongly and some-
what harshly, though having passed a good many
years in Canada perhaps he thinks he has
a right to criticise them as a countryman. We
cannot agree with him that England has
no earthly benefit from her colonies except
the due which she might derive from them as reci-
pients of her manufactures," which, according to
his showing, they have done their best to exclude.
A large proportion of our trade is with our depen-
dencies, while the politicians who are continually
declaring that England would be as well without her
colonies appear to forget that such an opinion is
entirely a matter of theory, since England when she
had no colonies was very different from what she
is now. Her colonies have helped to make her
what she is, and they help her now to preserve her
position as a first-rate power. Austria, as might
be expected, comes very low in the list of Sheffield
customers, being actually the thirty-fif th. But the
President of the Chamber declared his conviction
that the educated classes ofAustria were for free trade,
and we may hope that the recent changes intro-
duced into her commercial policy are only preludes
to a thorough revision of their statutes. Mr. ROE-
BUCK, in speaking on this subject, very sensibly
said that free trade was all-important for Austria
and would be one means of keeping the Empire
together. " The largest portions of Austrian ter-
ritory are producers of raw produce. They want
cheap manufactures, and the best thing the