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Northern Star (1837-1852), 23rd October 1852, Edition 1 of 2, Page 1, EEVIEWOF THE WEEK. "DVXTTVUT YVEi' RiTrvt «V9*»._

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    • EEVIEWOF THE WEEK. "DVXTTVUT YVEi' RiTrvt «V9*»._
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      Prance is rapidly approaching toward the Empire , but the usurper feels too sore of his game to allow any signs of hurry to he apparent-He may , or rather does know that notwithstanding fetes , processions blasphemous addresses , and triumphal arches , not a single class in France is disinterestedly attached to him . He must be well aware that the adherents of the old regime and the partizans of the House of Orleans regard him only as a warmirig-pan , —as a something to stave off Democracy for the time , and to keep alive kingly institutions , —that the bourgeoisie do not worship him , but the trade which

      they have , and which they think he preserves from destruction or interruption by political denouments , —that the priests , when they treat him as the " chosen of God , " do but bow to him as priests are always apt to do to power , —as they would to his successor were he cast down to-morrow ; and that the people remember his sanguinary acts , and nourish in their hearts hopes of a decisive and

      complete revenge . He knows . aUthis , for he is a shrewd adventurer , but yet he marches on to imperialism with a grave solemnity which would invest a better cause with dignity , because he feels " that he bears the power of the sword . His present safety isthis future danger it is true ; for he must either find a use for the weapon , or have it turned against him by-and-bye ; but for the . moment he feels safe , and for the rest it is time enough to meet danger when it comes .

      It is said that the advisers of his Imperial Highness urged to have the Senate assembled within a day . or two of his return to Paris , so that a blow might be struck while the iron was hot ; but the President was in no huny , —a few days could make no difference in the result ; he saw the importance of the appearance of grave , orderly deliberation , and fixed the 4 th of November as the day for calling his creatures together ; after that step , the rest is perfectly easy . The

      Senate will become a senatus consultum , — -t ]\ Q establishment of the Empire will be recommended as necessary for the present interests of Prance and the safety of the future , and demanded by the opinion of the people . Then a pretence will be made of consulting the nation , and the votes of slaves will be given at the point of the bayonet , and the second-floor lodger of London—the habitue of the gamblinghouses , —the grand special-constable , —will be Emperor of France .

      Efforts have been made to induce the Pope to add to the splendour of Louis Napoleon ' s coronation by his presence . It is not , however , likely that the attempt will be successful . The Pope is not at all enamoured of his former saviour and his present defender . He is as much a prisoner now as he was when he fled from his . palace . He ha s made one or . two attempts to escape , but General Gemeau keeps a sharp eye upon him . His Holiness desired to pass a short time upon the mountains bordering the Neapolitan dominions , and intimated his desire to his protector . The polite Frenchman assented , of course , and obligingly posted three or four thousand men in such a position as

      at once to protect poor Pius from danger , and to prevent him from passing the frontier . The Pope did not appreciate the anxiety evinced on his behalf , for as soon , as he was informed of the measures taken , hededined the excursion . If he does : effect his purpose of again taking shelter with Ins best beloved son , the butcher of Naples , he will not go with the pomp and dignity which beseems a Pope , but be driven to adopt the costume of flunkeydom , or some congenial disguise . The Marquis of Londonderry is at last made happy . In addition to the garter left vacant by the unburied Duke , he has the satisfaction of receiving , intelligence of the release of Abd-el-Kader , in -whose fate he so warmlv interested himself . The President himself visited the

      Chateau of Amboise , and informed the Emir that he was no longer a captive . Some facts in connection with this visit illustrate the character for secrecy which the President has managed to keep up . He had been sedulously advised by his counselors not to liberate ^ so dangerous a pr isoner , and they thought that he had given up his intention but a few minutes before he visited the oriental warrior , he informed General St . Arnaud that he was ajbont to terminate the Emir ' s imprisonment .

      Men are busy canvassing the motives which have led to this step . Of course nobody believes that Louis Napoleon was actuated by any respect for his word , or regard for the honour of France . No one gives him credit for being inspired by feelings of lofty magnanimity w noble compassion . Some lean to the opinion that it is meant to shed a ray of grace upon the assumption of Imperial power , but the more general impression is that deep motives of policy have prompted the act . Louis Napoleon must employ the army , or the army will destroy him . A war with any of the great European powers would he dangerous , if not fatal , to an Emperor destitute of the military

      genius of his uncle . Eastern warfare does not present the same hazard , while it is equally suggestive of ambitious projects . Abd-el-Kader , ifc is supposed , will be committed to the safe keeping of Turkey ; if he should escape there will be the opportunity of picking a quarrel with the Porte , leading to another French expedition to E gypt—a chance of meddling in Syria , to say nothing of a general conflagration among the tribes bordering the Mediterranean , lhat opens up a prospect of work for the restless spirits of France , and promises enough of glory to make up the semblance of national enthusiasm . ItTis more than probable that Louis Napoleon is forecast-

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      ing these events , and that the liberation of the former foe of France may be looked upon as a cunning piece of diplomacy , concealed under the veil of compassionate magnanimity . ' Austria , in the opinion . of the diplomatists , is preparing to play a double game , m the event of hostilities involving France and England , lhere is but little doubt that Prussia would lean to the Enolisli alliance , and Austria might seize the opportunity of etrengthenino-her influence in the minor German states ., It is not an unlikely ; contin-i gency , however , that events may happen in Italy to bring the i ^ nchj and the Austrian forces . there into collisionand to put anend to : that ... ,

      , . dream . lhe Austrian army is daily being strengthened in the peninsula , both by men and fortifications , and the French are intrenehin * themselves . Patrols from either camp constantly scour the country ! lhe respective commanders regard each other with jealousy , and the troops on either side entertain hostile feelings , 4 single spark might spring the mine , and array the two armies ag | uist- ; , each other and perhaps the patriots of Italy would iiofc be sorrySo ;' se ; e tlieir tyrants engaged in cutting one another ' s . throats . ¦ , ..: / ' ¦ '"

      From some letters which have appeared in = the' Times respecting the Austro-Italian passport system , we gather indications that- the spirit of discontent among the Italians , though smothered , is smouldering as fiercely as ever ^ Expressions of opinion , m ; wprds indeed is almost impossible , but snuill tokens are made use-of , to show the feelings of the people . lW government employees shave their chins —the natives cultivate enormous . bear . d ~ $ e guards byaufchority wear orthodox hats—the hatersof the power tlkferules them adopt head coverings of the most revolutionary fonns : and dimensions—officers of state , patronises the theatre—the masses ;^ leave the rest of the

      benches empty—the officials promenade a street , and forthwith all else desert it . Dissatisfaction , is universal , and is expressed-in a very safe way , and if another opportunity should , occur , the Italians will take a fearful revenge for their humiliation and sufferings . Against a state of the public mindlike this , expression is simply ridiculous Abolish one emblem and another is ready at hand , put Sown one journal , and anew one starts up in its-place . Arrests are equally ineffectual far a whole people cannot be locked-up . The Austrians are only safe as long' as they can . defy opposition , but a war with France or any other power , would raise against them a population animated by the most deadly hatred , and eager to spill their blood .

      Prussia shows signs of political excitement ,-but the direction it will take is as yet uncertain . The opinion is spreading , that the government in the matter of the Zolverein has acted both boldly and wisely , and that the commercial interests of Germany will incline rather to the Prussian than the Austrian alliance . Frankfort is emulating England . The senate has divested the Jews of all political privileges , and at future elections the votes of Christians only will he received . -

      American news seems to confirm the intelligence brought by late mails , of the growing power and unitedness of the Whig party , and the improving chances of General Scott ; as a candidate for the presidency . Webster is clearly distanced and it is said , means to employ himself in satisfactorily settling the foreign relations of the Republic , One of the first objects to which he will direct his attention , is the fishery question . The Americans are not satisfied with their own construction of the convention of 1818 , but desire the liberty of inshore fishing on the coasts of our colonies ; and it is hinted that to attain that object commercial concessions toiEnoland will be afforded .

      The war with the Caffres really does seem to'be making some progress at last . The expedition across the Ke ' i has , in the language ot the despatches , been " completely successful '* The army went , — ravaged the enemies country , —destroyed the , homes and the crops , and captured some 10 , 000 head of cattle ; but the foe had withdrawn himself beyond the reach of vengeance . It W said that the marauders , terrified at the vigour of the measures taken against them , begin to show a sincere desire for peace . \ Ve hope it may be all true , but a Caffre war is a long lane , ' and the end of one , looks like the prelude to the beginning of auofher . i (

      Every mail from Australia tells us of more gold-diggers and more gold dug . "The production is enormous , being at the rate of forty millions a-year . A reduciion in the value of gold' in relation to labour and commodities , seems to be inevitable , and then of course we shall have the capitalists , the money-mongers , and the creditor part of the world asking for an alteration of the standard to suit their own purposes . -rAnew danger , however , threatens" emigrants to the land of gold ; —nothing less than the danger , of starvation : What ! scarcity in

      the land of plenty ? Want in the utopia to which " political economists have been directing hungry men and women ? .. Even so ; the Times has found it out ; Australia only produces enough for - herself . Her surplus corn only counts ivp to a few thousand quarters . We have been sending out mouths without food , to where there is nothing . to put in them . The Times thinks it possible ' that even now at this moment a famine is raging which gold cannot stay . Corn

      might be had ifc is true , from Southern America , but it is a three months voyage , there and back , and hunger canuot wait too long . Even if it could , there are no ships . Well , the Times treats the matter very cavalierly—it cannot be helped now—we must try to remedy it next year . This is a very apt illustration of the law of supply and demand , under the operation of which , things are sure to be just where they are wanted when they ? are needed . And ifc cannot be helped I no it cannot , but it might have been helped . ; If we had a

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      Government which really cared for the people , the thousands who have gone perhaps to starve , might have been free , prosper a d happy at home ; and even if there was a necessity fo emlmou it would not have een left to the hat-hazard , devil-may-care ° eon ^ " e "Sr bUt < liP ° n the f ° Othlg ° a mll > '

      lhe Irish rd jpong equality men , have received a communicate from the Scotch dissenters-which does not emcthT ^ t to views . The Watchman says , « pull down the Established ^ by all means , but do not set up another , or a do . cn other chSc Take a , y is funds , but do not take them for yourselves , and a to eapuahsing the money , and making it a present to all the relics sects m . proportion ^ to their numbers , « we totally dissent froiffi sc heme which would be in effect endowing irresponsible bodie " with the property of the natun ' The appropriation of the spoil ' s l dently the ; sore point which will prevent any sincere and hsrinir cEh U ^ ^^ Catll ° and dissentin S foes of the Irish In our own home world there is little alive but expectation The parliament is ^ to meet for the dispatch of business on the 4 th of November and the Funeral of the Duke is to take place between the 17 tli and the lath—then we suppose some " business" will be d

      one . We . adverted last week to a rumoured scheme of Mr . Disraeli ' s to extend the operation of the Income-Tax to all incomes above 20 . wv week , and to give the franchise to the payers . This has drawn down the anathemas of the Whigs and'the Manchester men , who gay that ifc would be both unjust and ineffectual . We need not here repeat our dissent from any system of government whi ( , h denies rievhts { o life and intelligence , and founds privileges upon property and taxation But we must express our belief that the opposition of the political ectaomists is founded upon something else than a desire for reform ami a love for the people . If Mr . Disraeli really entertains such an idea , the carrying it out would do more to enfranchise the urban population than anything Lord John Russell lias either projected or hinted at . It would do more than a £ 5 rentalor anything short of

      , household suffrage . In the towns , more even than that . \ would emancipate all that large class of commercial employees and skilled mechanics who so Seldom have a vote now , and it would-affect the agricultural peasantry to about the same extent as the £ 5 qualification . As to the injustice of taxing small incomes , the Wlite and their supporters talk as though they were not taxed now . Tlfe only necessary difference would be , between direct and indirect taxation * ; ail the taxes and all the income of . a country must come from the labour of'the country , the only possible source ; and those who know how unjustly the poor are now taxed , are those who dread the knowledge of the wrongs , which direct taxation would possibly impress upon them .

      The domestic news of the week comprise a fatal duel near Windsor between foreigners ^ one of whom was killed . Five of the parties suspected to be implicated have been examined and remanded . A murder of a wife by her husband at Bristol ; a revolting attempt at murder by a married man upon a woman with whom he " intimate , near Yarmouth : and the conviction und sentence to six months imprisonment of Archer , the engine-driver of the South-Eastern Company , for one of those ever-recurring " accidents " which will nevci be checked till directors as well as subordinates are made duly responsible .

      At the moment of going to press we learn that M . de Brouckere has definitively given up the attempt to form an adminstration . Thus the extinguisher has speedily been put upon the cabiuet of " neutrals . " Truly , the Belgian people have lost but little in tljpse men , ¦ who commenced their short-lived rule by an attack upon the liberty of the press / In interdicting the sale of the Republican journal La Nation , at the railway stations , they clearly evidenced a desire to depart from a " neutral" policy , to flatter the French tyrant .

      The fall of the Brouckere Cabinet is an occurrence for the Belgian people to be glad of . The present is not a time for a neutral policy When the armies of Progress and Reaction are face to face , it is necessary that Belgium—destined in all probability to be the first battle-field of the new struggle—should have a government , brave and honest , and one that will uphold the honour of Belgium , and the liberty of Europe in face of the despotic enemies of both .

      The Bishop of Rochester has , at length , decided that Mr . Whiston is to be reinstated in the post of master of the school attached to the Cathedral of Rochester . But the verdict of " his Holiness " curiously illustrates ecclesiastical ideas of justice . In effect , the Bishop admits Mr . Whiston's charges against the Dean and Chapter , of misappropriating public trust-money to be well founded , but , nevertheless , pronounces the said charges to be libellous . Mr . Whiston was deprived of his office , some three years ago , and although now to be reinstated , he js not to have compensation for his loss of three years ' salary . This case forcibly illustrates the scandalous abuses that degrade the established Church . When will the people insist upon a new Reformation ?

      The Australian papers just arrived exhibit some enrious instances of the system which permits the emigration of bandits , but denies that privilege when sought by honest but poor men . There lately arrived at Hobart Town the ship Fairlie with 370 convicts from Pentonville and Millbank Penitentiaries ; worthy " ticket of leave " men . On landing they received a free pardon on condition of not returning to England ! ' ' * TOWN EDITION .

      Eeviewof The Week. "Dvxttvut Yvei' Ritrvt «V9*»._

      EEVIEWOF THE WEEK . "DVXTTVUT YVEi' RiTrvt « V 9 *» . _

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  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Oct. 23, 1852, page 1, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1701/page/1/