The Sun.
London, England, 1870-08-12 00:00:00

IRISH AND AMERICAN OPINION ON THE

WAR.

The Irish people in America are mainly inclined to
sympathise with the French position in the opening war,
for several reasons. " Pat's just the boy for fighting,"
and the warlike, effervescent spirit of the Gaul suits him
better than the quieter and more peaceful disposition of
the Teuton. Again, France has, for time immemorial,
been seemingly the most natural and nearest ally of any
struggle that Ireland might make for independence-
How delusive the idea has heretofore proven
it is not for us now to discuss ; but there are thousands
alive in our city who can distinctly remember the cheers
that went up in favour of Russian success in the Crimea.
Yet France and England were sworn allies there, and the
entente cordiale has never yet been broken. The wiles
of a gray old-time diplomacy are often too deep
for the comprehension of an impulsive, warm-hearted
people. Irish republicans and French imperia'ists
would make a happy family, and we greatly fear that it
would be only "the hereditary foe" that would do the
laughing. " Ireland's opportunity " is in America and
with America, in the hour when free and just government
here shall have so strengthened our institutions and made
transcendantly bright our example that ours shall be
preponderating and. controlling Power in the world. Theft
fleets and armies will be virtually abandoned, and the
force of law and justice, of religion and truth, will
give opportunity for the righting .of every wrong,
and the elevation of every oppressed • people.
And- here we come to legitimate American
opinion, which believes that it discovers in this wpr the
dawn of a better day for Europe, although the morn be
canopied with brooding clouds and darkness. Americans,
generally, while some turn to their French and others to
their German partners in business or companions in social
life, behold in King William and his counsellor, Bismarck,
instruments of Providence to bring about the political
and commercial unity of a grand people hither-
to divided and discordant. The common . perils
and trials of war will cement the confederation
which the petty and selfish interests of ideal trade still
jeopardised, while, on the other hand, the tremendous
nature of the struggle will compel the German monarch
and statesman to come nearer to the people and to aban-
don for ever their lurking predilection for Cwsarisrn. In
very truth, the two most formidable representatives of
iron-handed military power are to be dashed together
and mutually broken, so far as their ultra-mon-
archical tendencies are concerned. France can never
so completely prostrate Germany, or Germany so pros-
trate France as that either may venture to dream of
universal military domination. Both must count with
the people, for the people, and by the people, and the
ruler who most sincerely and effectually does that will
win the day. The triumph of the people's champion is
the American idea of this war's result—and what
Frenchman, German, Irishman, or Scandinavian prays
for less or will fight for more ?—New York Herald.

It is stated that the Attorney-General will prose-
cute in the Brixton baby-farming case, which will be tried
next week at the Central Criminal Court. The judges on
the rota are Mr. Baron Martin, Mr. Justice Montague
Smith, and Mr. Justice Brett.