The Sun.
London, England, 1867-08-09 00:00:00

/THEATRE ROY AL DRURY-LAN E.
1 Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. F. B. Chattertun.s J.
TIIIS EVENING, THAT RASCAL JACK. Chatter
ley Eats.
C.
Rouse, J. Neville, C. Warner; Mesdames B. Ane,
Thompson.
Co conclude with T EIE GREAT CITY. Messrs. C.Warner,
F. Morton. J. Fitzjames, F Villiers, J. C. Cowrer, W.
Al.lntyre, .T. Rouse, J. Irving., J. B. Johnstone; Mesdames
M. Robertson, R. G. Le Thiere, C. Thompson.
Commence at Seven.

111 HE ATHE ROYAL, HAYMARKET,
Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. Buckstone.
TOTS EVENING, THE LOVE CIL& Messrs. Chip-
/lend/00. Mice, Pcnzers, Kendal. C' ark, White,
Wea
c. thereby,
&c. ; meAeames Sedgw'ck Chippendale, Burke. A
A I ter which, TO PARIS AND BACK FOIL FIVE
rots DS. Mr. Buckstone.
To conclude with THE RIFLE, AND 110 W TO USE IT
Mr. Compton.

ever, so perverted his judgment that it is almost im-
possible to say what he will do next on any im-
portant occasion, and if a debate be protracted, ten
to one but he will fail at the last, and virtually undo
all that he has done before by moderation and
conciliation. Mr. BRIGHT was most earnest in his
adjurations to the House on this subject, and de-
clared that the giants of the English constitution,
the great men who were the parents of English
freedom, would have given their vote for him had
they been there. We really do not see how this
can be, or by what means Mr. BRIGHT ascertained
their would-be intentions, but the majority of the
House of Commons preferred to act up to their
own convictions, instead of following Mr.
BRIGHT in his visits to the spirit land.
The hon. member for Birmingham tried
argument as well as exhortation, and said that the
whole matter was " so monstrous, and so unconsti-
tutional, that he felt as if he were either humiliating
himself or his hearers in discussing it." Mr. KNATC lI-
BULL-HUGESSEN'S speech was much to the point,
and he said, very truly, that Mr. BRIGHT argued as
if the weight and importance of constituencies de-
pended entirely on majorities. The main reason
why he advocated this plan was, because "he
desired to see the greatest amount of in-
telligence, and the largest number of persons
possible engaged in taking part in all political
affairs ;" and this is of itself a very forcible argument
in favour of the adoption of the scheme.
Mr. LOWE was, of course, very earnest about the
clause, and was very effective in discussing the
speeches of Mr. BRIGHT and Mr. GLADSTONE. The
latter was very strongly against the clause, and
declared that it would not be right to curtail the,
electoral powers of the great towns. Mr.
GLADSTONE'S arguments showed an illiberal
spirit, for he went too much on Mr. BRIGHT'S
tack of sweeping everything away by the
power of numbers. At any rate, it is a matter
of great satisfaction that the House should have
adopted this clause for the representation of mino-
rities, and its success will infallibly be shown as
time proceeds. It is matter of regret that the
Voting Paper Clause shoukl have been thrown out,
and the opposition made to it came with a very
bad grace from the Liberal side of the House.
Mr. GLADSTONE declined to agree to Mr.
DISRAELI'S proposal to have a compromise,
and to omit boroughs from its operation.
Mr. BRIGHT, as might have been expected, was
furious about the motion, and declared that it
would lead to intimidation and similar undesirable
results. Altogether, the course taken by Liberals
in this matter was, as we have said, not unworthy ;
and it is pretty plain by this time that they will
not try anything which will make bribery less
effectual, and prevent the noisy and turbulent
party from losing the best chance of win-
ning the day. Mr. MILL said that he
Would rather have no bill at all than
one with such a condition attached to it, and
we have in this declaration a very fair specimen of
the sincerity of these enthusiasts about Reform.
They are full of crotchets, and directly any one
ventures to touch upon their province they are in-
dignant, and say that nothing must be done at all
if all is not exactly as they want. Mr. BRIGHT
has threatened to retire from Parliament in
the event of the minority clause coming
into operation, but in all probability he will
see fit to change his intentions when the time
comes for putting principle into practice. A good
deal of work was got through last night, and the
Reform Bill may safely be considered as virtually
passed. The difficulties which Ministers have had
to contend against may be best estimated by the viru-
lence of the opposition which they encountered last
night. Those who, like Mr. GLADSTONE, had remained
practically quiescent after the great Government
success in April, reappeared yesterday in full force,
while Mr. BRIGHT, who had affirmed the measure
before it went to the Lords, attacked it in a spirit
worthy of 1859, and the malcontents, like Lord
CRANBORNE and Mr. BERESFORD HOPE, were all
on the alert. The public will rejoice that the bill
has survived the dangers of this motley crew, and
that, with a few exceptions, it bids fair to sustain
the desired end of those who introduced it. Mr.
DISRAELI did his best in the awkward position in
which he was placed, and though the House of
Commons did not respond to his invitation with
quite the cordiality of previous occasions, it acted
well and wisely in the most important clause that
came under its consideration ; and it is no exaggera-
tion to say that most desperate efforts were made by
some to defeat the Lords' amendments altogether,
a desire in which they were most happily unsuccess-
ul, but their responsibility is the same.

Lord STANLEY'S answer to the question put to
him last night by Mr. H. SEYMOUR, did not express

much confidence in the present position of the
Abyssinian captives. The noble lord said that the
latest accounts which he had received from Mas-

sowah were of the date of July 20th.

It was re

presented that the KING'S power was greatly
diminished, that rebel troops were actually in

sight of his camp, and that communication between
Debre Tabor, where he is, and Magdala, where the
prisoners are detained, is cut off. " But," added
Lord STANLEY, after repeating this statement, " I
cannot say whether it will be permanently cut

off, and it would therefore be premature to
conclude that the prisoners were about to be imme-

diately liberated." Such being the case, we trus
that the opportunity afforded us by the temporary
release of the prisoners from THEODORE'S guard
may be turned promptly to account. The chances
of war arc proverbially uncertain, and it is very
probable that the KING may make a special effort
to recapture the prisoners in pursuance of his policy
towards this country. Ile had evidently some end
in view in their long detention, and will no doubt
be much mortified at his prey having escaped from
his grasp. If he can regain possession of the Euro-
pean captives be may recover some of his lost
prestige among his followers. By sending a force
from India to the assistance of the rebels we may
recover the prisoners from their long captivity with
very little delay or difficulty ; and we hope Lord
STANLEY will transmit instructions for an im-
mediate despatch of troops. By leaving the fate of
so many Englishmen to the doubtful chances of
war, in which neither party is fighting for us, we
shall do incalculable harm to our reputation in the
East, and weaken the power and influence of Eng-
land in every semi-civilised country with which
we have to deal. No nation is more concerned in
preserving that hedging round of dignity and
prestige which is so valuable au assistant to mere
physical force, and which indeed in many cases
A ems as an efficient substitute for it. But if Eno--
land is known to be too weak, or too indolent, or
too indifferent to exert herself on behalf of her
official representatives, our interests in every quarter
of the globe will be imperilled, and in our dealings
with China, with Japan, above all with India, we
shall find that the timorous saving of life and
honour at the expense of the Abysiuian cap-
tives be likely to involve us in heavy
and costly wars. England is at a low ebb indeed
if she cannot rescue her subjects from a half-de-
throned KING, whose people are in open rebellion
against him. It is not a question that will afford to