The Sun.
London, England, 1867-02-21 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 21, 1867.

great many more officers would soon have qualified
themselves for places in the dock beside Colonel
NELSON and Lieutenant BRAND ; and if they had
not, Chester is not the only town which would have
been pillaged and destroyed. England has enjoyed
so great an immunity from such scenes, that the
people cannot understand the absolute necessity of
meeting brutal outrage, with ferocious violence.
The impunity extended to conspirators has led to
this demonstration, and will perhaps lead to
some horrible disaster. We regret most deeply
that a generous forbearance in such cases
should he a false policy ; but facts are showing
unmistakeably that it is so. If the peace of this
country cannot be insured until some Fenian
leaders are hanged, the sooner that event occurs
the better. It is the first duty of Government to
protect the persons and property of the governed
from outrage ; and the laws of the country must be
defective, if bands, whose known object it is to
attack a city, can arrive in that city in organised
companies, their leaders assemble in a house, and
direct the proceedings of the men in their pre-
paration for the attack for twenty-four hours, and
leave that city unmolested, because the inhabitants
and the authorities by energetic action, have frus-
trated their chance of success. Though we
acknowledge the principle that prevention is
better than cure, our laws invite attack; while those
who know the English character are aware that if
the conflagration broke out, it would be ferociously
extinguished in an ocean of blood. There is some-
thing positively absurd in the facility and impunity
with which this demonstration was made, and in
the fact that a few reckless Fenians from New
York could with such ease throw this great country
into a state of consternation, and hold for a day
an important city in a state of absolute terror.

system can never tend to the true interests of a
nation. Yet it follows surely on laws framed
wholly to exclude foreign produce. When a
country is erected into a gigantic protection fort-
ress, its inhabitants learn to regard revenue officers
as their natural enemies. Instead of being con-

sidered a crime, smuggling on a small scale becomes
a pleasant and profitable pastime ; and on a large
scale the organised business of clever and energetic
citizens, who might but for these false laws of
economy be more creditably employed. The higher
the duties are raised, whether internal or import,
the greater will be the profit, and therefore the
greater the inducement to take up smuggling as a
business, and no effort the Government can make
will be sufficient to defeat the contrabandists.

When this stage is arrived at the question passes
beyond the region of policy, and becomes one of
possibility. It may be advisable for the United
States to exclude everything grown or manufactured
abroad, but it is impossible to do so, and such
attempts are therefore but pernicious follies. In the
Senate, Mr. GRIMES, of lowa, spoke strongly
against the Tariff Bill, and although his audacity
surprised the house, he was supported by a large
section of the press. Mr. GRIMES charged the
manufacturing interest with a. determination, at
any cost to the country, to put money into their
own pockets, not satisfied with the enormous profits
made during the last six years. He denounced the
old cry of " Protection to American labour," de-
claring that with more truth it could be called
" Robbing American labour and agriculture." In-
stead of increasing revenue, the bill would decrease
the revenue and destroy the commerce of the
country. He argued that even the interest it was
intended to protect would be injuriously affected
by the passage of such a bill. If we are to judge
from the present state of the ship-building and
house-building trades, it must be allowed that the
lowa Senator had good grounds for his prediction.
Ship-building has almost ceased, and house-building
is at a stand-still on account of the enormous cost
of timber. Vast as are the resources of the United
States, which are constantly retrieving the blunders
of statesmen and financiers, yet it is impossible that
the State-horse can continue easily to carry a load
adjusted so clumsily. When it becomes galled, and
its fettered limbs are strained and stiffened, the
animal may begin to kick, and however patient this
particular animal may be, under the soothing as-
surance that it is for its good, when it finds after
its hard work it gets chaff instead of oats, we feel
confident that the deluded boast will kick. The
horse has to carry a load, and will carry the load,
but let it in the name of common sense be fairly
adjusted.—•Anglo-American Times.

Naval and

,elligence.

The spring change of quarters of the Brigade of
Guards will be made on the Ist proximo. The
Grenadier Guards, Ist Battalion, remove from
Chelsea barracks to the Tower of London and St.
John's-wood barracks; the 2d Battalion from Wel-
lington Barracks to Chelsea barracks ; and the 3d
Battalion from the Tower and St. John's-wood

barracks to the new wing of the Wellington bar-
racks. The head-quarters of the Ist Battalion of
the Coldstream Guards remove from Dublin to St.

George's barracks, the remainder of the battalion
to Chelsea barracks ; the 23 Battalion from the

Wellington barracks (old wing), Kensington, and
Buckingham Palace barracks to Dublin. The Ist
Battalion of the Scots Fusilier Guards remove from

St. George's and Chelsea barracks to Windsor ; 2d
Battalion from Windsor to Wellington barracks (uld
wing), Kensington, and Buckingham Palace bar-

racks.

A detachment from the 13th Depot Battalion,
comprising three officers and 59 men, has left Pem-
broke Dock for Bristol, where they are to be sta-

tioned for some time. It is believed that the recent
Fenian disturbances have induced the authorities to
take this step, and stationed a small force at Bristol.
The Curagoa, 23, screw frigate, 350-horse power,
Commodore Sir W. E. Wiseman, C. 8., was paid
out of commission yesterday at Portsmouth, after
being dismantled on return to England, from service
on the Australian station. W. Wakeley, ship's
steward, J. James, gunner's mate, and J. Valiance,
ropemaker, were recommended to the Lords of the
Admiralty for medals and gratuities for long ser-

vice and good conduct.
The Himalaya, screw iron troopship, 3,453 tons,
700-horse power, had her commission pennant
hoisted yesterday at Portsmouth by Capt. S. Piers.
The following promotions and appointments in the
corps of Royal Marines were yesterday amiounced at
Woolwich—namely, Lieut.-Gen. J. T. Brown to be
Gen., vice Coryton, deceased; Major-Gen. T. Lemon,
C. 8., to be Lieut.-Gen., vice Brown ; Col. Com-
mandant Hayes Marriott to be Major-Gen., vice
Lemon ; Col. Second Commandant W. S. Aslett to
be Col.-Commandant, vice Marriott, at the Ports-
mouth division ; Lieut.-Col. R. K. davell to be
Col. Second Commandant at the Chatham divi-
sion, vice Aslett; Capt. and Brev. Lieut.-Col. It.
Boyle, instructor of musketry, to be Lieut.-Col. at
the Chatham division, vice Clavell ; First. Lieut.
and Adjt. J. G. Shanks to be Capt. vice Boyle, and
to be appointed to a diyision to be hereafter named ;
Second Lieut. Herbert St. George Scomberg to be
First Lieut., and appointed to a division to be here-
after named.
The sailing yacht Chatham, tender to the Wel-
lesley, 72, having been surveyed by the officials
since she has been in dock at Chatham, an order
has been received from the Admiralty directing
that she is not to be repaired, as she will be
broken up or sold out of the service. The
yacht is believed to be the oldest vessel in the navy,
the dockyard records showing that she was built
upwards of 150 years ago, since which she has un-
dergone every variety of alteration and repair.
The following appointments were made yesterday
at the Admiralty :—Lieuts. It. B. Lambert and G.
F. Purdon to the Himalaya; Lieut. A. M'Kechine
to the Zebra ; Lieut. E. C. Hall to the Asia ; Dr. T.
B. Parches, surgeon, to the Himalaya ; S. 'Willis,
surgeon, additional, to the Excellent ; and B. H.
M'Curdy, assist.-surg., to the Himalaya.