The Sun.
London, England, 1867-03-22 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EV ENING, MARCH 22, 1867.

LONDON, FRIDAY, MARCH 22, 1867•

The meeting of the Liberal party, which took
place yesterday at Mr. GLADSTONE'S, was, on the
whole, more favourable in its result than might
have been anticipated, as it was decided not to
oppose the second reading of the Ministerial Reform
Bill. The manner in which this desirable conclu-
sion was arrived at was not, however, so satisfac-

tory, because it appears that Mr. GLADSTONE was
very much against the resolution finally agreed to.
Both generally and in detail the right hon. gentle-
man criticised the measure, and all ended in his
condemning the Ministerial scheme in toto. While
we are very glad to find that Mr. GLADSTONE
listened to wiser counsels, we think that his future
career is likely to be far from satisfactory, taking the
events of yesterday as indicative of his movements.
The worst part of the affair is that mischief seems
to lurk in the background, notwithstanding the
concession made as to the second reading. It is
intended to subject the Government to a strict
scrutiny, so that the Opposition may find out which
are to be the vital points of the measure before it
goes into Committee. It is a great pity for a ques-
tion so important as Reform to be thus made the
stalking-horse of party, and it is a great disgrace
to the Liberals that they cannot and will not
allow any scheme to be propounded to the House
without interfering se much and confusing those
who seek to settle the matter. We suspect that the
truth is that this Bill is too liberal for those who
pick such holes in it, and the way in which Mr.
GLADSTONE has gone on respecting Household Suf-
frage is very suspicious to say the least of it. He
did not give Mr. ROEBUCK the direct reply he
asked for, as to whether he was or was not iu favour
of Household Suffrage, pure and simple, but went
off into a round-about speech which took in all the
chief points of the measure, which did not allow his
hearers to determine as to whether or not he would
accept that principle as the basis of representation.
We look upon Mr. ROEBUCK as a thorough Re-
former, perfectly sincere and genuine in his acts and
words respecting it ; he is as ready to take a good
measure from the hands of the Conservatives as from
those of the Liberals ; but how few follow his ex-
ample and emulate his public spirit and patriotism.
The hon. gentleman urged upon the meeting to
allow the Bill to go into committee, declaring that
it might be improved.
Perhaps this was what frightened the others, for
Mr. GLADSTONE seemed to say that it might
be dangerous to let it get there, because the Govern-
ment might carry propositions of an undesirable
kind. Mr. BRIGHT has now got tired of the role
he enacted with so much credit to himself in the
House for the last week or so, and appeared quite
determined that the Government bill could not,
should not, and must not pass. If his advice were
worth anything, he said, the bill had better not go
into committee, but in deference to the opinion of
the majority of the party he would agree to its do-
ing so. In fact, he thought they would embark
upon a voyage full of peril if they allowed it do so.
Mr. ROEBUCK addressed the meeting a second time,
and said that he spoke as an old member of thirty-
five years' standing; and he told them, with respect
to public opinion, that if they did not consent to
the second reading of this bill they would be acting
against the feeling of the country, and would do a
great deal of mischief. He considered that they
would fall short of their duty as a party by not
allowing the measure to go into committee.

The fact is that the zeal of Mr. GLADSTONE has
outstripped that of his followers, and he has
been obliged to modify his course a little. We
think it is to the credit of the Liberal party in
general that they should have acted thus and re-
fused to follow their leader in the pernicious path
he sought to tread. So far so good, but let them
be careful and wary, and not mar the effect of the
wise resolution come to yesterday by taking a false
step next week. There will, in all probability, be
another meeting after the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer has explained the policy of the Government
again, and then it will behove all those present to
determine if the Bill shall or shall not go into com-
mittee. There cannot be a more unreasonable plan
adopted than to be continually asking a Govern-
ment upon the introduction of an important measure
to the House what are and are not the vital points
of the bill. Such a thing shows the existence of
party spirit to begin with, and augurs ill for the
carrying out of a comprehensive scheme. So far as
we can see, if the Opposition force the Govern-
ment to a dissolution of Parliament, the latter
will have the best of it before the country,
and in the opinion of all impartial judges.
They have come forward as the upholders
of household suffrage, and to this doctrine
Mr. GLADSTONE will not subscribe. It is earnestly
to be hoped that no more exceptions will be taken
to the bill going into committee ; and we would
again warn those eager to prevent its reaching that
land of promise that they will be injuring their
own reputation by pursuing so mischievous a course.
The spirit of faction seems unfortunately rife in the
Liberal camp, but it is not yet too late for wiser
counsels to prevail, and we should rejoice if the
decision of yesterday proves an augury for the
future.

The resumption of the debate on the navy esti-
mates last evening produced some animated discus-
sion ; and the question of naval promotions was
brought up with some energy. Mr. HANB URY-
TRACY questioned the First Lord of the Admiralty
about the promotion of a young officer, Lieutenant
YORKE, the son of the Earl of HARDWICKE, and
expressed considerable indignation that he should
have been thus favoured in place of 370 of his
seniors. Mr. TRACY further referred to the manner
in which the Duke of SOMERSET had exercised the
right of patronage, and declared that Sir J. FAKING-
TON by this one appoietment had succeeded in up-
sAting the whole policy pursued by his predecessor,
whose fairness and impartiality had almost entirely
removed the feeling of discontent sorife in the navy.
Sir JOHN PAKTNGTON, in his reply, did not attempt
to disparage the services of the Duke of SOMERSET,
but asked why it was so much worse for him to have
promoted Lieutenant YORKE than for his prede-
cessor to have promoted Lieutenants GRAHAM,
WOOD, and FITZCLARENCE, the sons of Lord
GRAHAM, Lord HALIFAX, and the Earl of MUNSTER,
r.ll of whom had served a shorter time than Lieu-
tenant YORKE ? There was a good deal more attack
and defence, complaint, and recrimination, and the
matter dropped for the time after it had given rise
to some discussion as to the principles on which our
naval promotions should be conducted. No doubt
it is of the first importance that such promotions
should be made with perfect fairness. There is
always too much influence, direct and indirect, exer-
cised in such matters, and one of the most vital
improvements of modern days is the change in the
system of patronage which of old was most baneful
in its effects. Its ramifications extended through
all branches of the service, and the claim of interest
and influence reached from the highest ranks of the
service to the lowest. It was sufficient to disgust
and dishearten the boldest and to daunt the energies
of the most adventurous spirits to know that
whatever service they might render their country,
whatever sacrifice they might make, they would
receive not only no reward, but no acknowledg-
ment. Credit and profit alike would be reaped by
some of the favourel few who were. able to move
the secret springs of patronage. Such things, if not
openly allowed, were tacitly permitted, until a
change came over the whole spirit of our Adminis-
tration. Irany case in which undue influence has
b:en exercised, or in which the dispensers of public
favour have been thought to look more to the inte-

rests of party than to the good of the service is
brought forward, it is certain to be submitted
to severe and searching scrutiny, and it is well
that such is the temper of the time, since men
in power have difficulties to contend against both
within and without, and have much need of the
balance-pole of public opinion to keep them steady.

As far as Lieutenant YORKE is concerned the case
seems hardly to have demanded so much virtuous
indignation as was expended upon it. As Mr.
COCHRANE justly observed, it is surely no objection
to a young and deserving officer that he is the son
of one who has distinguished himself in the service.
In the case of Sir J. GRAHAM, Sir C. WOOD, and
others, it may well be thought that the father's public
services should be reckoned for the son,
rather than against him, and other questions of
character, ability, and professional skill being equal,
should weigh in his favour when an opportunity
for promotion occurs. Unless there was a particu-
lar individual whose claims were neglected for the
benefit of Lieutenant YORKE, there is no great
ground for complaint, because it by no means fol-
lowa that all the 370 lieutenants referred to were
abler officers, and they could not certainly have all
benefited by the chance. The system of promotion
by seniority occasioned some discussion, and Sir J.
PAKINGTON defended his promotion of Lieut. YORKE,
by declaring his belief that it was for the interest
of the service that young officers should be some-
times put forward. Admiral ERSKINE, on the Libe-
ral side of the House, supported this view, and said
that if promotion by seniority was rigidly adhered
to it would produce a stagnation in the service,
it would not give the best men, and it would re-
move all responsibility from those who made the
appointments. Admiral ERSKINE quoted the opinion
of the late Duke of WELLINGTON, who, writing from
Portugal in 1810, complained that he had not even
the power of making a corporal, and declared
that the system then pursued could not last,
that it was absolutely necessary for the discip-
line of the army, and to stimulate men
under danger, that he should be entrusted with the
power of promotion. There is no question that in
both branches of our service there is a lack of
prompt and impartial recognition of merit. The
honours bestowed are so tardily given that the world
has half-forgotten the action rewarded ; the prize-
money won by desperate effort often comes only to
a man's heirs. When NAPOLEON gave the Legion
of Honour, on the field of battle, to a soldier sur-
rounded by the comrades who had 'witnessed
his bravery, and when every officer knew that
the highest ranks of his profession were
within his reach, there was a stimulus to
exertionwhich produced the most brilliant effects.
The saying current in the French army that every
soldier carried his marshal's baton in his knapsack
was certainly more animating to youthful enter-
prise, and exceptional daring than the knowledge
that when 300 or 400 seniors had each had their
turn an officer might have a chance of promotion.
In time of peace long service ought no doubt to
weigh heavily in favour of promotion, but we want
a little more vitality infused into our service,
and have hitherto been too much dominated
over by the system of routine. There
are too many blanks in proportion to
the prizes, and it is a problem which our adminis-
trators would do well to consider how to enlarge
the scope for honourable ambition. Sir J. FAKING-
TON last night declared that in every case of promo-
tion numbers of meritorious officers were passed
over, for the state of the navy was such—the stag-
nation in promotions was such—that it was impos-
sible for all the lieutenants to look forward to pro-
motion. however carefully the seniority system
was carried out, many would never get promoted.
Sir JOAN HAY, no mean authority in such matters,
said that according to the present system an
officer was not made lieutenant until he was
21, and on the seniority principle he was 35 years
of age before he became a commander ; while he
was nearly 50 before he became a captain, and 70
before he got to be an admiral. Here, then, is a
great and substantial grievance, and if we want to
get able and efficient officers we must give them a
better chance. The object will not be attained by
a:sudden exercise of rigid severity in this or that
particular case, but by a general and important
examination into the whole system, with the view
of devising some measure which shall open up the
higher ranks of the profession to merit in the lower,
independently of the adventitious assistance of per-
sonal interest, or the tedious advance of old age.

A telegram from New York, datei yesterday at
noon, tells us that the Hone of Representatives
has passed a resolution instructing the committee
on Foreign Affairs to inquire why the Alabama
claims hive not been paid, and what ought to be
done to secure their payment. So that the new
Congress does not intend to exercise much more
circumspection in its foreign than in its domestic
policy, and is apparently quite regardless of the
consequences of its rash and reckless conduct.
Possibly the desire of the Radicals to oppose
and thwart the PRESIDENT has something
to do with this proceeding, but it is
entirely inconsistent with the proposals for
arbitration which have been recently talked of.
The members of Congress can hardly seriously
believe that any English Government will hand over
the sum demanded, on what grounds it is difficult
to understand. We might certainly demand, with
far more show of reason and justice, compensation
from the Americans for the expense occasioned by
the excesses of those Hibernian worthies for whom
the House of Representatives are now publicly ex-
pressing their sympathy. The periodical resuscita-
tion of these claims can only be looked upon as a
form of menace towards this country. Happily,
however, we need not accept the language or the
actions of the Congress as representing the people of
America, and we shouldodera liket ion a
tot
home itseebefore
h 'displayoreit takes
a littlee a
more justice and moderation
upon itself to dictate to Foreign Governments.

Startling Intelligence from the River Plate
and Paraguay.

The mails from Brazil, via Bourdeaux, delivered
this morning, bring most startling news, of which
the following is a summary :
President Mitre had returned from the seat of
war ; and a change of Ministry at Rio, it
was thought, would cause the breaking up of the
"Triple Alliance." The revolutionists against the
central Government were every day gaining strength
being liberally supplied by Chili with all the requi-
sites of war.
At Buenos Ayres a revolution had been attempted
at Belgrano, within two miles of the city, the par-
ticulars were not known as the police had kept
everything quiet, and many arrests were taking
place.
The Brazilian fleet attacked Curupaity, but were
repulsed, and three iron clads put hors de combat,
their plates having been started. By private news
it is stated that Marquis Caxias had bought over
the commander of that place, and had delivered
$1,000,000 to him, but that when the fleet ap-
proached to take possession, as agreed on the 2d of
February, the reception was of so warm a nature
that they were forced to retire.

A body of 5,000 Paraguayans had again moved
into the province of Corrientes, to aid, it was
thought, the revolutionists, and cut off the retreat
of the Brazilian land forces from Curuz.u.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

PRUSSIA AND SOUTH GERMANY.
BERLIN, March 22.

In addition to the agreement on the military
question, a complete understanding is stated to
exist between Prussia and the South German
States, Wurtemburg excepted, in reference to the
future position of those States towards the Northern
Confederation. This understanding will be carried
out immediately after the adoption of the Federal
Constitution.

The Borsen Zeitung of to-day publishes an
article advocating an intervention against IVurtem-
burg.

It is expected that a Plebiscitum will take place
in Luxemburg on the question of the entry of that
province into the Northern Confederation. Prussia
is not opposed to this course.

SERVIA.

VIENNA, March 22.

The Turkish Ambassador in this city has officially
announced to the Austrian Government that Prince
Michael of Servia will set out on Monday next for
Constantinople, and that all differences between
Servia and the Ports have•been settled.
THE AMERICAN MAILS.
(By Telegraph.)

QUEENSTOWN, Friday Morning.

The Inman steamer City of Antwerp arrived here
at 4.20 this morning, and, having landed passengers
and mails, proceeded for Liverpool ; all well.
Calm, hazy.