The Sun.
London, England, 1869-12-01 00:00:00

THE SUN, _LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 1, L 69.

;ormer way, nas expiamea from ins pulpit tnaT
he declined to join the Mission because he fore-
saw the " puerile and blasphemous" proceedings
which have actually taken place. The prime object of
the Mission, the teaching of Christ, was negatived
by the after parade of the confessional, the lighting
of candles, and the procession. The Rev. W. Rogers,
of the Broad party, is not less uncompromising in
his protestations. He declared that the earnest-
ness which undoubtedly marked the Revival
was vitiated by teaching the doctrines of
private confession, and of the bodily presence of
Christ in the Sacrament. If these doctrines were to
prevail " then the Reformation, for which our
fathers bled and died, was stultified. The time
was come when men must speak out, and declare
whether they held to the principles of Protes-
tantism, or whether they believed in something
•
else."

The barracks of one of the native regiments fell in, and
several other buildings were much injured. Several
deaths took place from fear and from falls in jumping
from windows, in escaping from the houses, &c.. The
strongest shock lasted fifty seconds, and has thoroughly
shaken all the houses. Since that time news has been
received from the provinces of other earthquakes which
have destroyed churches and other large buildings. The shock
on the Ist was felt at sea, at a distance of 100 miles. It is
believed from previous experience that earthquakes may be
looked for along the curved line extending from Yokho-
hama to Amoy, Formosa, and the islands north of the

AMERICAN AFFAIRS.

(From the Anglo-American Times.)
WASHINGTON, Nov. 12.

It was not till Tuesday that the President in-
formed General Butterfield that his resignation as
Assistant Treasurer had been accepted, only being
enabled then to do so, as AIL Charles J. Folger
had sent a telegram accepting the post, which some
days before had been offered him. He was an appli-
cant recommended by prominent Republicans of
New York when the post was bestowed upon Gene.
ral Butterfield, and all seem to regret that he was
not then successful. Another big business in count-
ing the money will have to be gone through, and a
bevy of damsels was despatched as best qualified for
the work from the Treasury here to the Sub-Trea-
sury of New York. Collector Grinnell has been
here, said to be desirous of escaping the labours
of his post in the New York Custom-house, having
therefore tendere 1 his resignation. It is no light
task a man undertakes in the appointment of col-
lector, as the corruption is beyond his control, for
the temptations are beyond his removal. Some

time ago frauds were discovered which, it is feared,
have entered into every class of imported goods and
may reach a very high figure. They are accom-
plished through certificates of drawbacks; and have
been effected by a combination of the Custom-house
employes. United States Commissioner Osborn is
in New York, with
.Solicitor Banfield, secretly in-
vestigating the circumstances, and two officials are
being closely examined. The books, vouchers, &c.,
are to be scrutinized by six selected clerks from the
Treasury, for Mr. Boutwell is determined to get to
the bottom of the matter. The collector's post last

year yielded atout $45,000, so it is likely to be
eagerly sought after. No sooner, however, was the
bait held before the greedy office-seekers than their
hopes were dashed by an intimation that Mr. Grin-
nell had no intention of resigning, and that the Go-
vernment was well pleased with the way in which
his duties were discharged. Mr. M'Elrath has re-
signed his post of appraiser, and General Palmer has
been appointed. Governor Bullock, of Georgia, has
been here beating up for recruits to attend the State
Fair. He has got a fair number of promises to at-
tend, though the President has declined. A revenue
cutter is to be placed at his disposal to convey the
guests from this city to Savannah if he cannot
secure a special train to run through without.
stopping to change cars. The movement in favour
of Woman's Rights, progresses here as elsewhere
towards a burlesque, but.you will see by the tone
of the papers that public attention is a good deal
directed towards this subject. Last Saturday there
was the regular weekly meeting of our organiza-
tion, but the greater number who attended seemed
rather bent on making a row than on forwarding
the objects of the association. The proceedings

were uproarious, women and men shouting at each
other, and I am bound to say that the shrill treble
prevailed, showing that if elected to a legislative
assembly the ladies would succeed in what they
threaten to do, that is in making their voices heard.
Whether such would then become more orderly, less
slangwhanging is another matter, but it would be
unfair to judge of women as debaters by the pro-
ceedings here, especially where they are purposely
interrupted by those hostile to their principles.
One drunken man was turned out, and another
had to make tracks sharp for calling another who
had denounced Female -Suffrage a blackguard.
Preparations for social enjoyment and politics
during the winter are progressing favourably. The
Ohio Republicans are to meet and liquor every
alternate week, and the Pennsylvania Republicans,
ditto, ditto, repeated ; in fact, any one who can
pass himself off as a citizen of any particular State
may make " a night of it" every night. A curious
scene occurred at the residence of Madame Garcia,
wife of the Argentine Minister. A brilliant

party, her first of the season, had assembled.
Many members of the foreign Legations were
present, and among the distinguished Americans
was general Sherman. All was going on as mer-
rily as a marriage bell when suddenly the lights
were extinguished, and the company left in utter
darkness. Although it frightened some of the
ladies, it was only a freak of our gas, but one which
effectually snuffed out that party, for they all had
to go home. There was a grand ball at Annapolis.
given by the midshipmen of the Academy to Mrs.
Porter. The Admiral, who is awaiting the arrival
of Commodore Worden to give over the Superin-
tendency, went there to spend a few days. The Com-
modore, who is one of the finest officers of our Navy,
and distinguished himi:elf greatly during the war, has
lately been appointed, but he is in Europe, though
I believe he is daily expected back, and to reach
Annapolis before the month ends; Admiral Porter
will them permanently take up his residence in this
city. A restaurant keeper has been arrested for
suggesting to some sharpers by advertisement cards,
printed in imitation of the 50 cent fractional cur-
rency notes, a cheat of which they at once availed
themselves by passing the cards as those notes, and
many were taken in by the swindle. The law does
not permit any such imitation. At the Cabinet
meeting of Tuesday all the Secretaries were present
except Postmaster-General Creswell, but Secretary

Pobeso❑ left immediately after to attend the funeral
of Admiral Stewart at Philadelphia. The $50,000
left by a wealthy citizen of Georgetown named
Linthicurn is to found a free school there for the edu-
cation of poor white boys. Senator Sprague refuses
to buy the National hitelligencer, although he had
opened negotiations to do so, and the report was
circulated that the bargain had been made. Among
the distinguished arrivals is that of General Butter-
field, who Las had a long interview with Secre-
tary Boutwell, from whom he demanded an inves-
tigation, declaring that if the chance were afforded
he could clear himself to the satisfaction both of
the Government and of the country. There are
said to be only two ways to procure such an inves-
tigation, either through Congress or through a mili-
tary Court of Inquiry, but Secretary Boutwell be-
lieves he has no authority i❑ law, or he would wil-
lingly concede to Mr. Butterfield what he asks.

The greater portion of the Americans in Vienna
assembled in the " Weisser Ross," at six o'clock on
the evening of the 18th inst., in accordance with
the proclamation of President Grant, and under
the superintendence of a committee, composed of
Messrs. Post, Browne, and Shattuck. At the con-
clusion of the dinner, Mr. John Jay, the American
Minister, in proposing the first toast, said :
" To-day in response to the call of the President, our
countrymen repose from their labours. The hum of busi-
ness is hushed, party differences are laid aside. Young
and old are gathering at the village church and around
the social board. From ocean to ocean is heard the voice
of praise, and Heaven bends to listen to the grateful
heart-throb of the American people. It is fitting that
Americans in foreign parts should join their voices, as we
now do to swell the anthem of National Thanksgiving.
This central capital, from which we survey the politics
of Europe and in part of Asia and Africa, is no
bad stand point, from which to observe the posi-
tion among the nations, of our own Republic. Some
of the blessings enumerated by the President, as
those for which we should be thankful, such as
the national increase in wealth and strength, are fea-
tures which have induced thoughtful European states-
men to speculate with concern upon our future policy ;
Ind an eminent French publicist, mindful that by 1890
we will number more than a hundred millions, has advised
Europe to prepare for a transatlantic invasion. It is per-
haps natural that certain Governments should view with
anxiety such an exhibition of national strength, constitu-
tional, military, and financial, as has been presented during
the last few years in raising gigantic armies, extemporiz-
ing a formidable navy, quietly disbanding those armies,
when their work was done, and reducing the debt by
monthly instalments. But the policy of a nation depends
less upon their power than upon their character, and per-
haps the surest mode of forming a sound judgment as to
w:Jat wo will probably think and do in the future, is to
g'vo a backward glance at what has been thought and done
in America during the last three centuries. If the boy is
father to the man, why should not the youth of a nation
throw light upon its manhood? In recalling the past
of our country, wo are impressed with the dignity
of its history, with the conscientiousness, the heroism,
the common sense, the right feeling, which are con-
spicuous in its colonial, revolutionary, and constitutions
annals, down to that recent epoch, when the nationality
of the Republic was made invincible, and peace and order
were restored to the Western continent, simply by reduc-
ing to practice its original principle of equal freedom.
Other lands have been settled by men seeking fortune and
adventure, but America was founded chiefly by those who
had fled from religious persecution and who sought for

freedom to worship God. During the 16th, 17th, and 18th
centuries, every country in Europe sent its bravest and
best to join the sturdy bands, who, 'building better than
they knew,' were preparing the way for the Republic.
England gave us the resolute, conscientious Puritans,
with a small sprinkling of Cavaliers. Spain, under Philip
11., sent Walloons from Belgium, who had escaped the
massacres of the Duke of Alva. The Dukes of Savoy, the
Waldenses of Piedmont ; Germany furnished the disciples
of Luther, Melanchton, and Calvin; Bohemia the fol-
lowers of its great patriot John Huss; Switzerland those
of Ulric Zwinglius, while France sent us during long years
the Huguenots, who added grace and dignity to every
settlement from Maine to Charleston, and infused into
the veins of our infant nation the best blood of that
heroic race. When we remember the extent, to
which the Huguenot element, rich in culture and the
arts, as well as in firmness for the right, has influenced
the industrial development, the moral character, and the
intellectual statesmanship of our poople, we may accept as
true the legend of the medal, struck with a different mo-
tive by Louis XIV., Francia in novo orbo victrix.' The
extent to which those varied nationalities were blended
may be seen in the fact that, in 16.14 eighteen different
dialects wore spoken iu the Dutch settlement of New York,
then known as New Netherland. Thus early did that
cosmopolitan city contain representatives of the coantrios
whose persecuted subjects had taken refuge in Rolland,
and among them, it is pleasant to remember, were high-
spirited Germans, Bohemians and Moravians from this v( ry
empire. Amid the overwhelming magnitude still getter-
iug at New York, the principles and influence of those men
yet survive. Their descendants at this day assist in the
government of the country founded by their aecestors, and
the Secretary who directs the relations of the Republic
with the European Powers, to whose mistaken policy in
past ages we owe the settlement of America, is the lineal
descendant of Governor Petrus Stuyvesant, who two cen-

tanks ago ruled in New Netherland, when that Dutch
colony, after inaugurating for America religious tolera-
tion, inaugurated also that system of free schools, which
is to-day the glory and the bulwark of the Republic.
Glance once again at the progress of those scattered colo-
nies. Recall their struggles with the hardships of the
wilderness, with the hostile Indians, whose noble and
savage traits have been illuminated by the genius of
Fenniinore Cooper, their long and bloody wars with each
other, not on their own account, but for their respective
governments in Europe, the Spanish, French, and English,
hampered by unwise restrictions, cursed by the introduc-
tion of African slavery, yet laying broad and deep the

foundations of a mighty empire on a basis of political
liberty, religious freedom, and popular education. When
at length the hour was approaching for separation from
Great Britain and the first Congress met to consider the
situation, what was the enlightened judgment of the
Christian world ? Let William Pitt, Earl of Chatham,
answer the question. He said:—' For myself I must
avow, that in all my reading, and I have read Thucydides,
and I have studied and admired the master States of the
world—for solidity of reasoning, force of sagacity, and
wisdom of conclusion, under a combination of difficult
circumstances, no nation or body of men can stand in
preference to the general Congress at Philadelphia. The
histories of Greece and Rome give us nothing equal

to it.' The seven years war of the Revolution,
the adoption of the National Constitution, the admini-
stration of Washington, his stern observance of interna-
tional neutrality, his farewell address, so fraught with wis-
dom and with justice, the national resolve against the
extension of slavery, and the consequent rebellion, closed
with emancipation and the deatli`of Lincoln : both events
of which, it might be said, in the words of Gibbon, that
'a nerve was touched of exquisite feeling, whose sensa-
tion vibrated to the heart of Europ3.' Then came the dis-

banding of the army, the harmonious reconstruction of our
country on a basis of equal rights and fraternal feeling,
and to-day we have a Government whose policy is conci-
liation at home and peace abroad, economy of expenditure,
honesty of administration, and, above all, a ilrm resolve,
endorsed by the popular approval, that the dignity and
credit of the Republic shall not suffer from any disregard
of international law, and least of all by the slightest br.ach
of the -plighted faith of the American people. Those
who thus appreciate the heroic past of America, must
of course accept as the rightful motto of her states-
men in the future, noblesse oblige.' Despite the
extravagances and the immorality of faction, the
people at large appreciate the sagacious remark of
Macauley, that the greatest advantage a Govern-
ment can possess is to be the one trustworthy Govern-

went in the midst of Governments that no one can trust.'

If any passages in our history indicate a disregard of this
truth, let it be remembered that the organic change in the
American Constitution, removing for ever a discordant
element, forbids a reference to the policy of the slave-
power as indicative of the future policy of the nation.
The excrescence that has been removed is no longer to be
confounded with the restored body politic, which it tempo-
rarily disfigured. Wo have recently heard with interest

and hope of a plan of general disarmament as in contem-
plation by the powers of Europe, to add everywhere to
the popular contentment, by lessening the burthens of ser-
vice and taxation, and by enabling a more generous expen-

ditnre for schools and roads, and similar promoters of
national prosperity and international repose. Tho fears
that have been expressed of American aggression justify
the remark, that so far from their being anything in the
policy of the American people to oppose there is every-
thing to favour such a scheme. If in the future our Re-
public shall be enlarged it will be not by conquest,
but by voluntary attraction. If our example teaches any
lesson, it is, that if any nation should draw the sword in
defence of its rights, it should gladly sheath it when
the war is over. Our commercial interests and our truest
sympathies will be promoted by the harmony and prospe-
rity of all other nations, and America will hail the day
when the Governments and people of Europe shall with
one accord repeat to one another the pleasant words, to
which we have listened—' Let us have peace I' I have the
honour to give you the first regular toast—' The Presi-
dent of the United States.'"

When the applause with which this toast was
greeted had subsided and the band had played
" Hail Columbia," the Minister said--
"The next toast recalls ua from our Western Republic
to this Eastern Empire, where amid the historic remini-
scences of other days we yet find a constitution whose
liberality reminds us of our own. A constitution that re-
flects from Vienna and from Pesth the benignant influences
of the nineteenth century. The equality of all citizens be-
fore the law, the equal admissibility to all State offices,
freedom of conscience, that priceless blessing, freedom of
speech, that safety-valve of discontent, freedom of the
press, that mighty engine of reform, freedom of edu-
cation, that grand conservator of popular intelligence,
the inviolability of one's home and the right of emi-
gration these are among the constitutional features
inaugurated in this Imperial and Royal Government,
which command our sympathy and respect. It is
true, that the Austro-Hungarian eagle has two heads,
whilst that of America will never have but one. But the
eagle of Austria) like our own, gazes with' undazzled eyo
upon the sunlight of freedom. This ancient Empire and
our young Republic have recently learned the same lesson,
and both are teaching the world by their example, that
national unity may be preserved, national strength re-
covered, national order restored, national credit improved,
and the contentment and prosperity of all classes advanced,
by a simple extension of Constitutional liberty and popular
education, and by that wise and fearless statesmanship,
which, without sacrificing right, harmonizes by concilia-
tion and concession. I give you the ' The health of his
Imperial and Royal Majesty the Emperor of Austria and
Apostolic King of Hungary."'
The company received this toast with three cheers,
the band playing an Austrian Anthem. The Minis-
ter, in introducing the third sentiment, alluded to
the recent names it recalled, among others of Ray-
mond, of the American Press, Rawlings, Secre-
tary of War, Senator Fessenden, and George
Peabody, and the company rose and honoured in
silence, "The Memory of the dead of American
History, to whom we owe the freedom, the unity,
and the tone of the Republic." The &that toast
to "The Army and Navy of the United Statics,"
was responded to by General P. S. Post, in an
eloquent and effective speech. The fifth toast, to
"The American Congress, Senate and House, re-
presenting United States and a harmonious people,"
was briefly responded to by Dr. Norris. The sixth,
" Our Common Schools, the nurseries of morality
and patriotism of law and order, never to be con-
trolled by sects or factions," was happily discussed
by Mr. J. F. Delaplaine. The seventh, " The Ame-
rican Press," called forth interesting speeches from
Mr. Maas, who had been for fifteen years associated
with the press of the United States, and who gave
some comparative statistics of the newspapers of
the two Continents, and by Mr. Kirsch, who con-
cluded an effective speech, in which he eulogized
the progressive press of Austria, by proposing a
toast to a cordial understanding between the press
of Austria and the United States, which was re-
ceived with hearty applause. The eighth toast, to
" The American Clergy," was to have been re-
sponded to by the Rev. Bishop Coxe, of Western
New York, who had been unexpectedly obliged to
leave Vienna, and, in the Bishop's absence, it was
skilfully answered by Dr. Josiah L. Hale. The
last toast, to " Our Countrywoman," was responded
to by Dr. Shattuck amid cordial applause, after
which the company separated.

GENEVA, Switzerland.

The Hon. Mr. Rublee, our newly-appointed Mini-
ster, presided at a dinner in the Hotel Metropole,
on Thursday evening, in celebration of Thanks-
giving Day. About forty-five Americans were
present. After dinner the room was cleared for a
dance, which was kept up with spirit, and to the
evident satisfaction of all. The music at the dinner
was not always appropriate, as the band persisted in
playing "The girl I left behind me," after theloast
for the Diplomatic Corps," and " nail, Columbia,"
after that for " The Ladies." It is evident that the
' feeling is growing that these national days should
be observed abroad as well as at home, and it only
requires, as existed here in Geneva, a committee
with spirit and energy successfully to carry out the
arrangements,