The Sun. — 1848-04-05 (London, England)

THE FRENCH REPUBLIC.  PROCEEDINGS AT PARIS.  We have received the Paris papers of yesterday. It would appear from the tenor of certain articles in the National as if the Provisional Government had determined to take possession of the railways, by redeeming all the shares at the price they bore on the 21st of February. The National thus argues the question :  " We see not wherefore the state should not emit a quantity of paper corresponding to the ♦alue of the railways, inasmuch as the riches of the state would be increased by the value of the railway lines. L. tit be considered, also, that the payment of these renter would not burden the budget, and would impose no fresh sacrifices on the public, because the receipts of the railways would be enough to meet this service. We should certainly have to provide for the finishing of the lines already commenced; but money can always be found in France for useful works."  The National then proceeds to reply in the following manner to those who object to this as a measure of spoliation :—" How," it asks, " are people spogated who are paid the value of their property ? The purchase is forced, they say, but the principle of expropriation for the public good is it not consecrated in our legislations? These arguments are not serious. We suspect that the interest of shareholders is put forward to screen that of administrators, who are inconsolable at the idea of losing their fat stalls."  The news from Lyons is anything but satisfactory. The volunteers enrolled there took upon themselves to detain the 13th Light Horse, just returned from Africa, that they might repose after their march, and this, notwithstanding that they had been ordered to join the army of the Alps without delay—the army moving up to the support of Piedmont in case of necessity.  We find in the Constitutionnel the following in relation to the affairs of Italy : " In the midst of the chaos of events which no human imagination could have foreseen or followed, two parties appear to be disputing for the victory in the LombardoVenetian States even before it is won—the Piedmontese parry, which wishes for a constitutional kingdom for Italy, and the Republican party, who demand ancient franchises, and wishes that every city should be entirely independent. " In this conflict of ideas and opinions, and in this general conflagration, there is much danger to be apprehended; on the one hand absolutism, rising again into existence under a new form, and on the other municipalism, that spirit of discord and envy which lost the Italian Republics in the middle ages. The safety of Italy lies in the solution of this important problem. Charles Albert, however, appears to be animated with the best intentions, and carciully repeats iu all his proclamations that his views are most disinterested, and that he only brings to the people the assistance of a friend and of a brother, and that when once the Austrians are driven out of Italy, he will leave each state free to choose which form of government it may consider best. So many years of misfortune and oppression have, however, made the Italians very distrustful. " The Austrians have entrenched themselves at Mantua and at Verona, where they occupy very formidable positions. A great number of prisoners belonging to the first families of Milan, are still in their hands; and there is much reason to fear that the rage of the butchers of Radetsky, exasperated by defeat, may expose them to very cruel treatment. The late massacres at Milan wore beyond everything horrible. " The Croatians murdered children before the eyes of their mothers, cut off the hands of young girls in order to possess themselves of their bracelets and rings, pillaged and burnt houses, leaving devastation and death to mark their passage in every quarter of the city. " Some letters have been seized which seriously compromise the late Viceroy, who, however, pretended to have less cruel feelings. It appears to have been the Viceroy who ordered the pillage and massacres—acts which for ever dishonour the name of Austria. " Whilst the Piedmontese army is triumphing in Lombardy, Savoy is detaching itself from the Sardinian states and endeavouring again ito become French. In several clubs which assembled the day before yesterday at Chambery a Provisional Government was proclaimed. What is most extraordinary in this affair is, that at the very moment that this was taking place, the rorace at Lyons were calling on all the hotel-keepers to discharge the natives of Savoy from their service, and compelling them to leave the country of their adoption, where they had resided fur many years. Savoy is, therefore, not revengeful."