The Sun.
London, England, 1866-02-17 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 17, 1866.

to him. The Government has probably been con-
vinced that the time has now come to deal summa-
rily with these persons. As the conviction and pun-
ishment of the leading Fenians by the Special Com-
mission, and the proof thereby given that the
educated classes are opposed to the movement, have
not checked the audacity of the agitators or the
confidence of their dupes, it is now necessary, for
the sake (If the deluded people themselves, to act
with increased vigour. The precedent of 1848 is
on record as a guide to Parliament. On the 22d of
July of that year Lord John Russell proposed the
suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act. Singularly
enough the day was Saturday, and the house
passed the bill through all its stages at a single
sitting. On Monday it went to the House of Lords,
and bcame law as soon after as the Royal assent
could be given. On the present occasion the legisla-
tion will be even more prompt, for the bill, if passed
by the Commons, who will meet at 12 o'clock this
day, will .go to the Lords, who meet at 4, and it
may receive the royal assent on Monday. The
reasons given in 1848 for the suspension of the
Habeas Corpus Act, which was for eight months,
will no doubt be substantially repeated to-day, but
we trust there will be a still closer similarity in the
resulte. The measure of 1848 brought the treason-
able movement to a crisis, and showed its essential
weakness. There is reason to hope that the sus-
pension of the Habeas Corpus Act will produce a
similar effect now with as little danger to the country.
When the Fenian emissaries find that they are ex-
posed to summary arrest and imprisonment, they
must make their choice between abandoning their
scheme or boldly taking up the challenge of a power-
ful Government.
THE " ANGLO-AMERICAN TIMES " ON ONE
HUNDRED AND THIRTY-FOUR YEARS AGO.
In another column of this paper will be found an
advertisement calling upon all " loyal Americans"
residing in London to meet at Willis's Rooms,
next Thursday evening, for the purpose of cele-
brating, in a becoming manner, the anniversary of
the birthday of Washington. We think it proper
and appropriate to refer, in this place, to the pro-
posed meeting, and to throw out such observa-
tions and suggestions as may present themselves
in view of the contemplated celebration. Four
Four generations of men have lived and died since
that day the anniversary of which it is proposed to
celebrate. And as the name and character of
Washington recedes farther and farther into the
dim past, we have reason to appreciate more and
more the greatness of the mission for which he was
chosen. Every age has had its leaders—every epoch
in the world's history has witnessed its bright and
shining lights, set high up in the mountain peaks of
time, to guide and to illumine the pathway of men.
We cannot express too earnestly the conviction
that George Washington was more than a mere
Statesman or a mere General. When he fought
the battles of American independence, he wielded a
sword which cut asunder not merely the connection
between the colonies and the mother country, but
the traditional prejudices which had arrayed class
against class in other lands. He was the embodi-
ment of a principle—the principle that thrones
and monarchs and a privileged aristocracy were
in themselves vile and wicked, and could only be-
come useful and good when they were the free
choice of the supreme power—the people. This
principle has spread among the nations from that
day to this—it has grown and flourished, not merely
on the free soil of the Republic which he founded,
but it has taken root in England—in France—in all
countries where Christianity and civilisation are
known. The name and fame of Washington belong,
then, not to Americans alone. It is through his
teachings—it is through the establishment among
all peoples of his doctrine—that the Throne of Bri-
tain is to-day so revered and loved by Englishmen.
A hundred years ago monarchs ruled and oppressed
their subjects by the doctrine of, " divine right."
To-day no monarch in Europe is powerful enough
to persistently oppose the wishes of the people.
But at the meeting next week, while we feel sure
that every loyal American citizen will duly appre-
ciate these considerations, there will be other feel-
ings and emotions crowding upon their minds.
With many nations patriotism is merely a senti-
ment—with the American people it is a principle—a
principle as deeply rooted in their hearts as is their
love for their own families or their own religion.
For have they not been called upon to give of their
treasure and their best blood for their country's
sake ? And through all those weary years of dark-
ness and war, did they ever falter or hesitate for an
hour ? When the land shook with the thunders of
marching hosts—when the rivers ran incarnadine
with the blood of the sons of the Republic--when
the wheat-fields and the cotton-fields were trodden
down by the feet of the soldiers—they felt that they
were but defending the birthright which Washing-
ton gave them. And even when their second

The " New York Herald" .on the Downfall

of England.

The New York Herald has a standing editnri_ti
heading, for use in its editions for Europe, entitle"
" The Downfall of England." In the last effnei°n
of this kind our spicy American contemporary' dig'
cusses English finance, and declares that there is
La
goad deal more in the threatening aspect `Ali°
financial affairs in England have assumed than can
be inferred from the large exports to America. ,
wealth of England has its mainstay in the coal and
iron deposits of that country, and the opinion has.
gained ground there for some time that the OP!"
j,
in these minerals was getting rapidly exhausted'
Investigations have been made by the geolog.wi;
and the result is the conviction on the part
„„
good many that the coal and iron cannot last Oar':
than fifty or sixty years longer ; some give
productive capacity a limit of a hundred I'7.
When the coal and iron give out it is pretty ala
dent that the British Empire will give out tool iti./4
probably the long-headed portion of the cornnierci
people of England foresee the short lease of its et
istence, and hence we may account for the evident
disposition to invest English capital in the (loll"-
States. They know that while the mineral
ducts of Great Britain will only last for a honn
years at most, the mineral wealth of America T
last for fifty thousand years ; and they are, in feet'
preparing for a contingency which, according hs
geological surveys, must occur within a ceottni;
and capitalists are, therefore, looking that distano
of time ahead. The labour, capital, and menu,
e
factures of England will be transferred to
United States before many years. Already,
,(111:
deed, the initiative steps have been taken in.,Vd
direction. America is gradually drawing off skid,
labour from the manufacturing towns of Englall
and English capital is finding investment in Anifee
rican railroads and mines, because capitalists 11°,4
discovered that the Great Republic is the 01't
stable Government in the world, and the safest
place in which to invest their means. The argf
ment of the London Times and other journals'
while they are probably intended to weaken on 11;
fidence in American securities and depreciate ~.
credit of American merchants, logically sustain I'o
view of the subject and admit the stern facts nee
which it is based. We may assumt that the ti!,
is coming when the British empire—as represent;
by its capital, labour, and manufactures—will be
found to exist in America. There it will not
scattered over many colonies in all parts of the
globe, but will be concentrated in one territory'
embracing within its limits all climates, from r;
tropics to the temperate and frigid zones, and CO
manding resources without limit.

COUNTRY MARKETS.

-

LIVERPOOL.—FRIDAY. and
We had a moderate attendance at our market to-d*Argi
wheat was in fair demand at Tuesday's rates. Flour Pill
but prices unchanged. Indian corn 6d per qr. lovier•
other articles generally unchanged.

DERBY—FRIDAY. befit
To-day the supply of wheat was tolerable, and ths,,o„
sorts were firm ; other kinds dull. Barley sold, rsai.:c7o,
Oats met with a fair inquiry at quite last week's Pr
Beans a moderate trade at former quotations. r 36
New white wheat, 53s to 57s ;. old red, 50s to 52s Pe D 6,
stone. Barley for malting, 36s to 40s per qr. ; grill2BB to
27s to 29s per 30 stone. Oats, new, 22s to 28s; old],
,0 463
32s per 24 stone. Beans, old, 47s to .50s ; new, 40 1'
per 38 stone.

WAKEFIELD.—FRIDAY. leg
Wheat trade steady at last Friday's prices. gore tere •
on offer. Sale hardly so active. Other articles uual v;
Averages, February 12—Wheat, 1,156 vs, at Os
barley, 1,316 at 39s 4id ; oats, —, at --s Od.

S TAMF ORD.—FRIDAY.
RS deaf
A middling supply of wheat ; dry samples fully cots
inferior unsaleable. First qualities of barley were !fled.
and sold at remunerative rates; other kinds uncli'
Oats ruled firm at top prices. Peas a heavy trade.
.46
New white wheat, 49s to 52s ; red do., 45s to 48s Pe '523
stone. Barley, malting, 34s to 388; grinding, 28s to
.•
per qr. Oats, new, 24s to 28s ; old, 25s to 27s per 24 OW'
Beans, 44s to 50s per 38 stone. Peas as of late.

> Washington sealed his devotion to his country
with a martyr's blood, and the whole people
trembled and staggered under that awful blow, and
Horror sat on their faces and Dismay dwelt in their
hearts, they felt even then that the sacrifice was
not too great—and so, come life or death, they
would pro serve their country. And they marched
on hopefully and manfully towards the goal, with
but one thought, one conviction, one irresistible
and all-conquering motto on their worn and tat-
tered battle-flags, " Liberty and Union, one and
inseparable, now and for ever." The Ameri-
can residents in London who meet at Willis's
Rooms next week will have greater reason for
rejoicing than any assembly of their country-
men which has ever met before. Republicanism
has been vindicated—the land of Washington has
been redeemed—and henceforth and forever free-
dom in the New World is more than a name ! How
countless are their broad acres—but there is no
single slave upon them ! how majestic their flowing
rivers—but their shores are no longer dotted with
slave cabins ! how mighty their eternal mountains
—but no fugitive from bondage hides among them !
how grand their old forests—but no bloodhounds
scour them for the runaway slave ! how white
their waving cotton-fields, but no crack of the
slave-driver's whip is heard in their depths !
So we say to those who are to celebrate the birth-
day of Washington, rejoice and be glad ! Let no
frivolous hilarity, no unseemly mirth, be visible
among you. Rejoice as did the pilgrims when
they landed on Plymouth Rock—rejoice with thank-
fulness and gratitude to that Eternal Father who
hath led you across the stormy ocean, and brought
you safely to port. Let no thoughtless words be
spoken. Let dignity and moderation characterise
all your proceedings ; and while you do honour to
your own heroes and renew your vows of fidelity
to your own most cherished institutions, remember
also that in free and constitutional England you
are the representatives of your nation, and should
represent it well. And while the paternal face of
Washington looks down from the canvass upon
you, and the Shade of the dead Patriot and Hero
hovers around you, do not forget that, although
you are the direct custodians of his honour, his
fame and memory belong not to you, but to man-
kind !

The War For the Union and the War
Against it.

The New York Times, in an able article under the
above head, quotes the testimony of General Grant
to the good faith with which the citizens of the
South acquiesce in the verdict of the war, and re-
sume their allegiance to the old flag. The terms
dictated by General Grant, with the full knowledge
of President Lincoln, were calculated to bring about
this happy condition of affairs. The great soldier
who guided the struggle to its end dreamed not of
arrogating to himself the functions of conqueror,
or of imposing upon the South terms of vassalage.
They who did the fighting felt always that they
were fighting, not to extend a conqueror's flag over
alien territory, not to add provinces to a republic
and make its glorious symbol " a flaunting lie," but
to put down rebels and restore the authority of the
Union over all its component parts. The armies
of the Union fought only for that. And when that
was accomplished, soldiers and people alike felt that
the work of the war was ended, and that nothing
remained to keep Northern and Southern States
apart. The Union was restored, and with the re-
stored Union came back the equality of the States
and the full title of each to the privileges conferred
by the constitution. The Northern people have
gone yet further. From the moment when the re-
bellion was known to be suppressed, they have
striven to heal the wounds occasioned by the war,
and to reassure the South in every respect. They
have established lines of steam communication
almost without number. They have provided the
means of reconstructing railroads. They have fur-
nished capital to cultivate plantations and to pro-
mote industrial and commercial enterprises in every
Southern State. They have settled liberally with
Southern debtors, and have sent on credit goods to
supply the Southern market. In this manner the
question of the Union and the relations of Northern
States to Southern States have been virtually and
satisfactorily settled by the peoples of the two sec-
tions. Southern people go to the North and find
friends and fellow-citizens, instead of aliens and
subjugators. Northern people go there and find,
in the varied resources of States now freed from
the curse of slavery, fresh grounds of confidence in
the power and prosperity of the Union.

LINCOLN.—FRIDAY.
With a fair quantity of wheat, the prices of last Wee,:
were made. Very little barley, and last week's prices We
exceeded. Beans small, and prices unchanged. 36
New white wheat, 51s to 56s ; new red, 43s to 47s Per
„dingt
.
stone. Barley for malting, 34s to 42s per qr ; „to
31s to 33s per 30 stone. Oats, 24s to 325. Beans, 3"
bls per 38 stone.

BRISTOL SUGAR—FRIDAY. ;1.
The demand is extremely limited, and only a small 15i,
ness has been done, at prices per cwt. lower. Refined w-
and prices almost nominal.