The Sun.
London, England, 1835-02-05 00:00:00

on the other ? With all their hostility to Mr. ABER-
CROMBY the Tories have been able to discover but
one supposed disqualification about him, and that is
the pension which he rightfully and 'deservedly enjoys.
But if that be a disqualification, it is one `very deeply
and extensively shared in common with him by hun-
dreds of Tories and their friends, down to the forty-
ninth remove of kindred ; if that be disqualification for
office, how comes it that most of the members of the
present Government—pensioners up to the hour of
their appointment—were called to fulfil state offices,
without one word being raised about the disqualifying
" odium " as they term it ? The most amusing part
of the affair, indeed, is that Sir CHARLES himself, the
other (probable) candidate is, as late Speaker, at this
moment actually in the receipt of a pension double in
amount of odium to that which Mr. ABERCROMBY
enjoys ; yet have they never thought of alleging
against him this self-same point of disqualification.
If this be not " men, not measures," we are at a loss
to understand what is.

The violence of Tory friendship has brought Sir
CHARLES (waiving all consideration of his own
share in the mishap) into an unpleasant scrape. To
lose his election, as Speaker, he is certain I that he
loses his Peerage, too, is more than probable, for the
Tories would hardly venture to elevate him to the
Upper House upon a defeat in the Lower, for shame's
sake—and the Reformers, on coining into office,
which they soon will, could not well do so for con-
science sake—so that the old saw of " falling between
two stools" is not at all unlikely to be realised in the
person of Sir CHARLES MANNERS SUTTON, which
would no doubt be exceedingly provoking.
The violence of the Tories [as done yet more ; it,
has disgusted many of the Moderates whom they
looked to for assistance, and who, from the intemperate
zeal displayed for men, will question the object of
their measures with too much suspicion to accord
them that assistance.

We have received the whole of the Paris Papers of
Tuesday, from which we learn that the Court of Peers
are vigorously prosecuting the participators in the
attempted revolution of April. In their sitting of
Monday, the Court appointed to-morrow (Friday) for
issuing a decree of accusation against the conspirators
of Paris, Lyons, 'St. Etienne, Grenoble, and several
oth?r provincial towns, to the number of one hundred
and sixty-four persons, of whom forty-four have already
sought safety in flight. The new hall for the prosecution,
fot the erection of which the Chamber of Deputies voted
three hundred and sixty thousand francs, is now being
constructed between the pavilions of the Luxembourg
Palace. This edifice will not be completed for some
time ; but this is of little consequence, as the trials
will not come on for four or five months longer. Why
so much time is allowed to intervene between the com-
mission of the alleged crime, and the infliction of the
punishment, or rather the trial of the offenders, is
1110 re than we can pretend to determine. Possibly the
CITIZEN KING is of opinion that the interest which
was excited by the first rumour of these trials, and the
indignation to which his own conduct, and that of
the Peers, in this very disgraceful business, gave
rise ill the breasts of all honest men, will have
passed away in a few months ; and so the poli-
tical fury, to which his minions give the name of
JuStice, shall be allowed to take her course with-
out, enquiry and without reproof. If such is the
real motive for delaying the trials, we can assure the
KI'NG that the effect produced will be directly con-
trary to what he expects. One of the most excellent
reasons for the speedy execution of justice in all coun-
tries, is that the sentence, if severe, is less likely to
excite public indignation, while the populace have the
memory of the crime fresh before the mind's eye, than
when the horror of the evil deed has passed away, and
nothing remains, but the impression of the past sufferings
of the accused. There is in the human mind a sym-
pathy with the unfortunate, however guilty, which is
sure to succeed the first transports of virtuous indig-
nation, which are kindled within us by the recent com-
mission of acts of enormous wickedness. This sympathy
is much stronger in favour of traitors against a govern-
ment than any other class of offenders ; because they
are engaged in a struggle, the success of which_ only
could affect them in common with
Again, the magnitude of undertaking recom-
mends the persons en an entire people.
7,aged in it to the commisseration of
all who adm;:fe splendid achievements, and who at the
sam‘!. 'ime reflect that treason differs from all other de-
scriptions of crime, in being only amenable to punish-
ment, or in being at all regarded in the light of an
offence when unsuccessful--for success stamps with the
impress of patriotism what otherwise would be exe-
crated as treason. Had the revolution of July termi-
nated as unfortunately as the insurrection of April,
the CITIZEN KING would himself, ere now, have
appeared as a criminal before the very Court
which is now about to sit in judgment on the men
of Lyons, and the republicans of Paris. As to
the expediency of the measure, we do not believe
that any party can defend it on any such grounds.
Had Louts PHILIPP/1, at the very instant peace
was restored, ordered the rebels to be publicly
shot, the example might have had the efrest of
deterring others from engaging in such wicked
projects, during the remainder of his reign ; but it would
be ridiculous to suppose that such an effect would be
produczil by an incarceration of nine or twelve monthsi
and then a sentence of temporary banishment. No
man with two ideas in his head could recommend such
a mode of proeeedinA against traitors. Why, the very
step which are here taken, are the best which
could be adopted, for ensuring the final suc-
cess of treasonable designs. Whatever was defective
in the plots which were discovered, could be remedied
by the authors during a long incarceration ; and from
the misfortunes of the past, they could guard against
the recurrence 4f similar evils for the future. Besides
the benefit of the example set to others by the severity
of the punishment, is lost in All cases of treason, tinleas
the blow be struck instantaneously. Delay is not only
dangerous in itself, but positively renders the attempt
to preserve the balance of social order of no avail. As
the thunder clap follows the flash of Ilghtaitig, Mi if,
possible, should the crhne of treason be succeeded by
condign punishment, if the civil authorities have at all
resolved pan self-preservation. When delay takes
place, either because the Government is too weak to

punish effectually, or because it is feared that danger-

ons consequences would ensue from such a proceed.
ing, the only safe course to be taken, is to grant a ge-
neral amnesty in the hour of triumph, and so by an

act of national generosity, convert the enemies of the

State into its most adventurous and chivalrous sup-

porters. In this there is greatness as well as clemency.
It is as if man had raised himself to the dignity of a
God, and could afford to act with the dispensing