The Sun.
London, England, 1867-01-04 00:00:00

LONDON, FRIDAY, JAN. 4, 1867.

If there is one thing in which the members of the
Reform League fail mare than another, it. is in want
of discr'etion, and if they eventually fail in carrying
out th it plans to the extent they desire, we shall
attribute their discomfiture in a great measure to
their want of moderation. They seem inclined,
moreover, to fall into a worse error, and to exhibit
a want of that justice and fair play which should

never be absent from the doings and sayings of
men who put themselves prominently before the
public as the pioneers of a work of progress,
and the exponents of popular opinion on a subject of

interest and importance. We have all along con-
sidered that a very unnecessary fuss was made
about a particular passage in one of Mr. LOWE'S
speeches about Reform last session. No doubt he

was rather exaggerated in his language, and might
have so arranged his sentences that it would have
been impossible to put a wrong interpreta-

tion on them.

But more than once has

the mistake, whether accidental or wilful,
that some jealous critics made about it, been rec-
tified, and therefore the matter should be allowed
to drop. Instead of this, however, Mr. BRIGHT
has been making political capital of the unlucky

expression while he has been starring it in the pro-
vinces, and a new DANIEL has conic to judgment in
the person of JOSEPH GUEDALLA, who deems it a
sufficient reason to give for his interference that he

is a member of the Reform League Executive. He
has written to Mr. LOWE to request that gentle-

man to say whether he has not modified the

" harsh, unjust, and unfortunate opinions" which

he expressed about the working-classes during
lag session, opinions, he goes on to state, which
have " tended more than aught else to raise a
spirit of stern inflexible resolve, and which, if

allowed to foster among the masses a sense of

wrong and insult, may lead to consequences which
few expect and none desire." We really must pro-

test against these members of the League, who
presume to know by intuition the feelings
and thoughts of the lower orders ; they talk as
if the working classes of England were mere
puppets, and by drawing this string and making
that sign they could make use in overtaking dam-

nation round the land, and put down all dissen-

tients at once and for ever. Mr. GUEDELLA then
calls upon Mr. Loi,vE, and advises him to retract his
assertions, this being a very suitable time to do so.
To this very uncalled-for and intrusive epistle,
Mr. LOWE makes a fitting reply, commencing by
stating that for months past the Reform League has
" by resolutions, handbills, and speeches, accused him
of charging the entire working class of this country
with venality, drunkenness, and other misconduct."
This is strictly true, for the charge has been made
with great vehemence, and reiterated with a persis-
tency that betrayed a purpose. After so many mis-
statements, and so many essays upon a false test, it
is as well to have Mr. LowE's own explanation,
which ought to satisfy those of justice and discern-
ment, whatever party they belong to, and those
who hold such qualities in contempt will never
be content, whatever they hear and see that
militates against their views and sentiments.
Mr. LOWE says therein that the passage in his speech
of the 13th of March, on which this accusation pro-
fesses to be grounded, only " states that such things
do unhappily exist in the constituencies, and that
where they do exist they are to be found among
the poorer rather than the richer voters." As he
justly observes in sequence, a comparison of the two
statements will show, first, that he was speaking of
constituencies, not of the working-classes at large ;
and next, that he only pointed out where " such ven-
ality and misconduct as does exist is likely to be found."
" The Reform League," adds Mr. LOWE, "having
thus fastened upon me assertions which I have not
made, has loaded me with most virulent abuse, and
has striven to make me an object of the hatred,
perhaps a mark, for the vengeance of my fellow-
countrymen." After this statement, which is true,
we are not surprised to see that Mr. LOWE declines
to accede to the request made to him, and " leaves
the case to the judgment of the country."
In concluding these remarks, we would
say that we do not come forward as the ex-
ponents of Mr. LOWE'S views, nor as the
defenders of his political opinions, but we con-
sider that those who judge others should first
judge themselves. They who criticise the speech of
Mr. LOWE persist in twisting and turning his re-
marks to suit their purpose of exciting and irritat-
ing those they address ; and such is not a course to
pursue with any likelihood of gaining the respect or
the confidence of the public. It is high time that
these contemptible devices for gaining an end should
be put aside, and since Mr. LOWE has given
a direct denial to these oft-repeated assertions let
the matter drop. If, however, these zealous
patriots permit in going on with the affair, the
public will now have to appreciate their sincerity
and their straightforwardness. We have often said
that the worst enemies of real Reform were its
candid friends, and this confusion worse con-
founded about the misrepresentations of Mr. LOWE'S
speech is an admirable illustration of the manner
in which these misguided individuals mistake cause
fur effect, and waste time in personal attacks that
should be given to public services.

The news which we have received from New York
on the 22d ult., tells us that the few days before
the adjournment of Congress had been compara-
tively unimportant, consisting mostly of debates.
The territorial plan to which we alluded the other
day is still under consideration, but judging from
appearances we may hope it will not be passed. It
will most likely be brought up in two or three bills
on the reassembling of the members, but it is under-
stood that a careful canvass of both houses has con-
vinced its promoters that it will not be possible to
secure for the measure the two-thirds majority ne-
cessary to carry it over the PRESIDENT'S
certain veto. It is generally believed that
little in the way of reconstruction will
be effected during the present session. Perhaps,
judging from the specimens of Radical legislation
for the South that we have had, and remembering
the predominance of that party in Congress, the less
that is done the better. It is safer to leave the South
even in its present unsettled state in which the people
can at least hope for better things than to force
upon them violent changes, which are supposed to
be permanent, and which are therefore certain to
irritate and incense them. But we are not without
indications that a better state of things may
prevail. The fact of this territorial scheme
failing to secure a larger and more certain
amount of support Is encouraging. Very possibly
among the Republicans of America, as among the
Radicals of England, there are many who support
and advocate extreme theories who would shrink
from actually putting their own professions into
practice. If some prominent members of our Re-
form League were given the power to overthrow the
House of Lords, the. Established Church, and to
institute universal suffrage and payment of members,
it is most likely that the most vehement orator
among them would think twice before he ventured
on any of those measures. In the same way, the
very additional political strength of the Radi-
cals of America may act as a check upon
the extravagance of their leaders, because
the party is not composed of a few fanatics, but in-
cludes many thoughtful men, who, under the sense
of national responsibility, may well hesitate to push
their theories to extremity. It is a very different
thing to quarrel with the PRESIDENT and to try to
limit his power, however mischievous the ultimate
result of such interference with the constitution may
be, and to involve the country in a fresh outbreak
of civil war, to derange trade and commerce, and to

punge the national finances into hopeless confusion

There are quite sufficient tokens of resentment and
disaffection in the South, An States to justify appre-
hension on this score. Eve ry mail brings us fresh
intelligence from one or :another of the States.
This time we hear of consia 'erable antipathy being
manifested in Florida towards the national offi-
cials, and several outrage ; upon negroes being
committed. The people have waited, considering
their antecedents, with 19 ond er ful patience and
self-control the will and pleasure of the North,
and it is not surprising K. -they should now mani-
fest symptoms of discont when they find their
adversaries gaining unquettioned power, after
two years' delay. Mutual. concessions and mutual
forbearance will be necessary before the American
people can be really consoli dated, but at least it
will be something gained if: legislative interference
is staved off for the present.
Fenianism is, we may hope, coming to its natural
conclusion. The New York Herald of Dec. 22 writes
pointedly and justly on the subject. Its plain speak-
ing will not be very acceptable to Hibernian en-
thusiasts, but it is none the :less forcible for its un-
palatable truth. Fenianism, it says, is coming to
an end. The news from Europe has for some time
brought nothing but indefinite rumours concerning
the great insurrection which was to have taken
place in Ireland, and there are many in America
who believe that STEPII:ENS has never left
the United States and has no intention of doing
so. The year in which he promised that Ireland
hould be in arms is, says the Editor of the Herald,
writing on Dec. 22d, very nearly at a close without
a hostile gun being fired on that soil. As for the
Fenian question on American soil, he adds, it was
never much more than " a noisy mystery and
money-gathering operation." "We have been
treated to mock republics, senates, houses of repre-
sentatives, bombastic proclamations by 'presidents',
and all the other paraphernalia which could make a
cause ridiculous, by a few selfish men labouring for
their own ends, and, with the exception of one or

two, not possessing a spark of patriotism." This fact
has been patent to most observers ever since the be-
ginning of the movement; and if anything was wanted

,o demonstrate the selfish ambition of the heads of

the movement, it would have been found in the rival
Presidents" and " Senates," the divisions among
themselves, and the perpetual subscriptions kept up
from the humble members of the confraternity, while
the chiefs lived in useless state and luxury. The
Nrew York Herald, in the passage alluded to, con-
cludes by saying that it is well that the Fenian
business is lkely to be closed with the closing year
for the sake of the poor Irish labourers and cham-
bermaids whose savings have been monopolised by
" rapacious head centres, presidents, and other vam-
pires." We hope the common sense of these remarks
will induce many a poor dupe to be less credulous
for the future. At any rate it is a matter of con-
gratulation thatithe mischief has been comparatively
limited in its operations, andsomething of the tempo-
rary importance it has possessed in America must be
credited to the Americans themselves who, for their
own political ends, have flattered the national
vanity of the Irish element. The elections are over,
and with them the necessity or the desire to conceal
the truth has passed away. The Fenians of all de-
grees may put more faith in the New York Herald's
recent stinging commentary on their proceedings
than in all the honeyed words and courtly compli-
ments they have received from the PRESIDENT
downwards.

A few years ago people would have been very
much surprised to know of the fuss that was to be
made about the King of PRUSSIA and his wonder-
ful Minister, but nowadays we are quite used to it,
and nothing is less astonishing than that we should
hear of this or that celebration taking place in Ber-
lin with unwonted excitement and glorification.
The first of January was the sixtieth anniversary of
King WILLIAM'S entering the army, and ten years
ago a number of soldiers presented him with a helmet
of precious metals, but on the last occasion they gave
him a golden laurel wreath. It does not seem likely
that Berlin will hear the last of the war for some
time at any rate, and each public occasion of festi-
vity is seized as a fitting opportunity for giving
force and meaning to the occurrences of last sum-
mer. The next news that we shall hoar of any
moment will, doubtless, be about the election
for the Diet of the North Germanic Confederation,
and some considerable degree of interest is already
being felt as to the provisions and other ar-
rangements connected with the matter. So
far as we can judge of the various provi-
sions they are fair enough ; but, of course, the
question is how far will they be kept in truth and
consistency? The Prussian Government is very
skilful in its schemes, and can always make a good
show ; but who is to know if they will abide by
what they say, and perform what they promise?
Experience only can show how much Germany has
benefited by the great and comprehensive changes
that have just been wrought in her States, and
they are not very sanguine as to the gain and glory
that will accrue from Prussia ascendancy.

THE CATTLE PLAGUE AND THE MAGISTRATES.—
The North and East Riding Quarter Sessions have
been held this week. At the former Lord Bolton presented
a memorial from the inhabitants of the town of Hawes, in
Wensleydale, a place which has been fortunate enough to
escape the plague altogether, praying that, as there had
never been any disease within 20 miles, and as there was
none now, their markets and fairs might be re-opened.
His lordship, however, did not support the prayer of the
memorial, and the Bench arrived at the conclusion that the
present state of affairs was the safest. The cattle plague
committee report that in the North Riding 2,590 head of
cattle had been slaughtered, representing a value of
£16,825. Four beasts only had been killed in the last
quarter. The total expenditure on cattle plague account
in the Riding was £19,636, of which £B7 represented last
quarter. In the East Riding the statistics wore not given,
but it was stated 36 persons had been prosecuted for
breaches of the regulations, and fines of upwards of £4B
inflicted. The disease yet lingered in Holderness.
CONVICTION FOR SMOKING IN A COLLIERY.—
Before a bench of West Yorkshire magistrates at Barnsley,
on Wednesday last, George Onions, a minor, between 30
and 35 years of ago, was charged with smoking in the
Darfield Main or Low Valley Colliery, Wombwell, near
Barnsley. Mr. Peacock appeared on behalf of the com-
pany, and Mr. Hamer for the defendant. According to
the evidence of a minor named Lawton and Mr. Wilson,
the underground steward, on the day named the defen-
dant was at work in the mine 400 yards from the pit
bottom, in a part where nothing but safety-lamps were
used. Tho defendant was seen by Lawton to go to a bolt-
hole, about 30 yards from the bank in which ho was at
work, and strike a match, with which ho lighted a pipe,
and then went hack to his work with it in his mouth.
Lawton went into tho hole, but the defendant
had made away with the pipe. He then went and ac-
quainted Mr. Wilson with what ho had seen, and they at
once went to the part of the pit where the defendant was
at work and searched his clothes. In his waistcoat pocket
they found nine matches which had not been used, and four
which bad been struck. For the defence, a witness stated
that the defendant was never out of his working place that
morning. The bench, however, fined the defendant 40s.
and costs, or two months and hard labour in Wakefield
House of Correction.
TUE WATERFORD ELECTION RIOTS.--We learn
by telegraph that the inquests on the bodies of Captain
Kelly and William O'Brien, who were mortallyiwounded
by the Lancers in the election riots at Dungarvan last
Saturday, have been adjourned to Monday for the military
to prepare their defence. Tho Waterford Mail states that
the soldier who was wounded on Friday in the attack made
on the military escorting voters to Dungarvan died on
Wednesday at Clonmel.
Mr. Thornycroft, with the assent of the Queen,
has been selected as the sculptor for the equestrian statue
of her Majesty to be erected opposite St. George's Ball,
Liverpool, in a line with that of the Prince Consort. The
statue is to cost aim.