The Sun.
London, England, 1868-12-01 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

The Times thinks that such a career as that of the late M.
Berryer is interesting, not only on account of the remark-
able genius of the man, but for the close relation of his
life and destiny with the modern politics and organisation
of France. Everyone knows that Berryer was one of the
first orators of his country. There are few foreigners of
whom Englishmen have heard so much, and even those
'who have not listened to his energetic yet graceful
eloquence are prepared to believe that be was an extra-
ordinary man in an -age conspicuous for forensic and
political genius. It is also known that he had faculties
which fitted him to play a statesman's part—an excellent
judgment, a vigorous will, pride of the noblest kind, strict
conscientiousness, fidelity to his friends and his principles.
There was probably no leading man in France who was so
popular personally among those with whom he disagreed.
His eminent abilities and his genial nature disarmed the
intolerance which is the greatest fault of the French
political character, and the Legitimist advocate counted
his friends among men of every shade, from his own
Bourbon white to the reddest hue of Republicanism. In
his profession he was eminently successful. He rose to
fame early, and was famous to the end.

The Star holds that the death of causes, as well as of
individuals, demands public notice. The Legitimist cause
in France died on Sunday last, at Angerville, in the person
of Pierre Antoine Berryer. We shall not be suspected of
any excessive friendliness towards the advocates of Legi-
macy when we offer to the memory of Berryer
the meed of praise due to a disinterested and unswerv-
ing attachment to e, hopeless cause. The family to
whose service Berryer devoted his great abilities was unde-
serving of such allegiance, as undeserving as were the
Stuart Princes in the last century of the allegiance of the
Highlanders. When we look, however, at the training of
the great French orator, and at the influences in the
midst of which his opinions were formed, we shall not be
surprised at his public career, which was remarkably con-
sistent, honourable, and stainless.

The Standard is quite satisfied with the answer of the
country to the appeal of the Ministry. It is quite true
we remain in a minority; it is furthermore extremely
probable that in a few days after the meeting of the new
Parliament, the Conservative Administration will retire
from office, We do not underra t 3 the loss which the
country will sustain from this retirement. The adminis-
trative ability of the Conservative chiefs of the diffe-
rent departments contrasts very favourably with the
carelessness and incompetence of the holders of
those posts in the last and in previous " Liberal"
Governments. To name but one instance. Whilst Lord
Stanley holds the office of Foreign Secretary the country
naturally feels perfectly confident that its interests are
protected, at the same time that all embarrassing entangle-
ments are obviated. But, after all, the possession of office
by the Conservative party is a very small matter, except
to the members of the Government, and the crowd of
aspirants for the honour of serving their country in
some responsible and well-paid position, who plead
seven years' standing at the bar, and seven years'
or, perhaps, seven months' profession of Conserva-
tive opinions as indisputable titles to the gratifica-
tion of their patriotic wishes. The Government may,
probably will, go out. We shall be sorry for it, but the
Conservative party, and the cause of the Constitution,
will be as strong as it was before in the House of
Commons—nay, stronger, because a Government which
has but a minority to depend upon is always weaker for
the defence of a principle than an Opposition counting the
same nominal strength. The Conservatives may have to
change sides in a fortnight after they take their seats in
the new House of Commons, but they will be quite as
strong, even numerically, as they were on the Ministerial
benches last session.

The Daily News notes that the elections are coming to
an end. In Scotland three seats remain to be filled. When
the electors of the two university constituencies, and of the
hyperborean county of Orkney and Shetland--where that
virtue which, according to Mr. Lowe's parable, lingers
behind the north wind, ought surely to be found—have made
their choice, the House of Commons will have received its
full sum of members: the first Parliament elected under
the Acts of 1867 and 1868 will have been completed.
Without waiting for the lagging triumvirate of North
Britons, the last of whom will not enter his appearance
until Monday next, we may roughly compare the new
House with the old one in the political elements of which
it consists and in the quarters whence those elements
have been derived. In the late Parliament the
Liberal representatives from England and Wales num
bered 266, the Conservatives 234, giving a Libera.
majority of 32. In the present House of Commons
the Liberal members are 265, the Conservatives 227,
shewing a Liberal majority for England and Wales of 38 ;
an increase of six upon the majority in the last Parliament,
notwithstanding the diminution in the number of seats.
Ireland returned to the last House of Commons 56
Liberals and 49 Conservatives. To the present House
of Commons it sends 66 Liberals and 39 Conservatives,
thus raising a majority of 7 into a majority of 27, that is
to say increasing it nearly four-fold. Scotland returned
42 Liberals and 11 Conservatives to the last House of
Commons, making a Liberal majority of 31 votes. To
the present House of Commons it sends 50 Liberals and
Conservatives, Waking a Liberal majority of 43 votes, an
a Liberal gain of 12 seats. The lowest possible majorik,
which Mr. Gladstone can have in the House of Commons
will be 107 seats, of which England and Wales will con-
tribute 38, Ireland 29, and Scotland 40. If the Scotch
Universities and Orkney return Liberals, the majority will
be 113.

The Post, alluding to the report that a petition will be
presented against Mr. Gladstone's return for Greenwich,
says : The new Act has given an extinguishing blow to
these transactions, and venturesome petitions will be dan-
gerous experiments when judges are to try the issue they
raise. An election petition cannot now be withdrawn
without leave of the judge, nor except with full notice
given, and in each case of withdrawal the judge is
required to report whether the withdrawal was the
result of any corrupt arrangement, or in consi-
deration of the withdrawal of any other petition.
The idea of a kite-flying petition against Mr.
Gladstone's seat for Greenwich has therefore been aban-
doned, and the too clever managers who conceived it are,
it is reported, organising an opposition to his re-election
when he shall have taken office. There is every reason to
expect, in the bands of the superior judges and with the
provisions of recent legislation, that corrupt practices now
may be effectually prosecuted. 'The next three weeks will
tell us what are the petitions, and the next four months
will decide the merit of the new machinery. Corrupt prac-
tices of every sort are believed to have been not less rife
on this occasion than formerly. Bribery has extended
its work downwards from the ten - pounders among
new voters, and employers of labour have largely exerted
power over working men. It remains to be seen how
much of what is universally spoken of will be laid bars
before the election judges. It is much to know that cases
susceptible of proof brought before the judges will not
escape conviction. The law provides severe punishments
for candidates and others guilty of corrupt practices, and
the law will be administered by tribunals from which
clear-sightedness, firmness, and consistency are confidently
expected.

The Summary informs us that we may be sure, should
Mr. Gladstone manage to make the Palmerstonian
Liberals vote against their conscience for a bill to dises-
tablish and disendow the Irish Church, the House of
Lords will again refer the matter to the more matured
judgment of the country. The heterogeneous majority
which Mr. Gladstone has secured may indeed place hir.
in power, but the Peers will estimate its moral, not it.
numerical value. Had they seen the large town.
declaring against the Irish Church, the Brea
centres of *population indignantly refusing. a hearing
to a Conservative candidate, they might have
thought twice before they again undertook the I
responsibility of placing their House at variance with the
People's House. But when they see the majority com-
posed of members from small boroughs, and Scotland and
Wales (for 'lreland is comparatively much more Conser-
vative), they will not hesitate. Their duty is plain—to
reject the bill and remit the subject to the Constituencies.
Their lordships may rely on this, that it will be their own
fault if they do not maintain their position. Radicals will
in vain inveigh against the Upper Chamber if the Peers
rise to a sense of their own responsibilities ; if they believe
in their own powers ; if they regard themselves, not merely
as a privileged order, but as an integral part of the Con-
stitution, the maintenance of which in all its integrity is
essential Co the preservation of the liberties of the people.

The clergy of Liverpool on Monday met at the
Town Hall, when arrangements were made for the holding
of the next Church Congress in that town.
PUPIL AND TU7oll.—lt is remarkable that the
pupil of one Anglican prelate and the tutor of another
should be now a Catholic priest. Canon Oakley wah
educated, as a youth, by the Bishop of Winchester, and
when afterwards a fellow of Balliol College was tutor to
the new Archbishop of Canterbury. The canon has, we
believe, always maintained the most amicable relations
with his distinguished pupil and tutor.—Weekly Register.
THE RESIDENCE OF THE NEW ARCHBISHOP OF
CANTEUBURY.—WhiIe the public are discussing the neces-
sity of the new Archbishop of Canterbury being provided
with a residence in his diocese, Dr. Tait has secured one.'
Several months ago he purchased the Stone House, in the
parish of St. Peter's, in the Isle of Thanet, where, when
his episcopal duties would allow, he has resided with his
family. The Stone House is not far from Ramsgate and
Broadstairs, and is accessible by railway from Canterbury,
Dover, Ashford, Faversham, Deal, and very many of the
other large towns of East- -Kat.