The Sun.
London, England, 1869-04-26 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDO,N, MOIN DAY EVENING, APRIL 26, 1869.

THE CO3IING FIGHT IN AMERICA.

(From the Anglo-American Times.)

It is evident that the forces to fight the battle
of Protection and Free Trade are being marshalled
in the United States, where the greatest problem of
economical science ever submitted to a peopie has
to be solved. What took England nearly half a
century to carry through cannot be achieved else-
where in a year, nor in the States without a struggle
of unequalled bitterness, for it will be more
rapid, and earnest, fought with great numbers, for
greater ends, and with greater intelligence in the
masses. The Hon. DAVID A. WELLS will, it is pro-
bable, lead the Free-traders ; and, if he succeeds, he
may take in America COBDEN'S position in Europe,
leaving such a memory behind him. That he will
have a hard time, if he did not know it before, he
knows it ?Pow. The Tribune leads on the Protec-
tionist side, and article follows article, letter fol-
lows letter, ably advancing the views of that party.
Emphatically the question is one of money; indeed
it embraces not only the repeal of excessive import
duties and taxes imposed for protection, not for re-
venue, but a reform of the financial system, of the
civil service, and a return to specie payments. That
such"enormousinterests should bewatched by earnest
guardians, and fought for to the bitter end, will not
surprise, while the state of the country so clearly
indicates the necessity for a revision of these laws
that it can cause as little surprise a strenu-
ous attack should be organized against them.
The Special Commissioner's report was the Free-
traders' gauntlet thrown into the arena, and it is
probable that during the interval till next session
the controversy on it will rage even more furiously
than hitherto. The attack of Representative
KELLEY, from Pennsylvania, on Mr. WELLS" ha 3
called forth a reply, and although it was not couched
in the choicest language or restrained within ordi-
nary limits, Mr. WELLS thanks him for the oppor-
tunity he has given of contributing additional in-
formati )n and of explaining portions of his former
report which had been misinterpreted. The Free
Trade League is dispatching lecturers throughout
the country, societies are being organised in many
cities, and an aggressive campaign has commenced,
which must inevitably end in remodelling parties
in the United States, for the great moral
questions on which they were constructed have
been decided and material ones of overwhelming
importance have arisen, mainly indeed on the ground
of the old subjects in dispute. Our English readers
must not suppose that either of the great parties
have fixed views on these points, though the Re-
publicans embrace most Protectionists, and the De-
mocrats roost Free-traders. For instance, such a
Republican journal as the Nation strenuously ad-
vocates Free-trade; and a leading New England
newspaper, the Springfield Republican, is denounced
for i ts unflinching support of free- tradeby the Tribune.
Net only will parties split, but States also, on these
points, though as a general rule the prairie and
great agricultural States, still erroneously called
the West, will join their Free-trade majority with
that of the Southern States in opposing the Pro-
tective majority of New England, New York,
Pennsylvania, and such wealthy, populous, and
powerful manufacturing communities.

1111SCEL LA Nk.',.o US NEWS.

This is what-- is actually done, yet it is Dy no means
certain that it is done with the authority of the War
Office. "An Army Medical Officer" writes to the
Broad Arrow that "No document that has to b.?. signed
by an army medical officer necessarily implies the
existence of a special mark or brand upon any
invalid, and the infliction of such is undoubtedly
illegal and quite unauthorised. I have always stead-
fastly refused to carry out any suggestions that may
have fallen from an over-sensitive inspecting officer,
that such further treatment would be advisable pre-
vious to his signature appearing on the third page
of 180 form, No. 83, and in no instance have I been
required to affix the mark."

THE IRISH RAILWAYS.

The attempt to withdraw attention from the Irish
Church by running the land and railway questions
must now be seen to have decidedly failed. The
supporters of the plan for the State purchase of
railways have now adopted another plan, which will
probably meat with much the slinc success. They
are beginning to threaten the Government that
unless it determines to deal with the matter imme-
diately they will vote against it in a body on some
other question. This is certainly a logical position
to tale—accordingto an Irishman's view of logic—
because the Government is wrong on one point,
the Irish Members will vote against it on another
in which it is right.