The Sun.
London, England, 1866-03-13 00:00:00

LONDON, TUESDAY, MARCH 13, 1866.

So far as we can judge from present appearances
it does not seem that the bill which Mr. GLADSTONE
last night introduced to the House of Commons is
likely to meet with great favour. He is likely to
encounter most serious opposition from his own
side, and his most ardent well-wishers must feel
naturally anxious as to the result of the measure.
Notwithstanding the' right hon. gentleman's argu-
ments we cannot admit the necessity that he thinks
exists for piecemeal legislation on this important
question. In the first place, there is no need for so
much delay taking place in the passing of the bill
through the house as he intimated there would be,
and again it
would not be inappropriate to prolong
the session, in order to settle definitively, for some
years at least, a matter a
which has so long been the
theme of dispute
and iseassion. It is a ques-
tionable advantage to any Ministry to have such a
constantly on the
subject tapis, and by the present
arrangement of the Governzamt
the
community
-wonder
will feel more unsettled than ever, and what
is coming next. It is to be regretted that the
Go-
vernment should not have shown themselves more
firm and decided, more capable of taking an ,
extended
and more energetic in pressing
view of the question)
forward their scheme to a favourable issue. There is
nothing to object to positively in the measure pro-
posed by Mr. GLADSTONE, but neither can we give
him credit for much originality, nor for any merit
that cannot be claimed by those who have gone be-
fore him on this beaten track. Indeed the more we
have time and opportunity to consider the matter
the more deeply we are impressed with the incon-
sistency, and insincerity of the course pursued by
Earl RUSSELL and his clique in their strenuous op-
position to the Reform Bill introduced by the Go-
vernment of Lord DERBY. It must have been a
triumph to the Opposition to have heard Mr. GLAD-
STONE propoßeto the house a lodger franchise, after all
the sneers and sareasmathat were go liberally lavished

The arrival of the Europa from Halifax and
Boston gives us news from New York to the 27th
ult. The war between the PRESIDENT and the
Republicans continues undiminished, though the
tide of public feeling is strongly in favour of Mr.
JOHNSON'S policy. Deppatches from all parts of
the country represent the people as generally en-
dorsing both the veto and the speech at the White
House. The fact is that the Radicals have suc-
ceeded by their intemperance, their violence, and
their manifest injustice, in disgusting moderate
men of all parties, and in convincing those who
are anxious for the return of internal tran-
quillity and the resuscitation of commercial enter-
prise, that so long as these extreme councils
are suffered to prevail there is nothing but anarchy
and confusion to be looked for. The PRE-
SIDENT, who is no incompetent observer, has no
doubt perceived that the feeling of the people was
growing strongly in favour of a more equitable and
constitutional system, and having determined to
make an open resistance to the progress of STEVENS
and his party, he is prepared to abido by the issue.
It is reported that he intends to issue a Proclama-
tion, declaring that peace has been firmly esta-
blished in the South, and that the States will be
left to govern themselves under the constitution
without military interference. This, of course,
excepts the action of the Freedmen's Bureau,
which i 5 to remain in force for one year after
the issue of the Proclamation. If this report proves
true, the PRESIDENT will certainly give clear evi-
dence of his determination to disregard the Radical
movements, since,
as we have recently
iseen,
one theof
perpetuation of the Freedmen's Bureau
their cherished purposes. There is still a rumour
of coming changes in the Cabinet, though the
greater part of Mr. JOHNSON'S colleagues suggest
his reconstruction policy. Massachusetts, as might
be supposed, is virtuously indignant at the attack
made upon its illustrious representative by the
PRESIDZNT, and resolutious have been introduced