The Sun.
London, England, 1868-03-02 00:00:00

SO OS,

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LONDO2V, MONDAY, MARCH 2, 1868.

The public will learn with satisfaction tliat the
Ministry is completed, and only some minor
arrangements have to be looked to. On Saturday
a Council was held at Osborne, at which Mr.
HUNT was sworn in as a member. Lord CHELMS-
FORD has delivered up the Great Seal, and Lord
CAIRNS received it. It cannot be said that Mr.
DISRAELI has made many changes upon his taking
the post of First Minister; and indeed it could
scarcely be possible for any one to have made less
alteration. The most important offices are left
alone, and as Lord CAIRNS is well known to
be, on the whole, of the same opinions as
Mr. DISRAELI and Lord STANLEY, we need not
anticipate any differences in the Cabinet, or any
time as likely to be lost in inaugurating new-corners
into the views and intentions of Government. Lord
DERBY'S health will not permit of his remaining a
member of the Cabinet, and perhaps under any cir-
cumstances it would not be desirable for him to
accept such an anomalous position. The appoint-
ment of Sir W. PAGE WOOD to the office of Lord
Justice, in place of Lord CAIRNS, is most satisfac-
tory to the profession generally, and to all those
who appreciate his abilities. His new post will be
less laborious than his former one, and hence it may
be hoped not unreasonably that he will relinquish
the intention of leaving the Court of Chancery. Sir
W. PAGE WOOD'S successor is not yet fixed upon,
and, of course, many rumours are rife on the sub-
ject. Mr. SCLATER-BOOTII has succeeded to the
Financial Secretaryship left vacant by Mr. Hun,
but his place is not yet filled, which is the only one
of a political nature to be attended to. It is not
one that requires immediate appointment, but it
demands deliberation in choosing, for just now,
especially, the Poor-law is undergoing so many
changes that experience is called for in the Secre-
tary. We may thus rest assured that the work of
arrangement has proceeded satisfactorily, for it
cannot be called the work of reconstruction, and
Parliament may resume its labours with no fear of
a new catastrophe, or of impending resignations
hanging over it. Some surprise has been expe-
rienced in certain quarters with reference to the
willingness of the members of the Cabinet to retaiu
office under Mr. DISRAELI ; but any doubt that had
been entertained on this subject must by this time
be completely dissipated. Those who were most
familiar with affairs knew that the right hon. gen-
tleman had been the leading member of the Go-
vernment since last year. The conduct of the
Reform Bill greatly strengthened his position
both in the Government and the House of Com-
mons, and established his reputation in the country
as a statesman of commanding ability and assured
standing. The frequent absence of Lord DERBY
through indisposition, sometimes at most critical
periods, rendered it necessary for Mr. DISRAELI to
take great responsibilities upon himself, and it can
safely be said that whenever any task of importance
devolved upon him he never failed in judgment or
in spirit. In some respects, then, he has had
opportunities of trying his hand in a
manner that few have had the experience
of before, and the new Premier does
not appear before his colleagues in the light of a
novice, but rather in the character of one well qua-
lified for his position. A meeting is fixed upon for
next Thursdly afternoon, in order that Mr.
DISRAELI may explain his policy to the Conser-
vative members of the House of COMMONS.
Under the circumstances this step is desirable,
perhars even necessary ; but we feel convinced
that Mr. DISRAELI will see the advisability
of not repeating the experiment too often. In fact
it weakens the position of the leader of a party
to be thus constantly seizing opportunities and
making them to parley with his followers.
We all know the confusion into which Mr. GLAD-
STONE plunged himself last year by persisting in the
practice, and, indeed, he very nearly lost the leader-
ship of the Opposition altogether by straining his
authority too far, and instead of seeking to know
the opinions of his friends and supporters, ordering
them to take his impressions nolens volens as their
own. Mr. DISRAELI has far more tact than his
brilliant rival; but, at the same time, we should not
advise him to hold too many meetings.
The candid friends whose name, indeed, is legion,
have now discovered that desertions are not
unlikely to take place when the House meets, but
this in all probability
is mere speculation:or the in-
vention of malicious minds. The policy of the new
Prime Minister is not likely to differ materially
from that of his predecessor, and if a few devotees
to antiquated notions should withdraw their
allegiance the result would not be a disastrous one.
It would strengthen the position of the Govern-
ment if it was known that they did not depend upon
the support of those who do not take enlightened
views of progress and assimilate themselves
with the spirit of the age. We have no
fears of the new linistry not doing well. It will
have hard work, no doubt, but that is to be ex-
pected, and we would fain hope that the House of
Commons will give it a fair trial. Opposition in a
straightforward way is one thing, and a factious
course is another policy. It is certain that those
who may be led away by arbitrary views or jealous
motives into offering the new Premier great opposi-
tion, and putting needless hindrances in his path,
will find no favour in the opinion of the country. Let
things take their course in the most direct manner
possible, and let the Government, which has ob-
tained the confidence of the CROWN, receive the
fair trial of Parliament, and have a just opportu-
nity of recommending itself to the good opinion
of the country. This is all that its friends can ask
for, but this is not too much to demand; and while
we feel good assurance that a fair field will not be
denied to its energies, we are convinced that no
favour from the public will be shown to those who
who intrude themselves unnecessarily in its path
of progress. Mr. DISRAELI has fairly won his
position, and let him meet with no undue hindrance
now that he has gained it.

Japan has lately been the scene of a revolution,
and the news which reaches us from Yokohama is
of a most exciting character. It seems that the
opening of the ports of Hiogo and Osaka to
foreigners was the ground of the disturbance, these
ports having been formally proclaimed open on
the Ist of January, though trade has not yet com
menced at either. The exclusion of foreigners has
always been a che: ished principle with the Japanese,
and, in fact, it is only very recently that communi-
cations have been opened with them. At one time
the whole empire was an absolute terra incognita,
and all the information we could gain respecting it
was gleaned from the chance observations of a few
stray travellers, whose lives were not always safe
in the dominions of the MIKADO. Time, which
effects many changes, and has witnessed the suc-
cessful establishment of a European trade with