The Sun.
London, England, 1865-10-16 00:00:00

may be guessed from the fact that Mr. SEWARD,
whom we are in the habit of regarding as unneces-
sarily ferocious towards European Powers, fails to
represent adequately the feeling.of his countrymen.
He seldom troubles himself to mask his sentiments
under courtly phraseology ; but he isnow constantly
censured for the " subserviency" which he has
shown to France, and he is even charged with
secretly favouring the maintenance of the French
influence in Mexico. So far from this accusation
being correct, Mr. SEWARD has carefully endea-
voured to convince the French Government that the
Washington Cabinet would never agree to waive
the MONROE doctrine, and that, consequently, it
would be impossible for it to countenance the pre-
sence of the French in Mexico. He has now, how-
ever, proceeded further. After addressing two or
three forcible remonstrances to the French Govern-
ment, he has taken a resolute stand respecting the
organisation of the African troops. It is said that
Mr. SEWARD has notified to the Emperor MAXI-
MILIAN that it will not permit these troops to land,
and that any intervention on the part of NAPOLEON
111. will probably lead to a rupture between the two
Governments. The course which the French EM-
PEROR may think fit to take at this juncture is natu-
rally a matter of great interest both in Europe and
America ; but whatever be the speculations most
rife, there is no doubt that affairs have reached
an important crisis. The Americans, who are
never lacking in confidence and self-conceit, are
inclined to think that they could expel the French
troops with very little trouble. In this supposition
they are likely to find themselves very much mis-
taken should NAPOLEON 111. care to contest the
question. The opening of another war of such
gigantic proportions could not be regarded without
regret, and for America herself the consequences
would be lamentable. A costly foreign war, what-
ever the result, though it could hardly be otherwise
than disastrous with such an antagonist as France,
would complete the confusion of his finances I
and the ruin of her commerce. It can
only be the lingering excitement of the war, formed
naturally enough by men like GRANT and SHERMAN,
that leads moderate Americans to forget the
crippled condition of their resources, the enormous
deficit which they labour under, and the heavy
taxes which already burden the people. There was
hope that under a liberal and conciliatory policy
the wounds of America might be healed, and her
people once more tread the path of peace and pros-
perity. But if once the passion for war is suffered
to dominate in her councils, we can hope for no-
thing but dismemberment and confusion. Such a
prospect cannot but excite uneasiness and appre-
hension, but the people of the New World are
apparently too confident in their own wisdom to
profit by the experience of the Old.

The Conservative Demonstration in Essex was
the occasion of several interesting speeches being
delivered. Mr. Du CANE was warmly received, and
his address appeared to give great satisfaction to his
hearers. The hon. member alluded to the awkward
circumstances in which he was placed in having lost
his colleague in the representation of the county.
" I stand alone--no playmate shares my beaker,"
he was forced to declare, as an illustration of his
position. It must be admitted, however, that Mr.
Du CANE was fully equal to the emergency which fell
upon him, and in his comprehensive discourse ac-
quitted himself admirably of his onerous duties.
In the first place, he counselled his friends
to be more cautious in future, and not to be so cer-
tain of their strength, for it was truly said the best
way to preserve peace was to be prepared for war,
and so success was kept insured by adoptingprecau-
tionary measures. It has often been found that
great mistakes have been made through over-con-
fidence, and the Conservative members for Essex are
not the only ones who have fallen victims to the
mismanagement of some of their friends. Major
BERESFORD has been for some years a member for
North Essex, and his loss is regretted by many be-
sides his own immediate supporters, for his straight-
forwardness commanded respect, and his personal
qualities rendered him a favourite in many circles.
Mr. Du CANE indulged in no bitter feelings towards
his opponent in politics who shares the representa-
tion of the county with him, for he admitted that
he "fought the contest like a gentleman from be-
ginning to end, and he thought all would agree that
there never was an election where so close and ani-
mated a contest was carried on with so much good

temper." This is very creditable to all parties en-
gaged, for nothing is more derogatory to the dignity
or disgraceful to the cause of political antagonists
than to give way to angry feelings, and to express
their opinions in no measured terms. One of the
chief advantages of the present style of things is
that moderation is almost invariably practised where
formerly rage and rancour ruled the hour, for it is a
sign and token of progress in the right direction,
and enlightened toleration succeeding to sectarian
views and narrow notions. Principle should be the
real thing considered, as it is the cue of most vital
consequence and chief significance, and all other
matters are but secondary and subordinate in com-

parison.
Mr. Du CANE is one of the right sort of politi-
cians, for he is earnest and impressive in advocat-
ing his own peculiar views, but at the same time he
is not intolerant, and does not condemn in toto all
who have the misfortune to differ from him. As
the hon. gentleman very aptly described the state
of the political world just at present, the " smoke
had hardly sufficiently cleared away from the field
of action to enable us to speculate with any degree
of certainty upon its probabilities." In re-
spect to agricultural matters, if there was
more to arrest attention, still at the same
time nothing of a cheering character presented
itself, for we stood aghast in the " presence of
havoc and inroads which appear as yet to have
defied sanitary precautions as much as they did
eighteen hundred years ago, in the days of VIRGIL."
The subject of the cattle plague is one that cannot
be worn threadbare, however often it be discussed,
because almost every speaker has something new
to speculate upon and some fresh suggestions to
make ; and as there is really nothing decided upon
in the nature of the right remedies to be applied, it
is quite as well that all intelligent persons should
have the opportunity of expressing their ,opinions
and stating their views. Mr. Du CANE considers
very rightly that if the advent of cold weather and
the adoption of the sanitary measures now in vogue
do not conduce to lessen the spread of tliis great
misfortune the Government should be called

upon to exercise more immediate interference and
more direct assistance." Also, he suggests that it
is a question whether all cattle arriving from foreign
ports ought not to go into a quarantine of some short
duration. This would, no doubt, prove a very wise
precaution ; and even if there was no fear of infec-
tion, it would he of great service on account of afford-
ing the poor animals some chance of recovering from
the fatigue of their voyages before being sent to
their ' several destinations. Mr. Du CANE is of
opinion that the holding of " large fairs" at the
present time is not at all a desirable thing, and it
would no doubt be a good thing if such were entirely
prohibited. The worst of it is that all these pre-
cautions on the part of the authorities are often
circumvented by the ignorance an I cupidity of