The Sun.
London, England, 1869-12-21 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF TEE PUBLIC JOUBNALS. r THE REPORTED SUICIDE OF SIaNO.R
MARIO.

ine /Imes observes that agitation in France, agitation in
England, and agitation in America combine at this moment
to form an extremely interesting spectacle, especially as
the subject of uneasiness is everywhere the same. Trade
is bad at home, it is bad across the Channel, and it is bad
on the other side of the Atlantic, and the grievance
as put forward by each nation is utterly incon-
sistent with the grievances alleged by the other
two. France and England are dealing with each other
not on the principle of Free Trade, but on terms specially
adjusted half-way between Free Trade and Protection.
In the United States the ruling system is that of Protec-
tion, and it is of this the New York Chamber complains.
In England there are, unhappily, thousands of working
men-out of employment, but if that effect were due to the.
French Treaty, how is it the want of employment is just
23 great in France ? The American system has been
appealed to as a proof of the soundness of Protec-
tionist theories, but the Report to the New York
Chamber of Commerce is full of complaints against
the one-sided operath.n of the tariff. That there are
classes in every country who gain or appear to gain by a
protective tariff is notorious enough, but is there any
example of a country in which the whole nation gains by
such a system ? If every article of consumption in this
country were produced by a British workman, how many
workmen would the demand keep in employment, and how
far would wages go in the purchase of necessaries when
prices had been raised all round? What would working
men say if the price of the loaf were doubled ? Then,
again, look at the complaints of the American
shipbuilders, and apply them to our own
industry. Would a heavy duty on all materials
for shipbuilding help to restore the trade on the Thames?
How many cotton mills would be kept at work if cotton
stuffs were required only for our own population ? What
would become of the trade of Leeds and Bradford if none
but Englishmen wore English cloth? The absurdity to
which the argument is thus reduced drives people to de-
mand Reciprocity instead of Protection; but Reciprocity
is the actual principle of the French Treaty, and it is
reasonable to suppose that it is pretty fairly established,
since both parties draw the same inference from its con-
ditions.

The Standard remarks that the story comes from Berlin
that tho Emperor of the French, who is commonly supposed
to be too busy consolidating his dynasty and crowning the
edifice to Le able to spare any time for the concerns of
Europe, has formally proposed a general disarmament.
The statement, although it rests upon no very reliable
authority, is likely enough to prove correct. Napoleon
the Third likes to give the world a surprise of some
sort at this season of the year, and he may calculate
that it will be well for him and for Frenchmen too
• that he should divert their attention from squabbles
over contested elections and from• the futile industry of
Cabinet-making to the sublime spectacle of Europe, by the
grand initiative of France, offered the opportunity of
turning its swords into pruning-hooks. and selling its
breechloaders to the barbarians who inhabit other quarters
of the globe. We can readily believe, then, that the
Emperor has proposed a general disarmament ; but we
must honestly add we do not think that it is of the
slightest importance whether he has done so or not. The
proposal may be honestly meant ; the evil it proposes to
reduce or to remedy is enormous. Unhappily there
is not the slightest chance of its 'practical adop-
tion. It is said that this invitation has also been
addressed to the English Government. Probably the
Emperor thought that ho would appear discourteous if he
did not ask us too to disarm. It is probable that, thanks
to its Irish policy, this country will not entirely disarm
this year ; but the Emperor may be sure that as soon as
Mr. Gladstone has made Ireland independent, and created
for England dangers which it will need all the efforts of a
largo army and navy to guard against, he will again go
vigorously to work to dismiss our soldiers and sailors, and
sell as old materials our stores and ships.

The Telegraph declares that if that equitable doctrine
of charity which was announced to the world nearly two
thousand years ago is sound, the rich people of a nation
can scarcely shut themselves up for a feast on a given day
in their own homes, and leave the poor people out of doors
to starve. On Christmas Day Dives should take care that
Lazarus has his slice of pudding, even were Dives on the
Poor Law Commission. Without fear, then, of cur
friends the Political Economists, or what they may
say, we ask that the millions may have pudding
on Christmas Day. Who wishes to lend a hand to the
good cause ? Let him look around him, and see first what
he can do in his own neighbourhood. If he would go
partner, as we hope he will, he need only consult the
columns of this journal. In our impression of Monday
we printed appeals which filled a whole column. We
might go on transcribing names ; but we forbear, less
by mentioning one charitable effort we may appear
to be recommending it at the expense of another.
That is not so. We wish well to them all alike. We
have no doubt that the funds entrusted to these
excellent people will be carefully husbanded, and
be expended wisely. The fact is, pudding is universally
';►anted next Saturday. Any reader who wishes to contri-
bute a sovereign, or a shilling, or a penny stamp, to the
various funds, need only take up our impression of Mon-
day or Tuesday, or of this day, and he will soon find
out where his mite can be made available. It should
not be forgotten that our appeal is made in behalf
of those who, if not helped by kind hands, ran
a terrible risk of being left out in the cold
altogether. Had they the luck to be in a workhouse,
or a prison, they would be properly looked after, and sup-
plied with pudding. As they are neither paupers nor
criminals, they may have rather to reflect upon puddings
than to partake of them. Come on, then—never mind the
philosophers ! If you help these poor children and old
women to a merry evening next Saturday, your own pud-
ding will taste all the better. Christmas comes but once
a year. It will be as though you had a sprig of holly ix
your heart.

The Herald thinks there is no need to throw the blame
for past failingsupon the present Finance Minister of India.
He is one of the ablest administrators in India, but has
had no special training in finance, and may be excused
for being content to take the system as he found it and
make the best of existing conditions. The discovery of
the fact that the ship was being steered without
observations, and might at any time have gone
to pieces upon a rock, will be sufficient to
awaken in a man of his character a sense of the
importance of the situation, and we much mistake if Sir
Richard does not throw himself heartily into the work of
reform. If there is to be any confidence in the credit of
the Government, there must at least be a belief in its own
financial statements. And how can there be a belief
when it is known how the estimates were arrived at ?
For some time before the Government made, a dear
breast of it and told the worst, it was more than
suspected out of doors that the rose-colour account
of the position was a delusion. And the result of
this open confession has been meet healthy, as was
remarked by Lord Mayo himself during the debate re-
ferred to. Some slight foreboding was expressed in some
quarters lest the premature disclosUre of the real state of
things should damage the national credit and shake the
confidence of the people in the Government. But the
Viceroy did not share in this feeling ; he was assez diplomat
pour dire la relied; and the result has been exactly th
reverse of the unfavourable anticipation.

Now that the full text of President Grant's Message is
before us, says the Daily .2Velc3, we have in a little more
detail than the telegraph conveyed his, references to "the
only grave question the United States have with any
foreign nation." The actual words of the President do not
alter the impression we got from the telegraphic summary,
but they give us an opportunity of observing the manner
as well as getting at the matter of his declarations. It is
evident that the President fully shares the American
feeling on the Alabama question, and is not hin-
dered by any diplomatic considerations from expressing it.
We have so often expressed our earnest desire for a settle-
ment of this question which shall satisfy the wounded
feelings of the American people without inflicting hurt
on ours, that we do not need to say how entirely we
re-echo President Grant's desire for friendly and
cordial relations between the two peoples. But we
are compelled to point out to General Grant that his
manner of presenting his complaint is not such as to
prepare the way for any settlement at all. On what
did the COnfederacy count during its long strife ? Was it
en the moral help of England,or on the moral and political
help of Northern citizens ? Leo and Davis looked, indeed,
for aid Leyond their borders ; tut it was on reaction in the
North that they counted, and at one time scarcelycounted
in vain. President Lincoln found that his worst weakness
was at home—that the foes of the North were they of its
own household. The battle was more than once transferrer:
from the fields of Virjnia to the polling-places in the
11',Torthern cities, and even there was only won with diffi-
culty. President Grant has forgotten this, Mr. Sumner hai]
forgotten it; the Northern people have shaken hands and
forgotten their differences in the joy of victory, and now
tern round together and charge the consequences of those
differences upon us. It is due to 'our honour as a nation
that the Americans shall acknowledge these facts. If they
ask us to confess our sins against their friendship, they
must be at least content that we confess only the sins of
which we are guilty,

The christening of the infant daughter of their
Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales will
13;e place on IThtusdayl

The rumoured suicide of this accomplished singer is
denied by several authorities. A telegram from Plymouth
states that the Western Morning News has " strong reason
to doubt" the rumour. Our contemporary says that a
letter was received at Plymouth on Sunday "from one of
Mario's most intimate friends conveying the intelligence
that Mario is at St. Petersburg with his three daughters,
and was cheerful at the time the letter was despatched.
He has lucrative engagements for several months, and
is certainly in no immediate pecuniary embarrassment."
In confirmation of this the Times says it has " good
authority for stating that there is no foundation
whatever for the report published on Saturday
in some of the London newspapers that Signor
Mario has committed suicide at St. Petersburg."
The Pall Mall Gazette has undoubted authority for stating
that the paragraph quoted from a musical contemporary
in our impression of Saturday, about the suicide of Signor
Mario, is devoid of foundation. Signor Mario is in St.
Petersburg, fulfilling his engagement at the Italian Opera.
We may add that his impending "destitution" rests on no
better foundation than the report of his having poisoned
himself. The many admirers of the accomplished tenor
need be under no apprehen3icn en that head.