The Sun.
London, England, 1867-09-28 00:00:00

the Irish Ye tes with these, the total will amount to
half a ur-illion— certainly, in the present critical
position of parties, a tempting bait for the leaders
on citb er side. Perhaps those shrewd observers are
not r wrong who find in this matter the explana-
tion. of Mr. SEWARD'S illogical and menacing de-
sp atclt of Aug. 27. The Alabama question has been
al ways kept on the shelf ready to bring forward
wlner& an excuse for a quarrel was wanted, and
thou gh with gold at 143, as we learn by
the. Cable, even Mr. SEWARD will think twice of
tur g words into deeds, and threats into ships of
war; hut he finds it serviceable as a rallying cry to
sutryaion the Irish to his side. Happily Lord
STANLEY is too temperate and too firm to be
frightened from his propriety by the dark hints, the
lofty indignation, and the wounded feelings of the
American Minister. Ile knows that the American
people have too much common sense and too large
an experience to confound the Fenians with the Con-
federates, or to place in the same rank a body of
professional agitators, to whom the contributions of
servant girls is a matter of moment, and whose most
formidable achievement has been the capture of a
police van, on a level with the armies under LEE
and JACKSON. Mr. SEWARD is determined to make
the most of his case, and directs Mr. ADAMS, in
calling Lord STANLEY'S attention to the subject, to
" dwell upon some of its important features," which
may not, he thinks, have sufficiently engaged the
attention of the British Government. Accord-
ingly, presuming on Lord STANLEY'S insuffi-
cient acquaintance with a matter every
detail of which every politician in both
countries knows pretty well by heart, Mr. SEWARD
goes back to the very commencement and
starts with "In the beginning of the year 1861."
However, he is perhaps right in thinking we in this
country need additional information on the subject,
since he presents it to our consideration under a
new aspect. The mighty war upon which the atten-
tion of the whole civilised world was centred during
four eventful years, the war whose gigantic battles
brought back the recollection of the greatest crises of
European history, had its origin in " a domestic dis-
turbance, which although it had severe peculiarities,
yet was in fact only such a seditious insurrection
as is incidental to national progress in every State."
The point which Mr. SEWARD insists upon, and
which is the real difficulty in the way of negotiation
or arbitration in the matter is, that America has
ground of complaint against England for having
recognised the Confederates as belligerents. The
answer to this has been so often repeated that Mr.
SEWARD himself and every member of the Federal
Government must be perfectly familiar with it.
Lord STANLEY cannot acknowledge that the United
States have a right to control the foreign policy of
this country. No English Minister, no Minister of
any country in Europe, could make such an admission.
Whether or no the Southerners should be recognised
as belligerents was a question which every State
settled for itself, but the Federal Government itself
narrowed the alternative into recognising them as
such, or disregarding the blockade. Mr. SEWARD
evades this part of the question, as he does:every
other part which finds too ready an answer. He
likes to keep to vague generalities, to high-sounding
phrases, to mysterious innuendoes and allusions to
Fenianism, anything that will do to keep the cor-
respondence going until the elections are over, and
the Irish vote secured, when the Alabama claims
may go by until the next opportunity.

It will be a satisfaction to all who are interested
in his career to learn that General GARIBALDI has
been conveyed to Caprera. It is true that we are
not told the particulars of the affair, but so far the
intelligence that we receive is satisfactory. It bas
given rise to great anxiety in many directions to
think what would be done with the distinguished
prisoner, and, although he is still in all probability
ulider a sort of surveillance, he is comparatively
free, and he is, moreover, at home again. Consider-
ing the rash venture in which he engaged,
and the extreme temerity of his proceed-
ing, altogether there is great cause for
rejoicing that nothing worse should have occurred
between his departure, and return. Mortifying as
the reflection of this affair will be to himself and his
friends, still the general public will not forget all
about it, and turn to other objects of more engross-
ing interest and greater importance. It might have
been otherwise, however, and there might have been
sad chronicles connected with the matter. It is
extremely difficult to say what will be the future
course pursued by GARIBALDI, as he has mixed
himself up so much in this undertaking that it
seems wellnigh useless to hope or expect that
he will be persuaded to give up his efforts, and
remain quiescent. Let us, however, hope for the best,
and trust that the summary rebuff which he has
met with may bring some wisdom to GARIBALDI'S
thoughts, and impose a wholesome restraint on his
impulsive followers. At any rate, bloodshed has
been avoided, and with firmness and judgment the
Italian Government may be able to maintain order
without having recourse to violent measures.
Surely sufficient has been learnt by past misfortunes
to impress on the minds of all the importance of
not rushing into foolish extremes.