The Sun.
London, England, 1866-11-05 00:00:00

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LONDON, MONiMY,
,NOV. 5, 1866.

It certainly seems as if the grand consummation
of a European peace is not likely to be realised yet
at any rate. So soon as one difficulty is settled an-
other springs up, and each in its turn seems worse
than the other. The Eastern question is the last
impediment, and various sinister rumours are afloat
respecting its management and the turn events may
take in consequence of its discussion. It has been
said that Russia and Prussia had offered an
alliance offensive and defensive, in order that
they might together settle the Eastern question
as they pleased. To add to the dissatisfaction
thus occasioned, it is announced that Russia is arm-
ing, and, although the truth of these assertions are
questionable, great doubt prevails, partially in con-
equence of their extreme probability. At any rate
it will be well for France to he on the alert, and
not to allow opportunities to- slip by, as there is
everything to
fear and nothing to hope from the
Powers Pow in question. We have not yet seen the end
of this Prussian manceuvring' andif by any chance
the Berlin Government can
turn over that of St.
Petersburg to its views, it is not likely to be back-
ward in the attempt.
At any rate the confusion
that has arisen in the East is
well qualified to afford
a temptation to crafty and cunning
before long Europe will very likely politicians, and
be perplexed and
bewildered by the conflicting claims and rival pre-
tensions that abound in such cases, and which were
so rife at the time of the Crimean war. From Paris
we hear that the EMPEROR will preside to-day at the
meeting of the commission on the reorganisation of
the army, and also that he will review the Imperial
Guard of the Paris garrison. It is evident that
those best fitted to judge of affairs in France
are not at all satisfied with the state of affairs. If
the German schemers are flattering themselves that
they have hoodwinked the French, or at any rate
that the Emperor NAPOLEON does not deem it ex-
pedient to interfere with them and their allies, they
will ere long find themselves mistaken. Those best
informed in such matters have all along doubted if

it were wise and prudent of the other European
Powers to allow Prussia to swell to such dimen-
sions and to acquire so numerous an army, and we
suspect that we shall shortly see their unpleasant
suggestions come true in one way or another.
The very fact that there is in the centre of Europe
a large military Power that is insensible to the claims
of justice and honour, and only cares for gain, is in
itself eminently calculated to inspire distrust and
dismay ; and, after all, what security have we that
Russia will not seek to become possessed of Con-
' stantinople, and thus fulfil what was evidently the
intention of the CZAR'S Government in 1854 ? No
doubt it would be the wisest thing for all parties to
do to leave matters alone, and thus trust to time
and passing events to right things that are now in
apparently hopeless extrication. The question is
however, whether interested parties will follow so
wise a course ; and hence, in considering this fresh
confusion that has arisen, we have to deal with facts
and not with theories. It is not so much whether it
would be advisable for the Turks to remain as they
are or not, as whether the ambition of other Powers
will not be aroused to expedite their departure.
It will certainly not be a desirable consummation of
the affair if Russia is aggrandised, and if Prussia
gains more of her undesirable ends. With one thing
and another the foreign politician of this day has
enough to do in speculating upon contingencies
and foreseeing casualties. Those who consider that
the Turk is necessary in Europe will speedily find
out that he can be very well dispensed with, if the
tide of events should necessitate his departure; but
as matters are at present, he might be left alone to
work out his own destiny for good or evil as he
thinks fit. At any rate the rebellion seems to be
pretty well done for, notwithstanding the formid-
able dimensions it had assumed in the eyes of
some. The insurgents of Crete appear to have
received a shock from which they will not
readily recover, and,• therefore, although some,
time may elapse before quiet is restored, we need
not consider existing events afford reason for ex-
pecting anything very serious to occur. Perhaps
nothing shows more forcibly the want of faith that
now unfortunately pervades the Continent than
these rumours which are..constantly arising, and to
the intention of this and that power to become
possessed of such and such a state or principality.
The Elbe Duchies and their attendant complications
will in all probability hereafter be pointed to
as notable landmarks in the history of nations,
for a very false principle was laid down at the time
of their seizure, which will most likely go on in-
creasing and spreading in various directions. We
may well be puzzled now to declare what will or
will not be done by any particular Power, now that
the dangerous precedent has been established of
strong States taking summary possession of weak
ones, and right being everywhere ranked second to
might. 1

It is said that the .lVeu Prussian Gazette con-
tradicts the rumour that changes will soon
take place in the Cabinet of Berlin, and
indeed appearances are against such a probability.
The new German Parliament is expected to assemble
at the beginning of the year, as so much progress
has been made in the organisation of the Confede-
ration. Baron von BEUST has addressed a Circular
to the representatives of Austria abroad, in which
he expresses himself very decidedly as to the manner
in which he will conduct affairs. He will not, he
affirms, entertain any prejudice or partiality what-
ever. It is to be hoped that he will carry out these
desirable intentions, and if he does it willbe the better
for his own credit and for the prosperity of those
whom he serves. Perhaps, iu the long run, his
elevation may not be so disastrous as some ex-
made by the official Vienna Gazette, we may look
for the adoption of a wiser policy towards Hungary;
and if so, there can be no doubt that the Imperial
Government will derive benefit. The sooner a good
understanding is come to between the Hungarian
Diet and the Government the better it will be for
all parties, and the country more immediately con-
cerned cannot fail to profit by it.

The news brought to us by the Atlantic Tele-
graph, though very brief, is very important. It
consists, indeed, principally of two items, but each
of them is significant of mischief brewing. The
United States, it is said, intend to assume the pro-
tectorate of Mexico. A riot, we are told, is immi-
nent at Baltimore. At first sight these two para-
graphs appear to threaten nothing less than civil
and foreign war, but a further examination presents
them in a less alarming aspect. According to the
intelligence brought by the Asia from Boston and
Halifax on the 25th ult., it is rumoured that the
Federal Government insists on the immediate
withdrawal of the French troops from Mexico,
and that in view of the probable anarchy
succeeding their departure the States will place the
Juarez
northern
nernment on a firm footing, and protect
it in return for the cession of Lower California and
the
parts of Sinaloa and Chihuahua. We
must not
tioaccept this unreservedly without further
In the first place it may be true
enough that the French Emperor contemplates a
speedy removal of his forces, not that he is much in
the habit of submitting to the dictation of any Go-
vernment, but that he has quite enough to occupy his
attention on the Continent of Europe
involved in hostilities in America, wTithhoeutrvgieextitcinagn
war has never been popular in France, and the
Emperor has nothing to gain by re-opening it.
It
would be a troublesome and costly business
should
t
the Americans take up the cause of JUAREZ strongly,
and in the present disturbed and agitated state of
the country there is no certainty which way things
might suddenly turn. The Federal authorities
might be glad to divert the popular mind from the
immediate sources of contention at home by encou-
raging the excitement against the foreigner who
invades their cherished MONROE doctrine. In view
of the retirement of the French, and the abdication
of MAximiLIAN, it is likely enough that Mexico
would be plunged into a state of anarchy, but
it is less likely that the Americans would
find it so easy to place any Government
on a firm footing. The Americans have
at present quite enough to do in reorganising
and bringing into harmony the conflicting elements
of their own population ; and, if they succeed in
accomplishing that task they will still find the pro-
tectorate of Mexico a troublesome dignity—unless,
indeed, the whole proceeding is intended as a preli-
minaary step towards the absorption of Mexico into
the Union ; but the Union is already so large that
it is unwieldy, so extended that it threatens to break
in the middle.

The disturbances in Maryland are more immedi-
ately threatening. 'They originated in certain
charges brought against the Baltimore police com-
missioners respecting their conduct during the recent
election. They are accused of infringing the law in
their appointments of judges of the election, and in
denying the right of the ballot to registered voters.
'Those who are familiar with the manoeuvring com-
mon in an American political contest, and especi-
ally of the height to which party feeling rpn during
the late crisis, will not find these charges by any
means incredible. It does not afford any satisfac-
tory proof of the innocence of the accused parties
that they are manifesting an extreme unwillingness

to be brought to trial ; and the Radicals, for their
part., give reasonable ground for suspecting their
who le proceedings, since they are up in arms at the
first, rumour of an official investigation. If their
conduct as a party will bear the light, why
should there be so much disturbance about an in-
quiry Ivhich, if fairly conducted, must soon elicit
the truth ? So strong is their opposition to the
regular course of proceeding that it is likely enough
to produce bloodshed and serious consequences.
In the present critical position of parties, while the
vindictive feelings excited by the elections are still
smouldering, ready at the first spark to break out
into a blaze, an actual collision between parties may
lead to the most disastrous results. The PRESIDENT
Nvill have at least right and law on his side, and will
perhaps not be sorry for the opportunity of showing
the people to what length Radical arrogance
and intolerance will carry them.

The Governor announced that he would examine
the charges without partisanship, but the Commis-
sioners, through counsel, denied the Governor's
power to try or remove them. The Governor
maintained that he had legal jurisdiction, and the
examination was postponed for three or four days.
So far all was legal and constitutional enough.
There can be little doubt in the minds of unpreju-
diced parties as to the jurisdiction of the Governor
in respect to such local matters, unless, indeed,
State Government is to be altogether a
farce and a shadow, without any real influ-
ence or authority whatsoever. The subsequent
proceedings of the Radicals, however, assume a
graver character, and show how much respect they
pay to laws not of their own making. The Radicals
who support the police commissioners threaten to
resist their removal by armed force. The Pennsyl-
vanian Radicals are reported to be preparing to
march to their assistance, so that in case of any
attempt at removing the commissioners there would
almost certainly be an outbreak. The Governor,
of course, could not permit such a state of
things to continue unchecked. He has there-
fore issued a proclamation warning all persons
to avoid obstructing the laws, and declaring
that the whole power of the State will be used to
bring such persons to justice. His supporters are
also arming, and it is said that in case of need
he will be supported by the Federal troops. Under
all these circumstances the intelligence which the
telegraph has transmitted to us since the depar-
ture of the Asia that " a riot is imminent at Balti-
more" is not encouraging. There is yet time for
both sides to pause and consider the consequences
of an armed collision and open conflict, and we
trust that some means will be found to avoid
what may be the first step to prolonged dis-
turbances.

Our Indian appointments have often been called
in question, but of late years there seems to have
been a wiser selection. Our authorities have begun
to recognise the fact that it is of the highest im-
portance to secure men of acknowledged ability and
proved character for the discharge of the onerous
and difficult duties which fall upon our Anglo-In-
dian administrators. The vast extent of the country,
the enormous population, the differences of race and
creed which exist among the people themselves, the
remnants of ancient civilisation mingling with the
traces of heathenism and barbarism, and both toge-
ther struggling against the clearer light of the pre-
sent day, all combine to require no • little tact and
judgment in the alien administrators of public
affairs. Ever since the terrible year of 1857 there
has been a different spirit impressed into Indian
affairs ; and although there still remains much to be
done, and there are heavy arrears of duty to be dis-

Lion, and 'a-far greater interest is taken in this

country in matters connected with India.

The appointment of the new Governor of Bombay
is one which will, we think, prove eminently satis-
factory. Mr. SEYMOUR FITZGERALD will, indeed,
be a loss to his party in this country, but he will
have in India a fine career before him, and an op-
portunity of turning his undoubted talents to good
account. Mr. FITZGERALD is nut unfamiliar with
the routine of official life, having been formerly
Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, and he distin-
guished himself in Parliament by his oratorical
powers. Latterly, however, he has not had a seat
in the House, though it was felt that after the ad-
vent of his party to power he could not be left
long in the background. His appointment to the
governorship of Bombay gives satisfactory promise
that the affairs of India will be henceforward ad-
ministered with spirit and judgment ; and we trust
that Lord CRANE 0 RNE, in his future selection of Anglo-
Indian officials, will be equally prudent and fortunate.