The Sun.
London, England, 1868-02-25 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 25, 1868.

wirme

..._ _ .
their families may be thrown out of work and
drive n to the relief committees, or the parish
auaborities, fer relief. The case which Mr.
SA:IIIMA put before the committee is, un-
Irappily, no isolated one. Mr. BULLIVANT'S
offer to the shipwrights in the Isle of Dogs
to.build two iron ships was refused, because of a
slight difference in this amount of the drawing
money to be left in the hands of the employers.
The employers offered ss. 6d. a day, the men de-
manded 65., and the negotiations failed. Again,
the Poplar Board of Guardians, finding a number
of bricklayers at work in the stone-yard, proposed
to them to build a wall which was needed, but they
refused to do so, on account, it was supposed, of
the rules of their trade. A dispensary was being
built in the neighbourhood, and they apprehended
personal violence if they did the bricklaying they
had been asked to do as a personal test. The men
have grown so completely enslaved and intimi-
dated by the dictation of their self-chosen leaders
that they are no longer free to think or to act for
thcros:lves. In many instances, no doubt, they
would be thankful to take the work offered
to them at reduced terms rather than be
reduced to the hard alternative of seeing
their children want food, or depend upon
charity, but they fear the Union. Mr. SAMUDA
said be believed the shipwrights applied to
would have been glad to work on the ships at the
terms proposed by Mr. BULLIVANT, but their Union,
which repudiated piece work, would not allow them
to wot kat less than 6s. a day. Mr. SAMUDA, who
as a large shipbuilder, is an accurate judge of the
istate and prospects of the trade, expressed his con-
viction that if the Thames shipwrights succeeded
in raising the standard of prices beyond aboint at
which the shipbuilders made a profit, they would
next put the same pressure on those of the Clyde
and the Tyne, and the result would be to drive the
trade away from the country altogether. The
men in their wilful shortsightedness refuse to per-
ceive that already much business has gone out of
the country which might have stayed in it had
the Unions been less anxiously careful to make
the most of their opportunities. The homely
old fable of the boy who killed the goose who
laid the golden eggs is practically realised
by the men who destroy the business of their em-
ployers, and drive capital out of the country alto-
gether, to benefit men who are content to take such
wages as fluctuating profits will allow. Common
sense and every-day experience might tell the dullest
workman that the employers do not make the same
profits every year. Why, then, should the men
they employ get the same wages ? At the present
time he must be ignorant, indeed, who is not
aware that trade of all kinds is suffering from
stagnation and depression. Why, then, should these
workmen refuse to bend with the storm, and to
make those temporary concessions to a bad season
which men of all other ranks, trades, and profes-
sions have had to make during the last twelve
months ? " Aut Cte3ar, aut nihil " appears to be
their motto ; and we are afraid, unless they grow
speedily wiser, they will find themselves reduced
to the latter alternative.

Certain noble lords seem to have resolved to vin-
dicate the character of the House of Lords from the
haveha v e beengone
e a
e
so far as to anticipate the debate to-night to come
charges
frequently
of
abproauthgyh tanagdaiinndstiffietroefnlcaetew, hainedh
on in the Commons. This was rather an unwise
proceeding on their part, though perhaps their own
friends may regret their precipitancy the most.
Thanks to the discretion and reserve of the Minis-
ters in the Upper House, neither taunts nor sarcasm
suffice I to draw forth any hasty remark or un-
guarded expression, which reticence on their parts,
no doubt, broached new feelings of indignation in
the minds of their assailants. A premature atep
like this at the commencement of the session i 3 al-
ways to be deprecated, and considering the unavoid-
able absence of the noble ]orl at the head of her
MAJESTY'S Government, the course pursued
• was the more injudicious and unsuitable.
Lord CLANRICSRDE led the attack in c ail-
ing attention to the Laud Tenure Act in Ire-
land, and, at the risk of appearing to contradict him-
self, declared that he never knew a time when the
relations between landlord and tenant were in a
more satisfactory state than they are at present in
Ireland. As for the notion that prevails in some
quarters that evictions are constantly occurring in
that country, the noble lord showed that it was an
erroneous one. Mr. BRIGHT'S plans do not meet
with the favour of Lord CLANIUCARDE, which is
not surprising, as he has himself a remedial scheme
to propose, and two reformers seldom concur as to
i the mode fit to be pursued in such cases.
Lord MALMESBURY spoke very much to the pur-
pose, and while he offered no opposition to the
bill of the noble lord, he showed that it

would not be advisable for him at that
juncture to explain to their lordships
the policy of the Government towards Ireland, that
duty devolving upon the Chief Secretary for Ire-
land in the house of Commons to-night, which was
alone a sufficient reason for his..silence, and a re-
proach to those who sought to compromise matters
by precipitating a debate. In moving the second
reading of the Habeas Corpus Suspension Act, the
noble lord expressed the hopes that are entertained
for the speedy removal of this undesirable mode of
legislation. It is encouraging the great difference
that exists between the Fenian conspiracy and the
rebellion that took place in, 'OB and 1803, for these
latter received the countenance and support of some
of the chief gentry of the kingdom. We think Lord
MALMESBURY drew a correct inference from this
when he said that the great mass of the Irish people
were more contented than they were at those
periods referred to. Earl RUSSELL seemed to for-
get, in his virtuous indignation at the Bill before
them, the fact that he was at the head of the Go-
vernment which two years ago moved for the sus-
pension of the Habeas Corpus Act, and we do not
see the force of his arguments at all when he com-
plained of the present Ministers doing so again
without offering a plain statement of their views
respecting Ireland. It is not the fault of the Exe-
cutive that Fenianism has arisen, and the noble.
earl should know better than to follow in the wake
of Mr. BRIGHT, and confuse wrongs and grievances
with direct antagonism to the law and open dis-
affection. , There is no one more ready in
discovering the errors of existing things than
the noble earl when he is in opposition, and he has
leisure and inclination to mark and reflect upon the
errors and shortcomings of his successors in office.
Had " languid Jon.Tsv glowed to glorious JOHN" a
little oftener when lie was in the sunny side of 'the
House, he might have left more enduring records in
history of reforms passel and wrongs redre;sed
during his tenure of power. This was shown by
Lord iIARDIVICKE in the remarks he made upon the
subject, and doubtless their appropriateness struck
all who heard them except perhaps the parties most
immediately concerned in the matter.
Earl GREY made another of those unwise speeches
which perhaps are more often delivered on the

subject of Ireland than on any other public
question of the day. While Lord RUSSELL
emphatically said that now was the proper
time to act in the legislation of Ireland, Lord

GREY, held out no hopes that if all haste was used
any good would come of it. We have waited too
long—we have ;irritated and ignored Ireland too I
long to have any right to expect that a tardy ad-
ministration of justice can now avail. It is a great
pity that those who treat on this subject should
be so ready to infuse bitterness and animosity into
their speeches ; it cannot possibly do any good,
and may occasion a great deal of harm. Of what
avail is it to launch into invectives, and to disclaim
about the management of the past, instead of seek-
ing to improve things in the present;? It is no
matter of doubt that there are evils existing in Ire-
land at the present time, but they must be inquired
into with care, and rectified with deliberation.
The Government will no doubt do their best
in this difficult matter, and we hope that they will
meet with the support of Parliament,for any attempt
to make political capital out of the question cannot
but fail in itself, and defeat its own purpose, while
it injures the reputation of those who do it. Had
the subjects which closely affect the welfare of Ire-
land been brought more prominently under the
notice of the Legislature at an earlier period, per-
haps a good deal of the dissatisfaetion now prevail-
ing might have teen avoided, but under the most
auspicious circumstances it is always possible for
evil-disposed individuals to foster discontent and
give rise to complaints. We hope and trust that
the Irish difficulty, which now calls for the notice of
Parliament, may be met in the right spirit, and that
an enlightened policy will prevail in respect to it.
Of one thing we may rest assured before the work
begins that can only reach a favourable issue if
the promoters of the task set about it in fair style,
and if they are met half way by others. The time
has gone by for angry recrimination on the subject ;

it is out of character that it should be made the
theme of party struggles, and the opportunity for
schemes aad plots. Let it be taken up in a manner
worthy of statesmen, who sink all minor differences
in order to arrive at a just conclusion, and
to effect a speedy improvement in the
momentous affair in which they are engaged. The
best wishes of all true patriots in Ireland and all
well-wishers in England will go with the legisla-
tion of Ireland, and if during this Session any
change for the better takes place and gives promise
of enduring permanently in that country, there will
be as much reason to rejoice as there was last year
when the Reform question ceased to remain a
stumbling-block in the way of Parliament.

LATEST INTELL MENGE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS•)

PORTUGAL.
LISBON, February 24.

Count de Rilvas has been appointed Envoy Ex-
traordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at the
Court of St. Petersburg. The Count do Rilvas
(Chevalier d'Oliviera) was until now Councillor and
first Secretary of Legation in London, where he has
frequently acted as Charge d'Affaires, the first time
representing Portugal at the baptism of her Royal
Highness the Princess Beatrice.

His Excellency was already 22 years ago Charge
d'Affaires at St. Petersburg.

CALCUTTA AND CHINA MAILS.
MARSEILLES, Feb. 23.

The Para arrived here this morning. The mails
leave by the 11.30 train. Letters late to-morrow
night.

BOMBAY (HEAVY) MAIL.
SOUTIIAMPTON, Feb. 25.

The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer
Syria, with the above mail, passed the Needles at
12.25 p.m. to-day.

AMERICA.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 21.

The resolution reporio.l by tho Reconstruction
Committee for the impeachment of President
Johnson passed the lions° of Representatives to-
day by a Arid party vote.

COARUPOND4NCE FRODI PARIS.

(FEO3I. OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT)

PARIS, MONDAY, iei). 24.

The Cana'wound professes to see in the Opposition
only Orleanist manceuvres, dynastic pretensions being for
the moment skilfully veiled. According to this organ the
Orleanist party is maturing a -forced effort to return to
" pairlenzentarizm of such sad memory." The omnipotence
of Parliament, the parliamentary initiative, Ministerial
responsibility, liberty of the press, arc exhumed out of
the graves where the Imperial Constitution, amid the
cheers of the people, entombed them ; as if, says the
Constitutknnel, we hrui had no experience of the abuses of
Parliament and a free press, and of the moral anarchy
which they both caused in our country. Among the
ancient parties who are seeking to bring back these
" the Orleanist take the first rank. They retain
the political and literary renown acquired by their states-
men, orators, and men of letters, and they are seeking
with as much ability as perseverance to disturb public
opinion by the clamours of Liberalism, and to betray
generous minds by the magic word of Liberty. Unless I
am much deceived, the Crleanist intm.esta. in 1863 are not
much stronger than they were twenty years ago, when
Lamartine refused to pronounce for them.

The Ministers of the Empire, not less than the papers,
have a curious way of speaking of British institutions.
M. Rouher told the Legislative Body that the question of
reports comptes rendas was not special to France. In
England the debates were not public ; strangers were ex-
cluded ; no member was allowed to print his speech
without permission ; and, lastly, that all reports were for-
bidden to the public press. Laws, the Minister observed,
existed to prevent any of these thingsbeingdone. I suppose
it is true. Parliament, he added, refused to repeal the laws,
and it permitted the reports only on the condition that
they were " sincere, impartial, and correct." Really,
some of your readers will think, when M. Rouher says this
is all the French Government demands, and adds, " I
repeat this explicit formula—the ample rcniu is forbidden,
discussion is permitted," that M. Adolphe Gu6roult was
justified in -exclaiming " C'est toujours l'equivoque
Your readers will agree with me that the reporter on the
bill made a confession which did him honour. He said :
"I confess I cannot see the line which separates reporting
and discussing. It is with extreme regret that I separate
myself from the rest of the commission in this respect ;
but I obey my reason and my conscience,"

Referring to the changes proposed in the Senate, the
Bulletin International reports that, besides the infusion of
new blood, it is proposed to enlarge the powers of the
Senate by handing over to it the duty of elaborating bills
—or projets de loi. In that case the Council of State would
be suppressed.

The following letter shews how the Emperor regarctea
at the time the revolution of twenty years ago, of which
his Ministers have spoken with supreme contempt. It
WM addressed to Lamartine, Dupont, Marie, Louis Blanc,
and the other members of the Provisional Government. It
runs thus :—" Gentlemen, the people of Paris having
destroyed by their heroism the last vestige of foreign
invasion, I haste from exile to range myself under
the flag of the Republic you have just proclaimed.
Without any other ambition than to serve my country,
I announce my arrival to the members of the Provisional
Government, and assure them of my devotion to the
cause which they represent, as well as of my sympathy
for them personally. Accept, gentlemen, the assurance
of my sentiments.—Lotus NAPOLEON BONAPARTE." The
Emperor was one of those who demanded that the accu-
sation against Gu'zo'. shou'd be proceeded with.
M. Peyrat sends to the Avenir Ration:el an article on
the " 24th of February." The writer, as your readers are
aware, is undergoing a month's imprisonment at St.
Pelagic for an "adjective" which the French Government
did not like. Like all imprisoned editors, he is the object
of munerous marks of sympathy, and everything M.
Peyrat writes from prison is read with tenfold avidity,
The official press chide the Rouman Government for its
ignorance, real or pretended, of the insurrectionary plots
against Bulgaria. It would seem, however, that France
will not interfere to suppress any movement of the kind
so long as Russia abstains from active intervention. The
Press of Vienna states that for the moment the danger of
a rising in the East is more apparent than real.
The Libert4 announces that the Dutch Prime Minister
has decided on a fresh dissolution rather than re iign.
The report is revived that the Empress will visit Rome.
The date is fixed at the 2nd of April.

The political regeneration of Austria is pro(lucing a
most beneficial effect on the financial and industrial in-
terests of the empire. Advices from Frankfort state that
at no period during the last twelve years has there been
such eagerness to invest in Austrian securities as is now
observable. Within a week the Anglo-Austrian Loan has
risen 6 per cent., and almost all other kinds of stock 5 per
cent. The railway returns are very favourable. The
French-Austrian Company have now a weekly income of
£65,000, which is £28,000 in excess of la.A year. Accord-
ing to reports from Hungary, there is yct freight in
arrear to feed the railways at the same rate throughout
the summer. The line over the Brenner is monopolising
the passenger and goods traffic to Italy. Steam naviga-
tion on the Danube was to commence on the 20th.

The boring of the Mont Cenis Tunnel is proceeding
satisfactorily. The Lyons Company are so confident on
having the tunnel in their possession before January
1871, that the company are about to cut the line which will
connect Modane with St. Michel. The whole cost of con-
necting France and Italy will bo £4,000,000—a trifle, says
the Opinion Nationale, looking at the gigantic results
which will thereby he accomplished.

All the difficulties in the way of our Treaty of Com-
merce with Austria have at last been removed, and in the
course of the next month the long-pending negotiations at
Vienna will be ratified. We may expect a considerable
trade to spring up with Austria. It is stated that a
brother of Baron Beust, a distinguished mining engineer,
is assisting in the development of the mineral wealth of
Austria.

The elections in South Germany for the Customs Par-
liament have been in the direction opposed to any closer
union with Prussia. There is no doubt that the Parlia-
ment about to reassemble for the first time since 18-13,
with representatives from all parts of Germany, will talk
politics as well as eustoms.

Belgium is standing in the way of a considerable postal
reform. The Berlin Cabinet proposed a uniform tariff for all
letters and small packages, at the rate of two silbergroschen
for letters under half an ounce, and four silbergroschen for
those above that weight. The Belgian Government insists on
a graduated scale, making the same charge' for every
additional half-ounce. This is regretted in Germany,
because Belgium is the highway for letters sent to
France, England, and America ; and there is no doubt
that a liberal tariff would be remunerative and tend to
increase business.

A. correspondent of the /iullyndance announces that the
King of Prussia has raised Messrs. Simon and Abraham
Oppenheim, the chief supporters of the banking-house of
Oppenheim and Co., to the rank of hereditary barons.
This is the first instance in wliieh members of the Hebrew
persuasion have been thus honoured, and the event will
produce a considerable, and for the most part favourable,
impression throughout Germany.

The Conservative Ministry of the King of Holland have
to face a considerable and increasing Liberal majority in
the Second Chamber of the States-General. They chew
a disposition to hold office as long as possible without
much official scruple. Two great subjects are before the
country—the government of Java, and educa',lon. With
reference to the first, the Ministry are accused of per-
petuating a system which subjects the native agriculturists
of the island to virtual slavery. They are compelled to
cultivate certain quantities of coffee and other articles, and
to sell them to the Government agents, who defraud the
cultivators of their legitimate profits. The present ses-
sion will probably strike a blow at this system.

The Constantinople correspondent of the In,:fe'pendance
asserts that the Ministers of the Sultan have been com-
pelled to accept the proposal of Austria, France, and
Britain, to place Crete under a Christian Prince, subject
to the Porte. Ho argues, however, that the project
will be illusory. Crete must be either under the direct
domination of the Sultan or annexed to Greece. The
Mussulmans are one-third of the population.

The Rivers Pollution Commission, which came to An
untimely disruption in Liverpool by discreditable squab-
bling between two of the members, is to be reconstituted.
The Government will not legislate on the subject until the
new commission has reported.

On Monday afternoon a meeting of the leading states-
men of the Liberal party was held at the residence of Mr.
Gladstone, in Carlton-house-terrace. There were pre-
sent Earl Russell, Mr. C. I'. Villiers, the Earl of Kim-
berley, Mr. Milner Gibson, Mr. Cardwell, the Marquis of
Hartington, Mr. Goschen, Earl Granville, Earl De Grey
and Ripon, the Duke of Argyll, Mr. Chichester Fortescue,
Mr. Brand, and Mr. G. G. Glyn. The conference,
which met at three o'clock, broke up at half-past four;
but Lord Russell left the meeting half an hour earlier than
the other members.

It will be seen that the mectirg was composed exclu-
sively of members of the late Government. The TClegraph,
hints that as a result of the conference, while the Liberal
party will offer no factious opposition to the Government,
it will insist on knowing what the Government mean to
do. The Liberal party are fully aware of the danger with
which England is menaced ley the condition of Ireland,
and arc quite prepared for thorough-goiu2,- measures.