The Sun.
London, England, 1870-05-21 00:00:00

A COUNCIL OF REVOLUTIONISTS.

The special correspondent of the New York Herald
lately furnished that journal with an account of a congress
of the " Nationalists and Radicals in London." This sin-
gular meeting, which has already been alluded to in these
columns, deserve some further description. The report is
given by the correspondent of the Herald as representing
the " actual working progress of the great European
democratic movement, having for its object the
attainment of a general Confederate system of
Republican government by. the Old World peo-
ples." Where it took place we are not told ; but
the gathering was of a most comprehensive character, no
important country in Europe being Lunrepresented.
The; propidont was a UrAneh journalist, who is very
decidedly.. " wanted " at the present moment by
the Paris-police. The secretary was an Italian. The
American correspondent then describes their anticipa-
tions :—" It seems certain that during the autumn' of the
present year there will be a general rising of the
reds' throughout Europe.. Their object is to
create a number of Republican States—as many
as there are nationalities bound together by
one federation, the capital of which is to be
Paris. Two things surprised me very much in what I
heard. The first is that the revolutionary party throughout
Europe does not regard France as by any means the most.
advanced' in political opinions, nor by any means the
most wealthy as regards the money at the disposal of
their party. . France, indeed, seeds to be their chief diffi-
culty, for, according to what-I heard, the industrious and
the moneyed classes, without exception, are all in favour
of things remaining as they now are. But, still more
curious as. it seemed to me, the chief hope of the
revolutionists in France •is the highest nobility
and the oldest families. Those who hope and
wish for a return of the Orleans or the Bourbon
family to the throne would help, so they say, gladly
to overthrow the empire and create a revolution in the
hopes that during the confusion, or after a certain amount
of chaos, they and their friends might seize the power.
The French repregentatives at this Congress laughed
grimly at the idea, and said that once the `reds' were in
power it would be a very long time before the whites'
got the upper hand again. And still more was I surprised
with the great confidence expressed by the German re-
presentatives from all parts of that country, pal:
ticularly those from Prussia. The latter is now,
as they said, one huge kingdom that will help, and
was, indeed, intended, to pave the way for a large
German Republic. Of Austria and Bavaria there was
equal confidence displayed. but the bringing about
of a Republic in Southern Germany was declaredb to be
more difficult than in the north. Of all the countries
respecting which their future was discussed, by far the
most confidence was expressed respecting the kingdom of
Italy. It seems that from Milan to Naples the plans are
not only matured that will overturn the throne, but that
the whole ' army is with the Republican movement,
and the only fear expressed by those present
was that the flame should burst out in that country
before the rest of Europe is ready. Of Rome it was
feared that the Catholic feeling, so prevalent in France
and Southern Germany, would insist upon the Pope
remaining king of the Pontifical States, or, at any rate,
of Rome itself. Spain and Portugal are equally ready
to declare for a republic, and are only tiding their
time. • Switzerland is to be the basis of operations, and
from that country will the first notes of the trum-
net be heard • and when in each country upon the
Continent of 'Europe the people have overthrown
the reigning family and formed themselves into one
great federation of States, then is the 'regeneration' of
Ireland and the conversion' of England to commence.
Of the latter country very little was said ; of the former
a very great deal, but not more than is heard about the
wrongs et Ireland everywhere save in England, for some-
how or Other Englishmen never do believe that Ireland
has any just cause for complaint. Whether it was because
those present did not wish to compromise themselves too
much by what they said concerning England, or
whether their plans respecting this country are
as yet somewhat undefined, I cannot say." It
did not seem at all clear, however, how the great work
of re,
_e•eneration was to be carried out. At any rate the
New York correspondent heard no details. "Those pre-
sent spoke—and I quite agree with them—that there is
growing up day by day in England a stronger and a more
decided feeling in favour of Republicanism, and a
desire to do away with* the Crown as a luxury
which is • far too expensive for the present day.
In Ireland, •it is confidently anticipated, a
Republic Will be established before the end of the year,
every. country was carefully investigated, and the didicul-
ties in the way of success were debated with the greatest
liberality. From Russia there were three dele,gates—
two•RuSsians and a Frenchman. If these gentlemen are
to be believed Russia is not only ripe for a huge revolution,
but the nobility of the land, nay, even many of
royal, or rather imperial, blood, will be the leaders
thereof when the time or rising comes. Much- of
what I heard I am bound in honour not to repeat, but
this much I may say—namely, that proof of the delegates
from Russia speaking the truth was not wanting. In most
lands it is the poorer classes that commence a revolt ; but
in Russia it would seem that the nobles have for a very
long, time been educating ' themselves, as Mr. Disraeli
would say, for liberty. and they are now ready to put the
lessons they have been learning into • practice."
The writer concludes, thus :—" After all that
I heard at this meeting, much of which I
repeat I am ,not at . liberty to publish, I am
quite of opinion that the autumn of 1870 will not pass
away without a rising throughout Europe. Whether it
will succeed or not it is impossible for me or any one to
say. But there seems to be in -tvery part of the Old
'World a feeling as if men were not only tired of the pre-
sent state of things, but still more tired of makeshift
changes. ' And what are all our reforms in Europe but the
most palpable makeshifts? As the London Times once
said, England, the most reforming country in Europe, is
governed by compromises, and no radical alterations are
possible among us."

The Tloosac tunnel, it is reported, is now progress-
ing at the rate of ten feet a day—four feet from the west
end, anu oix feet from the oast end. The central shaft is
descending at the rate of a foot a day, and it is asserted,
will be completed in about four months. The tunnel
has been excavated 11,765 at both portals, that is 6,946
feet at east side, and 4,819 feet on the west side.