The Sun.
London, England, 1869-04-14 00:00:00

The fiftieth ,anniversary of Pius IX.'s service in the
Catholic Church was celebrated with great Eclat at Rome
on Sunday. The offerings in money from the Pontifical
States and foreign countries amounted to £200,000. All
the sovereigns represented at Rome sent their congratula-
tions to his Holiness either verbally or by autograph
letter. The diplomatic body breakfasted with the Pope
in the Sacristy of St. Peter's. A hymn was composed for
the occasion by Gounod.

INTRIGUES IN SPAIN.

The state of Spain has once More become the most
interesting question of the Continent. The recent fiasco
has thrown the Monarchists into complete confusion. The
blunder of Dom Fernando's candidature is deplorable in
every rerpect. The refusal of the Prince has been made
public before even the nature of the Government has been
decided on by the Cortes, and the telegram announcing
his decision was couched in such language that even the
Portuguese journals conderon it. The Correepondencia,
supposed to be the organ of the Duke of Montpensier,
makes an important declaration. It, states that
the Duke would have accepted the Crown had
it Leen cared by the Cortex. But now the
Orlcanist Prince, though reney to defend the revolu-
tion as a citizen, will not abandon private life. This
refusal to become the instrument of the revolutionary
leaders is honourable, but it will leave the Monarchists in
a terrible dilemma if it be maintained.

As might have been expected, the Carlists are taking
a lvantage of the general confusion to prepare for a great
effort. The Spanish journals are full of details respecting
Carlist movements. The partisans of Don Carlos are
stationed in large numbers on the frontier, and enrolment
is going on openly in the interior. The Government is
aware of the danger, and is rapidly concentrating troops
in the north and the centre. Should civil war break out,
the Ministry, says the Temps, will not be found unpret
pared.

" AN APPEAL TO THE COUNTRY."

A general election in Roumania is rather a remarz
able operation. A little while ago the party of
Bratiano was in office, and had a majority in the
National Assembly. Now it is in Opposition, and
at the general election just finished has been able to elect
only ten of its supporters against 147 partisans of the
Government. Indged it is rather surprising that the
unfortunate Opposition did carry ten seats ; for in
Roumania the system of official candidatures is cultivated
to perfectirn. Tae Government stations traops at tEe
electoral urns, and nobody is allowed to vote unless he
gives his frco and independent support to the right man.
Violence is often used. The Municipal Council of
Bucharest ventured to protest against these proceedings,
The Ministry expressed the opinion that the Council was
dangerous to public order, and straightway dissolved it.
It should be explained that both parties adopt the same
sy.,!em wl el in office, and as the politicians now in power
are considered to be opposed to intriguing against Turkey,
the result must be deemed on the whole satisfactory.

GOLDWIN SMITH AND THE =COGNITION OF THR

SOUTH.

Mr. Goldwin Smith, now Professor at Cornell Univer.
sity, in the United States, writes to the New York Nation
touching England's recognition of the South. He admits
that a large and powerful, but irresponsible, party
in England was actuated by the bitterest hostility to
the Union. But he denies that this party influenced
the actions of the nation as represented by the Govern-
ment. "Though perfectly independent of it (the British
Government) and on many questions opposed to it, I had
personally good opportunities of informing myself as to
the real disposition of its members. And it is my firm
conviction that its settled policy from the outset and
throughout the struggle was strict neutrality, practical as
well as legal ; and that if it erred (as I am myself inclined
to think that it did) in its choice of the time for the recognition
of the Confederates as belligerents, the error was the result
not of any sinister bias, but of misconception alone."
The Nation is thoroughly at one with Mr. Smith on this
point. It does not believe that the recognition of the
South was the result of animus against the North on the
part of the British Government. But it is not surprising,
it holds, that Americans should think otherwise. They
naturally, and indeed inevitably, viewed the first
official act of the Government in connection with
its subsequent official acts, and viewed all acts of the
Government in connection with the state of public feeling,
as revealed by the more influential portion of the press,
and by the tone of conversation in society. The present
state of public opinion in America "is not of the most
exalted or philosophical or Christian frame of mind ; but
there is something thoroughly human about it, and, in
our opinion, time only will change it."