The Sun. — 1857-02-17 (London, England)

THE FRENCH REFUGEES IN LONDON.  The Coustitutionnel contains the following power• ful denunciation of a certain class of political refugees residing in London. We reproduce in fall this article, which proceeds from the pen of M. Granier de Cassag,nac. We must premise, however, that the events described below could not have created any sensation in London, as the manifestation referred to has not been mentioned by any of the English papers, whose notice of M. Worcell • was confined to a brief obituary notice : " The p ,litical refugees in London have once more, by a solemn and religious act, made the world acquainted with their principles and their projects. At the funeral of the Pole Worcell, who died a short time ago, the refugees, .divided into nations, followed their respective banners. The French were drawn up behind the red flag, the flag of blood. It was carried by Gomet, and followed by DOrou, condemned to death by the Court of Assizes of Douai for attempt at assassination on the person of t he Emperor. The Italians followed their tricolor flag. It was carried by Domenico Lama, the most intimate friend of Pianori, the assassin executed at Paris, and over it floated a streamer of black crape, placed there by the hand of Clerici, the assassin of the Duke of Parma. Then followed eighteen individuals who had escaped horn Cayenne. In the cortege figured Mazzini and Ledru Rollin ; and the latter, surrounded by Clerici, Lama, and Deron, pronounced over the tomb of Worcell a speech appropriate to his audience. The world had never before witnessed a similar spectacle or profanation, a funeral in which the chief mourners were murderers. There was a time when the quality of political refugt e excited the pity and respect of mankind. We speak of the period of the French emigration to London or Brussels during the French Revolution and the Restoration ; of the period of the Poli-h or Spanish emigration r.iatagaossrmpjabPfytetaisiroaurileiniensi roid,hbmhaaul adrcee onpi hands sv were bstenhierdoeceeagna etou Morelia fuvautieerthrs nuan soh mgi a sedreaaaontdgurit cgdaoaeofpc arrJriurnit Lallynsai edcy But s agTe cnuz aodi 1 ere entot misguided, tse okmgwri uld dishonoured them. What sentiments can be inspired or merited by the political refugees of London, who have fallen to that degree that they publicly adopt or tolerate as standard-bearers hired assassins ? It is assuredly impossible that all the refugees can in the bottom of their heart accept such a disgrace. In their ranks are men of talent and of profound knowledge, who devote long and painful labours to the desire and hope of deserving the esteem of posterity. Such minds and hearts cannot consider themselves intended by nature to be the followers of knackers and cutters-up of human flesh. But why do they remain silent Q why do they not openly wash their hands of this blood and shame t We sincerely honour the customs and the laws of England ; we honour the respect, however exaggerated, paid by those laws and customs to individual liberty. We are nevertheless persuaded that it was rather want of attention than theory which permits these terrible manifestations, this tranzy of crime. The practical good sense of it s laws English nation would revolt at the idea of laws affording protection to assassins, to their project., and to their attempts on civilised society and on honourable governments. The English nation, so moral and religious, would be offended iu its honourable pride were it to know that its constitution obliges it to elbow in the streets men with stains of blood on their clothes, which they openly display, and of which they boast. We know nothing more respectable or sacred than liberty of conscience or of opinion, and we conceive that ardent minds consider no sacrifice or effort too great that tends to preserve intact such a treasure. But wo do not hesitate to ask of all honest men, of all countries or political parties, whether the sight witnessed in the streets of London, and protected by English laws—namely, the unfurling of the flag of murder in a great city, the honours of a funeral ceremony publicly offered to assassins—is to be interpreted as the result of liberty or of licence ?"