The Sun.
London, England, 1866-01-13 00:00:00

The taxpayers of the United States may well
view with alarm the statement which reaches us
among the news brought by the Cuba. It is ru-
moured that the Congressional Military Commission
will introduce a bill increasing the peace establish-
ment of the army to 100,000 men. Such a proceed-
ing would speedily put an end to America's boasted
immunity from the heavy burdens of the Old World,
which, indeed, she has already forfeited by her
national debt. She has shown as great skill and
energy in running up a debt as in making her
national fortunes, and a very few years of warfare
have sufficed to raise the public incurabrance to a
very formidable row of figures. The proposal to
keep up so large a standing army can, of course,
only be dictated by the desire of certain politicians
to keep the Southern States in subjection by mili-
tary law. Unless America is animated by the
desire to become a military nation, and, under pre-
tence of carrying out the MONROE doctrine, intends
to establish the supremacy of Federal arms all over
the vast continent of the West, she can hardlyrequire
a standing army of a hundred thousand men in
time of peace. It is not likely that any such pro-
posal will meet with popular support, but it shows
to -what the boasted liberty of the extreme Radicals
tends. By a sudden, butnot unnatural transition,
they pass from the loudest professions of complete
political equality to enforcing their convictions by
means of a standing army. The Americans who
have the interest of their constitution at heart had
need to keep a sharp watch over the movements of
such a party.

The Fcnians appear to be breaking down from
the sheer impossibility to conduct their own affairs.
They have had a fair trial, being left unmolested to
talk as loudly and subscribe as largely as they liked,
and it might be as well if a good many other ranting
enthusiasts were put to the same severe test The
divisions between the Fenian authorities them-
selves are provoking the ridicule of lookers-
on, while they are effectually disposing
of the prospect of anything like united or formid-
able action. The Fenian Secretary has issued a
manifesto urging concord among the Federal fac-
tious, but concord war. never yet effected to order

among such an unruly band. The Fenian Congress
at New York has notified to O'AlmioNY and the
Senate to report to it. O'MAHONY has complied,
and it remains to be seen whether or no the
Senate will be equally obedient. The Herald, with
unusual common sense, recommends the Fenians to
disband, as their cause is hopeless. It is not very
likely that the leaders will follow such very sensible
advice so long as any more subscriptions can be
obtained from deluded Hibernians. How long
the farce can be kept up is uncertain, but the
sooner the whole scheme and organisation of
Fenianism collapses the better it will be for all

parties.
As for Mexican affairs, they are still in an un-
certain condition, and all sorts of rumours are
current. The Herald repeats a report that the
matter will be settled by a division of Mexican
territory between MAXIMILIAN and the Federal
Government, the French army withdrawing on the
ground of not being paid. The same authority,
however, stoutly denies that any arrangement has
been arrived at between the French and the Federal
Governments, and how any settlement can
be made without a distinct understanding
between these two, who are in reality
the two principals in the affair, MAXI3IILIAN
being the mere puppet, it is not easy to see.
There are still several parties actively engaged in
urging upon the Government the necessity of taking
immediate steps to dispossess the Mexican EMPEROR
of his throne, but no signs are made at Washington.
Mr. SEWARD, indeed, has gone on a trip south-
wards for the benefit of his health, and, of course,
his departure has given rise to numberless specula-
tions. He is to be absent three weeks, and is,
according to report, to visit Vera Cruz and St.
Thomas's, though such an intention certainly does
not accord with the absence of any political
object. At the same time, the fact of the Foreign
Secretary's choosing this crisis to take a trip in the
very direction of Mexico is certainly significant,
and no mere official pretences of private pleasure
will suffice to allay the public curiosity or to shake
the conviction that there is more in Mr. SEWARD'S
holiday excursion than meets the eye.
The long-dreaded season of Christmas has passed
over in safety, and the whites in the South have felt
the advantage of being forewarned, and so fore-
armed. The terrible crisis in Jamaica, no doubt,
redoubled the efforts made by the authorities to be
fully on their guard against a possible out-
break. So strong and so general has been the
feeling of uneasiness in the South that the
Governors of several States have laid full particu-
lars of their reasons for alarm before the PRESI-
DENT, and begged for additional military protection.
The PRESIDENT, once convinced that there was
really ground for apprehension, acted, as his wont,
with promptitude and decision. He perceived that
the negro troops formed a rallying ground for their
disaffected fellows. He at once ordered the greater
part of the black garrison to be withdrawn, and white
garrisons were stationed at all points where an out-
break was feared. It shows how fully the Southern
people were alive to the danger when they welcomed
the once hated Northern troops with eagerness
and cordiality. Meanwhile patrols were sent over
the country to seize all warlike munitions found in
the possession of negroes, and large quantities were
taken from them. The orders forbidding the whites
to carry arms were revoked, and the Freedmen's
Bureau was made the means of informing the blacks
that if they rose against the whites their punish-
ment would be swift and sure. All these precautions
happily produced the desired effect of preventing an
insurrection ; but notwithstanding them there was
quite enough disturbance in the South at Christ-
mas time to show that the apprehensions
were well founded. Iu several parts there were
simultaneous riots at Alexandria, Virginia, a regular
encounter between whites and blacks, and in other
parts 100 and 150 negroes were arrested before
peace could be secured. happily the storm has so
far blown over, and may probably do good by
showing how necessary it is to keep a watchful eye
over the negro, and how desperate would be the
condition of the South should the Radicals have
their way.

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
PARIS, Thursday Evening.

Some days ago I told you, from the best sources
of information, that the present movement in Spain,
spoken of by some of the Paris papers as a mere
nothing, was one of great gravity. The correspond-
ence published to-day more than confirms this state-
ment. The Sic/e publishes a letter dated Madrid,
January 7, which says :—" The insurrection is no
longer to be considered as a simple military insur-
rection directed by an ambitious general, who aims
at the post of Prime Minister. General Prim has
a greater object in view. It is now known that his
object is neither more nor less than to overthrow
the dynasty of the Bourbons, and to hoist
the flag of the Iberique Union, with the
House of Braganza upon the throne." Little
reliance is to be placed upon the official news
from Madrid. That city, no doubt, is tranquil for
the moment, and one only learns from other sources
that the insurrection is extending to other parts of
Spain. For instance, there has been a rather alarm-
ing outbreak at Barcelona, during which the troops
fired at the people, and several persons were killed.
The result to be gleaned from the announcement of
the Spanish Government is that the royal troops
continue to pursue the insurgents, that they are
always very near to them, but that they never catch
them. According to a private letter, Gen. Prim,
abandoning his idea of marching towards Saragossa,
intends to penetrate into Andalusia. He is said to
be seriously ill with a liver disease.
The Constitutionnel to-day has an article upon the
subject of extradition, which is probably of official
inspiration. It says that the last treaty was repu-
diated by the Government simply because it was
found to be completely inefficacious, and proceeds
to argue that " English legislation is so surrounded
by formalities that heretofore it has been found
impracticable to agree to the views of the English
Government upon the subject of extradition. All
the peoples, except the English, have recognised
and established the principle as really true and
equitable, and as necessary to the reciprocal secu-
rity of society, and as profitable to all good citizens,
that justice should triumph."
The official part of the Itioniteur announces the
reception of Van Praet by the Emperor, to present
letters notifying the decease of King Leopold the
First, and the accession of King Leopold the Second
to the throne of Belgium. Also that Mr. Albert
Grant, M.P., director of the Credit Foncier and
Credit Mobilier of London, was yesterday admitted
to a private audience of the Emperor.
The following gentlemen are appointed members
of the Scientific Commission of the Great Exhibi-
tion :—Messrs. De Quatrefages ; De Breau, mem-
ber of the Institute ; Pruner Bey ; and M. Lartet,
honorary member of the Societe d'Anthropologie.
These memb ors are instructed to make a report re-
specting all that concerns the anthropological and
ethnological history of the human races presented to
the exhibition. The report is to be presented be-
fore the Ist of July, 1867.

Perhaps you may have received the news from a
direct source. If not your readers will be sorry to
learn that Miss Frederica Bremer, the eminent
Swedish novelwriter, died a few days ago at Arista,
in Sweden.

The sporting papers state that the French Go-
vernment has bought Filibuster for the Imperial
breeding studs for 10,000 f. Count Lagrange has
just sent a number of two-year-olds to be trained
at Newmarket, It is worthy Of remark) although