The Sun.
London, England, 1866-04-05 00:00:00

vigorous promptitude for preserving the peace on
St. Patrick's-day. The New York Herald asserts
that the Government intends preparing a flying
squadron for duty on the British North American
coast. The reasons assigned for this movement
are the assembling of the British Weast India flee t
at Halifax, the Fenian movements, nd the effect
of the termination of the Reciprocity Treaty on the;
American fisheries. We may accept this intern-•
gence with some reserve, seeing that it involves
some contradictory elements. The Reciprocity-
Treaty has been terminated by the Americans
themselves against the wishes of the Canadians,
and unless they intend to make the fisheries a casus
Lein they can hardly intend so active a demon-
stration on the coasts before any differences have
arisen. The assembling of the British West India
fleet at Halifax is so perfectly legitimate and com-
prehensible that the Americans might as well resent
the martial preparations of the Canadians. About
the Fenians the Washington Government have
given themselves so very little trouble that it is
scarcely likely they would suddenly take such very
active measures when the crisis is believed to be

past.
The American internal intelligence is unimpor-
tant. The principal feature is the report that the
PRESIDENT intends to veto the Civil Rights Bill.
Having fairly declared war against the Radicals, he
will no doubt maintain his ground. Having, as his
predecessor used to say, put down his foot, he is not
the man to retreat from his position. The required
information respecting Mexico has been laid before
the House of Representatives, and it contains some
extravagant statements respecting
NAr OLEON'S in-
tentions, which will probably be accepted both here
and in America very doubtfully. The Lcan
Bill
had been passed with amendments, and the general
aspect of domestic affairs is tranquil and satisfac-
tory.

If talking could effect an object in view certainly
Mr. BRIGHT must infallibly succeed, for he is per-
petually at work, arguing, lecturing, and preaching
on his subject Last night a public meeting was held
at Rochdale, and the hon. member spoke at some
length, though not so long as usual. The other
speakers seemed to be trying to make the best of
things, but not to be able to steer successfully be-
tween the difficulties in their way. One one hand
they were evidently disappointed that the new Re-
form Bill did not go far enough ; and on the other
they were determined to protest against the course
of those who oppose the measure. Mr. POTTER.
M.P., was at any rate plain-spoken when he declared

that " there could be no doubt that the most
serious danger the bill was threatened with was oc-
casioned by treason in the Liberal ranks rather than
by Tory opposition." This is very true, and all who
knew anything of the condition of the Liberal party
were aware that there would be great difficulty in
passing a measure which would meet with a unani-
mous support, especially if it were introduced by
those at the head, or even nominally so, of the
party. It is this which made the conduct of Earl
RUSSELL in 1857 so very blameable, and showed that
he was not really sincere about Reform. Mr. BRIGHT
is deserving of the same censure for the course
which he pursued, and while he is going about from
place to place during this Easter recess, those who
take a retrospective glance at his career may find
that this is the second time he is playing the same
game.
On this last occasion Mr. BRIGHT seemed
very much disposed to compliment himself and the
Government also for having taken his advice re-
specting the framing of the measure of Reform now
submitted to Parliament. As for Mr. BRIGHT it will
not matter very much one way or the other, because
he will be able to revenge himself by exercising his
considerable powers of language in diatribes against
persons and things in general ; but we very much
question if the Ministers will find cause to rejoice
at the step they have taken in conformity with the
advice of their new ally. Already we find that the
hon. member's ingenuity has extricated him in some
degree from the awkwardness of the "position."
He regrets to see that the Government have not
implicitly followed his directions, but still great
allowance must be made for their difficulties; and
in the eagerness and excitement of this struggle,

Mr. BRIGHT goes so far as to admit that they may
see objections which he and his friends do not
see. This is quite a new state of things, and we
hope it may continue ; but it is to be feared that
this moderation has only been adopted for the
nonce, and will disappear when the emergency is
I over.

One thing we may always predicate of a speech
of Mr. BRIGHT'S upon any domestic question, and
that is, that he will abuse the Tory party right and
left with earnest goodwill and hearty spirit. Mr.
POTTER spoke more truly than the leader of whom
he said he was content to remain the " trumpeter,"
when he attributed to the division of the Liberal
party the ill-success of schemes of Reform ; but
Mr. BRIGHT thinks otherwise, and was at great
pains to explain his views for the hundredth time.
Indeed the main object of his speech last
night was to heap abuse on the Tory
party, as Mr. BRIGHT persistently calls them.
He said very little as to the intrinsic merits of this
measure, or as to the benefits which would accrue
from it, for his whole time and thoughts were
directed to the consideration of the delinquencies of
the Opposition. In the first place, Mr. BRIGHT,
declared that the Tory party exhibited more than
" usual depravity" in opposing this scheme, because
their own measure in 1859 went some way in the
same direction; and Mr. DISRAELI held out the
hope that if it were allowed to get into committee
the reduction of the Borough Franchise would
be considered. Why, then, we may well
ask, did Mr. BRIGHT fight so hard that
it never should reach the committee, and what
would he have said to have been told that he was
exhibiting more than usual depravity in thwarting
all efforts to have a Reform Bill ? We learn from
Mr. BRIGHT'S reading of the riddle that they were
thus prompted by love of place. As to their op-
posing this measure, on which ho has set
the stamp of his approval, they are factious to the
very last degree. Mr. BRIGHT works himself up into
such a state of patriotic zeal and virtuous indigna-
tion that the ordinary forms of polite society are
quite forgotten, and his language is not fettered by
any restraint which good sense and good taste
might interpose. If it be not this, he says, it is
"something, perhaps, if not more immoral, more sel-
fish, and more stupid, because it is this manifestation
'
of a desperate resolve that they will never consent
to any public extension of political freedom to the
people of the United Kingdom."
Apart from the
great
impropriety of such terms, where is the
reason of them,
because Mr. BRIGHT and his
friends would
Reform Bill with
at
a bave been very indignant had
in a n
thisif es tgaetni oe
rriat thati"on. Really
they did
it would be much more to the purpose if Mr. BRIGHT
would keep to the subjecti before him, instead of fly-
ing off in tangents after th •
s fashion about extrane-
ouslly
things. Mr. BRIGHT takes a wrong view of
the subject altogether by persistinu in •• o mixing up the
question of reform with allusions • to agitation ; and
when he exclaims indignantly that even those who
" vilify the working classes most in the House of