The Sun.
London, England, 1867-06-06 00:00:00

• 1

LONDON, 7 HURSDAY, JUNE 6, 1867.

We arc very glad to hear that the sentences of
all the Fenian prisoners who have been condemned
to death have been commuted to penal servitude.
This is a very wise decision, and one that cannot

fail to secure the approbation of the public. In-
deed by this time it has been pretty well under-
stood by all competent judges of the subject that
the general feeling was against exercising the
extreme rigour of the law against these un-
fortunate and misguided individuals. It is
not to be supposed that the consummation of their
sentences implies any doubt as to the justice of
their condemnation, and that those who have advo-
cated their claims to mercy have done so on the
ground of their merit. The fact is that it would
not have been an expedient line to adopt, and
might indeed have increa.ed the dangers and diffi-
culties it was intended to avoid. The Government
have come to a very wise determination, and
we are convinced that they will not reject it. It
should not, however, be taken for granted by these
offenders and their associat-s and followers that for
the future no Fenian need fear that he should be
condetnted to death. On the contrary, if it be
found that the leniency now shown is taken undue
advantage of, there will be no alternative but for
the authorities to carry out, in all its strictness, the
severity of the law to its utmost extent.

The question of national education is every day
increasing in importance and attracting more and
more of public attention. Unlike other topics, it
can hardly be taken up and laid aside again, for
when earnest and intelligent men have once realised
even in a faint degree the terrible ignorance of a
large propor ion of the population they find it im-
possible to shut their eyes to it afterwards. They
cannot wilfully abandon the matter as one too
difficult or too unsatisfactory to deal with,
because they are well aware that every year
increases the evil, and that unless active measures
are taken to enlighten and educate our masses the
task for the next generation will be a terrible one
indeed. It is true that much has already been
done, but owing to the rapid increase of the popu-
lation, the negligence or misconduct of parents,
and numerous other causes, there still remains so
much 'to do that the boldest may well be dis-
couraged, while the subject presents such
inherent difficulties that it taxes the powers
of the most able and the most expe-
rienced legislators. The Birmingham Town
Council on Tuesday discussed the scheme of
compulsory education at some length, and finally
adjourned the debate. The Mayor proposed a
resolution in favour of levying rates for educational
purposes, but, as we have said, the meeting was
unable to arrive at a definite conclusion. There
is much to be said on both sides. The principle of
compulsOry education is undoubtedly opposed to
English habits and feeling, being an interfer-
ence with individual liberty and private life.
On the other hand, it is a scandalous thing that
thousands of our people should be suffered to
grow up without the commonest rudiments of know-
ledge, and thus be wilfully shut out by the miscon-
duct or misfortune of those in charge of them from
all the advantages and pleasures and duties of
intelligent citizenship. It is a weighty question,
and one which demands an immediate answer, for
something must be done to extend our area of
national education, and we are therefore glad to see
corporations and other public bodies giving it a
share of their time and attention.

Negotiations, it is said, have not yet commenced
between Berlin and Copenhagen on the subject of
the cession of Northern Schleswig to Denmark.
" Confidential communicatious" are all that have
taken place in the matter, and so little or nothing
has been done as yet. it is, however, affirmed that
Denmark has agreed to assume a part of the debt
of Schleswig, and also to give a guarantee for the
national protection of Germans in those dis-
tricts which are to be ceded. We may always
infer that Prussia will take are, whenever
arrangements of this kind are made, that she may
have some of the responsibilities taken off her, and
will contrive to put the burden elsewhere if she
possibly can by hook or by crook. It may well be
asked why all this time should have been suffered
to elapse before any settlement took place; there was
uo reason wby North Schleswig should not have
been given up at the time of the peace that took
place last year, but it is to be presumed that this
mysterious pause suited the policy of Count Bis-
MARCK the best. A very significant fact may be
mentioned in connection with the visit of the King
of PRUSSIA to Paris ; and that is, that his MAJESTY
did not choose to pass through Hanover. This
I accords ill with the professions which have been
made in all directions to the effect that there was
a general desire on the part of the kingdoms and
states of Germany to be joined to Prussia.

Allowing, for the sake of argument, that this had
been the case, the experience which they have since
had of the amenities of Berlin policy must have
completely undeceived them. Instead of adopting
an ingratiating line the Prussians have sought to
establish a reign of terror, and the consequence has
been that they are now quite unpopular everywhere,
and will find out the error of their ways when it is
too late. Hanover seems to have been particularly
unfortunate of late in respect to its relations with
Berlin, and one enactment after another seems to
increase the strictness of the laws relating to it.
The last intelligence is that the Berlin Govern-
ment has come to a provisional arrangement as to
the administrative steps to be taken in Hanover, but
that no decisive measures will be adopted until con-
fidential persons have issued their report. Can
anything be more ill-judged and ill-timed than all
this manceuevring and machination. If Hanover
is to be a part of the Prussian territory, why
should it not be treated in a fair and impartial
manner instead of all this persecution taking
place ? There is no doubt that Count BIS-
MARCK'S popularity is on the wane, for there
have been various rumours from time to time re-
specting his retirement. Some of those have. just
been authoritatively contradicted, but it looks sus-
, picious all the same that they should have been put
in circulation at all.

We should not wonder if, in the long run, the
Emperor of AUSTRIA got a better ally than the King
of PRUSSIA, for he has adapted himself with more
zeal and assiduity to the popular line of policy. It
is fortunate that he has done so, for it is his
only chance of retrieving his position, and
at the same time it affords a better
prospect for the people. The coronation of
his Majesty as KING of HUNGARY will take
place on Saturday. The Hungarian Diet have set-
tled the proceedings of the ceremony, and the
greatest unanimity appears to reign among those
most imtneiiwely concerned. The present policy
of Austria towards Hungary seems to leave little
or nothing to &sire, and the Berlin Government
might follow the example thus set them with ad-
vantage to others, and to the improvement of their
own reputation.

The long-talked of impeachment of President
JOHNSON has proved at last a complete failure. For
some time past there has been manifestly little hope
on the part of the Radicals of their bringing this
extravagant undertaking to a successful issue ; but
the differences between the PRESIDENT and Con-
gress had risen to such a height that the leaders of
the party found themselves comp :el to go on

They had shown such open contempt for the PRE-
iciDENT's.authority, they had denounced him in such
-unmeasured terms, and had so resolutely opposed
;his policy and insulted his principles, that
nothing remained for them but to proceed to
actual extremities. Perhaps, too, the leading
Radicals may have entertained a hope that the
threat of such an alternative might frighten the
PRESIDENT into concession, for when impeachment
Ina first talked about it did not seem impossible
that it should be actually carried out. Mr. JOHN-
SON, happily for himself and his country, is not a
mail to be easily turned from his purpose, still less
to be threatened, than to be cajoled or persuaded.
He stood firtn:and gave no sign of weakness, showed
no desire of conciliating his enemies by aban-
doning his policy. Time has worked great changes.
The passions of the hour have died out, and men of
all parties have grown tired of the profitless dissen-
sions and reckless policy encouraged by the ultra-
Radicals. The finances of the country suffered
from the unsettled state of affairs, while the dis-
tress and destitution produced in the Southern
States excited the deepest commiseration among all
who were not either blinded by selfish motives, or
infatuated by party prejudice. The intolerance of
the Radicals, and the extravagance of their schemes,
had, too, some effect in showing Mr. JomisW-s-
-conduct in its true light. He had con-
sistently upheld the doctrines of the Consti-
tution, and the very Messages which so greatly
incensed his apponents were little more than ela-
borate defences of constitutional law. Having,
therefore, no political grounds on which they could
hope to maintain an accusation, his enemies had
recourso to the most despicable devices in order to
injure and degrade the man whom they could
neither bribe nor threaten. They professed. to be-

lieve that he was implicated in the assassination of
his predecessor, and when that charge was found
to be untenable, they asserted that he had
been guilty of selling the pardons which he dis
pensed with such a liberal hand.
However, the Judiciary Committee have at last
abandoned their discreditable and unsatisfactory
task, and the Atlantic :cable brings us news that
" the Committee on the impeachment of President
JOHNSON have resolved to report in favour of
his being censured only, and not impeached."
The President is likely now to work out his term
of office uninterruptedly, and the public interest
begins to turn towards his successor. Who is he
to be ? The question is daily increasing in im-
portance, and upon its answer depends in a great
measure the political future of the United States.

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
PARIS, Wednesday Evening.

The Moniteur announces that the screw steamer
Victoria, having on board Vice-Admiral Clarence
Paget, commander of the English squadron in the
Mediterranean, and the screw frigate Arethusa,
anchored off Gibraltar on May 23. At that date the
Galatea, under the orders of the Duke of Edinburgh,
was momentarily expected.
The commission appointed to examine the law for
the reorganisation of the army has terminated its
labours. The report will be presented to the Cham-
bers in a day or two. One of the amendments
adopted by the commission and by the Council of
State abolishes the law of 1855 relative to exonera-
tion from service. Young men belonging to the
Guard will be allowed to serve as substitutes.

The Vienna Gazette gives the following as the
exact telegram received on the 31st of May in that
city from IVashington :--" The town of Queretaro
was captured by surprise very early on the morning
of May 15. The Emperor retired to the upper part
of the town, but he was forced by a violent attack
of artillery to surrender at discretion, with Mejia
and Castello of Cos. The despatch by which Esco-
bedo announces these events is dated May 16, and
at that time no act of violence had been committed.
It is mentioned as another favourable symptom of
the intentions of Juarez that he had set at liberty
600 foreigners taken prisoners at Puebla. On the
other hand the Government of the United States

has adopted the most vigorous steps to have the
Emperor set at liberty, and for the protection of his
person until his embarkation for Europe."
The Opposition members of the Legislative body
have proposed the following as an amendment to the
Budget :—" That there shall be laid before the
Chamber at the opening of the next Session a spe-
cial and detailed account of all the expenses of the
expedition to Mexico. Also an account of the war
material, naval and military, absorbed by that ex-
pedition, as well as the amount obtained in Mexico
through the mediation of the Government for the
benefit of French creditors. In addition to this, a
state of the amount due to French creditors at the
time when the war commenced.

The weather is again very unsettled. Last night
there was a bitter cold easterly wind, and this
morning early the thermometer was near frost. To-
day it has been windy, cool out of the sun, and
very cloudy at intervals.

On Sunday a very interesting incident took place
at the races in the Bois de Boulogne, illustrative of
the attention which is exhibited towards French
artists by Russians. When the illustrious specta-
tors descended from the grand stand, a lady was
seen arm-in-arm with her husband, accompanied
by two young ladies. As the Emperor Alexander
proceeded along he recognised the lady, and imme-
diately went up to her and spoke to her in the most
cordial and respectful manner. "Is it you, NEl-
dame Arnault ?" said the Emperor. " How happy
lam to see you." Then, looking at the young
ladies, the Emperor added, with real gallantry,
" These arc your sisters, I suppose ?" " No, sire,"
replied the lady, very confused but very delighted,
" they are my daughters." Prince Wladimir also
went up to the lady, whose talents and good quali-
ties gave her a high position in Russian society, and
expressed the pleasure he felt at seeing her in France,
asking permission also to pay her a visit. This
striking incident excited great curiosity and interest
among all who witnessed it, and the lady was
surrounded by persons who put all sorts of questions
as to what had been said by the Emperor Alexander
and the Prince. _

The Chevalier de Friedland, a member of the
Austrian Imperial Commission and one of the jury
of the International Exhibition,gave a splendid fete
at St. Germain on Monday to some of the Commis-
sioners and the representatives of the French and
foreign newspapers:- There was excellent music, a
lunch in the Austrian style on the terrace, excur-
sions on the Seine in Swedish boats, and afterwards
a magnificent banquet in the pavilion of Henry the
Fourth. Appropriate toasts were given, to which
cordial responses were made.
To-morrow being the anniversary of the birth of
Corneille a grand extra performance will take place
at the Odeon, composed chiefly of portions of the
works of the great author, to be succeeded by an
appropriate act called the " Muse of Corneille," by
M. llenri de Bornier.

On Sunday some interesting experiments were
made at Argenteuil with an explosible ball and har-
poon, the invention of M. Devisme, to kill and
harpoon at the same time whales and other large
fish. The men►bers of the jury, class 66 Lis (pleasure
navigation, fishery, various machines, and lifeboats)
began the experiments by firing several of the
Devisme balls against a large artificial fish, so placed
as to leave a little less than half of its body above
water. All the balls exploded in the interior of the
body of the fish, introducing the harpoon at the
same time, and it was full of harpoons when drawn
upon shore. Experiments were then made with the
arrow harpoon, the invention of M. Delvigne. The
arrow fired from a light gun followed the exact
direction intended to be given to it by the inventor.
All the experiments were quite successful. They
are to be repeated in a few days on the Seine oppo-
site to the Exhibition.

A maniac named Dugas, in the Commune of