The Sun.
London, England, 1867-05-23 00:00:00

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LONDON, THURSDAY, MAY 23, 1867.

The members of the Reform League seem deter-
mined to throw prudence aside, and to do some-
thing to distinguish themselves, no matter how
inconsistent the thing may be which suggests itself
to them. Their last exploit has been to pay homage
to Count BISMARK, and to pay their tribute of
respect and esteem to the policy which prevails in
Prussia. The Count has replied to the communi-
cation he received, conveying the resolutions
passed at a meeting of the Reform League
and others, congratulating the people of
North Germany upon the new Constitution
they have lately acquired. Mr. BEALES and his
friends must certainly belong to that class of per-
sons who strain at a gnat and then swallow a camel,
for they turn from their mutual abuse of our free
institutions to deify a man who is the sworn foe of
all freedom, and to praise the laws and customs of
a land where tyranny runs riot, and where no free-
dom of expression or action is permitted. The free
representation and the vote by ballot are but
mockeries in Germany, as any one possessed of any
knowledge of the facts of the caseknow very well, and
it is much to be regretted that those who arrogate
to themselves the right of representing a portion of
our countrymen to foreign nations should exhibit
themselves in so ridiculous a light to their rulers
and representatives. No doubt Count BISMARCK
fully appreciated the absurdity of the thing when
he penned his reply, for a man of his astuteness
must well know how diametrically opposed his
proteges is to the genius of the English people, and
how far behind us the Germans are in all that relates
to the working of a free Constitution. If this
is the last weapon Mr. BEALES can take down
from his armoury to terrify the Government, we
think his cause a very bad one, and he is indeed
leading a forlorn hope. We are not yet reduced to
the extremity of learning how to make our laws
from a Prussian model, and the sooner the League
finds that out the better for their own reputation.
It is indeed surprising to notice the errors into
which people fall when they persist in carrying out
their purpose without regard to consistency, but
simply according to the suggestion of prejudice.

The opening of the Austrian Reichsrath, at this
particular juncture, is an occasion of especial in-
terest, and we are glad to see that the Speech of
the EurEßon is a very admirable one. If it does
not exactly contain all that one might desire, there
is nothing in it to excite disapprobation, and

FRANCIS JOSEPH may be congratulated upon hay.

ing derived wisdom from adversity. There is no
reason to feel surprise at the discourse having been

well received, and having called forth frequew

bursts of cheering, for it was one that was wel

adapted to meet :the views of the patriot, and
yet was so well considered that it need not
have awakened scruples in the mind of the
doubtful and timorous. The EMPEROR had the

great satisfaction of being able to declare that he
had partially realised his schemes, and fulfilled
those promises which he made when he, for the first
time, saluted the Reichsrath from that place. To
establish Constitutional institutions seems his un-
ceasing object, and to that he has devoted all his
energies. The difficulty that attended this task was
greatly increased by the necessity which existed for
bringing into accord the ancient constitutional
rights of the kingdom of Hungary with the
fundamental laws granted in the celebrated diploma

of 1860 ; and recognition was made of the wil-
lingness displayed by that portion of the Empire

which had enabled the other kingdoms and pro-

vinces to enjoy those rights and liberties which had

. _
been entrusted to them, alike by their ancient

usages and the progressive development which was

xi accordance with the spirit of the present age.