The Sun.
London, England, 1868-09-23 00:00:00

SPIRIT OP ME PUBLIO JOURNALS•

The Times appears to be undecided as to the real
portance of the rebellion in the Peninsula. Our contem-
porary first remarks : Perhaps it matters little now
whether or not the Queen leave San Sebastian at all, except
for France. If she ever reach Madrid, it seems that it
will only be to solemnise her act of political suicide more for-
mally, as a scorpion, it is said, in a circle of burning coals, will
withdraw despairingly to the centre to die. Not the least
ominous report was the statement that "a parley had
been initiated between the Government and the insur-
gents." But perhaps the strangest of all was that a
new Cabinet had been formed, and that M. Gonzalez
Bravo was included in it as Minister of the Interior,
to go on while he might in his old course of muzzling the
press and deporting political entmies of all denominations
to distant islands.! It is something to learn that neither the
Queen nor M. Bravo was insane to that degree. On the
contrary, he and several of his late colleagues are already
fugitives in France. On the other hand, from all parts of
Europe Spanish exiles, we hear from Paris, are seen to be
reeving romewards. The Times thinks that this may be
another false alarm— an ordinary Spanish pronunciamiento,
to be followed by its usual consequences of a score
of official changes. It is not those who live in
sight of a volcano who have the liveliest apprehension
of an eruption, and the perpetual smoke and sparks which
Spanish politics have been emitting for the last half
century have made Europe indifferent to new ebullitions.
Nevertheless, Spain remains a political volcano. Unless—
which after such a reign of thirty-five years, hardly, we
fear, can form an element in a calm calculation—the Spanish
sovereignand court amend their ways, a real explosion some
day will come and hurl them forth ; and possiblythis may be
it. The difficultywithSpanishrevolutionistshasalwaysbeen
the difficulty of finding a new occupant in the event of
ejecting the actual holders of power. The idea of amalga-
mating Spain and Portugal is chimerical. The Times
suggests either the Queen's son or her sister. Neither
France nor England will be inclined to interfere.
The Daily Telegraph says it would be idle to speculate
on the form of government which might be introduced by
a successful insurrection. To every conceivable plan
there are grave objections. The Duke of Montpensier—
waiving the opposition that might be expected from the
Tuileries—labours under the fatal disqualification of being
a Frenchman ; and the Spanish hatred still survives, not
only for the French themselves, but for the
Afraneesados—those who are " Frenchified " either
in ideas or policy. Earnestness on any point
is better than sceptical indifference on all ; so
that, on the whole, we are rather glad that Spain is at
least a " good hater." Unfortunately, something of the
same sort—an old-world feeling of national jealousy—is a
serious obstacle to a much better candidature, that of the
King of Portugal. The union of the whole Peninsula under
one ruler must certainly seem to dispassionate observers
the best solution of the difficulty; but next-door neighbours,
especially when they happen to be nearly related to one
another, are seldom good friends, and Castilian pride does
not quite relish the notion of sending to Lisbon for a King.
Yet worse, far worse, might be the issue of the contest;
and with :anything short of a dynastic change we can
hardly suppose that successful revolutionists, representing
the nation, would be satisfied. As to Ministerial changes,
the Telegraph thinks that from present appearances the
Union Liberal party are likely to get hold of the helm of
government. Whether they will employ their power to
depose the Queen, or whether, after teaching her a lesson,
they will rule the country as her constitutional Ministers,
time alone can chew.

The Post remarks that for some months past we have
fortunately heard little or nothing of Fenianism, the excep-
tional powers with which the Irish Executive is armed
have ceased to be exercised, and shortly after Parliament
was prorogued we received with satisfaction the assurance
that through the length and breadth of Ireland there was
not in custody any individual committed otherwise than
according to the ordinary forms of law. The significance
of the recent outrage in Cork consists in the fatal blow
which it deals to our too hastily formed conclusion
that we had probably heard the last of the Fenian
conspiracy. It is now evident that those Who take part in it
simply bowed their heads to a storm which it was idle to
endeavour to withstand, with the intention, when the sky
became again serene, of once more renewing their endea-
vours to foment sedition. Without suggesting that the
authorities have abated anything of their vigilance, it is
quite comprehensible that, in the absence of any overt
acts on the part of the conspirators, they should have
found less occasion for making their supervision apparent,
and the Fenians have accordingly thought the opportunity
a favourable one for renewing the tactics which they pre-
viously pursued.

The Herald has a leader upon the addresses of the City
candidates in the COnstitutional interest. They are all
agreed on the main points of Conservative doctrine.
While deprecating the Liberal policy in the matter of the
Irish Church, they agree in expressing themselves anxious
for the measures of progress which are of uncontested
importance to the community, but are held in abeyance
while time is wasted in profitless discussion and selfish
party manoeuvres. One and all they are in favour of a
learge measure of education for the people and an
expansion of the present system of poor-law relief.
Economy in taxation, with the maintenance of the
due position of the country ; a revision of the laws
which regulate the claims of properly and labour ;
a further reform of the bankruptcy laws, giving greater
security to creditors,—these are matters of .importance to
the whole community, but more than the rest to those who
are interested in commercial pursuits. Vie are, sure that
the interest shewn in these important questions will do
much to commend the candidates to the consideration of
their fellow-citizens, while the soundness of their views on
the great question of the day will give them a paramount
claim to the suffrages of Conservative voters, and of
numerous sections belonging to the late Liberal party
which yet shrink from the threatened overthrow of Churcl:
and , Constitution.