The Sun.
London, England, 1867-03-21 00:00:00

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
PARIS, Wednesday Evening.
The great debate on the interpellations termi-
nated by a vote of 215 to 44 in favour of passing to
the order of the day —that is to say, the Chamber
was of opinion that there was no ground for found-
ing any specific resolutions upon the discursive and
rambling objections made to the foreign policy of
the Government. M. Thiers made another speech,
which most of the journals describe as a rehash of
his first long address.
M. Rouher, the Minister of State, disposed of all
the opposition objections eloquently and triumph-
antly. The effect was such that, when he con-
cluded, many members left their seats and earnestly
expressed their congratulations. The conclusion of
this speech merits literal translation. The Minister
said---" France will never have any exclusive alli-
ance. We wish to remain in harmony with all
nations. We will treat with them in regard to all
the important interests which may successively be
brought into question, and we will defend them.
We will defend our national alliances by compro-
mises, by diplomacy, in order to overcome diffi-
culties. Positions will change. To-day we will
ally with Austria, to-morrow with Prussia, not to
seek for conquests, but to arrive at an amicable
solution of questions which may be agitated between
us, in order to attain a great pacific position after
great storms. (Much applause.) Here is the
thought which dominates over us. Here is the
motive by which we are directed. It is the pro-
found feeling to support the interests of the country.
This is the realisation of the end marked out for
man for the nation—progress ! And our work
being accomplished we will say to our descendants,
Do like us. Allow violent aggressions to pass away,
as well as bold and bitter reproaches, and posterity
• will judge you."
M. Gueroult said—We have too few opportuni-
ties of calling the attention of the Government to
foreign affairs not to avail ourselves of the present.
It must be well understood that I decline, on my
own account, all responsibility in the signification
which is attached to the demand made by M. Thiers
to refer the various questions back to the Govern-
ment. (M. Gueroult is the chief editor of the
Opinion Nationale).
The Chambers met again to-day, but merely to
discuss matters of local interest.
The Moniteur contains a letter from Madrid,
dated the 17th of March, which states that all the
inhabitants attended the funeral of Monseigneur
Puente, Cardinal Archbishop of Burgos, on the
previous day. The cardinal, who like Cardinal Wise-
man, was born at Seville, and commencedhis studies
i❑ England with the late eminent Archbishop of
Westminster, had become eminent for his virtues
and enlightened principles. After having occupied
the See of Salamanca he was translated to Old
Castelle, and it was there that he was chosen to
direct the studies of the heir presumptive to the
hrone.

Independently of the treaty of commerce signed
with Morocco, Spain has just made an engagement
with England, France, Austria, and several other
nations, to assist in maintaining the beautiful light-
house which the Emperor Mohammed has erected,
at his own expense, on Cape Espartel, not far from
Tangiers. For vessels coming from the west this
light indicates to the south the entrance to Gibraltar,
and will therefore be of incontestable utility.
Since the formation of railways in Algiers the
port of Carthagena has attracted the particular
attention of persons who have frequent relations
with Africa, and who hope that Oran and Algiers
will speedily be connected. The shortest route
from Paris to Algiers is now by way of Carthagena.
That town is united to Paris by an uninterrupted
railway of 2,000 kilometres in length, and it is only
115 nautical miles from Oran—that is to say, the
distance is performed in 52 hours by railway and
13 hours by cea. For persons who do not like a sea
voyage the journey by Bayonne and Madrid for
Algeria offers various advantages, and the same
may be said in regard to travellers to America by
Cadiz, as they thus avoid the dangers and annoy-
ances of the Gulf of Gascony.
A Prince of Ilesse has just died in his seventy-
eighth year.
It appears by letters from Roubaix that the riots
arising out of the strike of the cotton and silk
weavers in that town have been more serious than
was at first supposed. It was necessary to call out
the troops garrisoned in the town. The workmen
broke into the factories, destroyed the materials,
and set fire to the workshops. The origin of the
dissatisfaction of the workmen was the introduction
of a newly-invented loom, two of which can be con-
ducted by one workman. Another cause of dis-
satisfaction was a fine imposed upon workmen of a
centime per minute when absent from their work.
This fine, however, was modified by the masters,
who published a notice to that effect. The notice,
however, was considered as an indication that the
masters intended to persevere in the employment of
the new machines which created so much excite-
ment among the workmen that they assembled in the
streets to the number of more than 25,000, uttering
terrific shouts and menaces. They attacked the
workshops of several manufacturers and destroyed
the looms and materials and broke the windows.
They then proceeded to the resithnces of some of
their employers, and broke, cut, and then destroyed
the furniture. The tocsin was sounded, the troops
arrived, and there was a scene of confusion and
alarm. The mob, however, dispersed on the
arrival of the soldiers. There does not appear to
have been any loss of life, but Roubaix was never
before subjected to such commotion and violence.
In Belgium, also, there is great excitement
among the working classes. On Sunday last about
1,600 workmen assembled to protest against some
words inconsiderately uttered by one of the Belgian
ministers. Deputations from Antwerp, Verviers,
and Liege attended the meeting, and unanimously
agreed to the following resolution :—" This meet-
ing protests with all the energy of the national
dignity against the accusation made against the
Belgian people by a minister of Belgium, who re-
presented them as capable of selling their electoral
rights for a barrel of beer or gin. The meeting
protests against the declaration of the same
minister, which is in direct opposition to natural
right, and with the spirit and letter of the constitu-
tion, and which tends to nothing less than to con-
demn the people to perpetual ostracism. The
meeting declares that the League of the people was
constituted with the object of pursuing the object
assigned to it by the foundation committee ap-
pointed by the meeting of the 22d of December,
1866." The Belgian " League of the People" is a
society, the object of which is to obtain and insure
for the people the right of suffrage, education, and
to promote their general welfare.

The ktusc-Hall Sick Fund.-