The Sun.
London, England, 1867-12-31 00:00:00

the great result was brought about by the skill and
perseverance of the Conservative Ministry. Mr.
DISRAELI earned just praise for his adroit
management of a most arduous task, and
the energy and the earnestness which he
displayed, coupled with his perfect self-
command and untiring zeal, will long live in the
annals of Parliament as an instance of what per-
severance can accomplish and ability effect when
tempered by judgment. As yet it is impossible
to pronounce a definite opinion of the working of
this scheme ; but its merits are great and it pro-
mises well. Mr. BRIGHT, it is true, contrived to
enter his protest against it the other night, notwith-
standing that several times during the Session
he had offered his testimony of approval to
the Government far having introduced so liberal a
scheme. The reception which Lord DERBY met
with at Manchester, and the visit of Mr. DISRAELI
to Edinburgh, are sufficient proofs of the favour in
which the majority of the people of Great Britain
regard the Reform Bill of 1867. Unfortunately
even this auspicious work has not tended to pro-
duce the desired end of restoring general
confidence, for the depression which marked
the spring of 1866 has still continued, and
at the close of the following year we
are still under its evil influences. The embarrassed
state of some of the Railway Companies has also
caused great loss, and occasioned considerable
anxiety ; and the failure of some Banks of note has
further tended to heighten the evil effects already
witnessed. Still there is no reason to fear that
time will not bring about a remedy for these draw-
backs to our present prosperity, and all that can be
done is to hope that the future may have
better things in store for us. Some les-
sons of wisdom may be gathered from this
season of adversity and foolish speculation,
and the attempts to do too much may be abandoned
with advantage. Lord STANLEY has been most.
happy in his management of foreign affairs, and has
fairly represented the interests of the country, while
he has avoided the mistakes of many of his prede-
cessors. By his spirited policy he brought the
Spanish Government to reason when there was great
cause to fear a disturbance of the good under-
standing that existed between the two countries.
In two instances the noble lord managed to gain his
point without proceeding to extremities, and this
success greatly increased the confidence of the public
in his management. Further on in the year consi-
derable anxiety was occasioned by the attempts of
GARIBALDI and his followers to seize upon Rome.
This disturbance induced the French EMPEROR to
send some of his troops to support the September
Convention, and for a short time a war
seemed inevitable. Happily such a calamity
has been avoided, but affairs are in anything
but a settled state. Prussia has endeavoured to
consolidate her conquests, but the extreme dis-
favour with which France regards her uncertain
policy and equivocal professions renders the main-
tenance of European peace anything but secure.
Austria has fortunately turned her attention to the
improvement of her -;Tt;sources, and has profited by
the severe losses she experienced last year to
follow a better and nobler policy than that
which has actuated her counsels for years
past. The affairs of Turkey are iu a
most unsatisfactory state, but with care and
caution it is to be hoped that a general imbroglio
may be avoided. If possible, it would be advisable
for Turkey to settle her owu affairs without refer-
ence to other Powers ; but, at any rate, it is fortu-
nate that we have a Minister at the Foreign Mice
upon whose judgment we can rely, and who can
steer clear of the extremes of bombast and timer-

ou- nc,s.

The position of the British captives in Abyssinia,
which had long been attracting a large share of
public attention and sympathy, assumed in the year
1867 a more serious aspect. It was felt and
acknowledged on all hands that so flagrant an in-
sult to the British Crown as the detention of an
accredited representative could not be tolerated,
even if humanity allowed us to abandon the other
captives to the tender mercies of King THEODORE.
Accordit.gly after every representation and remon-
strance had failed, the Government determined
upon fitting out an expedition for the rescue
of the prisoners. As matters were not
sufficiently decided to submit the case to
Parliament at the usual season au autumnal ses-
sion was summoned, when the unanimous verdict of
the House of Commons, notwithstanding a little
criticism, fully endorsed tha policy of the Ministers.
Happily, tha intelligence which has hitherto
reached us from the seat of operations is highly en-
courag;ng, and there appears every reason to an-
ticipate not only a triumphant vindication of our
national honour, but also the actual release and
rescue of the long-imprisoned captives. The ter-
rible prognostications of misfortune, and the alarm-
ng accounts of the climate and soil of Abyssinia
have fortunately as yet found no corroboration in
fact.

The year 1867 has been an eventful one on the
other side of the Atlantic. In our own dominions
the confederation of the British Provinces has been
safely and satisfactorily accomplished, notwith-
standing the many obstacles which at one time
threatened its progress. By this important
achievement the several colonies will receive a
stimulus to enterprise, and a degree of security
which has been hitherto wanting in the national
fortunes. The renewal of the Reciprocity Treaty
is under discussion, and all promises well for the
future of these fine States.

In America itself the year has been fruitful of
great and unexpected change. At its opening the
Radicals were at the full climax of their strength.
Heedless of all remonstrance, and reckless of conse-
quences, they carried all before them, silencing the
voice of opposition in the very Congress itself.
Debate and discussion were at au end. Politicians
of a more moderate calibre had nothing to do
but to listen in silence to the dictates of STEVENS,
ASHLEY, and SUMNER. BUTLER himself had ob-
tained a seat in Congress, and of course raised his
voice loudly against all constituted authori-
ties. The impeachment of the PRESIDENT was
confidently calculated upon, and the Judiciary
Committee were busy in ransacking every office and
record in which they might hope to obtain a tithe of
evidence. The overwhelming majority of the Ra-
dicals in Congress rendered the Presidential veto a
mere form, to be overridden at the first opportu-
nity. Southwards the military recons'.ruction was
pressed forward with complete disregard of the real
pacification or consolidation of the country. The
civil officials were removed or superseded, and a
kind of martial law was in fact established by the
supremacy given to the generals in command.
These officers in many instances exercised their
powers with harshness and arrogance, while Mr.
STANTON at the War Office was always ready to
support any arbitrary or unconstitutional proceed-
ing on the part of his subordinates. The close of
the year sees a very different state cf things. The
Radical party have received a severe check, and the
inevitable though tardy reaction from their extreme
and lawless policy has set in. The elections of 1867
have completely reversed the elections of 1866. The
PRESIDENT'S veto will for the future secure the neces-