The Sun.
London, England, 1867-07-19 00:00:00

they should elect as their represeetative in heu of after the fashion of six months ago. It is true that
the late Mr. SCIIOLEFIELD. Such a course is not a. there has been an interval of inaction, and there
suitable one to pursue at any time, but just now itr were a few happy weeks, during which the clamour
appears most impolitic and interfering. It is un- of Radical orators was partially silenced ; but that
gracious, to say the least of it, when the Govern- recess seems only to have stimulated the leaders of
ment have made so great a concesssion in favour of tb ,a extreme party to more vehement action. The
those views which Mr. BRIGHT has so long advo- g reat object which they are now setting before
cated, and in support of those principles he declares themselves and their followers is the evasion of
to be essential to the welfare of the community official interference with their schemes for tyrannis-
and the vitality of the State, for the hon. ing over the South. The Reconstruction Bill,
member to seize this opportunity and rush to literally interpreted, proved to be so directly
Birmingham not only to oppose them, but to enter illegal in its effects as to call forth the uncom-
con amore into the excitement of a contested elcc- promising decision of the chief legal authority, and
tion. All who are at all familiar with his style or the consequent interference of the PRESIDENT corn-
language must understand that he is not a safe per- pletely neutralised the benevolent intentions of
sou to trust at such times, and that those who rely Messrs. STEVENS, ASHLEY, and Co. Great was the
upon his discretion and moderation will find them- indignation felt throughout the Radical camp when
selves mistaken and deceived by the result. We the practical failure of their scheme became known,
cannot say that the speech delivered yesterday in the and on the very first day of this new session no less
Town-hall was worse than might have been expected, than six Reconstruction Bills were introduced in
but it was certainly no better than many which he the Senate. These bills were all of a similar cha-
has uttered on former occasons, when he hurled racter, and their great object is to invest the mili-
damnation round the land on "each he deemed his tarp commanders with supreme power. The
foe." Another thing to be regretted in this discus- Democratic party is very thinly represented, only
sion to which we are alluding was the mixing up of 34 members answering to the call on the
the name of the departed representative of the opening of the session. It is said that by
town with the scuffles and squabbles of electioneer- keeping away they hope to fix the stigma
ing attorneys. It is quite enough to drag living of unpopular legislation upon the opposite
names into such scenes—the dead should be sacred party. The Radicals are determined to admit no
from such unseemly intrusion, and it is au act more rivals near the throne than they can help, for
of desecration for Mr. BRIGHT to say that the out of eleven Democrats who presented themselves
prine. from Kentucky and Connecticut only two were
electors should show their adhesion to those
ciples which Mr. SCHOLEFIELD so ably represented. admitted to seats, the cases of the others being re-
As for the inflated terms in which he spoke of the ferred to committees. Eight of the nine members
claims that the memory of the past had upon them elect from Kentucky were thus rejected, and it is
the affair fell very fiat, because the simile was not probable that they may be altogether excluded,
an analogous one. He reminded his hearers that although two of there actually served in the Fede-
they were the sons of the men who had carried the ral army during the civil war, and one was a
Reform Bill of 1832, and • hence the present member of the last Congress. They are, however,
constituency must not forsake the cause condemned as " disloyal"—loyalty no longer mean-
which had made the town famous. This is ing fidelity to the Constitution or obedience to the
simply ridiculous, and the hon. member, in laws, but uncompromising adherence to the extreme
trying to be impressive, is grasping at a phantom tenets of the Radical party. Doctors, however,
and fighting a shadow. Who are these dreaded disagree among themselves, and the first day of the
enemies but the men who have just prepared and Session did not pass over without an angry alterca-
carried through the House of Commons with great tion between Mr. SU3INER and Messrs. TURNBULL
difficulty a measure of Reform which Mr. BRIGHT and FESSENDEN. Mr. SU3INER is much displeased
himself greatly commended at the time of the third at the idea of nothing being effected beyond recon-
reading. All we can say is, that if the electors of struction bills, and is anxious that negro suffrage
Birmingham are so ignorant as not to recognise bills and other measures should be brought under
this for inconsistency, or so indifferent as not discussion. Ile has a bill for compelling all States
to understand the insincerity of such waver- to adopt negro suffrage in readiness, and considers
ing, they are not fit to enjoy the privilege of that the country is now without a Republican
the franchise. Mr. BRIGHT was very successful in form of government, because sonic of the Northern
showing the House the errors into which Mr. LowE States refuse to extend the franchise to the blacks.
had fallen in his determination to oppose the bill Universal suffrage must, in Mr. SUMNER'S opinion,
before Parliament, but he has done worse himself be forced upon all the States ; that is to say, one
than the sin which he reproves in others, for no man is to legislate for some millions of people, since
one can say that the member for Caine has wavered or Mr. SUMNER is nearly alone in his enthusiastic
veered a bit, while the oracle of Birmingham is never negro worship.
the same for two days together. Mob oratory is one The Mexican news has excited the deepest indig-
thing and debating in the House of Commons an- nation among all the better classes of Americans.
other, and the same individual had better not try They cannot feel that their country is blameless
both. Perhaps it is confessing infatuation to ex- in the affair, although it may well be ques-
press surprise at the vagaries of this speaker, or else tioned whether any effort on their part would
we might venture to say that it is strange, to say have availed to save the life of the Emperor
the least of it, that he should just now be put to when he was once in the hands of his foes. The
the old, old story of holding up the Conservatives as republication of the famous imperial despatches of
the object of contempt, and the fit butt for October, 1865, comes as a timely answer to those
ridicule. The tone in which he commented who endeavour to exculpate JUAREZ and his asso-
upon their policy was, to use the words of ciates for their crime, by a plea of justifiable retalia-
the Chancellor of the Exchequer in commenting tion. The proclamation distinctly begins by assort-
upon some speeches in the debate of Friday," rather ing that the cause of JUAREZ having succumbed,
strong." One would think that these despicable and its chief having left the country, the disorder
Tories had just thrown out a Reform Bill instead which still existed in some parts was only attribut-
of doing their best to carry it. able to disorganised bands of men, whose only object
IVhen Mr. BRIGHT describes the Tory party as were pillage and murder. The Government would
"wrong, perverse, and untractable,"as opposing every therefore be inflexible in punishing such persons.
good measure, he shows himself to be as perverse as When we remember the lawlessness and indif-
any of his opponents, and intractable as any Protec- ference to human life which have long prevailed in
tionist or any anti-Reformer going. In fact it is quite Mexico, we shall easily understand the truth of
unworthy of his reputation as a speaker, and his these statements, and we must admit that if Max"-
position and influence generally, for Mr. BRIGHT to MILIAN meant to preserve even the semblance of a
descend to such clap-trap arguments and to employ civilised government he was bound to protect peace-
ful citizens, and to repress such outrages by every
such mean devices. Is he, or is he not, in favour
means in his power. There is no ground for suppos-
of this measure introduced into Parliament'? If not
he has a right to speak against it, but if he is, ing that the proclamation could under any circum-
nothing can excuse him for blowing hot and cold,
stances have been distorted into justifying the mur-
der of a political opponent, the head of a powerful
since it is expressly mentioned that JuA nEZ had
had waved over the scene. It is a little too much,
and thinking that a few hours' journey can alter
left the country. No doubt the terms of the decree
however, when he becomes a prophet, and declares
facts and change opinions as if a magician's wand party;
were severe as regarded the guerrilleros, but a stern
hand has always been necessary to preserve order in
same persistent and unchangeable resistance to
Mexico. Great dissatisfaction is felt in the United
every improvement." This assumption seems not
that " hereafter the Tory party would show the
States with the conduct of Mr. SEWARD, who, it is
to be allowed, however, because Mr. BRIGHT is
said, was personally interested in the success of the
already convicted of making a fatal blunder in this
so called Liberal cause, and it is even said that he
matter of prophecy. He has over and over again promised the protection of the United States to the
asserted that he believed a good measure would
Alexican people in case of European vengeance for
never come from the Tories, and now he is com
_ the murder of MAXIMILIAN. The Americans are
polled to admit that this bill of theirs goes further
chafing under these rumours, and the Congress has
affairs. We may judge of the strength of the general
in admitting working men to the suffrage than formally demanded information upon Mexican
feeling from the fact that the House of Representa-
(hate subject of interest before him he became still
any bill introduced to Parliament bad succeeded
tines, who are not usually very scrupulous respect-
morein doing. When Mr. BRIGHT came to the hurtle-
either foreign or domestic affairs, refused to
receivel a resolution expressing satisfaction at thelg
inconsistent. The idea of comparing the eke-
i
tion at Birmingham to the Reform agitation of
1832, or the controversy about the Corn-laws in overthrow of the Mexican Empire. The uncer-
-1846, is quite beside the matter, and still more ap- tainty respecting the fate of SANTA ANNA increases
prbaching to bathos was the allusion to his
the popular uneasiness.. One thing seems only-too
feelings in the matter. The secret is that the clear. The condition of Mexico is becoming once
honourable member trying to be particularly more desperate, and life, property, and civil liberty
emphatic takes the step which leads from the are alike miserably insecure.
sublime to a less enviable position.
He gave great credit to the powers of his oppo-
nent in the contest, when he said that " his autho-
rity would be struck down by yoking him to a col-
league whose vote would destroy the force of his ad-
vocacy ; better far that he should cease to be their
representative, or retire from Parliament, than that
he should be content to sit, and speak, and vote with
a divided and enfeebled authority." This is not only
offensive to the good sense and good taste of those
who peruse it, but it is following upon a track that
is hardly in accordance with parliamentary usage
or constitutional forms. Suppose the precedent
were followed, and as each new writ is called for,
Mr. DISRAELI, Mr. GLADSTONE, Mr. LowE, or any
one else of standing, should pelt down to the place
of contest, and lecture, argue, entreat, and com-
mand, as the case may be, with the view
of getting their own particular favourite re-
turned. Suppose the election to be of great
consequence,
several of these notabilities might
meet at a given spot and fight over the battles of
the House of Commons- Such a spectacle would
not be edifying, but the • •
principle is the same as
that Mr. BRIGHT is l apng down, and it, is not a
safe one or a satisfactory
one by any means. No
real Reformer wont," at the present time regret
accession to the ranks of the Conservatives,
and if
Birmingham returns Mr. LOI L - D there would be no
grounds for the indignation Mr. B LIGHT so loudly
confesses.

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

-------

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
PARIS, Thursday Evening.

The Moniteur, in its bulletin to-day, states :--
"The holy Father has held a Papal chapel for
the repose of the soul of the Emperor Maximilian.
The members of the diplomatic body at Rome were
present at the ceremony.
" The Italian Chamber of Deputies has concluded
the general discussion upon the project of law rela-
tive to the liquidation of ecclesiastical property, and
the consideration of the first article of the project

has begun.
" The Austrian Chamber of Deputies, after a
long debate, has voted by 79 'out of 135, against the
abolition of the punishment of death."
In the weekly review of foreign affairs by the
evening illoniteur, there is the following apprecia-
tion of the enlightened and reforming policy of
Austria :—" The Austrian Government pursues,
with equal patience, energy, and good faith, the
work of reorganisation which it has commenced.
The first of the great constitutional laws presented
by the Cabinet—that of Ministerial responsibility—
has been adopted by the deputies of the Reichsrath.
Ou the same day the Chamber voted, by a large
majority, for the formation of a committee to con-
sider a proposed religious edict, which will proclaim
entire freedom of religious worship, and-the esta-
blishment of regulations which would naturally re-
sult from the commencement of such a system. In
future the names of Jews will not be erased from
the lists of jurors, as at present, and they will with-
out exception enjoy all the rights and privileges
granted to Christians. The policy of Austria at
this moment is based upon the facilitation of pro-
gress and reform. The Minister of Justice is occu-
pied with ameliorations in the penal code, which
W
King
gave
thei
a ng
h Emperor.
o mrf
copy
of
will be the abolition of corporal punishment.
t oieengtwht
toihet giveeh Tuileries K
phseloi
3Vri
enure Majesty
information
jlmfeTosbhtreyielrlgahEt pomdanpi
adrreeslhssopi
nsegcfitirng
asked s
the first
visit
in-
terview
an institution for the succour of invalided military
families
mt nary
urem
families which the King founded in W t berg.
the regulations and other
The
information to Count Sommer, who accompanied

Congressmen in Washington are working harder
in this July weather than members of the English
Parliament. The latter may fairly consider the
bulk of their work for the Session as done, now that
the troublesome bill is sent on to the Lords, to
whom a little excitement and perplexity ought to
be refreshing, by way of change. The American
representatives of both houses arc, hewever, going
back to first principles—wrangling with each other,
talking about the impeachment of the PRESIDENT,
and above all worrying the Southern States, just