The Sun.
London, England, 1860-10-24 00:00:00

111 E SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 24, 1860.

broadly great as a day-dreamer. His feet are
firmly fixed upon terra firma, his glorious sword
sweeps the whole length of Italy, but his head is
among the clouds, his thoughts are in nubibus.

The admirable letter of the Mayor of NORWICH, 1
which we reprinted on Saturday from the Norfolk I
News, claims a distinct notice. It is addressed to
the citizens of Norwich, bu.i there are only too
many boroughs in the kingdom which might most
advantageously for their own interests adopt its
salutary counsels. Its object is to persuade the
citizens to renounce political partizanship in their
municipal capacity ; and to rega.rd in their muni-
cipal elections, simply and solely the competency
of the candidates for administration of the affairs
of the city.

The subject is well worthy of serious considnit-
tion. To some old combatants it may appear per-
fectly impracticable to exclude political considera-
tions from borough elections. It will seem to them
as if, however virtuous themselves, their opponents
could never attain such a height of local patrio-
tism as to keep to an engagement. Both parties

have so long prided themselves on either over-
opending, or over-tricking the other, that they would
regard each other's professions as merely so many
traps set for the credulous of their own party.
This we imagine is the preliminary difficulty with
many minds. It must be met—and it may be
met. We assume that the better citizens
on both sides are convinced of the evils of
mingling municipal considerations and politics ;
if so, we must think their task is not
a difficult one. If the men of position and character
in any borough choose, they can frown down the
nuisance complained of. They know each other
well ; they, at least, can take each other's word of
honour. From some of thew the funds for muni-
cipal corruption must be, in whole or in part,
supplied ; and if they mutually pledge themselves

to each other, publicly avow their pledge, and pro-
claim their determination not only to be no parties
to corruption themselves, but to punish, by every
means in their power, all of either party to whom
corruption can be brought home, the thing would
be done. There are, we know, old hardened agents
of municipal as well as political corruption in too
many boroughs ; they could net give up their craft,
it would be said. We answer, if they be men of
property they have a position in society, and they
would be compelled, if they would maintain it, to
defer to the deliberate and solemn judgment of the
great body of the respectable citizens. No man can
afford to fly in the face of his order, be it humble
or high, on a question on which they have pro-
nounced an unequivocal moral judgment. If, on
the other, head, they be subordinates, however
annoyed they may be at losing a profitable annual
job, they could not find the means for mischief
without the help of their betters. Indeed they are,
themselves, generally, but mercenaries in the battle
of venality.

Regarding therefore the practicability of the
thing as a simple question of the character of the
wealthier section of the middle classes, we would
most cordially support the proposal of the Mayor
of Norwich. He is a gentleman of long political
experience. He has been mixed up with party
politics in the corrupt old city for nearly 20 years,
and the result of his long experience has been dis-
gust with the annual scenes created by municipal
elections ; all of them being, as it were, rehearsals
of the grand scenes displayed to all England by a
Norwich Parliamentary election. The revelations
of election committees and commissions chew that
what is the rule at Norwich is the rule elsewhere.
The municipal corruption is the nurse of the poli-
tical corruption, and it has the advantage of giving
its lesson so much more frequently, and of enabling
all parties to know each other well when the greater
struggle comes. We hardly know whether we
should use the term greater, for according to some
accounts the municipal election is often fought with
an amount of zeal and of corruption which cannot
be surpassed by any contest for a seat in Parlia-
ment. The chief difference has been that a stranger
-
is then heavily taxed to augment the local pecu-
niary means of debauching the morals of the pur-
chaseable electors. Political corporations allow no
interval for reflection and repentance. The citi-
zens live amidst ceaseless temptation:

Mr. TILLETT thus describes the working of the
evil he would suppress :—" An experience of nearly
20 years in these matters enables me to affirm that
the spirit of party in our municipal affairs is an
unnatural intrusion, and an endless source of mis-
chief. The city's interest sustains damage from this
in three most noticeable forms:-Ist. There is an
annual demoralisation of the ward constituencies, to
keep or gain the ascendancy, and the result depends
entirely on the purchase of venal voters. 2d. Costly
and disgraceful contest's deter the most respected
citizens from interfering in corporation affairs, drive
the best men out of the council, and bring in others
not to be for a moment compared with them. 3d.
The keeping alive of the struggle for ascendancy
encourages distrust and jealousy, and prevents that
hearty and harmonious co-working which would
tend so much to the general advantage."

Few who have known anything whatever of cities
like Norwich and Gloucester, and other well known
towns, would deny the truth of these statements.
They are, we might, almost say, a modest description
of the demoralising working of municipal contentions
for political ascendancy. There is but one care for
it—" that the citizens at large should insist
that the corporation shall be henceforth non-po-
litical." The proposal comes with the best
possible grace from the present mayor, Mr.
TILLETT, because he belongs to the party
which has the ascendancy both in the Corporation
and in the City elections for Parliament. The
party he belongs to can always win in the political
contest; and we are not aware of any objection the
other side has to urge against the fairness of the
proposal except one, which they will hardly like to
make. Tkey might say with truth that at Nor-
wich (and the same might be said of other cor-
rupt constituencies) the Liberals would always win
if neither party bribed—that it is almost like
asking the Americans to give up privateering, if
they are asked to renounce bribery; since, how-
ever immoral and indefensible, it is their only
chance. Admitting this to be the ease, we may
yet surely appeal to all men of character on the
Tory side to prefer an honourable repulse to a
sordid victory ; or rather, as it toe generally hap-
pens, to a defeat, in which the defeated and the
victors have equally degraded themselves. The
greater guilt must, however, lie with the party
which acknowledges that corruption is essential to
success. Its leaders are answerable, not only for their
own sins, but for those to which they provoke the
other side.

But, after all, it may be asked, can Englishmen
act publicly, without acting politically ? They can
hardly, it will be said, make a speech, into which
politics will not creep—even at meetings where
they are by rule • excluded. And then, the men of
progress for the country at large are so likely to
be the men of progress for the locality, and vice
versa. •To the general objection we may reply that
the duties of it corporation are such, as if we had to
select
persons for each department by itself, we

should never think of the politics of the candidate,
Mr. TILLETT justly says—
" Consider for a moment. The Corporation has to ap-
point and regulate the police ; to superintend sanitary
measures; to maintain, and keep in a'proper state, the
gaol, the city halls, and the public cemeteries ; to repair,
light, and underdrain the streets ; to protect the naviga-
tion; to manage the Corporate estates, and maintain the
Corporate rights in regard to markets, tolls, and dues.
With which one of these have political or party considera-
tions the smallest connection ? The judgment of every one
of you answer unhesitatingly, that these all are matters
with which politics have nothing to do, and with which
party' cannot intermeddle without causing damage to the
city and injustice to individuals."
With regard to the last objection, we will allow
that there is some truth in it—but there is no need
whatever to repress the desirable local contest be-
tween those who would improve too fast, and at too
great expense, and those who would rather say let
well alone. It is but seldom, indeed, that the legal
dispute between these parties would tempt to the
use of corrupt means. We by no means object
fo parties in a corporation, on local business. Eng-
iishvaen can hardly conceive of good administration
which is not watched by a vigilant opposition; but
we would indulge the hope that the advice of the
Mayor of Norwich, in regard to political partisan-
ship in corporations, will be adopted, cordially, by
his fellow-citizens, and that the citizens of other
cities and boroughs will promptly follow t'he'ir ex-
ample.

IJ A TES E AV h.

The following telegram is have been received at
Mr. Reuter's office :

PARIS, OCT. 24.

The Constitutionnel pu .blishes an article, headed
" French policy in Iti Lly," and signed by its
editorial secretary.

This article, which i 3 considered semi-official,
commences by energetically repelling the accusa-
tions brought against, the Government of the
Emperor by those who reproach him for not inter-
vening in Italy against • the revolution, and by those
whe wish to see him fn L stain the Italian movement
at all hazards.

French policy could not, without compromising
its most incontestable principles and its essential
interests, hold either of t e or the other of these two
lines of conduct. In to ,king part against Italy the
Emperor would betray his origin, and he would
lose the character he ho Ads from universal suffrage,
by which he was selec I;ed, and would divest him-
self of the authority )t) ecessary to a Sovereign of
France for the good 0, Europe. The more he is
equitable to peoples thee greater is the service ren-
dered by the Emperor t t the principle of authority.
Besides, an intervention could only be a military
occupation of the Penir Isula. What would Italy,
England, and Europe lilt ye said ? They would have
looked upon the Peni n sula, thus protected, as a
French Italy.

The other attitude was equally impossible and
a:,angerous. It would h .11VC made us an accomplice
of the revolutionary sta be of things. It would have
caused us to break with Russia, Prussia, and Aus-
tria, and have brought • P.S to a general war. The
Emperor would have ch alnged his role. Moderator
of the revolution he wo ald become its chief. Pa-
cificator of Europe he would become its terror ;
arbiter in questions of po Jitical equilibrium he would
lose the title of his corn petency ; representative of
national will he woul. J become a mere party in-

strument.
Thus France could n( tither support revolutionary
intentions nor absoluti: st reactions in Italy? What
line of policy should sb ,e follow ?
Here the article en t ers upon considerations of

the political condition of each of the Great Powers
of Europe, and, having reviewed the state of things
in Italy, it draws the •conclusion that a congress is
possible, and defines Inc part France would take
therein.

The article conclud Eli thus :
" An organised am/L powerful Italy is henceforth
to the interest of Eu rope. In consecrating it by
an act of high jurisd;i,ction Europe would show as
much prudence as jus4tice."

PESTH, OCT. 23.

This morning th e garrison marched out for a
review. General Be n edek took leave of the troops
and addressed them In a speeCh.

The proposed illumination of the city did not
Lake place, by desire of General Benedek, who
stated that it would be better to present the costs
of the illumination to, the army.

NAPLES, OCT. 23.
An official despatch, announces .that the Garibal-
dians have entered Ca.pua.
King Victor Emmanuel has arrived at Isernia.

TURIN, OCT. 23.
The result of th e voting in Sicily is almost
unanimously in favour of annexation.
King Victor Emmanuel has reached Castlelsandro
and will arrive at NaTles on the 28th inst.

The proclamation of the vote will take place the
following day.
Forty other battalions of the National Guard
will be mobilised.

ROME, OCT. 21.

The departure of the Papal nuncio from Paris
took place in consequence of orders received from
Rome.

To-day the Duke de Grammont had an extraor-
dinary audience of the Pope.

General Lamoriciere will leave Rome with full

honours.

The enrolments fox the Pontifical army con-

tinue.

The Papal Exchequer is not destitute of funds,
and the government entertain great hopes concern-
ing the issue of the interview at Warsaw.
Signor Catrofiano has been sent to Warsaw by
the King of Naples.
The French have occupied Montalto, and will
occupy Orvieto in the course of next week.
' Two thousand Italian Volunteers are still in the
province of Viterbo.

ANCONA, OCT. 22.

A decree has been issued convoking the popular
assemblies for the 4th and sth of November to vote
un the question of annexation.

WARSAW, OCT. 23.

The Emperor of Austria paid a visit yesterday
evening to the Emperor of Russia, which lasted
half an hour, and afterwards visited the Prince
Regent of Prussia, with whom he stayed for a
shorter period. General Panintin personally at-
tenJed the Emperor of Austria.
In the evening the whole court visited the
theatre.

At noon to-day there was a grand military
parade, at which the Emperor Alexander himself
assumed the command.

The Prince of Hohenzollern Sigmaringen
arrived here at 6 a.m. to-day.

The Prince of Hohenzollern paid a visit to the
Prince Regent this morning.
Count Thun, Austrian ambassador at St. Peters-
burg, is present here, but the French ambassador
at St. Petersburg is not in Warsaw, as has been
reported.
Confidential conferences have already taken place
between the Ministers, and will continue; but
it is confidentially asserted that no conclusion of
treaties is to be expected.

VIENNA, OCT. 23.

Up to the present all reports received from the
provinces announce that the Emperor's Charter
had everywhere been favourably received, more
especially in Croatia. Among the educated classes
in Hungary it met with the most favourable re-
ception. The masses were not yet sufficiently
acquainted with the details.

PESTH, OCT. 23.

In consequence of the resolution taken by the
municipalities, the cities of Pesth and Buda are il-
luminated this evening. To-morrow, in the fore-
noon, a solemn celebration of divine service will
take place.