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 EMPEROR 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 frequent
bursts of cheering, for it was one that was well
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 I
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 bad 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
in accordance with the spirit of the present age.
There was neither flattery nor exaggeration in this,
because it is well-known that the Hungarians and
the others concerned in the affair have done all
that they possibly could to bring about the desired
end, and they fully deserve to reap the reward of
their efforts in the cause of freedom and progress.
The EMPEROR frankly acknowledged that the
" heavy blows of fortune which have fallen upon the
Empire" served more fully to convince him of the
necessity for acting in this manner without hesita-
tion, and he earnestly trusted that the Reichsrath
would not refuse its consent to that arrangement
which had been planned, and which secured for the
Hungarian countries a coherence with the rest of the
Empire, and for that Empire its position as a great
Power abroad.

These latter days have shown us many strange
things, but, perhaps, no change more surprising
than that an Austrian EMPEROR should stand forth
as the exponent of constitutional doctrines, and the
advocate of enlightened principles. "The past, the
present, and the future exhort us to vigorously
apply ourselves to the completion of the work
which has been begun." This is earnest and im-
pressive language at any rate, and, in all proba-
bility, it will produce the desired effect upon
those to whom it was addressed. They can no
longer have cause to doubt the sincerity of the EMPE-
ROR, or to think that he is tiding over things; he is,
on the contrary, firmly determined to do their will ;
the desirability of which he is fully convinced alike
from the events of the time and the result of his
own observations. It is a eatisfaction to find that
the EMPEROR has sufficient sense thus to resolve to
proceed in the right direction, and has, moreover,
sufficient confidence in his Parliament to urge them
on. " The Reichsrath, so much I expect from its
justice; the Reichsrath, its tried discrimination is
my guarantee for it ; the Reichsrath, upon
whose patriotic devotion I rely," are the ad-
jurations he addresses to them in adverting
to that great work before them, which
is to secure the - rights of the different
peoples under the Austrian empire, while it
strengthens the empire itself and elevates its posi-
tion among the nations of Europe. The unconsti-
tutional election of Deputies to the Reichsrath is
an absolute necessity in the new order of things
that is to be established, and many minor arrange-
ments are in progress for the purpose of extending
the autonomy of the various kingdoms and pro-
vinces, so as to obviate the chance of curtailing
their rights and privileges.
In the closing passages of the speech the EM-
PEROR, with great eloquence and considerable force
of argument, urges upon the members of both
Houses of the Reichsrath the importance of. seek-
ing the accomplishment of their desired ends by
every means in their power. " Let us," he entreats,
" throw a veil of forgetfulness over the immediate
past, and lay to heart the lessons which it leaves
behind; but let us desire with unshaken courage,
new strength, and the resolve to secure to the em-
pire peace and power." Further OA he says that
no letting of revenge should animate them, foi a