The Sun.
London, England, 1867-10-16 00:00:00

ME SUN, LONuON. WEDNESDAY EVENING, OC[OBER 16, 1867

sh illings, and the colonial difficulty is how to dis-
p, ,se of VI eir superfluous stock. The " half the
world .'s extension " which, according to the poet,
inter venes between England and her southern
colon ies, in spite of the aid of steam, unfortunately
prove) its the adjustment of the balance. We are

afraid . that for the present at least Australian
squat tors must continue to lament that they cannot

sell their beasts at anything like remunerative

price 3, even for " melting down," which seems to
E4lish cars most woeful waste of wholesome
mutton, and on the other hand we in England
must still deplore the ever rising butchers' bills.
A pother striking difference exists in the supplj of
labour. Here there is certainly no lack of hands,

though there may be in some quarters lack of the
vrill to use them. In too many trades men are on
halftime, and find it difficult to get employment of
any kind. In Australia there is the want not of
employers or employment, but of employed. The
Cornish miners are in great distress for want of
work, while in some parts of the colonies miners'
wages are 10s. a week, and there is a cry for
more hands. This inequality at least may be recti-
fied by the friends of emigration if the Cornishmen
are willing to try their luck across the sea, where
their stout hearts and strong hands will be cer-
tain to bring them success.

On the other band, Australia is suffering from
the political difficulties natural to inexperienced
politicians, for though the colonies have managed
their own affairs for a good many years, their
knowledge of statesmanship has been compara-
tively untried, and they miss those sobering in-
fluences which are brought to bear upon the
councils of older nations. Notwithstanding its
undoubted and increasing wealth the colony of
Victoria is just now in a state of temporary
bankruptcy, owing to the want of a little mutual
forbearance between rival parties. In England,
whatever the political excitement of the time, all
parties agree to suspend their differences in the face
of a public necessity. The suspension of the
Habeas Corpus Act in Ireland, or any other ques-
tion of the kind, was certain to obtain the sanction
of the Opposition so soon as the Minister of the
Crown declared it to be necessary for the public
safety. In the same way criticism or inquiry into
diplomatic questions is always immediately sus-
pended if the Minister states that discus-
sion or explanation will be unfavourable to
the public interests. It must be an extraordinary
crisis that would make our English Opposition re-
fuse to vote the estimates or to pass the budget,
however bitterly they might attack the Minister
before or after. It is this feeling which is wanting
in the Victorian Parliament, but which we may
hope time will bring about. A serious difference
has arisen between the two Houses, and both sides
have consulted their own irritated feelings and
wounded dignity rather than the public in-
terests, and accordingly the Treasury is pen-

niless, the public works at a stand-still

and breaches of contract as a natural consequence
are occurring by hundreds. Such are the pleasant
results of a political crisis under the Southern skies,
and we may be thankful that au older, steadier,
and more complex society is not often favoured
with them. The origin of the present trouble was

he dispute between the two Houses the year before

last, when Sir CHARLES DARLING, then Governor
of Victoria, sided, it will be remembered, with the
popular party in the Legislative Assembly. For
this departure from the impartiality thought de-
sirable in a representative of the QUEEN, and
for the breach of constitutional law which
he thus sanctioned, Sir CHARLES was recalled,
greatly to the dissatisfaction of a large party in
Melbourne. By way of expressing their feelings
towards him, and towards their opponents, the
Assembly voted a sum of £20,000 to Lady DAR-
LING as compensation for her husband's recent
removal from office. This sum having been put on
the Estimates of course went up in the Appropria-
tion Bill to the Upper House. it would have
most probably been passed by them without open
opposition, though it was well known they disliked
it, but for extreme imprudence and want of tact on
the part of the Attorney-General. This gentleman,
in his speech in the Assembly, indulged in the most
lavish abuse of all opponents of the grant. They
were described as " the vilest faction" which the
colony had ever known, and the grant was de-
clared to be a " vote of censure" on their conduct.
Under these circumstances, with the unwelcome
clause so rudely forced on them, the members of
Council allowed their natural irritation to get the
better of their judgment, and the Appropriation
Bill was thrown out by 23 to 6—the full number
of the Upper House being 30. Upon this a Minis-
terial crisis arose. The Governor consulted his Minis-
ters, the Ministers resigned, the Opposition could not
form a Government; the Governor was forced to
recall the old Ministry, and the colony finds itself
with a Government indeed, but with an empty
Treasury. The civil servants are unpaid, the con-
tracts are broken, many of the contractors are
obtaining judgments ; and, while the usurers are
profiting largely, the public at large are inconve-
nienced and scandalised. Australia can better
afford to play such tricks than countries nearer
home ; at the same time they must not be often
repeated, lest constitutional government become
altogether a jest. The conduct of the Council has
been severely censured, and it was no doubt unrea-
sonable and unconstitutional ; at the same time, the
conduct of the Attorney-General was equally blame-
able. The fault and the mistake of the Councillors
was that they resented a personal insult on the part
of one man at the expense of the whole population,
thus putting, as colonial legislators are too apt to
do, personal and local feeling above public neces-
sities. In this respect Australia might learn with
advantage from the old country, and infuse
a little more courtesy and moderation into
her debates in both Houses. The present crisis
must very soon settle itself, and will very probably
have a salutary effect on all parties. The Melbourne
politicians have to learn that politics are like edge
tools, and must not be played with, lest unpleasant
and undignified consequences ensue, which it is
not very easy to rectify.

REFORM CELEBRATION AT LEEDS.—Last night
the members of the Reform League dined together at the
Queen's Hotel, to celebrate the passing of the Reform Bill.
Mr. A. Illingworth, of Brad'ord, presided. Mr. E. A.
Leathana, M.P., sketched in humorous terms the mode by
which the bi I had been passed. Mr. Disraeli was not the
first Hebrew legislator who had led his people into a wil-
derness, and, what was more, he resembled Moses in an-
other respect, for he would never live to lead them out of
it. (Applause.) What had been accomplished -was not
the end, but the earnest of future achievements. (Hear.)
Mr. Baines, M.P., in acknowledging the toast of the Houses
of Parliament, gave a mum of the action taken by the
Liberal party to procure a reform in the representation of
the eauntrj. The bill recently passed was not Disraeli's.
He allowed it to be shaped by those around him, his own
business be'ng to stick to his post. (Hear.) The rema'n-
ing toasts wore of a formal character.
THE LOSS OF THE HlOGO.—Yesterday an official
inquiry into the ci •cumstances, attending the loss of the
Hiogo was opened at the Greenwich folice-court before
Mr. Trail!, and Captains Harris and Baker as nautical as-
sessors. Mr. O'Dowd conducted the inquiry on behalf of
the Board of Trade, and Mr. Cottingham, barrister, repre-
sented the owner and the master of the steamer. The only
witness examined yesterday was the fi .st mate, who de-
tailed at considerable length what had transpired from the
time the Hiogo left Sunderland to the time she uck upon
the Eddystone.

LA TEST INIELLIGEHOE.

(REUTER?S TELEGRAMS.)

ACCIDENT TO THE GERMANIA.

F-kLMOITTII, Wednesday Morning.

The Hamburg and New York steamer Germania
(Schwcen, Master), from Southampton, for New
York, is off this port, -with loss of propeller. The
accident occurred on. the 6th inst., in long. 30 W,
whca four days out. She proceeds, iu tow of
steam-tug, to Southampton.

QUEENSTOWN, Oct. 16.

The National Steamship Company's steamship
Denmark, from New York, arrived at 9 a.m. to-
day. She landed passengers and proceeded for
Liverpool. All well,

THE ROMAN QUESTION.
PARTS, Oct. 16.

The llonitenr of this morning, referring to the
insurrectionary movement in the Papal States,
says :—" Authentic and concurrent intelligence
from Rome and Florence enables us to give the
most circumstantial account of the affair of the
13th October, which is the last encounter that has
taken place for some days. Ninety Papal soldiers,
with rash impulse, charged a body of 300 Gari-
baldians, cut their way through them, and reoc-
cupied Monte Libretti. The invaders, however,
having considerable reinforcements from the neigh-
bouring frontier, probably badly guarded, they
resumed the offensive to the number of 800.
Before so superior a force the Pontifical
detachment effected a retreat in good order.
During the whole day they had 10 wounded, whom
they were able to remove, together with 15 Gari-
baldiau prisoners. The losses of the enemy appear
to have been considerable, and it was affirmed at
Florence that Menotti Garibaldi was seriously
wounded. What is certain, however, is that the
invaders found it prudent to anew evacuate Monte
Libretti, and even Tolvaterra, and the Romans
have retaken possession of both those localities."

FLORENCE, Oct. 16.

The entire Italian press is unanimous in calling
for the occupation of the Papal territory.
The Opinione again urges the Government to take
measures to prevent any intervention. The Perse-
veranza insists upon the immediate occupation of
the Pontifical States by the Italian troops, declaring
that every delay is dangerous to the monarchy and
to the institutions of the country.

The provincial journals concur in censuring the
language of the French journals La France and La
Pa trie.

Advices from Rome announce that the insurgent
bands are considerably increasing in number, espe-
cially south of the capital. Yesterday several
unimportant encounters took place near Correse
and Torre Alfina. It was expected that Viterbo
would be to-morrow declared in a state of siege
in consequence of the attitude of the population.
The _Worm states that to-day an extraordinary
Consistory is to be held at Rome, and that, the
Pope has convoked the Cardinals to deliberate upon
present events.

NORTH GERMANY.
BERLIN, Oct. 16.

In the Federal Council yesterday Count Bismarck
announced that the treaty of commerce and navi-
gation with Italy had been signed at Florence.

The Federal Council then adopted the Budget as
voted by the Parliament, the Postage Bill, and the
Bill proposing a loan of 10,000,000 for the Fede-
ral marine and for coast defences.
A communication from the President of the
Parliament and a Bill relating to the rate of interest
on moneys lent were referred to a committee,
together with a proposal of Count Bi6marck
respecting a reform in the mortgage laws.
Herr Dellbruck proposed that the Federal
President should be authorised to conclude a treaty
of friendship, commerce, and navigation with the
Republic of Liberia.

BAD E N.

CARLSRUIIE, Oct. 15.

At the sitting of the Baden Chambers yesterday,
Baron von Freydorf, the Minister for Foreign
Affairs, replied to a question respecting Prince
II ohenlohe's statement in the Bavarian Diet.
His Excellency said that the negotiations for
union with the North German Confederation had
only reached the preliminary stage. The Grand
Duke of Baden had not hitherto expressed himself
as to his relations with Austria. Prince Hohenlohe's
views as to more intimate union with the North were
based upon any interpretation of the Treaty of
Prague, contrary to that of Baden. The Govern-
ment believed that the time was approaching when
the Southern States might join the new Germany

in process of creation with equal rights. It would
endeavour to place the country in a position to de-
mand national union, and would be glad if it could
be effected in concert with the adjacent States.
The Government would be quite willing to agree
with the other Southern States upon all preparatory
steps.

CALCUTTA AND CHINA MAILS.
SuEz, Tuesday, Oct. 15.
The Candia, from Calcutta, on Sept. 23, an
chored here at noon to-day.

MALTA.

VALETTA, Oct. 14.

Cholera is gradually decreasing here. From the
sth until to-day there have been 67 attacks and 46
deaths, making a total since the outbreak of 330
attacks and 149 deaths. Among the military since
the 10th inst. there have been four attacks and
three deaths. _ _

The steam transport Bollivar for Alexandria
passed here on the 14th without communicating.
The telegraphic qommunication between Sicily
and Tunis has been interrupted since the 28th ult.
Cyphers and secret letters are prohibited in tele-
grams to and from Italy.