The Sun.
London, England, 1867-10-04 00:00:00

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LONDON, FRIDAY, OCT. 4, 1867.

The rapid progress made during the last few
years by the town of Belfast gives encouraging
evidence of what Irishmen are capable when once
they break off the fetters of prejudice, indolence,
and despair. There is no particular reason to be
found in the situation or the capacities of Belfast to
account for its prosperity and success ; the explana-
tion is entirely to be found in the energy and in-
dustry of the people. The rapid increase of the
trade and commerce of the district has rendered
the construction of extensive and costly works
necessary, but these expenses have been
defrayed by loans from local capitalists and surplus
revenue, in addition to £lOO,OOO advanced by the
Public Works Loan Commissioners, under the Har-
bo;ar and Tolls Act. The tonnage of the port has
doubled within the last 15 years, the number of tons
last year amounting to 1,866,788 register. The
revenue, which in 1852 was only £32,000, has risen
to £60,000, without any corresponding increase in
the rates. More than half a million had been ex-
pended on the improvement of the harbour before
the commencement of the recent works, which will
amount to about £25,000. The authorities of Belfast
are evidently determined to keep pace with the spirit
of the town, and are well aware that a liberal out-
lay at the right time, and in the right manner, will
very soon repay itself. Works like those now in
progress at Belfast are certain to have a powerful
influence on the trade of the town, and we may
confidently expect to see the tonnage entering the
port to increase at a still greater rate than it has
hitherto done. At the banquet given to the
Lord-Lieutenant by the CornEnissionors ou the
day of the opening ceremony, Lord ABER-
CORN declared that the ceremony of the day
was not only of national but of impe-
rial importance. "It is not Ireland alone,"
said his Excellency, " which should be proud of
your undertaking and of your enterprise, but im-
perial Britain herself may look with pride and
satisfaction upon those works which, I believe, have
but few examples even among her great undertak-
ings." Referring to the prosperous condition evi-
denced by the statistics of the town, Lord ABER C ORN
said it was due not to any special, local, or
fortuitous advantage, but to the energetic en-
terprise and go-ahead tendency of the popula-
tion ; perhaps also, in some measure, to the
union of the caution of the Scotchman with
the genius and vivacity of the Irishman which was
remarkable among its people. A little more exten-
sive combination of those qualities would make
Ireland very different from what she is, and when
once the preliminary difficulties attending the open-
ing of industrial undertakings on a large scale are
surmounted, there:is very little doubt that in trade,
and commerce, and agriculture may be found the
most potent cures for the wants and grievances of
her people.

Mr. FERRAND has always something to say
worth hearing on most subjects, and if he is vehe-
ment, and at times too outspoken, he is at any rate
sincere and steadfast. At the late banquet of the
Halifax
_Working Men's Conservative Association
he made a speech of some length, chiefly referring
to the political subjects of the day. After de-
claring that the recent Reform Bill was a glorious
triumph, he went on to speak of the difficulties
which had surrounded the Government and im-
peded their progress. For twenty years, he re-
minded his hearers, the Whigs and Radicals have
used the cry of Reform as a dodge to keep their
political opponents out of office, and during
seventeen of these years they have held office them-
selves and done nothing, while during the three
years that the Conservatives have been in they have
twice brought in a Reform Bill. There was cer-
tainly great force in the arguments used by the hon.
member respecting the insufficiency of the efforts
made by those who arrogated to themselves the
right of legislating, and styled themselves the
friends of the working classes. Thus Mr. GLAD-
STONE in 1866 brought in Mr. BRIGHT'S Bill, and
that proposed a £7 franchise in boroughs, and a £l5
in counties. In 1867 Lord DERBY'S Government
brought in a bill which was based on rated bonze-
hold suffrage ; and, strange to say, the determined
opponents of that measure were Mr. GLADSTONE
and Mr. BRIGHT. Now that the bill is carried they
turn round and say, "Is not the measure ours !"
the country is indebted to us for the measure of
Reform so long sought after, and so earnestly de-
sired. Mr. FERRAND refers to the test of public
opinion, and asks, " What does that say now ? Is
not Mr. DISRAELI the most popular man in
England at the present hour ? Has not
the policy of the Conservative party, with
two or three exceptions, been approved and
sanctioned by the whole nation? Has not the con-
duct of the Government, backed by the Conservative
party, been the means of consolidating it ?" As
for Mr. GLADSTONE, Mr. FERRAND observed that
the course he had pursued this session had shown
him to be a bad manager, and unfit for a Parlia-
mentary leader ; while hard-headed, practical men,
at every market table in every manufacturing dis-
trict, were ready to agree that he could not be
Prime Minister of England. The deputations of
working men which went to London were of great
service. They strengthened the hands of the Go-
vernment, and showed the House of Commons that
the people were in earnest. Mr. FERRA.ND con-
cluded his spirited speech by prophesying that the
Conservatives would be in office for years, because
they had done more service to the country during
the last twelve months than the Whigs had done
for twenty years.
A Conservative demonstration took place at Lin-
coln on Wednesday, when several speeches were
made. Sir J. TROLLOPE alluded to the work of
last Session, which had effected only one thing,
that being, however, the, one thing needful.
The hon. baronet very truly said that if they were
to settle a great constitutional question of this sort,
let it at all events be settled for the present gene-
ration." Ho also expressed confidence in the
working classes, and said that at the first meeting
at Lord DERBY'S he had been the first to rise and
give in his adhesion to the noble lord's plan. It is
strange, as Sir J. Turn.r.orE oli3erved, that the
Conservatives have been far more liberal in their
policy than the so-called Liberals, while they
have as a party more confidence in the
working classes. All or most of the doubts
have been found among the ranks of those
who talk glibly enough about their benighted ingo-
rance and obstinate prejudice, but in the day of
trial are found far more obstructive themselves.
Mr. CHAPLIN, the chairman, declared that he
thought it incumbent upon him to take part in this
demonstration, on account of the significance of
the times in whieli we live. lie was conservative
in his feelings, but he had no fears of the conse-
quences of the Reform Bill just passed. lie thought
that the " strength, good feeling, an ! union" of