The Sun.
London, England, 1868-09-24 00:00:00

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
PARIS, WEDNESDAY, September 23.

The Constitutionnel has given up the " see-saw " between
peice and war, and has left the Spanish revolution to take
care of itself, whilst it laments over the perversity of the
Brussels Congress of Working Men. It is particularly
hard upon the English delegates, who advocated strikes in
cases of necessity, and especially a general strike through-
out Europe, supported by common funds. There is very
little to be said against the Constitutionnel's conclusions;
for a strike throughout Europe would not be a laudable
expedient, and the semi-official journal may well be afraid
of such a catastrophe. It would undoubtedly put the social
machine out of order in France more than in any other
country. A strike in Paris, Marseilles, and Lyons even
would give the Emperor much trouble. The Constitutionnel
may be sympathised with, though the cause of its fear is
remote. But I must object to the semi-official paper taking
Broadhead as the representative of English workmen, and
prophesying that a general strike would lead to crimes
similar to his. It does not appear that he was, after all, a
very common type of the British workman, and it is essen-
tially a deplorable circumstance that the Sheffield outrages
have carried such an impression abroad. The Constitu-
tionnel seems to think that the English working " practical
men" would lead the van of a general strike to mutilation
and murder. It forgets certain passages in French
history which go to prove that even Broadhead
has his equals. Again, the semi-official paper believes
that the realisation of liberal ideas is not now the pro-
gramme of the International Association, that they have
not abandoned the chimera of 1848, and that revolution is
still their chief aim. Whether this is true or not of con-
tinental workmen I shall not say ; but against English
workmen it is a libel. British workmen care nothing for
revolutionary ideas, and are less embued with the love of
politics than is generally supposed. The chief and ruling
object of their unions, and of the deeds of Broadhead like-
wise, is material gain, shortening of hours and increase of
wages. Whether the means they use are justifiable is
very questionable ; of the end they have in view there can
be no doubt whatever. The idea of the Constitutionnel
that British workmen are leading a project to revolutionise
Europe, is the result of sheer ignorance.
Of the insurrection in Spain, all that can be said is that
it stands pretty much where it did. The papers here are
fighting over the prospects of the movement, but a little
time must elapse before they can be fully calculated. The
money market is rather doubtful, and hesitation prevails,
but there is none of the panic which a gloomy article in
an official paper would excite. The insurrection excites
the greatest interest here, hut it produces no political
effect whatever. The prospect of French intervention is
not seriously regarded anywhere.
The public meetings held here are almost wholly con-
fined to the one engrossing subject of the employment of
women. It appears that an attempt will shortly be made
on behalf of the fair sex to gain some portion of political
power—with small chances of success, it is true. How
would the Minister of the Interior manage the women
voters ?

The state of Algeria is the source of serious anxiety to
the Emperor and his Ministers. The clanger of a famine
still more deadly than that of 1867-8 is alarming. At
Tlemcen the deaths are already ten times the
number of the births. The inquiry made by Count Lehon
has had the most unsatisfactory results. 111. Rouher is
much impressed by the imminence of the danger, and the
Emperor is disposed to make some concession to the
demands of the colonists. The inefficiency of the military
government is undeniable. It is thought possible that a
Legislative Assembly and a civil administration will be
granted, at least in part. The Emperor, it is said, is not
indisposed to grant Algeria a species of self-government
similar to that of the English colonies. But this sous
reserve. It is hardly likely that a colony would obtain
more liberty than the main body of the empire. MacMahon
is not friendly to reform.
The collectors of curiosities may preserve worse material
than the following two neat things. Amongst the mar-
riage publications is announced the union of Mdlle. Vertu
with M. Misere The marriage of virtue with want is
a social irony which delineates an age by an accidental
juxtaposition. The second is not an accident, but a
sublime effort of impudence. A few days ago a suite of
rooms was advertised as having amongst its attractions a
splendid view over a fine garden adorned with numerous
sculptures. On application at the address given it was
found that the garden adorned with sculptures was—the
Cemetery of Mont Parnasse.

The Minister of Fine Arts is about to convoke the poets
and musicians to a united effort. A new national and
patriotic hymn is wanted. It is thought that " Portant
pour la Syrie " has done its duty, and the conclusion is not
without reason. The " Marseillaise" is not, on account
of its history, greatly relished in official spheres. Some
altogether new—probably to celebrate the three elections
Ant gained—is required.

THE WEATHER TABLE.-THIS DAY.