The Sun.
London, England, 1867-04-18 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONI ON, : THURSDAY E v ENING, APRIL 18, BK.

rather than to think upon the latter incidents of the of the Spanish naval courts, they had good reason
sittings. It is inconsistent with his declaration that for believing that they could, so far as their own
he would resign his post if the Government were countrymen were concerned, bring their cause to a
defeated to come forward and state that the vote successful issue. The first examination into the case
of the Parliament should be agreed to, but it is not I resulted in a decision in favour of the seizure, not-
likely that any one placed much faith in the asser- withstanding the inconsistency of first claiming
tion. The usnal paraphernalia that attends these a vessel as a derelict, and afterwards as a
public ceremonies in Prussia were met with. The smuggler. The first claim, it was, indeed, hardly
speech of King WILLIAM was long, and entered possible to substantiate, even in a Spanish naval
into the consideration of a good many court, seeing that the crew were on board when the
subjects, but nothing new was observable. , vessel was brought into Cadiz ; the second one
We wish that we could notice the absence of those would think could be easily disproved by the owners
appeals to Heaven which have so often hitherto been and commander. Yet it is impossible to doubt that
censured in the official statements and royal mani- without the active and resolute interference of the
festoes in Berlin, but it really looks as if the worse Foreign. office this injustice would have been per-
the policy pursued was the better claim they had on petrated, no restitution made, and no compensa-
Divine protection; audit is almost profane to find tion allowed by the Spanish officials. In spite of
one in so exalted a position assuring his hearers that the evasions of General CALONGE we have every
those acts have been wrought by the special grace reason to believe that the matter will be speedily
of GOD, which have called forth the indignation i arranged. NARVAEZ can hardly be prepared to
of honest men, anti given rise to so much scorn and affront England for the sake of a cargo of tobacco,
contumely among all who value independence and and if he were so reckless and so rash we may easily
respect justice. If the Prussians approve of this i believe that Queen ISABELLA would interfere.
sort of thing, all we can say is, that they are Spanish affairs are complicated enough without the
to be pitied for their ignorance, and condemned for folly and greed of minor officials adding to the
their want of reverence. According to this doctrine, national perplexities, and it is well that even the
all successful adventurers and fortunate speculators, Castilian Cabinet should be brought to realise the
whether with their own property or that of others, fact that a graceful and well-timed concession is
may thus excuse and palliate their conduct, and sometimes more honourable than an inflexible
throw the responsibility of their actions on a higher dignity. The abandonment of San Domingo
power, while they take very good care to keep all was one of the wisest and most politic acts of any
the profit to themselves. Nothing can succeed, Spanish Minister for a long time past, and we are
however, in making the Prussians exhibit moderation very sure that the Spaniards generally will hear
in their acts or modesty in their language, and there- with satisfaction that the dispute with England is
fore all that is to be done is to observe how far they likely to come to a speedy termination. Lord
wander from the paths of propriety, and proceed to STANLEY, notwithstanding his non-intervention
justify themselves with unblushing effrontery and principles, has shown that he is quite prepared to
amazing coolness. defend the national honour and interests, and that
The KING commences by congratulating the he knows when to exhibit a wise determination,
members of the North German Confedera- as well as now to avoid becoming entangled in
tion at the satisfactory termination of their continental disturbances. Any exhibition of vacil-
" important labours." It would almost seem as lation or of hesitation would have been fatal to the
if the passage which refers to the manner in results of his interference, and we should probably
which the work was carried on was composed be- have " drifted" on into a serious quarrel with
fore the momentous division on the army question, I Spain without attaining the end desired.
and it was deemed inadvisable to alter it, for the
" common objects" of the Government and the
Deputies, to complete the work speedily and satis-
factorily, were not much kept in view during the
recent struggles and divisions. It may be all for
the best, however, that the KING and his " satellite"
should have found out that they were not quite in-
fallible before all the preliminary arrangements
were carried out ; it may teach them wisdom and
induce them to pay a little more deference for the
wishes of others for the future. Were not the
consequences so serious it would be amusing
to notice the expressions of the KING
relating to the " Individual States." They have, we
learn, " retained their freedom of action in all de-
partments wherein variety and development are
admissible and salutary." We know now at any
rate within what narrow limits are confined the
said variety and development, and it contrasts ill
with the prophecies concerning the progress of Ger-
many which have been so rife, from Count Bts-
MARCK downwards. The sacrifices which have
been made have been effected for the
sake of Germany ; but who can say what
Prussia has done that is worthy of being
dignified by the name of sacrifice. She has
made about as much sacrifice as Germany has re-
quired, of course, but it would not do for her not
to affect a virtue whether she has it or not. Really,
a stranger might be justified in thinking that the
Royal speech celebrated the victory of the people
and nations that had assailed their rights, instead of
being the triumphant declaration on the part of a
country that had monopolised power to itself,
and appropriated the possessions of its smaller
neighbours without
*scruple or compunc-
tion. " The time has arrived when all
German Fatherland is able to uphold its plaCe, its
rights, and its dignity by its own collective strength.
The national self-consciousness, which has found
elevated expression in the Parliament, has met with
a powerful echo from all quarters of Germany."
This sounds very grand, but it is quite another
thing to define its meaning. There were none for
to interfere with Germany but Prussia, and how the
triumph of that Power over the rights of others can
constitute a cause for national thanksgivings might
well puzzle the most astute of German philosophers
to define. About the same meaning attaches itself
to the phrase " regained power," which appears
further on. As usual, the King expresses his trust
that Providence will perfect the work thus begun
through succeeding generations, and so ends the
discourse delivered on the momentous occasion.
If there are any patriotic Germans who believe that
the Fatherland will be benefited by those changes,
they are very much to be pitied, because disap-
pointment complete and overwhelming awaits
them, and the far-sighted may well exclaim when
they hear the German people's expressions, made by
the King and ratified by his Ministers, Timea
danaos et dona fcrentes, for what State, large or
small, was ever yet connected in intimate relations
with Prussia that did not bitterly regret the day
that led to such engagements.

The members of the Trades' Unions do not hesi
tate to put their leading theories fully and fairly
before the public ; and accordingly those who are
interested in the matter may understand pretty
clearly the principles on which theee associations
are conducted. The principle of combination
against a superior force, the doctrine that union
is strength, has been admitted from very early
times to be a sound and wise one. The old fable
of the faggots which could with ease be broken
singly, but which, bound together, resisted all
efforts, gave it a practical illustration ; and it is upon
this principle that working men's associations were
originally founded. The men were placed at a
great disadvautage as compared with their employers,
who not only possessed capital and intelligence, but
could also confer together and regulate the rate of
wages. It seemed, therefore, a natural and pru-
dent thing for the men, by combining together,
to have some means of resisting injustice, so as
to guard themselves against an unfair depreciation
of their labour by the only means in their power.
So far all was well, and no doubt such combi-
nations have done good, and ameliorated the posi-
tion of the working man. But the power thus
exercised is liable to abuse, and there is every rea-
son to believe that it has been abused to a great
and serious extent. Setting aside the case of the
capitalists, who are very well able to take care of
themselves, who can import workmen from abroad
or carry their capital across the seas, or give their
contracts to foreign houses, we must admit that a
very unfair pressure is put upon the workmen them-
salves by the agency of these societies. It is as if the
armour which a man put on to protect him against the
enemy crushed him by its own weight. Very few
employers would dream of exercising such coercion
as the Trades' Unionists put upon their fellows. The
radical fault of all such associations is that they
strike at the great principle of individual liberty.
A man, be be ever so good a workman, must not do
more than a certain amount of work in a given time.
If he does in some societies he is compelled to pay a
fine ! This is a good method for improving the quality
of English work truly ; and it is no wonder that
foreign competitors are beginning to outstrip us in
the race. Then if an employer takes on a non-
union man all the rest will strike till he is turned
off, whatever his abilities or character. Again, in
certain trades a man may not bring up his own son
to his trade, neither may a master take on more
than a certain number of apprentices. We say no-
thing of the acts of violence which all respectable
societies condemn ; but these are the recognised
principles they are not ashamed to acknowledge.
All experience tells ua that they are founded on a
mistake, since mankind can never be brought to a
dead level of uniformity, and superior talent and
energy must make its way ; but that thousands of
intelligent men should submit to such a doctrine
proves that English workmen have still something
to learn in the science of political economy.

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

The news just received from Madrid will be
heard with general satisfaction. The Prize Court
at Cadiz, we learn, has declared the capture of the
Queen Victoria by the Spanish cruiser to have been
illegal. There can, consequently, be no shadow of
an excuse for the Spanish Government to persist in
opposing the just claims of the English Minister.
It is true that the case of the Tornado still remains
to be adjusted, but the satisfactory settlement of
the one difficulty, though not necessarily affect-
ing the other, encourages us to hope that an
amicable understanding may be arrived at. The
Cabinet of Madrid may probably become convinced
that Lord STANLEY was in earnest, and that he
was fully prepared to enforce his just claims if
they did not meet with proper attention. Rash
and haughty as -they are, they can scarcely be pre-
pared for actual hostilities with any great Power ;
indeed the internal condition of Spain is such, be-
tween an exhausted Exchequer and a discontented
population, that it would be scarcely possible to
carry on a war with a much less formidable ad-
versary than England. The nature of the dispute
respecting the Queen Victoria was not indeed one
which demanded any such extremities; but Spaniards
are not always to be measured by the standard of other
men. England, at least, has had too good reason
to mistrust their good faith, and, in spite of the
boasted Castilian honour, they have not always
been willing either to pay their debts or to fulfil
their engagements. Despite their stateliness and
courtesy, it often requires a very firm hand to re-
duce their elaborate diplomacy to anything like
straightforward common sense and simple justice.
It was the more necessary that the English repre-
sentatives should insist upon full justice being
done in the case of the Queen Victoria,
because the case is . one so very liable to recur.
The revenue laws of Spain afford every temptation to
unscrupulous agents to seize merchant vessels on
flimsy pretexts. The Queen Victoria had, as we
know, a cargo of tobacco, and it was easy to get
up a charge of illicit traffic after the first seizure.
The captors were unwilling to let the prize slip out
of their hAntia Anti 1-taina fully. aware of the nature

(FROM OUR ON lAVtils N
CORRESPONDENT.)hedatntheesdy adelegates
PAWRIS, Evening.
of
A private despatch states
Northern Germany have given to the Reichstag .
their views respecting the change introduced by the
Parliament into the Federal Constitution. On
comparing the changes of the text of the 30 articles
it appears manifest that about half of them have
been subjected to modifications. Nevertheless it is
believed, although these changes are all more or less
radical, that there will be agreement upon the sub-
ject. M. de Bismarck announced that the Federal
Government would consent to most of these amend-
ments in the Constitution.
The Legislative Body, after agreeing to the law
respecting municipal councils, and that conferring
a national recompense upon M. de Lamartine, have
adjourned for the Easter holidays till the 25th inst.
The sum voted is 500,000 f., which he can bequeath
by will, and be will receive the interest of it during
his life at 5 per cent.
The Italian Senate, constituted into a High Court
of Justice, has given its decision upon the charges
against Admiral Persano. They have declared him
guilty of disobedience, incapacity, and negligence,
and have sentenced him to the loss of his rank, and
to pay the expenses of the trial.
The Moniteur says it has received from Port-au-
Prince some further particulars of the events which
preceded and followed the fall of President Geffrard.
Seeing the imminence of the crisis, the President
had made modifications in his Ministry, and con-
voked the Senate within a brief delay in order to
surrender his post into their hands. An insurrec•
tion having, however, broken out in the meantime,
the President profited by the unexpected arrival of
the French aviso, the d'Estaing, and with the assist-
ance of the French Consul embarked with his
family. The Council of Secretaries of State imme-
mediately assembled, and declared itself in perma-
nence until the constitutional appointment of a new
President. Among the candidates for the office
are General Paul, who is supported by the Senate ;
General Petion Taubert, and General Nissaze Sa-
gette, who diverts the resistance at St. Marc, and
who was the chief cause of the departure
of M. Geffrard. At the date of the 16th
of March order reigned in the Haytian Republic,
where, however, French interests are not in the least
compromised. The Aviso d'Estaing had returned
to Port-au-Prince on the 22d.

ThA ;Wm/wird Dininmatioue has some informa-

tion respecting the supposed policy of England,
which, in spite of its claim to official authority,
must be received with what the French papers call
" reserve." It says that England will not be con-
tent with merely giving an opinion in regard to the
treaty of 1839, quite opposed to that of the Cabinet
of Berlin, but that she is disposed to insist that the
Luxembourg question shall be solved in conformity
with the wishes of the population and the interest of
the French Government. It adds that England,
Austria, and Russia are unanimously of opinion,

contrary to the claim of Prussia, that the guarantee
stipulated by the Treaties of 1839 does not give au-
thority to Prussia to occupy the fortress of Luxem-
bourg. In consequence Prussia is becoming more

LATEST INTEL LIGENOF.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

AMERICA.

conciliatory.
The transport Ponsone has sailed from Oran with
orders to proceed to Madeira to take on board a
number of negroes coming to Paris from all points
of Senegambia, to visit the Exhibition. These
negroes belong to the aristocratic portion of the
people under the sovereignty of France, and were
brought to Madeira by one of the French ships on
the naval station at Senegal.

As the Exhibition was opened precisely on the
day which was fixed there will be the same punc-
tuality in closing it upon the day announced, the
31st of October. A Russian Company, it is said,

have purchased all the materials used in its con-
struction. In class No. 66 bis, there have just been
. _

placed the two small boats exhibited by the Empress,
a caique, and a Venetian gondola. The Imperial
Commissioners of the class sent to her Majesty the
usual exhibitors card, with her portrait in the corner.
It has the following inscription :--" Class 66 bis.

Her Majesty the Empress exhibitor."
The Mexican temple, which is now installed in
the Park, is au exact imitation of the temple of
Bochicabo, after studies made upon the spot by a
scientific mission sent by the French Government
to Mexico. _ _

NEW YORK, April 17th, 6 p.m.

The Supreme Court bas subpoenaed Generals
Grant and Pope and Mr. Stanton to answer the
complaint of Georgia next September.

The Great Eastern has sailed for Europe. The
City of Boston has arrived out.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Closing Prices.—Gold, 1354 sterling ; Exchange
on London, 1091 ; 5-21 United States Bonds, 109.1 ;
Illinois, 4131 ; Erie, 561. Cotton, middling up-
land, 27k. Petroleum, refined, 26.

One of the Paris papers seems to have later in-
formation than that of the Moniteur upon the sub-
ject of the Revolution in Hayti. At all events,
says that General Hissago Sagot, commandant o
St. Marc, has been appointed President by the
Provisional Council, with Salnave and Delorme as
members of the Consulting Council. A proclama-
tion had been drawn up to the people and the army
by the Council of State, inviting the people to re-
construct the edifice destroyed by fatal passions and
deprecating political agitation. It calls upon them
to remain calm and to avoid political agitation. It
concludes by expressing its desire to provide for the
safety of the country, and professes to uphold the
principle of liberty, equality, the Republic, and the
Constitution.
The son of Baron de Budberg, the Russian Am-
bassador, who was so seriously hurt by being
thrown from his horse, is pronounced to be now out
of danger, and his recovery is proceeding in a
satisfactory manner.
The Spring Regatta of the Paris Sailing Club
took place on Sunday at Argenteuil, although a
perfect tempest prevailed, and the attendance was
good. Only three boats contested for the prize—
Temps (belonging to M. Carpentier), Aria (to M.
Bateman), and Marie Gabrielle (to M. Benort
Champy). The prize was won by Marie Gabrielle,
who, for the twenty-fifth time, arrived first.
The Academy of Medicine of Belgium has
shall
da
describe
theprizeofl,2eoaoufs.esfor the memoir which
best
of the contagious fever among symptoms, and
animals. natureTh e
memoir is to mention the various species of
animals which are the most susceptible of contract-
ing the disease, and to point out the various
characteristics by which it is distinguished. The
competition is to be open until the Ist of January
next.
A curious manuscript was sold at the last
public sale in the Rue Druot, which was written
by the celebrated Vidocq, once the head of the
Police de Surete, or Detective Police. It forms a
large dictionary of the slang used by French thieves,
with a glossary or explanation of the terms. It is
dated 1835. Vedocq died some eight or nine years
ago. At the end of the MS. is a copy of a petition
sent by criminals condemned to the hulks or trans-
portation to Louis XVIII. at his second accession
to the Throne of France in 1815. In this petition
the thieves recall to the recollection of their beloved
Sovereign the fact that upon his return to the
Throne in 1814 they sent him a petition praying
for pardon, and thadt Linuceentohthatingtimbuet (during the
tites
albosoendcae."
days)
they h 4
But, oh King !" says the petition in con-
clusion, " your return has revived our hopes." The
petitioners promise the King, if he will pardon
them, that they will not repeat their sins, and
that they will sing a mass to his honour. lam
not aware whether this document terminates with
the formula onceynsnurggpees::idonfeorsr
wailrleetviteironfrotn
attorneys—" prey."
An as
tron andomer of Marseilles has discovered a
new small comet near the star Gamma, of the
constellation the Scales, in right ascension 225
deg. 45 min., and in Austral declination of 2 deg.
27 min. The comet has the aspect of a diffuse
nebulous body, of from 4 to 5 min. in diameter,
rather more luminous in the centre, and without
a tail. The movement of the comet at present is,
in 24 hours, of only a few minutes in right ascen-
sion, and upon the same parallel of declination.
The weather has been fine and agreeable to-
day, and there has been a larger attendance and
more animation than I have yet observed.
At one of the Paris papers a piece is now being
played which is full of the most outrageous co-
nundrums. Here is a specimen :—The question is
asked, Of what use are cannon ? The answer is,
They have served to increase les dettes aux nations
(detonations).
The result of the further discussion on the law
for the abolition of imprisonment for debt was
that the Chamber agreed to the article sent back
to the committee. It is a very exciting topic with
the commercial world.
The
eehier
advocates point n
argumentoowf
imprison-
mentcht oiefi y settleo n
is whether the punishment of imprisonment for
debt is to be retained in case of non-payment of
• thla
gf
co
sr
debtn maintain civilsuits.
their
the ground that many favourable modifications have
been made in behalf of the debtor.
Ato debtors in the time of the Romans.
deprovisionsor
refusedw as
tthat a
pay hie
baifstedreabtd,ealaiyidonf
0/3e
Ociog
nandel
eawriterywosfo
ttu hhlwould
calls attention to the severity of the law in regard
the
bhiemcomhoemseec,utriietyhifmor him, the
htehenecele, ditor might
and
At another period the creditor, after giving three
days' notice to the debtor, might, in case of non-
payment then, take his debtor to the public mar-
ket and there expose him during three days, and
cause a crier to proclaim from time to time the
amount of the sum of which he had been defrauded.
If a man became indebted to several creditors
they might, after a notice of three days, cut his
body into as many pieces as they liked, or the
creditors might sell the debtor to the foreigners
who lived beyond the Tiber. It was Louis XV.
who instituted the Gardes du Commerce, or the per-
sons who take debtors into custody. They now
form a regular corporation, at the head of which
is M. Perrin ; the secretary is M. Lespart. It is
stated that a member of the corporation once
asked a poet whom they should select as their
patron saint. " You must not seek for him in the
almanack," replied the pet, " but in the Bible.
Let it be Joshua, for he tried even to arrest the
sun." Under the existing system the creditor is
bound to provide food for his debtors in the Rue de
Clichy. In case of default in finding reasonable
and proper food for the debtor the omission en-
titles the debtor to his discharge. When the
news that the article was agreed to by the Cham-
ber reached the prison it was read aloud by one
of the prisoners, and there was immense enthu-
siasm. Thu prisoners asked for permission to
illuminate the prison at night. There still exists
in the garden of the Tuileries a cafe at which a
debtor was arrested, but he pleaded before the
tribunals that a person in a Royal residence was
privileged, and the court set him at liberty.

THE NEW LIBERAL " `Tim."—The division of
last Saturday morning on Mr. Gladstone's amendment was
the last in which Mr. Brand will appear as "whip" to the
Opposition. After the Easter recess his place will be taken
by fir. George Cireutell Glyn, the member for Shutfteebury.