The Sun.
London, England, 1867-06-27 00:00:00

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LONDON, THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 1867.

It is a wearisome task to follow the course of the
Prussians, but it will not do to pass over their acts
altogether in silence, while some mistaken indi-
viduals, and other perverse ones, persist in lauding
their efforts and magnifying their achievements. If

there be one thing more obnoxious than another in
the doings of the Prussians it is their cruelty. At
the time of their war with Denmark Lord DERBY
remarked in the House of Lords that he regretted
to find that the Prussian soldiers still disgraced
themselves by the exercise of that cruelty which in
the time of the general European war had called
forth the just condemnation of the Duke of WEL-
LINGTON. It is always the same in peace or war,
in succesu or defeat, while pursuing a tentative
policy, or while following up a victorious struggle ;
one thing appears more striking than another—a
true national characteristic—and that is cruelty.
The Paris journaLs have the sense and spirit
to expose some of this unseemly conduct, and
it is well that they should do so. The
Daglabet has given some distressing de-
tails concerning the manner in which the
Prussian authorities persecute the Danes of North-
Schleswig. This system is as unfair and unjust in
a legal sense as it is unworthy and ungenerous,
according to a moral point of view. The Treaty
provides that those natives of Schleswig who wish
to do so may return to Denmark, but the vindictive
oppressors who were forced to make this cession,
nullify its effects by declaring that they must take
their families with them, whether they are desirous
of so doing or not. The authorities have published
an ordinance, which goes even beyond this arbitrary
arrangement. It forbids the natives of Schleswig
to return to the Duchy after having quitted it, and
this iu the face of the permission vouchsafed by the
Treaty of 1864 to change their place of residence as
often as they like during the next fourteen 3 ears.
If any native should reappear in the Duchy after
having been to Denmark he is to be expelled at
once, and thus it will be seen that these un-
fortunate individuals have not the privileges
accorded to foreigners, for these latter can remain
as long as they wish in the Duchy.
Surely no comment is needed to prove the in-
justice of this course, and it is, indeed, crowning
evidence of the want of faith exhibited by Prussia.
It is deeply to be deplored that this country should
have played so false a part to Denmark, and per-
mitted the unscrupulous authorities at Berlin to see
that they could do as they like. Our inattention
and indifference has brought a sad fate upon many
of the unfortunate victims of Count BISMARCK'S
aggressive polidy, and at least we may hope that it
will remain as a solemn warning to all future gene-
rations of statesmen, and prevent them from letting
might get the triumph over right in so extraordinary
a manner. Had the English Government been firm
as they were hesitating, and as decided as they were
yielding, avery different state of things would have
ensued ; but, unhappily, it turned out otherwise,
and while suffering has been the portion of the
Danes shame undoubtedly appertains to ourselves.
No wonder that the Daglabet should record these
doings with horror, and indignantly demand that
some notice should be taken of the " cry of distress
arising from the unfortunate population." The Siecle
observes, in allusion to this, " France cannot be in-
different to the outrages referred to, for it was at
her demand that the article in the Treaty of Prague
was introduced " stipulating that the Danish popu-
lation of Schleswig should be consulted as to thei
wish to return to Denmark." Another in-
stance of arbitrary interference and of bitter
persecution is afforded by the Arent.). :Na-
tional, which states that the Prussian Government
has demanded with great eagerness, and has
actually obtained, from the Dutch Government the
expulsion of one hundred and fifty officers and
soldiers, Hanoverian refugees. What irritates one
in respect to the Prussians is that they go out of
their way to inflict injuries on others, and cannot
be just, far less generous, when they have gained a
great deal more than they expected at the outset.
After the decided advantages of last year
IA hat excuse can be offered for the audacious at-
tempts now so persistently made to push things
beyond endurance, and to crush anew those al-
ready so heavily afflicted. The day of reckoning
must and will come, for all those violations of
honour, truth, and justice; and meanwhile the
game is not entirely in their own hands, for they
have made a powerful enemy in France, who watches
everything with suspicion, and who has already, in
the Treaty of Luxembourg, partly foiled the insi-
dious intentions of the Berlin Government, and
made it retreat within due limits.

The Democrats of America are taking fresh
courage, and are looking forward with hope and
confidence to the elections in the fall. The coun-
try, they flatter themselves, and not altogether with-
out reason, is disgusted with Radicalism in its
present form, and indeed the experimental legisla-
tion of the ultra-Republicans has cost the American
public dear. Rumours are abroad in Washington
that if Congress does not meet next month, the
condition of affairs, both political and finan-
cial', will induce the PRESIDENT to convene
an extra session in August. The PRESIDENT,
however, has not much reason to hope for
substantial assistance from STEVENS, ASHLEY, and
their associates. The difficulties complained of are
in great measure due to their legislation already,
so it is not very easy to believe that they would
undo their own work. The present unsatisfactory
state of the finances is clearly traceable to their
reckless expenditure in bounties and other totally
unnecessary channels. Unnecessary, that is to say
for the States, though turned to very good account
in keeping up the dominion of the Radicals.
Again, the depressed state of trade and
general dulness of business is mainly due to
the unsettled condition in which Mr. STEVENS
and his friends persist in keeping the Southern
States. The political bitterness and agitation is of
course clearly traceable to the same cause, and the
country may thank the Radicals for having intro-
duced a fertile source of discord into the South first,
as the people, white and black, were settling into
something like tranquillity. The perpetual con-
flicts between civil and military authority effectu-
ally prevent anything like stability or content
among the Southern people. The whole policy
of the Radicals would seem to indicate that
they wish or intend to irritate them into a
fresh rebellion, or at least to stir them up
to such open disaffection as will afford a plausible
pretext for wholesale confiscation. Louisiana has
recently been the scene of an animated dispute be-
tween the rulers, which ended in the removal of
Governor WELLS by General SIIEF.IDAN. As we
heard by the last mail, Governor WELLS refused
to yield his place to his successor, whereupon Gen.
SHERIDAN compelled him to surrender. He has, it
ig nnler,,;too 1, appealed to Washington, and the',
Cabinet have decided that General SHERIDAN ex- I
ceeded his powers, the military officers in command
having no right to remove civil officers deriving
their authority from the Southern State Govern
ments. The case of Governor WELLS is not an
isolated one, as several other civil officers have been
dislodged by the invaders in different parts of the
South. But although the Cabinet has, it is said,
fully decided in their favour, there is very little
chance of their reinstatement. The Government is
not strong enough to vindicate the supremacy of
civil law, while from Congress itself, as at present
constituted, there is nothing to b 3 hoped. The
Democratic party, as we have said, are beginning,

in consequence of the general dissatisfaction,
to recover their courage, and they have
been holding a grand Convention in Pennsy-
lvania, where the Republicans last year ob-
tained a large majority. The Democrats are
hopeful of success this fall, and have adopted a
series of resolutions representing their policy. They
declare the Southern States to be entitled to repre-
sentation, they oppose negro suffrage, and charge
the Republicans with destroying the Constitution,
and with wholesale corruption. It will not improve
their credit in this country to find them supporting
the Protective Tariff Bill, but this unfortunately is
the case with politicians of all parties in the States.
If the Democrats can succeed in strengthening
their position in Congress, there may be some hope
of restoring tranquillity and confidence to the
country—otherwise it, is difficult to see how even
the form of Government in the South can be much
longer kept up. The position of the finances will,
no doubt, be mainly instrumental in effecting this
change, if it is effected, since Americans can best ap-
preciate the merits or demerits of a policy when they
realise its practical results in dollars and cents.

The Irish land question occupied the time of the
House of Commons yesterday, but no result was
obtained, as the debate was adjourned, Sir C.
OTOGIILEN spoke at considerable length upon
moving the bill. Upon the whole the proposals he
made seemed fair enough, and certainly there is one
thing to he said, that the present arrangements do
not seem to succeed. They neither produce satis-
faction to the holder of property nor comfort to the
tenant. Of course a great deal may be said on both
sides of . the question, as there generally is in such
complicated matters ; but if this bill be thrown out,
as it will most probably be, why should not the
House take the matter up, and seek to devise a
remedy for the evils that s) glaringly exist ? The
bill discussed yesterday sought to provide that
henceforth no tenancy from year to year should be
created by construction of law, and that failing
a contract all tenancies shall be presumed
to be for the term of twenty-one years,
or that a dispossessed annual tenant should be en-
titled to compensation for certain things. Without
at all agreeing with Mr. Sergeant BARRY that the
state of the laud question in Ireland has given rise
to Fenianism, we think that there was a great deal
of truth in the opinions of some of the Irish mem-
bers, to the effect that a better understanding would
prevail, and that more friendly relations would be
established between landlord and tenant, if there
existed more clearness in the contracts between
them, and if the tenant felt more certain of his
Among the many grievances, real or
imaginary, of Ireland, this land question has
always held a prominent place, and it would be
a happy thing for all those nearly or remotely
connected with the country if a satisfactory solu-
tion could be come to concerning it. The
ATTORNEY - GENERAL was against the Bill,
which he said would not answer the end in view;
ti
ahc
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eFr
landeecneina
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connec-
tion question,had
aialnofdtztici
ithnelg;
taoldvaddseodii
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assured tchoconfiln.
e
with the late trials as prosecutor. Perhaps
some good may be obtained by this prolonged dis-
cussion, even if no immediate end is answered by it,
for too much attention cannot be given to the
subject.

tenure.

We are not surprised to find that the Trades'
Unions' delegates of London have held a meeting
for the express purpose of expressing their abhor-
rence of the atrocities recently brought to light at
Sheffield. We cannot say, however, that the meet-
ing is calculated to improve their position in the
eyes of their countrymen, inasmuch as it displayed
great want of temper and tolerance. It was not to be
supposed that the other trades' unions of the coun-
try would do otherwise than denounce such crimes,
at least in public ; but we are sorry to find the
mischief still at work, and the interests of " the
Union" are still paramount to those more ordinary
considerations of right and wrong, of justice and
humanity, which trouble other men. The fact is
that those who speak on these occasions are the
delegates, or secretaries, or leading men of the
unions, to whom power and position are too plea-
sant to be willingly surrendered. We have very
little doubt that if it were possible to convene a
meeting of the rank and rile of trades' unions, the
men who are compelled to pay down heavy contri-
butions out of their earnings for fear of " ratten-
ings " would tell a very different tale. Setting aside
the personal considerations, we have no doubt that a
large proportion of them would, if released from
the influence of their leaders, unhesitatingly de-
nounce the social tyranny and oppression counte-
nanced by the best of these unions. It is very little
use for resolutions to be passed denouncing the
" foul deeds" of BROADHEAD and the others, when
the prevailing feeling is evidently one of apprehen-
sion lest the strong arm of the law should be
stretched out against such secret societies. Thus a
speaker at last night's meeting defended every-
thing connected with trades' unions except the
violence, and maintained the right of a number
of workmen to refuse to work with a man
who had offended trades' union principles.
What becomes, then, of individual liberty so far as
that man is concerned? The same speaker said
that nothing could be more diabolical than the
Sheffield outrages, except the action of masters in
locking out their workmen. This, if we remember
rightly, is very much what BROADHEAD himself
said of FEARNEHOUGH at the time of the explosion.
The last resolution carried by the meeting clearly
indicated that the delegates have not learned much
by experience, and the whole tone of their speeches
and resolutions looks very much as if the meeting
was rather a necessary concession to public opinion
than a matter of real conviction on their part.

RUGBY SCHOOL—Yesterday was the tercentenary
of the foundation of Rugby School, and the annual speech
(lay as well, consequently the town was en fete, and the
famous seminary established by old Lawrence Sheriff in
1567, was filled with old Rugbeians, who had come to hear
the present scholars declaim the speeches. In the morn-
ing service was held in the chapel, and Dr. Temple, the
head-master, preached an occasional sermon. The speeches
were commenced in the great school at three o'clock.
Among the visitors present were the Bishop of London,
the Dean of Westminster, Lord Scarsdale, Right Hon. J.
G. Goschen, M.P., Sir J. D. Hay, Bart., M.P., Sir J. M.
Stuart, Sir .T. Forgusson, M.P., Col. Fane, M.P., Rev. Dr.
Butler, Rev. Dr. Collis, Hon. Mrs. Stuart Wortley, &c.
The head-master (Dr. 'Temple) commenced the proceed-
ings by reading a long list of Rugbeians who since Mid-
summer of last year had attained high university honours.
The speeches were then delivered, and were frequently
applauded. Iu the evening a brilliant company dined to-
gether in the Town II dl. The Dean of Westminster pre-
sided.

MURDER IN ABERDEEN.—A murder of a very
agg:., :.;to I and horrifying description has been committed
in Aberdeen. The body of a widow, brutally mutilated,
was discovered on Tuesday in a house there, which had
been shut since _Cridny night or Saturday morning; and
her son, a young luaLl about 27 years of age, who was dis-
missed a week ago on account of drunkenness from a situa-
tion which he held as clerk, has been apprehended and
charged with the crime.

A RURAL MENAGERIE.—The adjourned case in
which Mr. Chantrell, of Ivy Lodge, llottingJean, was
charged with havirg a nuisance, consisting of an extra-
ordinary large nundor of animals (cats, dogs, &e.), was
heard before the niagis.`•rates assembled in petty sessions
at Lewes on Tuesday. Miss Doan, the defendant's ward,
was called to give evidence, end she deposed that the ani-
mals—from 100 to 200 cats, arid a large number of other
animals—were necessary to her in prosecuting her profes-
sion as an artist. The magistral'es made an order for the
removal of the nuisance, with oos;q.