The Sun.
London, England, 1867-05-06 00:00:00

LONDON, MONDAY, MAY 6, 1867.

It appears that the Government are less sensitive
than the Reform League about making conciliatory
advances, and they have determined not to inter-
fere with the political demonstration in the Park
this evening further than may be necessary to pre-
serve order. The prudence of this decision will be
generally admitted. All English Governments are
very averse to coming into collision with large
bodies of the people, even though the collision may
be provoked by the folly or recklessness of the
people themselves. The Ministers are naturally
very reluctant to inflict unnecessary injury to life or
limb, even on the noisy and turbulent Democrats,
who aim at setting London by the ears. Every
opening haa hen given for the Council of the
League to make an honourahl. retreat, and we
have no doubt but that Mr. BEALES' and a few
others would be very glad to do 80 if their more
violent associates would permit them. Mr. GLAD-
STONE has openly advised and entreated
the
renun-
ciation of the scheme; Mr. nuouEs has taken the
trouble to _attend a meeting of the Council to beg
them to give it up ; and Sir GEORGE
~,REY and other
gentlemen on the Liberal side have boldly declared
their conviction that the whole affair is illegal
and improper. But the meeting is to be held
en masse, and the news is no doubt very welcome to
the roughs and pickpockets of the metropolis. The
prolonged dispute and agitation about the matter
has had the effect of increasing itsimpOrtance, so
that there is, in one sense, more reason for appre-

hending riot and disturbance than, there was last
year. On the other hand, much greater precau-
tions have been taken, a different line of conduct
will be pursued by the authorities ; and, above all,
the general feeling of the public has been roused
for the preservation of law and order and
the protection of property. The Government,
while not offering any direct opposition to the
entry of the crowd into the Park, or to the delivery
of addresses by the speakers so long as they keep to
terra firma, by no means intend to surrender their
position as guardians of the public peace. They
have made, as we have said, ample arrangements,
and the numbers of special constables sworn in at
the different Vestry Halls, during Saturday and this
day, are sufficient guarantees that the roughs will
not be allowed to have it all their own way. Mr.
BEALES has issued an emphatic appeal to the de-
monstrators, and the members of the
League declare themselves most anxious to
preserve order ; but these gentlemen forget that the
danger apprehended is not from their own recog-
nised followers, but from the crowds of doubtful
hangers-on whom they will find it impossible to get
rid off. anybody who knows what a London
crowd is like would think it most chimerical to
make a pledge on its behalf. Who can guarantee
that no pockets will be picked during a Lord
Mayor's show ? When gentlemen choose to call
together a mixed mob in open defiance of the law,
they must be sanguine indeed if they hope to be able
to control their proceedings, especially when even-
ing comes on after a hot, exciting, and exhausting
day. We should imagine this afternoon to be
anything but pleasurable to Mr. BEALES and his
friends. When they have got through their pro-
gramme and uttered twenty sentences apiece to a
crowd which cannot catch half of them, what then ?
Are we nearer a Reform Bill than we were before?
Are we more likely to obtain manhood suffrage ?
Are we more secure of our civil rights and indivi-
dual liberties ? Le jeu ne vaut pas la chaudelle, even
supposing the day to pass over without any discre-
ditable riot. It is a strange way of demonstrat-
ing the fitness of the working classes for the fran-
chise, and we do not wonder that the working
men of London are protesting against it by the
thousand. The deputation which waited upon
Mr. WALPOLE on Saturday presented petitions
against the proposed demonstration, signed by
upwards of 16,000 persons, and no doubt all who
signed it will be ready, so far as they are able,
to assist in preserving order. The Council of the
League intend the proceedings to be as short as
possible, and are no doubt quite as anxious as the
Government themselves that matters shall pass
off quietly. It is said that the Home Office has
suggested furnishing the League with 10,000 pass
tickets for members of that body, so as to
keep out the roughs, who are always eager
to get up a tumult. It will be diffi-
cult, we fear, to keep these gentry
quiet, even if they are excluded from the Park. At
any rate we hope the Reform League will learn a
lesson from the annoyance and confusion they have
brought upon their fellow citizens, and that this
may be the last of these foolish and useless demon-
strations, which are planned and insisted upon
without the slightest regard to time, place, or cir-
cumstance. One thing is certain. The most inve-
terate despot that ever lived could not devise more
certain means of bringing shame and discredit on
the popular cause.

Mr. DISRAELI is always fortunate in his designa-
tions of things, and he has called the Royal Aca-
demy the Mecca of society, which is a happy ex-
pression, and one that aptly represents the state of
the case, for it is a delightful interlude for those
who are distracted with the turmoils and strife of
politics to meet thus together to discuss the progress
of the fine arts, and consider the results of the great
and gifted. The anniversary banquet, held last
Saturday, was unusually brilliant and well attended.
The President, in proposing the toast of the Royal
Family, alluded in terms of regret to the " severe
and protracted illness" of the Princess of WALLS,
declaring that the warmest sympathies of all classes
were awakened in her behalf, and expressed the
general wish of the public in trusting that her Royal
Highness would soon be enabled to "resume the
duties of the exalted station of which she is so
bright an ornament." The Prince of WALES, in
returning thanks, gave the gratifying assurance
that the Princess was progressing towards recovery.
His Royal highness made some observations which
showed his appreciation of art, and his judgment in
respect to the merits of artists. Further on in the
proceedings the Prince displayed that promptitude
which distinguishes him, and upon a difficulty arising
as to who should return thanks for the Volunteers,
Lord ELC/I0 not being present, said " I am a Vo-
lunteer, Sir FRANCIS. I will return thanks for the
Volunteers." In proposing her Majesty's Ministers
the President declared that it was a satisfaction to
them to receive the distinguished statesmen who
govern this country. Both the present Administra-
tion and the last testified their appreciation of art,
by the friendly consideration they showed ; and as
Sir FRANCIS justly observed, it was a happy cir-
cumstance when the members of the Royal Aca-
demy of Arts had to acknowledge the sympathy of
all classes of public men, proving that the " inte-
rests of art, and the prosperity of that institution,
were held to be the common property of all parties."
Lord DERBY'S speech was a very entertaining one,
and additional interest was imparted to it from the
circumstance that the noble lord has only just re-
appeared in society after his recent severe illness.
He observed that his health would have furnished
him with a sufficient excuse for absence, but he felt
it was a " peculiar" occasion, and one in which it
was both a pleasure and a duty for all in pro-
minent situations to testify by their attendance
their appreciation of the arts which are cultivated
there, and their respect for the office held by the
President, and for those whose labours reflect so
much honotir on themselves and their country."
This is a very correct observation on the part of the
noble Premier, and it exactly typifies the character
of the entertainment which is given at the Exhi-
bition.

Alluding to the more immediate topics of the day
the noble lord said that they had all heard a good
deal lately about working men, but ho was
sure that in one sense through the whole length
and breadth of the land there were no more truly
working men than her .A.I.IJEsTY's Ministers were,
" and more especially, I way say this of those
Ministers who are members of the Home of Com-
mons, and, pre-eminently, of my right hon. friend
the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who I have no
doubt _would feel it an immense relief frotu'the
labours of his position if he could claim the advan-
tage of the Ten Hours' Bill." Without intro-
ducing a subject of political discussion, the noble
earl considered himself justified in saying that it,
would be a source of universal gratification " if it
were possible by the united labours of all parties in
the course of the present session to see a
satisfactory settlement of thj great question which
has so long absorbed and almost m olised the
time
•
of Parliament to the hindrance of various
pressing
and important subjects whi.l urgently de-
mand public consideration," The half-hour which

he had devoted to the works around him did not
permit Lord DERBY to do more than say the col-
lection comprised specimens of more than average
merit ; and he awakened the mirth of his auditory
by calling attention to the number of works by
female:artists on the walls of the Academy ; men-
tioning this, he added, because "it might furnish
an argument in political discussions for the admis
sion of ladies to the electoral franchise."

The President proposed the House of Commons,
connecting with it the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Mr. DISRAELI observed that it was a new thing for
the House of Commons to be thus honoured at this
" classic festival," but he saw some similarity in the
position of the House and of the Royal Academy.
" They are both ancient institutions, they have both
in their time been very much criticised, and the:, have
both been occasionally reformed." Notwithstainlinf,
all this, however, both still remain, and may be ranked
as among the most flourishing and popular institu-
tions of the country. In the course of his remarks the
right hon. gentleman made an interesting allusion
to the late Mr. PHILIP, who left us compa-
ratively young, when " England and all
Europe was only maturing to the recognition of
his genius. , He was a real artist, and had dipped
his pencil in the splendour of Andalusian skies."
The President referred to the changes now impend-
ing over the Academy, and hinted that the Govern-
ment might render additional assistance. To this Mr.
DISRAELI said that, as a member of Parliament, he
should be ready and willing at any time to do anything
required for the comfort and convenience of the
Royal Academy ; but in another capacity, speaking
as Chancellor of the Exchequer, he must must say
that he preferred to transact business before dinner.
The right hon. gentleman vindicated the House of
Commons from having neglected the fine arts.
They had never been backward in the purchase of
valuable collections and rare works of art for the
nation, which was the more satisfactory, as good
taste was one of the elements of national greatness.
Among the many interesting speeches delivered,
that of the Lord Chancellor may be mentioned as
most impressive, and one particularly well adapted
to the occasion before him. Ile said that they were
assembled to commemorate one of the most interest-
ing of the public anniversaries of the year, for on
that day the " secrets of all studios" were at once
disclosed as if with a flash of light. Disappointment
never follows in the expectation awakened by the
mystery pursued for so long a period.
As perfection can never be attained, those who
frequent those anniversaries can, as the Lord Chan-
cellor declares, " find genius advancing upon its
own steps, and through itself pushing back the zeal
as it advances, making its progress towards it."
As the President observed in one of his speeches,
the Royal Academy is honoured by the company
of men distinguished for all that can tend to the
greatness of a nation in their different spheres. They
had " the revered heads of the Liberal states-
men whose names would live in the pages of
history, the learned heads of the law, and
men in every branch 'of science and literature."
We trust that this may long continue, and that for
many years to come the' anniversary entertainment
of the Royal Academy may assemble to commemo-
rate the progress of art among all the leading mem-
bers of society, and that differing parties may unite
on the common ground of art to dwell upon the pro-
gress that ha•s been made, and to render due homage
to those whose genius is a source of national pride,
and must tend to the elevation and refinement of
society, while it counteracts the degrading influence
of mere material pursuits.

The arrival of the Asia from Boston and Halifax
brings us news from New York to the 23d ult.
The intelligence is not specially important, though
there are some points of interest. A resolution to
offer the mediation of the United States between
the belligerents in Mexico has been laid upon the
table in the Senate, and it recommends a simi-
lar amicable intervention between France and
Prussia. America is apparently in a pacific and
peace-making mood, so that we may hope she is in-
clined to hush up some of her threatened domestic

quarrels.
The position of Mr. Davis continues to excite a
good deal of intercat. The Attorney-General
his received numerous petitions from both North
and South for his pardon and release. The Herald
states that the illustrious prisoner recently refused
to apply for pardon, on the ground that the applica-
tion would be a confession of guilt. Whether this
be true or no there would be no disgrace in accept-
ing a pardon tendered by the Government, and we
hope before long that the tedious captivity will 13..3
ended. Blacks and whites are still disputing, and
it is somewhat amusing to find that several Southern
newspapers owned by negroes are busy cautioning
the freedmen against Northern political adventurers.
Certainly this is sound and sensible advice, and we
hope that the freedmen will be wise enough to
take it. Possibly their own experience may
endorse the judgment. The usual denunciations
of the President are going on at Radical meetings ;
but altogether the aspect of affairs is quiet and
less threatening. The Atlantic cable brings a sig-
nificant piece of information from Trades Unions,
who are in the habit of holding up the States as the
paradise of labour. A formidable strike, we are
told, has taken place among the working men of
Chicago in favour of eight hours' labour. So that
we may reasonably believe that, whatever conces-
sions may be made by employers, the demands will
keep pace with them. Perhaps the next demand
will be six hours, then two days in the week, and so
on until the positions of capital and labour are
reversed, when their opinions and demands will
naturally, change also.
After the prolonged agitation of the winter mat-
ters seem to be growing more tranquil in America,
and we hope that the general tone of the public mind
will make itself felt by the Radical leaders, who
between intrigue and assumption have so long
carried all before them.

NEW FRENCH ACADEMICIANS.--M. Jules Favre
and M. Gratry were on Thursday elected members of the
French Academy.
The little village of Prapic (Hautes-Alpes) has
been almost wholly destroyed by fire, only two out of 39
thatched houses of which it was composed now remaining.
An old man of 72 met with his death in the flames.
FIGHT WITH INDIANS—NARROW ESCAPE OF A
YOUNG LADY, &C.—SA-N ANTONIO, March 23.—0 n the
6th inst. a company of soldiers,left Fort Clark, under the
command of Captain Wilcox. After being on the march
four days, and arriving in the vicinity of Fort Lancaster,
they discovered a fresh Indian trail, and following it up
for nearly two hundred wiles they snrprised a party of
Indians, about two hundred strong. A charge was or-
dered, when Iholudianslled in great disorder. The soldiers
pursued them nearly fifteen miles, killing and wounding 40
of the Red Men, when the former were under the necessity
of beating a hasty retreat, as the main body of the Indians,
1,500 strong, was before them, composed of Comanches, .
Kickapoo. 4, Lipans, and Muscaleros. The soldiers lost but
one killed, five wounded, and four missing. A few days
ago a young lady named Lizzie Robinson had a narrow
escape from being captured by a party of marauding In-
dians. She was standing on the bank of a creek on her
father's plantation (about 40 miles from here), when she
saw a band of Indians approaching. Secreting-herself be-
neath the shelter of the bank, the whole party passed to
within a few feet of her, driving before them a quantity of li
horses and cattle belonging to her neighbours. This ex-
pedition was undertaken and accomplished more than 100
miles Within the line of the United States forts. Their
number makes them audacious, 311. the...lndians from the
northern frontier having emigrated to the plains of
Texas,