The Sun.
London, England, 1850-05-27 00:00:00

Otrtsniug L7:1111:

LONDON, MONDAY, MAY 27, 1850.

After the expiration of two years' experiment, the
Legislative Assembly of the French Republic—itself
the offspring of universal suffrage—is formally dis-
cussing the question as to the advisability of restrict-
ing the elective franchise to certain classes of the
population. Although the scheme is somewhat
anomalous from the circumstance of the very ma-
jority displaying such solicitude to compass this retro-
gressive alteration, having itself emanated directly
from the diffusion of the prerogative it is now
anxious to confine to 'particular sections of the mul-
titude—it is far from difficult to recognize the
feeling in which this extraordinary proposition
has originated. The project is adventured upon
less with a view to carry the new idea into operation
than with an eye to those ulterior consequences
which, in the event of its success, are inevitable—
the consequence of a change yet more startling and
comprehensive. In other words—the conspirators of
reaction having failed in provoking an outbreak by
lesser acts of insult to the popular sovereignty, are
resolved, if possible, to goad the people into an insur-
rectionary movement by this last and most flagrant
outrage offered to the dominant genius of Democracy,
They hare sought, and hitherto vainly, for
some reasonable excuse for a coup d'etat,
and; irritated at the perpetual ill-success
of their machinations, are now developing
their treasonous designs in the form of an unjusti-
fiable amendment of the Constitution. The plot has
already been detected : the Act introduced into the
Legislative Assembly has already been branded as
infamous by the blighting denunciations of an illus-
trious Republican. " You have named a rendez-
vous for the tempest," exclaimed LAMARTINE,
addressing himself with scornful earnestness
to the Legitimatists, " but the tempest,
wiser than you, will evade the appointment."
Of all the menaces that could have been hurled
amongst the crowd of reactionists none could dismay
them more effectually than this grenade of sarcasm,
scattering their ranks in bewilderment with its rhe-
torical detonation. " You have named a rendezvous
for the tempest, but the tempest, wiser than you, will
evade the appointment!" It was the wisest, the
least irritating, the most embarrassing defiance that
could have been directed against the conspirators of
retrogression, and was peculiarly well timed, because
of the growing audacity of those traitors to Repub-
licanism.

Even under ordinary circumstances, it is scarcely
possible for any reflective person to remain an indif-
ferent spectator of the political movements transpiring
within the circumference of the French capital.
Upon those movements, we are all fully aware with
Lord PALMERSTON, the general tranquillity of con -
tinental Europe is dependant. Consequently, know-
ing this, even the least remarkable proceeding
which takes place in the discussions of
the Legislative Assembly assumes to itself an
arresting importance ; and our attention turns from
time to time, with an anxious scrutiny, even to the
least noticeable event of a political character occurring
in the cafes, on the boulevards, in the faubourgs, or in
the banlieus of the metropolis. Now, therefore,
more especially, when one of the grandest principles
of democracy is at stake—dragged into jeopardy by
the reactionists for the sake of enabling them
to evoke a crisis from the consequent ex-
citement of the multitude—every gaze is con-
centrated upon this great parliamentary contention.
Already some of the most remarkable orators of
France have participated in the discussion ; their
orations, for and against, being severally masterpieces.
In favour of the proposed restriction of the franchise
we have recognised successively in the tribune Mort-
TALEMBERT and TRIERS, against it VICTOR "LUGO
and LAMARTINE. Each of their speeches upon the
occasion was more than usually characteristic. And,
while Ibutocux argued sententiously for the di-
minution, and CATAIGNAC insisted most energetically
upon the maintenance of Universal Suffrage, the
attention of the least observant could not fail

to be peculiarly fascinated by the gifted dis-
putants above enumerated. Regarding their
several orations most dispassionately, it is im-
possible for those who, like ourselves, have the
least conceivable amount of sympathy for the project
held in view by MU. Tuizas and MoNTA-
LEMBERT, not to recognize the justice of that
superb eloquence by which the latter as-
sailed the advocates of ultra-Socialism, and the
former the apologists of ultra •Cotnmunism. Be-
yond, immeasurably beyond the glittering epigrams
of TulEas, or the chivalric declamation of AIONTA-
LEAIBERT, in point of mere style—not to speak of
their visiiele superiority in soundness of arguments—
were the striki. g orations delivered in one sitting by
Yrcrou HuGo, and in another by LAMARTINE. The
recollection of the speeches in which these poet-orators
vindicated the popular right to universal suffrage,
claiming it as at once the sword and the buckler
of democracy, will not soon pass away from
the memory of the multitude. It will not
very speedily be forgotten how they stood
furth manfully in defence of an outraged
people, in spite of the jeers of the Legtimatist majo-
rity, at a time when the words of the patriot were
laughed at as the utterings of demagoguism.
Another ray of intelligence has beamed upon the
Republic, enabling her citizens to discriminate be-
tween the truth and the treason of their statesmen.

It is said, and we believe truly, that Lord COTTEN.

HAM is about to retire from the exalted position

which he has long occupied with credit to himself
and advantage to the country; and that his resig-
nation is only withheld until Ministers can make the
necessary arrangements for the appointment of his
successor. The advanced age and increasing infir-
mities of the Noble and Learned Lord render such
an event by no means improbable. The arduous and
important duties of the high office require, not merely
a clear and vigorous intellect, but sound health,
and great physical strength and activity
on the part of the Lord High Chancellor.
Although there has been, as yet, no symptom of
mental failure, and the distinguished nobleman is still
in the full possession of his faculties, and perfectly
qualified to adjudicate upon such cases as he may be
enabled to hear, and to pronounce judgments that will
constitute valuable precedents in future years, it is,
unfortunately, but too notorious that his health has
been gradually sinking, and that he is quite unable
to endure the toil and labour inseparable from the
efficient discharge of
h
some time past hasis bdeuenties. He is, and for
own Court unable
ohas
Chancery
d
consequently a large arrear of
businessfs taocc, u
nt aa nuk
his seat in hise
w our
laced, and the unfortunate suitors,ose positions,
even under the most favourable circumstances,hly
are by
no means enviable, are involved innewdifficulties,
additional expenses, and most ve • xattous delays. iie
is, in like manner, incapable of presiding
on the wool-
sack in the House of Peers, of which he is, ex officio,
Speaker. Neither can he act as chief judge of the
highest tribunal in the land, the court of ultimate re-
sort. In like manner, his colleagues are deprived of
the benefit of his advice and assistance at Cabinet
Councils.

These multifarious and varied functions are, in
fact, more than can be performed by any individual,
however great his powers of endurance. He cannot
possibly get through his business efficiently, although
every hour be devoted thereto, to the total abnega-
tion of self, the relinquishing of every species of
recreation, and even of the exercise necessary for
health. He has all work, and no play," and that,