The Sun. — 1870-05-24 (London, England)

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY MORNING, MAY 24, 1870.  ordinary speeches what the Lord Mayor's carriage is to an ordinary vehicle. This time the discourse is full of common sense, if not precisely the sense we might have hoped and desired. It contains very little about the Emperor himself ; whereas preceding effusions have been full of him, just as if the whole destiny of France were to uphold the House of Napoleon on the Throne without any corresponding advantage. Now the ruler begins to see that if the bargain is to be continued, it must be mutual. The new Constitution gives the Throne to himself and his heirs ; he in return must give better governing machinery, better education, and better laws to the French people. And accordingly his last speech is full of promises to this effect. It is all very satisfactory, except where the topic of the Constitution is touched upon. Concerning this the Emperor makes it clearly understood that there is to be no further change. He does not say that the edifice is crowned, but it is " fundamentally strengthened upon its base," which may be taken to imply the same thing. Indeed, we are told that the Constitution " is above all controversy ;" and that the nation is now"freed from the constitutional questions which divide the best minds." If anything were needed to prove that the plebiscitum was a reactionary measure, these statements surely supply the missing link. The Emperor is yet far from the position of a constitutional monarch ; but his prerogatives are now to be beyond all question. He found a little while ago that the liberal agitation would soon hand over a large portion of his power to the Parliament; he made certain concessions; appealed to the people to ratify them; and now declares that nothing more need be expected. Yet this very Constitution that is now established contains a provision that the power of effecting fundamental alterations is to be shared by the Parliament. How can the latter body really possess such power, if no more alterations are to be made ? The sentences in the Emperor's speech about the Constitution imply in the clearest manner that the pldbiscite is a decision altogether above the interference of the people's representatives. If this be representative government the popular definition of the term must have greatly altered of late. No doubt the Parliament, with its increased powers, will win its way to its proper position as the real governing power. No legislative body that played its cards properly, has failed to do so. But that the battle will not be won without a very severe contest, this plebiscitum, and the speech which follows it, sufficiently prove.  In the House of Lords last evening the Earl of Carnarvon inquired what measures the Government intended to adopt to obtain satisfaction for the murder of the British subjects in Greece. The noble lord, whilst he expressed his approval of the course pursued by the English Government, did not scruple to condemn the action of the Greek Ministry. Earl Clarendon, who seemed to have taken his cue from the speech of the Premier, was rather reticent, merely expressing his satisfaction that the relatives of the murdered did not complain of the measures taken by the British representative to obtain their release, and assuring their lordships that a rigorous investigation should be made into the case, with an utter disregard to the position which any person concerned might occupy. In the House of Commons the SolicitorGeneral moved the second reading of the University Tests Bill. Mr. Walpole moved that it be read that day six month;, and considerable discussion ensued on the two propositions. Considering the importance of the measure, it was considered by a very thin House, and this fact drew from Mr. Newdegate the remark that questions of principle dirt not command so much attention as matters purely personal. The second reading was carried by an overwhelming majority. The House went into Committee on the Irish Land Bill, and so much progress was made that when the House resumed the schedule and preamble of the bill had been agreed to. The bill will be reported on Thursday. The other' business transacted was not very important, and the House adjourned at a quarter past one.  `--- • ..` '