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

punge the national finances into hopeless confusion

There are quite sufficient tokens of resentment and
disaffection in the Southern States to justify appre-
hension on this score. Every mail brings us fresh
intelligence from one or another of the States.
This time we hear of considerable antipathy being
manifested in Florida towards the national offi-
cials, and several outrages upon negroes being
committed. The people have waited, considering
their antecedents, with wonderful patience and
self-control the will and pleasure of the North,
and it is not surprising if they should now mani-
fest symptoms of discontent, when they find their
adversaries gaining unquestioned power, after
two years' delay. Mutual concessions and mutual
forbearance will be neeessary before the American
people can be really consolidated, 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 STEPHENS 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
to demonstrate the selfish ambition of the heads of

;he 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

7'ew, 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 hasbeen 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 Feniaas 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 arc 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 hear 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 '2O 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 were 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 miner, between 30
and 35 years of age, 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 miner 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. The 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 he lighted a pipe,
and then went back to his work with it in his mouth.
Lawton wont into the hole, but the defendant
had made away with the pipe. He then went and ac-
quainted Mr. Wilson with what he 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 had been struck. Fur 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.
THE WATERFORD ELECTION RIOTS.—We learn
by telegraph that the inquests on the bodies of Captain
Kelly and William O'Brien, who wore mortallyiwounded
by the Lancers in the election riots at Dungarvan last
Saturday, have been adjourned to Monday for the military
to prepare their defence. The Waterford ilail states that
the soldier who was wounded on Frid4y in the attack made
on the military escorting voters to Dungarvan died on
Wednesday at Cloumel.
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 Hall,
Liverpool, in a line with that of the Prince Consort. The
statue ift t 9 cost £5,000.

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

PARIS, Thursday Evening.

There is nothing worth mentioning in the Moni-
teur of to-day. The Journal des Debats, remarking
upon the speech of the Emperor on New Year's-day,
says : " This speech, we think, is destined to re-
assure Europe in regard to the bellicose intentions
which since the battle of Sadowa have been gra-
tuitously attributed to France and to her Govern-
ment. We are happy to be able to hope that we
have entered upon that era of peace and conciliation
to which the Emperor alludes." The Debats then
refers to the nomination of the Bishop of La
Rochelle, M. Landriot, to the Archbishopric
of Reims, and says that his opinions are
of the same liberal tendency as those of Mons.
Darboy, the Archbishop of Paris. Thus his ap-
pointment may be considered as an anticipatory
commentary upon the address which the Emperor
intended to make the next day to the Clergy of
Paris.

The Paris papers of to-day are, as maybe sup-
posed, exclusively occupied with the address of the
Emperor to the diplomatic body and the clergy.
To translate their remarks would be to reiterate the
general and indeed unanimous feeling of admiration
and satisfaction which I told you yesterday the brief
speech had excited.

La Patrie thus comments upon the Emperor's
brief but noble declarations of policy :—" The
words pronounced by the Emperor at the reception
of the diplomatic body will be read with the greatest
attention. Under the noble form of gravity habi-
tual to the Sovereign they included assurances of
the continuation of European peace and aspirations
for the stability of the thrones and the prosperity of
the peoples." " Let us inaugurate," adds the same
paper, " the commencement of the year 1867 under
these hopeful auspices, and may the inscrutable
future, the future which is only under the guidance
of God, confirm the hopes so solemnly expressed
by the Emperor. We must remark upon the
compliment addressed by the Emperor to the
Archbishop of Paris. The whole signification of it
is, in our opinion, comprised in the word concilia-
tion,' which is introduced so as to give a political
bearing to religious matters, the word being in-
tended to connect the interests of religion with
those of the State. Such an association is too rare
in our days, but its success would be very desir-
able, both in the interest of civilised society and
of religion."

The German papers continue to attach great
importance to the affairs of the East. An
idea seems to be that the Porte, which
has hitherto exhibited great deference to
the advice of moderation given by France
and Austria may, in an excited mood, assume a de-
cidedly hostile attitude towards Greece. The

Vienna Journal remarks upon this uneasy feeling
displayed in Germany, and, in anticipation of the
eventuality of war, says A war between the
two countries cannot trouble the peace of Europe
if Russia should continue to maintain the same re-
serve which she has exhibited up to this moment."
Winter maintains its sway. The snow fell in
great abundance last night, and there was plenty of
ice and snow in the streets of Paris this morning. In
the suburbs and villages within eight or ten miles
of Paris the snow was nearly two feet deep.
There was bright sunshine from about 12 till 2.
Then the snow began to fall heavily, steadily, and
abundantly, and the snow continued with little or
no intermission up to post hour. " Pleasure reigns
at Paris ;" the consequence is that the papers, even
after a day of rest, are barren of incident or novelty,
and a difficulty seems to have been experienced to
fill them even with the stale events of two or three
days ago. " The weather" chilling, dreary, and
exciting, though seasonable, is the great topic to-
day with the Parisians.