The Sun.
London, England, 1867-06-13 00:00:00

LONDON, THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 18G7.

Notwithstanding the proverbial uncertainty of
t"e intelligence which reaches us from Mexico there
seems little doubt of the successes of the Liberalists.
Queretaro is actually in their hand, and those who,
on the first receipt of the news, were inclined to T
doubt its accuracy, have changed their opinions on I
finding that despatches, arriving from all parts of
the country, tell the same tale. Queretaro is a
strongly fortified city, lying some hundred miles to
the north of the city of Mexico. The attempt of ,
MAXIMILIAN to entrench himself there was not
altogether so desperate as it appeared, since he had.
with him the best of his troops behind strong
fortifications in the midst of a fertile district. But
the Liberals took up the siege in earnest, and spared
no effort to starve out the garrison and force the
EMPEROR to surrender. They rejected all terms of
capitulation, and at last by a successful movement
took the garrison by surprise and entered the
city. There was nothing left for it but an imme-
diate surrender if MAXIMILIAN wished to save the
lives of any of his followers from indiscriminate
massacre, and accordingly no stipulations were
made. The details have not reached the United
States, but it is known that on the 17th of May,
two days after the siege, the Emperor was still
alive, and was being transported under guard
to JUAREZ at San Luis Potosi. Much interest is
felt in his fate in the States, and naturally his re-
latives in Europe experience deep anxiety. The
Austrian Minister had an interview with the PRE-
SIDENT according to instruction from his Court to
make further inquiries. Mr. JOHNSON was unable to
give later or more certain news than was already
known, but he expressed his belief that Maxi-
milian's life would be spared. Since the first ex-
citement of the capture is over, JUAREZ Will hardly,
we may hope, be so rash as to take the life of
his illustrious prisoner, since by doing so he would
offer a serious affront to the Americans, and
might very possibly lose their support. His posi-
tion is anything but secure, and he has hosts of
rivals, more or less formidable. If the States
choose to oppose him and support ORTEGA, or
any other of the claimants to the :tottering dig-
-1 nity of sovereignty in Mexico, JUAREZ'S term
of power would probably be very short. MAXI-
MILIAN'S party is completely broken up, and he
would therefore have no possible excuse for re-
sorting to extremities. The real danger lies in
the cruelty and recklessness of life characteristic
of the Mexicans, but unless JUAREZ can control
this when great political ends are at stake there is
no chance of his governing the country.
The condition of the national finances continue
to excite some uneasiness in the States. A letter
from the Secretary of the Treasury, which
has lately been published, has shown men
plainly what the Radical experiments in
legislation have cost them. The Secretary
plainly says to his correspondents, the principal men
of Boston and the vicinity, that " They must not
expect the monthly statements for the rest of the
present and the early part of the next fiscal year to
be as satisfactory as they have been for many
months past." lle enumerates many adverse in-
fluences, especially mentioning the extra bounties
to soldiers, the liberal appropriations of Congress,
the general failure of the wheat crop, the delay of
Southern restoration, the dulness of trade, and
the consequently reduced receipts from taxes.
That these remarks of the Secretary are fully
based on fact may be seen by an examination of
the Government statement of receipts ant expendi-
ture, just issued, which shows the Cus oms receipts
for the first quarter of the year to be less by nearly
half-a-million dollars than those of the correspond-
ing quarter in 1866 ; while the Inland Revenue
shows a reduction of nearly $18,000,000. It is no
wonder with such figures before him the Secretary
thinks it time to call the public attention to
the state of things. Another session of
Congress may involve the country, rich ns
it is, in serious perplexity, if bounties
and appropriations are to be the order of the
day, which will most likely be the case in view of
the Presidential contest. The Secretary gives his
countrymen very good advice, and urges upon them
the necessity of restoring the Southern States as
quickly as possible, and of practising national
economy. Mr. STEVENS'S favourite idea of confis-
cation is being carried out backwards. In refusing
common justice to the people of the South the
North is involving itself in serious losses, and sacri-
ficing a large part of the national revenue. Radi-
calism, as interpreted by Mr. STEVENS and Mr.
ASHLEY, is an expensive amusement, and the States
have tried it quite long enough.

According to accounts received here, it appears
that the Berlin Government will not find it so easy
as they expect to make arrangements with the
Danes. Denmark has caused a declaration to be
made, which sets forth that she will undertake no
" guarantee" for preserving the national rights of
the German inhabitants of North Schleswig, and
that it will be quite impossible for her to enter into
negotiations with Prussia upon this matter. There
is not much to surprise some in this, for it
has seemed all along a most inconsiderate and
extraordinary thing that the proposed scheme
should be carried out. The assurance which Den-
mark is said to have given is to the effect that she
will treat the German inhabitants of these districts
which will revert to her by the result of the ple-
biscitum exclusively according to Danish laws.
This is very fair, and really comprises all that one
has a right to expect. It would be virtually in-
fringing the arrangements made thus to insert
clauses and to make promises and stipulations of this
sort. What earthly reason can exist for these German
inhabitants to be treated in this exceptional manner,
or how can Prussia presume to make the claim, and
proffer the request? It is to be hoped that Den-
mark will be able to hold firm on this point, and we
feel almost certain that she will on account of the
new aspect of affairs that has arisen since the period
of the London Conference. The decisions arrived
at by that assembly have certainly done something
in a small degree, and yet in an effectual manner; td
check the inordinate pretensions of the Berlin autho-
rities, and in a case of this sort any step that is
gained is a great advantage. Prussia would not
just now willingly offend the other States of Europe
by the appearance of renewed cupidity on her part,
and it would be an indirect insult, if not a direct
affront, for her to begin another imbroglio just as
every one is rejoicing in the serener state of things.
Prussia's discomfiture, or at all events disappoint-
ment in the matter of Luxembourg, may turn out
to be fair, if a partial one to Denmark. For some
years it has unfortunately been the case that
Prussia has been alone in the settlement of things,
and no Power of Europe has teen willing
or able to interfere efiectually to prevent
Lhl~r4bia cUryius out her =az purp es 3 d seifi4l