The Sun.
London, England, 1867-10-31 00:00:00

THE- SUN, LONDON, THITESDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 31, 1867

letters." Thee Chancellor of the Exchequer, in
making his acli-nowledgments for the honour con-
ferred upon him, declared that he felt the more im-
pressed by the gift, since it was well known that no
political connexion n or identity existed between
that Corporation an d the party with which
he was associated. re fully agree with the right
hon. gentleman that this is indeed a circumstance
of peculiar significance, and of great moment. As
he happily expressed ..;t, they " were paying a
homage, a healthy homage to that public life
which is the soul of free states." There is, indeed,
no higher reward to which public men can aspire,
no greater privilege they can boast of, no more
consolatory reflection to dwell upon, than the
fact that their fellow-citizens have deemed them
worthy of honour and regard. Touching upon
political questions, Mr. DISRAELI gained loud
cheers from his auditory by declaring that
her MAJESTY'S Government had fully made up
their minds that Scotland deserved and required
increased representation, and that they meant to
support and further that opinion to the utmost
extent of their influence.
As for education, the topic which just now is so
interesting and important, Mr. DISRAELI said that
he had always been the supporter of popular and
public education, and therefore did not come as a
novice to the consideration of the matter. Scotland
has a good right to judge this question, being, as
he emphatically styled it, a nation singularly
blessed and favoured in this respect. Mr.
DISRAELI is not prone to indulge in these
Utopian ideas which some statesmen delight
in, and therefore it is the more encouraging
to find that be considers it very likely in the next
session of Parliament something may be done to
adapt the ancient system that has long flourished
in Scotland to the requirements of the present age.
The ceremony of conferring the degree of Doctor
of Laws on the Chancellor of the Exchequer and
the Right Hon. R. LOWE took place. After de-
claring that an expression of confidence from so
distinguished a body as that before him, and one
so " connected with the sacred cause of learning,
science, and philosophy," was deeply gratifying,
he concluded by stating that he should be very
happy to see in the next session of Parliament the
representative of the University of Edinburgh.
There is great truth in the right hon. gentleman's
declaration on behalf of his party that it had always
desired to see the " great seats of learning and
philosophy raise their luminous and lettered points
in the Parliament of this country," for the Con-
servatives have always honoured learning, and
sought to render due homage to its votaries. Mr.
LOWE created considerable amusement by remark-
ing that the right hon. gentleman had left him little
to do except that which he feared he was not in the
habit of doing, namely, toagree with him in everything
he had said. The right hon. gentleman contrived,
however, to make some interesting remarks, and,
among other things, said that of all the honours
reaped by the Scotch Universities nothing was
more ennobling than this, while "they offer an
admirable education to the children of the rich,
they offer an education equally suitable and equally
admirable to the children of the poor."
The eventful day was crowned by the Chancellor
of the Exchequer proceeding to the Music-hall to
receive a complimentary address from the working
men. There could have been no exaggeration in
Mr. DISRAELI'S opening remarks that had he con-
sulted his personal convenience he would not
have appeared on that occasion. He felt, how-
ever, that he could not refuse to accede
to the very cordial request that had been made to
him ; and while he was able to say that no man
living could more heartily concur with their con-
gratulations upon the bill that had just passed into
law, he could not take himself all the merit of that
happy occurrence. It is worthy of remark that'
while the Liberals are for ever disputing about theft
rival claims to precedence, the Conservatives seem
to be eager to yield the palm to each other.
Mr. DISRAELI declares that he served under
a Prime Minister " who is the leading-spirit
of the Cabinet, between whom and him-
self there is perfect and entire sympathy;
and he was supported by colleagues who entirely
agreed with him." He paid a well-deserved tribute
to his party, which evinced a devotion and energy
" scarcely to be equalled in the history of the con-
stitution of any country." The high feeling of the
present House of Commons was also handsomely
acknowledged by its leader. Perhaps some persons
may profit by the confession which Mr. DISRAELI
makes of the nature of " the black devices" he re-
sorted to to gain his ends and further his objects.
" Upon every question I took my own party
into confidence, and when I had to appeal
to an independent Opposition I remembered
at all times that they were men of sense and gentle-
men." This doubtless explains a good deal, and a
statesman or minister can never hope to succeed in
his dealings with others if lie does not think more
of their feelings than of his own sentiments. In
taking a retrospective glance at his parliamentary
career, now of more than thirty years' duration,
Mr. DISRAELI was happy in being able to affirm
that he could find no part of it which showed that
he had taken a part against the interests of the
working classes. He has supported every one of the
Acts that has been passed for the amelioration of the
condition of the working men. Those who
have been intimately acquainted with the right hon.
gentleman's public life will know that this is strictly
true, and that before he took so prominent a part
in the councils of the nation and the proceedings of
the Legislature he devoted his time and his talents
to the cause of the poor, and in one of his most
brilliant works depicted many of the glaring evils
that disgraced our civilisation.
In nothing has Mr. DISRAELI been more consis-
tent than in his advocacy of the advantages of the
press, and he very properly introduced that sub-
ject in alluding to the depreciatory remarks made
by those who put other countries before ours in
an educational point of view. " I remember," said
he, " with pride and consolation that England alone
is the country in which a free press practically and
really exists." As to the working of the Reform
Bill, the right hon. gentleman concluded his im-
pressive address by giving his hearers some sound
advice, which, if they follow, will prove that he was
their friend and best adviser and counsellor. He
besought them when they gained their political
privileges to exercise them in a manner worthy
of patriotic and intelligent men. " Disappoint all
the forebodings of your false friends and foes, do
not listen to those who tell you that you have boon
invested with democratic rights, and therefore you
must effect great changes in the fortunes and con-
ditions of oue of the most considerable nations and
Governments that ever existed. Be proud of the
confidence which the constituted authorities of the
country have reposed in you. Show that you are
about to be invested with popular privileges ; that
you know the value of popular privileges ; and
that you will exercise them to maintain the in-

stitutions of your country, and to increase its
power, its glory, and its fame."

The close of the Paris Exhibition, which was to
have been simultaneous with the last days of Oc-
tober, is to be deferred for three days, Yesterday