The Sun.
London, England, 1866-04-21 00:00:00

THE SON, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENJW3-, APRIL 21, 1866.

.~_•

measure, redeemed that side of the argument
from all but absolute and umitigated disgrace by
allying it for once during this debate with elo-
quence, temper, logic, tact, suavity, frankness, and
moderg .tion.

The Iteform Debate bids fair to continue for
some nights longer, and on Monday we are secure
of having a powerful oration in favour of the Go-
vernment measure from an orator who, as Mr. Dis-
RAELr last night observed, does not often speak
withoUt adding fuel to the fire! Mr. BRIGHT ad-
journed the debate amid cries of " go on," but the
member for Birmingham very wisely thought that
close upon midnight was not exactly a favour-
able opportunity for hearing or making an ora-
The Government has need to make the
most of its friends, and therefore Mr. BRIGHT
would have been unwise to have " wasted his
his sweetness" on that air of midnight. On Monday,
therefore, we shall have a more animated debate
than wehave had theselast few evenings, for no doubt
Mr. BRIGHT will bring fire enough and to spare for
himself and two or three others, though the two
great leaders, of the Government and the:Opposition
respectively, will probably reserve themselves for
the last night of the debate, whenever that is to be.
Considerable amusement was created by Mr. Dm-
RAELI'S reminder to Mr. GLADSTONE that, having
himself made six speeches on this question, he ought
not to begrudge others the opportunity of
stating their views. That opportunity, in fact, is
one very eagerly sought after by members on
both sides, andno one can say that the question has
not, even now, been fully and ably argued. The
debate has throughout been deeply interesting, and
clearly illustrative of the mind and temper of the
present House of Commons. Last night the prin-
cipal speakers were Sir STAFFORD NORTHCOTE, Mr.
GREGORY, and Mr. HORSMAN, in support of the
amendment ; and Mr. YOUNG, Mr. COLERIDGE,
and Mr. LEVESON GOWEE, in favour of the
bill. The hostility to the measure was
thus, as on previous occasions, more strongly
displayed on the Ministerial than on the
Opposition side of the House, and if the Go-
vernment framed the measure in the hope of adapt-
ing Reform to the very lukewarm temperature of
professing Liberals they have undoubtedly failed
in the attempt.

.1011.

It seems as if we were to have, war after al'

notwithstanding all that has been said and argued

in favour of peace. As we all along anticipated

Austria has not been so willing to give in as many

surmised. At a council at Schonbrunn, yesterday

it was resolved by the EMPEROR and Count LIENS

DORFF to recall Count KAROLYI, the Austrian

Ambassador at Berlin, and it was expected M. DE
WERTHER, the Prussian Ambassador at the Court
of Vienna, would immediately quit that capital, as

he was informed of the conclusion arrived at in
Council. As for the reasons that have led to this deci-

sive step they are alleged to be that the Austrian
Government felt very indignant at the persistent
course of the Prussians in refusing to agree to their
demands. Count MENSDORFF, upon receiving a re-

fusal, telegraphed a repetition of it and upon
receiving another refusal, the council referred to
was ended, and the bold course of recalling the
Ambassador resolved upon. Many will regret this
apparent certainty of war, but we cannot fairly
state that the Emperor and his Minister have beenl
either precipitate in their course or unjustified in
their acts. If Prussia would not agree during
the time that has been allowed her for
deliberation no one has a right to say
that she would ever have done so. The fact is
that the Austrians have conceded too much during
the last few years, and now they find it quite im-
possible to make the Government of Berlin believe
that they are really in earnest. Neither can we
say that the EMPEROR and his advisers have been
exorbitant in their demands, because they did not
ask for any more concessions on the part of Prussia
than they had every right to expect and demand.
The perversity of Herr von BISMARK exceeds every-
thing; and many well informed have doubted if he
would yield to pressure, and consent to a modifica-

tion of his plans, rather than proceed to extremities.
Unless he be removed from the scene of his long-
continued power, we ,do not see what grounds Aus-
tria has for believing that Prussia will agree to her
proposals. We know what the end has been of all
the deliberations that have taken place upon the
Continent of late. The two great German Powers
have vied with each other in making proposals and
uttering remonstrances, but the conclusion
has always been that the Prussians have
continued to have their way ; and although the
nations of.. Europe have been scandalised, and the
independent citizens of the country itself have
lamented, the effect has been that arbitrary pro-
ceedings have carried the day. No doubt Austria
fears to prolong the present discussion too long for
fear that other matters may arise to divert public
attention from the question of the Duchies once
more, and then that her unscrupulous ally will
profit by the confusion to monopolise any advan-
tages. Several times -already, since the commence-
ment of the discussions that resulted is the Dano-
German War, and the Gastein Convention,
has Europe looked on attentively to watch the
cause of the two great Powers of Germany ; but, of
course, after a time all have gone on in their own
way, and left the chief parties to settle the matter
for themselves. Austria sees very plainly that the
present crisis is an eventful one, and what with one
thing and another must be taken advantage of.
Besides withdrawing the Ambassadors, the Aus-
trian Government have resolved to -send an order
to the General in command at Holstein, ordering
him to fall back and leave only a few companies
in the Duchy. No doubt !this will be considered
by many as a sure indication of approaching hosti-
lities. Of course all this looks very sinister as regards
the prospect of peace, but, at the same time, it can-
not be yet considered as certain that war will ensue.
It may be at the eleventh hour Herr BISMARCK may

see the fully of his ways, and agree to a timely con-
cession, or it may be that prudence will triumph
over prejudice, and King WILLIAM may consent to
the retirement of his most mischievous counsellor. It
often happens that the boldest measures are the
surest and the safest in the long run, and this may
yet prove a case in point. At any rate, whether
war ensue or not, we can safely declare that a great
part of the responsibility of the present disastrous
position of affairs rests with our Government. Had
Earl RUSSELL acted with the sense and spirit be-
comirg an English Minister no war would have oc-
curred respecting the Duchies; but his timorous
management has brought down innumerable evils
upon all concerned directly or indirectly in the.
affair. In vain he was warned, counselled, and
encouraged to preserve the course which justice,
generosity, and humanity called for; he was inexor-
able, and the consequences of such a misguided
policy are not fully developed. We may go on for
some time before we see the full effects of it;
indeed the present generation may not witness i.
For many reasons there will be much to deplore in
the event of hostilities occurring, and of course it is
that war should take place,
especiallyalway s
a ine centreatlhaerni tr
of Europe ; but still it may
in the long run turn out for the beat ; too much

has of late been sacrificed to peace, and we may find
the balance of power in Europe more safely and
securely readjusted after a recourse to arms. H
only a general European war can put down the
iniquitous demands and arbitrary conduct of Prus-.
sia, we say that such an alternative is preferable to
allowing her to run riot in tyranny and annexation.

Affairs in America are samewhat threatening,

according to the news brought by the China from
New York, on the 12th inst. After a long course
of peace and prosperity the American States appear

:0 have suddenly entered most troubled waters, for

the perplexities and dangers of the Civil War have

left behind them the elements of a fresh combina-

tion. Political differences have, we know, always
run high in the States, and the differences which

reached a crisis at the election of ABRAHAM LjN-

COIN had been secretly fomenting for years. But

he difficulties of the present time are not such

as can be temporised with, or put aside.

There is a grand division between statesmen
and politicians on the fundamental principles on
which the government of the country is to be con-
ducted, and the questions which arise for conside-
ration are urgent and imperatve. The PRESIDENT,
unlike most holders of supreme power, is on the
side of constitutional government, of calm and

temperate legislation, of the exercise of that
benignant clemency which "blesseth him that gives

and him that takes." He endeavours to heal the
breaches of the war, to bridge over the terrible

gulf which yawns betweea North and South, and

as he is nominally the bead of a great con-

federation of the States, so he wishes to be
in substance the ruler over . a united and
contented people. Mr. JOHNSON is statesman
enough to know that it is simply impossible for a
country to flourish under martial law, and he can
fully estimate the rashness which would sacrifice the
material and commercial prosperity of the most fer-

tile States of the Union to vindictive and fanatical

theories. He has obtained, besides, through his
long residence in a Border State sufficient insight
into the character of the Southern people of both
races, to be aware that it would be hopeless to put
the two races on immediate political equality, and
to deprive the whites of all their old rights as free
citizens of a free country, and to maintain such a
system without force of arms. To hold the South
like a conquered country is no unpleasant prospect
to the Radicals ; wiser and calmer men perceive in
such an alternative the dismemberment of the
Union, and the disruption and possible overthrow

of American power.
The people of the States, however, must very
soon decide between the two issues, for the long dif-
ference between the PRESIDENT and his quondam
supporters has now come to open warfare. The
House of Representatives, as was expected, has
passed the Civil Rights Bill over the Presidential
Veto by a majority of 122 to 41 votes, thus just
clearing the necessary number. The Bill against
which so many sound and constitutional arguments
were brought is now, therefore, law, and it remains
to be seen how it will work, or if it will be allowed
to work at all. The PRESIDENT'S Veto has been over-

ridden, but 126 has openly declared his conviction
that the bill is dangerous and unconstitutional, so
that he will be justified in exerting all his influence
against it, and if he even confine himself to passive
,resistance his power will be great. Much will no
doubt depend on the support which he gets from the
people. We cannot but hope that the American
public will see clearly how momentous is the
crisis, and how patent to the real interests of
the country is the Radical policy. If they gain one
point they will immediately attempt to carry Gthers
more dangerous, more unconstitutional, until the
Southern people, as they fondly hope, are finally
trampled down and their property confiscated, and
the Radical party reign supreme in the councils of
Washington. The House of Representatives has in-
structed the judiciary committee to inquire if there is
probable cause to believe that JEFFERSON DAVIS and
others were implicated in the murder of President
LINCOLN, or are guilty of treason ; and, if
so, what measures are necessary to bring
them to speedy trial. Thus, not content
with resuscitating an almost forgotten scandal,
the Radicals have ingeniously interpolated the word
treason as if resolved to leave Mr. JOHNSON no loop-
hole to rescue their victim. But the PRESIDENT is
quite capable of defeating all their manoeuvres, as
he has repeatedly done already, by a bold, straight-

forward, and decisive step. Rumours are current of
a general amnesty, and there are also reports that
Mr. DAVIS is to be released on parole, or removed
to Richmond for the benefit of his health. If Mr.
JOHNS ON resolves on proclaiming a general amnesty,
as he has the undoubted right to do, he will place
DAVIS beyond the power of his Republican foes,
whose stratagems will then be useless. The House of
Representatives cannot send to trial a man who has
received his pardon, and we shall not be surprised
if this solution of the problem be very quickly ar-

rived at.
The District Judge of Virginia has decided that
the peace proclamation did not restore the llabeas
Corpus, though on what plea that can be suspended
in time of peace is not easily discernible. Mischief
is still brewing among the Fenians, large numbers
of whom are threatening the New Brunswick fron-
tier. MURPHY, the Toronto President, and five
others have been arrested in Canada with
arms and ammunition. The Fenian con-
vention is in session at Eastport, Maine,
the town being crowded with Fenians, and
several of their vessels, armed, in the harbour.
Several British gunboats, however, are off East-
port and Campo Bello with steam up and port
holes open. This menacing attitude is said to have
caused a hostile feeling_ among American sympa-
thisers with the Fenian cause. These gentlemen
apparently consider that we should make Messrs.
STEPHENS and Co. a present of Canada. Anything
short of that is an unwarrantable assumption on our
part. The Canadians believe that the demonstra- '
tions against New Brunswick are a feint to cover an
attack from Chicago; but at anr rate evil has worked
good as it often does. The New Brunswickers
have grown sensible of their folly and imprudence
in breaking up the Confederation scheme. The Go-
vernment has resigned owing
to the action of the
Colonial Parliament in favour of confederation ; and
the Governor, who, we know, has always strongly
urged its adoption, has sent for an opposition
member to form the new Ministry. The anti-Con-
federation minority in the Upper House have sent
in a protest against the Address to the QUEEN in
favour of Confederation. There is great excite-
ment among the people, and we hope that the
threatening attitude of the Fenians will convince
the colonists how important it is that they should
act upon the grand old motto, " Union is strength,"
rather than by opposing a disjointed point to the
enemy, and weaken alike their own position and
that of the neighbouring provinces.

The Salters' Company have resolved to present
the freedom of the guild to his Royal Highness Prince
Alfred, who has consented to accept it. The docuMent
will be presented in a box of the value of 100 guineas.—
City Press.

Mr. James Ellis, the originator of Cremorne
Gardens, being about to settle inkastralia, takes a farewell
bow/At e,t the Stand litimic Ugll, Qu PoodaY•

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
PARIS, Friday Evening.
I gather from correspondence and the German
papers the following interesting facts relative to
the great dispute between Prussia and Austria.
The day is not yet fixed for the Diet to discuss the
Prussian proposition of the 9th. Saxony and
Besse Darmstadt are taking great pains to obtain a
majority of votes for a proposition which would be
equivalent to the rejection of the Federal Reform
proposed by Prussia. Saxony intends to make
the proposition to refer the Prussia Note to the
Commission of Holstein. According to M. Beust

the Prussian proposal can only be carried out
effectively by a vote unanimously. By asking that
the matter shall be referred to the Holstein Com-
mission it is evidently the intention of M. Beust
to force Prussia, either to abandon her proposition
of the 9th, or to submit the regulation of the
question of the Duchies to the Diet of Frankfort.
The project is very well imagined, but, unfortu-
nately for Saxony, a majority cannot be obtained
to carry it into effect. It is argued by well-in-
formed writers at Berlin that the application of
universal suffrage to the re-organisation of the
Confederation is not a sudden inspiration of the
Prussian Cabinet. In 1862, when M. Bismarck
was Ambassador at Paris, he sent a memorandum
to M. Auerweld, the Minister of State, in
which he contended for the necessity of
convoking a German Parliament based upon
universal suffrage. On a later occasion also he
made the same proposition, that is to say in 1863,
after the Congress of Sovereigns at Frankfort.
The Italie of Florence states that the Minister of
War has submitted two decrees to the King--one
for the fortification of the town of Cremona as
requisite for the safety of the state, the other declar—
ing of public utility the fortification of various points
around the town.

The Italian Minister of Finance has resolved to
appoint an agent at the Paris Bourse, like the
Austrian, Prussian, and Russian Governments,
whose mission will be a contradiction to all the

false news put into circulation by speculators with
respect to the Italian Government. His office will
will be no sinecure. , • _

The question respecting the Government of the
Danubian Provinces is not likely to be settled at
present, for it appears that the young Prince of
Hohenzollern is not disposed to accept the Hospo-
darship of those provinces.
It appears that the Protestant Conference have
agreed to a resolution to the effect " that the sovereign
authority of the Holy Scriptures in matters of faith,
and the Symbol of the Apostles as a summary of the
miraculous facts contained in them, shall form the
basis of the National Pastoral Conference." This
resolution was agreed to by 112 out of 148 members,
and the 3G Ministers who opposed it intend to form
a special conference of their own. As to the dis-
missal of M. Paschoud, the Conference are reported
to have placed a little gentle pressure on the Mi-
nister of Public Worship, by hinting to him that
the whole body would resign if he did not confirm
that dismissal. M. Guizot is reported to have men-
tioned this determination to the Emperor at a private
interview, but there seems some doubt of the truth
of the statement.
The Legislative Session is to be extended to the
21st of June. I hear that the Government is de-
termined, if possible, to pass the bill for the aboli-
tion of imprisonment for debt.
On hearing the news of the flagitious attempt
upon the life of the Emperor of Russia, the Emperor
Napoleon sent a telegram to his Majesty offering
his congratulations, and expressing his friendship
and sympathy for him.
It is believed among the best-informed persons
that France will preserve complete neutrality in
regard to the differences between Austria and
Prussia ; but it is right to say that there is an uneasy
sensation upon the subject on the Bourse, and in-
deed elsewhere. The Constitutionnel has affirmed
the fact, but in an indirect way ; and as that paper
is an officious, and not an official organ, the
public was not quite satisfied. The Sicle has an
article upon this subject. It says this is the great
question with the journals of London and Vienna,
and says that very contradictory reports upon this
great point are in circulation. The Presse of Vienna,
it says, asks every morning what is the reason for
the strange silence of the French Government in
regard to its intentions. The Sicle wants an
official dei,laration in the Moniteur. This is to
expect too much, but the Bourse is at times so much
excited, and such alarming reports are circulated,
that there is a probability of some public intimation
very shortly. So at least I hear in official quarters.
Midsummer continues. The heat has again been
excessive, but this extraordinary fact is accom-
panied by an equally curious incident—the fields
in the vicinity of Paris were yesterday morning
covered with white frost. At one time to-day there
were very storm-threatening clouds in the south.
A ship of war is in course of construction at
Havre for the Egyptian Government. Nearly 300
Egyptian sailors have arrived at Havre who are to
form part of the crew, and more are expected.
Almost every day some fresh information arrives
showing the increasing interest taken in the ensuing
Great Exhibition. Egypt will send products to the
amount of a million of francs. Turkey will have a
mosque and a minaret, a mausoleum, and a house
with its divan and Turkish baths. Persia also will
have characteristic constructions, curious edifices,
mosques, opium manufactories, and it is said a
model of the Persian throne, with its accessories
and mineral paintings. The King of Siam, the
Japan Government, and the Emperor of Morocco,
have also announced their intention to compete
with brilliancy and effect at the Exhibition.
M. Darboy, the Archbishop of Paris, is about to
leave for Rome, on a journey ad limina Apostolorum,
in pursuance of the oath taken by every bishop at
his consecration. M. Darboy has hitherto not been
able to fulfil this task, and could not even do so
after his nomination as Bishop of Nancy.