The Sun.
London, England, 1868-05-21 00:00:00

44, (1%
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THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, MAY 21, 1868.

privilege of appealing from the decisions of Par-
liament to those who send their members there
to represent their views. If these have faith-
fully fulfilled their trust in honouring a Minis-
ter just called upon to assume the task of
Premier at a critical juncture, why are they afraid
or ashamed to meet their constituents? If Mr.
DISRAELI has erred so greatly, they will not be
blamed for his delinquencies ; but the horror, the
rage, and the concentrated aversion that these Re-
formers feel at the approach of a dissolution merely
illustrate the truth of the proverb about conscience
making cowards. The House will then this after-
noon have the matter clearly put before it, and
will be able to decide upon its own course, but
the select few, the " faction," cannot expect
to have their wishes realised, and walk into
office without working a little harder for the
privilege. Mr. DISRAELI is placed in a position
that many of his predecessors have found them-
selves before, and some of the mcst illustrious
statesmen whose names adorn the annals of Eng-
land have been in their day of power beset and
hampered by factious spirits, but the only way to
meet such attacks is to face them with boldness and
decision. INre feel sure that the present Premier
will not lack courage or confidence, and if he must
resort to the expedient of immediate dissolution,
he will meet another Parliament much stronger
than he is now. The reproach and obloquy
of the affair, if such there be, will rest
with those who drive him to it, and
so they will find to their cost when the day of
reckoning arrives. Of course it stands to reason
that no management can stand against the dodges
and devices of those determined to obstruct public
business, because every clause in the smallest and
most trivial measure can be disputed ; but it comes
to this—•ls the Parliament of England brought so
low that it will aid and abet a leader of party in so
perilous a course? and, if so, have not the Govern-
ment a perfect.right to appeal to the country for a
solution of the problem and not to resign till
they know if they are yielding to a faction
instead of fulfiling the desire of the public ?

It must have been a satisfaction to Mr. ETRE to
have the opportunity afforded to him by express-
ing his feelings in the painful position in which
he now finds himself. We are not surprised that
the officers of the Court found it necessary to suppress
the cheering which followed the close of his brief
but emphatic reply yesterday when committed for
trial at the Court of Queen's Bench. We entirely
agree with the ex-Governor of Jamaica, that not
upon him, but upon those who brought him
there, " lies the foul disgrace that a public ser-
vant who has faithfully discharged his duty
for upwards of twenty years has been after
two years and a half of persecution brought
to a criminal court and committed for trial
for having performed his duty at a trying moment,
and thereby saved indubitably a great British
colony from destruction, and its well-disposed in-
habitants, white and black, from massacre, or
worse." At this point of the speech the applause
was heard, and after its suppression Mr. EYRE con-
cluded by declaring that he rejoiced to believe that
his conduct had only been impugned by " a small
and unimportant section of the community, and
that the higher tribunal to which the case had been
referred would not accept the decision of the
Court he was then in. The large majority of
his fellow-countrymen be felt satisfied did not
sanction these proceedings against him, and to their
sense of justice, and to their common sense, I may
say, I confidently intrust my honour as a gentleman
and my character as a public officer." The cheers
which burst from a crowded court, and which
could not then be suppressed are typical of the
public sentiments oa this case, and we feel con-
vinced that all wha put themselves prominently
forward as the prosecutors of Mr. EYRE, and who
persist in keeping up this persecution, for
it deserves no better term, will rue the day
when they began it. We believe, with Mr. EYRE,
that the higher court will pronounce his acquittal,
and at this decision his countrymen will rejoice;
but it is difficult to express the indignation that is
felt at a public servant being even subjected to per-
secution for performing his duty. Those witnesses
who are so ready with their details cannot be such
good judges.of the affair as those of well-established
reputation in Jamaica, whose testimony was all in
favour of the course which Mr. EYRE took ; and if
people will not attempt to realise the
state of the place in the insurrection, they
cannot possibly arrive at a just conclusion.
It is one thing to descant upon the state of tran-
quillity in certain places, and another to take into
account the confusion that reigned in one direction,
and the spirit of sedition that was abroad in an-
other. The fact is, that to justify Mr. EYRE in
the views of his enemies the rebellion must have
attained an uncontrollable height ; and he is, there-
fore, to be condemned for having prevented it doing
so by the adoption of vigorous measures, and the
exhibition of a spirit and determination of no com-
mon order.

The announcement made yesterday by M.
ROUIIER in the French Chambers will be received
with the greatest satisfaction by the general body
of the English public. They will see in it the even-
tual triumph of their favourite policy, and may hope
for its extension to other continental countries.
The Emperor of the French has the credit of
having been the first to break through the strong
prejudice which existed abroad against the principle
of free and unfettered competition. Many circum-
stances combined to fit him for the task,
though even with his strong will and absolute
power, and the growing inclination of the French
for mercantile pursuits, it was one of no ordinary
difficulty. Even now the opposition to free trade
has not died out, and strenuous efforts have been
made to restore the old effete and shackled systems.
M. ROUHER'S speech yesterday dissipated all hopes
that such efforts would be successful. After enter-
ing into some statistics showing the progress of
French industry, he said that France exported to
European markets to the amount of 700,000,000 f.
more than England, and was only behind England
in her exports to the East, he hoped that by ener-
getic competition, and throwing off the shackles of
timid councils, the trade of France might rival that
of England. M. ROUIIER'S language with regard
to the abandonment of the Treaty was, contrary
to the usage of French statesmen, unmistakably
plain. " To those," he said, " who ask whether
the Government should give notice of withdrawal
from the Treaty of Commerce, we reply point
blank—no !" The EMPEROR, he added, had the
right to conclude treaties of commerce independently
of the Legislature, but for the future it was in-
tended to have recourse to the Chambers when there
was a question of reforming the Customs tariff, an
announcement that was received with cheers, the
only condition which M. RoUHER attached to it
being that the Legislative powers must be exercised
in the path of progress. This condition no one
really interested in the material welfare of France
would dispute, and the Government can speak con-
fidently after the success which has attended the
1 EMPEROR'S experiment. It is notorious that French
industry has made &uprising progress during the

last few years, so much so that our merchants and
manufacturers who were formerly facile princeps in
all commercial transactions now find the French
dangerous rivals. It is very possible that the
stimulus which this supplies may eventually prove
of service to onr English manufacturers and work-
men, who were somewhat inclined, like others whose
position is assured, to neglect the qualities which
won it for them. Hitherto, however, so far from
the treaty of 1860 operating injuriously upon
French trade, it is rather the English traders who
have to complain of the advantages won by their
rivals, and of this the Imperial Government, judg-
ing from the speech of M. ROUTER, appear to be
fully sensible. So conclusive were the arguments
lie adduced that little opposition seems to have been
made to them, M. JULES SIMoN merely remarking
that political liberty should accompany freedom of
commerce. In waiting for this desirable con-
junction we may at least rejoice to see com-
mercial liberty becoming firmly established on
the Continent. The example and the pros-
perity of France will do more to encourage
other nations to enter upon the same courin

than a thousand diplomatic efforts or impressive
speeches.
In Berlin, where their Customs Pariament is
busy discussing the tariff, the Government and
people have alike much to learn, both wish respect
to political and commercial liberty. Yesterday
the trial of the 22 Hanoverians was concluded,
FREESE being acquitted, but the others found
guilty on the charge of committing acts of inci-
pient high treason. HAWALD was condenined to a
year and three months' imprisonment, and the
rest to one year's imprisonment. So long as a
system like this is in vogue Prussia need not hope
to keep pace with other nations, either politically,
commercially, or socially.

The difference of opinion respecting Sir C.
O'LOGHLEN'S Libel Bill are very strongly marked,
and it was not a little curious last night to observe
how animated was the debate on a matter which
might be supposed to be very unexciting and com-
monplace. The legal members of the House natu-
rally took a very prominent part in the discussion,
and held various opinions, even the Solicitor-Clene-
ral and the Attorney-General being found on oppo-
site sides. The supporters and the opponents of
the measure alike mustered a respectable force in
numbers and in ability ; and, on the whole, the
general feeling of the House was in favour of
the Bill, which has advanced a stage by a
majority of seventy, the house going into com-
mittee. The common sense of the question will
certainly appear to unprejudiced persons to be with
the framer of the bill, but perhaps members of Par-
liament are naturally not quite impartial judges,
inasmuch as they know so well the imprudences
be betrayed in the
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the hardships of the editor, giving what he be-
lieves to be a fair retort, without the slightest per-
sonal feeling, and finding himself forthwith involved
in ruinous expenses. On the whole, the bill is
calculated to meet the difficulties of the case, and
we hope will become law.

LATEST INTELL MENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS)

AUSTRIA.

VIENNA, May 20, Evening.

The minority of the Budget Committee have
resolved to propose to the Reichsrath the imposition
of a tax of 20 per cent. on the coupons of the
general debt, and of 13 per cent. on the coupons of
those debts which had previously been declared free
of taxation. They also propose that a tax of 20
per cent. only, and not 25 per cent. as proposed by
the majority of the committee, shall be levied upon
prizes in the State lottery.

SPAIN.

MADRID, May 20, Evening.

In to-day's sitting of the Congress the bill for
granting pecuniary aid to railway companies was
adopted.
N. Gonzalez Bravo then read a royal decree sus-
pending the sittings of the Cortes.

MOLDAVIA.

BUCHAREST, May 20.

Several cannons, which were declared at the
Custom House as goods, have arrived here from
Prussia via Galicia.
Great activity prevails in the arsenal here.