The Sun.
London, England, 1868-10-15 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 15, 1868.

and so far condemned. Mr. GLADSTONE denounces
the provision for the personal payment of rates as

an instance of the " advocates of the Government
having got upon their high horse of virtue and mo-
rality, and in their anxiety to carry the highest
principles of action through all the lowest strata of
the community, insisting upon that performance at
any cost." The conclusion at which we arrive,
after all this discussion of old grievances, is,
that if Mr. GLADSTONE should be a mem-
ber of the Parliament which is about to
be elected, he will use his utmost endea-
vours to relieve the newly-enfranchised classes from
this most needless and vexatious interference with
their social arrangements.
Mr. GLADSTONE cannot speak with calmness of
the perversity of his political opponents with regard
to Ireland. He " don't say, and he won't think,"
that their extraordinary blindness is wilful, but still
it tries him almost beyond endurance to have to
contend with it. At any rate, Mr. GLADSTONE'S
remarkable clairvoyance on the wrongs of Ireland
and their remedy may match the strange
delusion that has gained on others, for it
was only in the middle of a debate on the
subject of Ireland collectively, that he saw his way
clearly before him and thus one event can coincide
with the other. The tone the right hon. gentle-
man adopts in dwelling on the question of Ireland
is not one to be commended; it savours too much of
the kind of argument we have heard for years past
from Mr. BRIGHT, but it is less inconsistent coming
from the one than from the other. Mr. BRIGHT
has no direct responsibilities; he speaks for himself,
and assumes the direction of no party. How would
it be if the followers of Mr. GLADSTONE
take up his cue, and cite the discontent
and disturbances of Ireland as a reason for imme-
diate legislation and comprehensive changes taking
place in ecclesiastical matters as well as in regard
to the soil. This is a false course to adopt, it is
laying down a principle that if carried out to its
full extent may be fatal to law, order, and authority. ,
In point of fact Mr. GLADSTONE'S theory tends to
subvert the notion that we should not do evil
that good may come of it, and that is ono to be
censured rather than commended in the exalted
interests of justice, and the high cause of political
morality. The worst of mixing up religious ques-
tions with party interests is that they cannot be
treated with proper reticence, and it would have
been much more in consonance with the tastes of
the reflective members of the community if Mr.
GLADSTONE had introduced the Irish Church ques-
tion as one irrespective of party, and to be decided
by the sober judgment of the House, instead of
being a war cry of a contested
_election. The sub-
ject is one which is not suitable to be paraded on
every occasion, whether the speaker is or is not in-
fluenced by the excitement of party interest and
political feeling ; but it is now too late to draw
back.

The news from America, which has been eagerly
looked for during the last day or two, has proved
to be decidedly in favour of the Republicans. After
their many reverses, and the manifest change which
took place in many parts of the Union respecting
them, their fortunes appear to have suddenly taken
a turn, and they have carried the elections in Ohio,
Pennsylvania, and Indiana. On the issue of these
elections the result of the Presidential election is
generally thought greatly to depend, and thus
GRANT'S chance of the White House has much im-
proved during the last few days. The battle has
been hardly fought, and the Republicans have
spared neither exertion nor expense, and they
have been remarkably successful. Of the twenty-
four members which Pennsylvania sends to
Congress the Republicans have elected 18. Of the
11 members for Indiana they have elected 8, and of
the 19 Congressional districts of Ohio they have
carried 13. There is consequently no doubt of the
success they have achieved in these States, an,l the
majorities by which they have carried the elections
show in one State at least a large increase in party
strength on last year. In Pennsylvania, it will be
remembered, the Democrats were successful at the
last election, so that the 10,000 majority for the
republicans which the still incomplete returns indi-
cate, show a party gain of 11,000 in the year. The
Republicans in this State have elected the Auditor
and Surveyor-General of the State, and as we have
seen 18 out of the 24 members of Congress. They will
consequently be able to replace the present Sena-
tor, who is a Democrat, by a Republican represen-
tative of Pennsylvania. Considering the present
relative strength of parties in the Senate this gain
will be of some importance to the Republicans, and
they will also be able to control the newly-elected
Legislature of Pennsylvania. In Ohio their ma-
jority is variously returned at 20,000 and 30,000,
in either case a considerable increase on their ma-
rity of last year. In one district the Democrats
were happily successful, defeating in consequence
the Hon. F. M. ASHLEY, one of the most intem-
perate of the extreme Radicals of the
STEVENS and BUTLER school. At present he repre-
sents the tenth district of Ohio in the House of
Representatives, and he has the unenviable noto-
riety of having initiated the Impeachment move-
ment against the PRESIDENT. In the Sixteenth
District the Republicans are sending back to Con-
giess Judge BINGHAM, who was one of the House
Managers during the Impeachment trial, so that in
some parts of the State the Radicals are more
popular than they deserve to be. In Indiana the
amount of the Republican majority indicates a de-
cided gain in the strength of the opposite party.
In 1866'ithe Republican majority was about 14,000.
This year's returns, so far as they are yet received,
indicate only a majority of between 7,000 and
8,000. The Republicans have, however, in Ame-
rican phraseology, carried the entire State ticket,
electing Mr. BAKER Governor. In Nebraska, too,
the fortunate Republicans have carried the State
ticket, electing the Governor and member for Con-
gress, so that the issue of at least these elections is
decidedly in favour of the Republican party. We
cannot but regret this, unless the Republican party
no longer means the Radical ; but of this there is
little chance. In some districts, indeed, the ex-
treme partisans may have less chance than men of
more moderate views, but as a general rule the
Radical supremacy in Congress and the Cabinet
means a policy of lavish expenditure, of op-
pression towards the South, of inconsis-
tency towards the negro, and of arrogant
pugnacity towards other nations. The Repub-
licans of the new elections may have learned
a lesson from the times, and may adopt a wiser,
a more enlightened, and a more conciliatory course
than their predecessors have done, but the hour of
success is not generally the time for moderation.
The state of the finances alone proves how hostile
to the real interests of the country has been their
policy during the last two or three years, and if the
debt is to go on increasing at the rate it has hitherto
done the Americans will be able to boast that their
expenditure in time of peace equals that of
other nations in war time ! GRANT'S elec-
tion to the Presidency is thus rendered
very probable ; but, thanks to his proverbial taci-
turnity, little is known of the course ho is likely to
pursue when elected. The South has less to fear
from him than from many Republican leaders, since

he has never upheld the violent course advanced by
STEVENS, and BUTLER, and ASHLEY. At one time,
indeed, it was believed that GRANT would identify
himself with Mr. Joumores party, and for a short
space they acted harmoniously enough together ;
but GRANT had either not the resolution or the in-
clination to break altogether with the Radicals,
who were direfully offended at his possible
secession. His sympathies, we may suppose,
are more on their side, though his careful
avoidance of anything like speechmaking leaves his
audiences a good deal in the dark as to his inten-
tions. All the flambeaus, and banners, and sere-
nades in his honour can only extract from him a
courteous " Thank you ; thank you, gentlemen," in
place of the full and particular exposition of his sen..
titnents hoped for. This reserve is no doubt very
wise at the present juncture, indeed we believe it is
part of the regular American political programme
that the Presidential candidates shall rusticate
for a while before the great struggle comes
on. But General GRANT'S laconic reserve is also
a matter of constitution and habit. A story is told
of the time of the war to the effect that General
SHERIDAN once wrote to the Commander-in-Chief
for instructions, saying that he thought a certain
point might be carried if things were pushed. To
this GRANT replied, with date and superscription,
" Push things. U. S. GRANT."
We need not, accordingly, expect any indiscreet
revelations from the modern ULYSSES, and if Presi-
dent JOHNSON has sometimes damaged his cause by
indiscretion, General GRANT is not not likely to
fall into the same error. But we may hope that if
elected he will, when once in power, carry
his caution into his policy. Happily the
responsibilities of State are so great that few
men who have the ability to secure the position of
ruler hastily venture on dangerous extremes. It is
easy to declaim on the platform, to thunder in
Congress, but the President or the Foreign Secre-
tary, or any other Minister of State, must perforce
look on the world with other eyes, and cannot
shrink from the responsibilities of his position.
Thus the success of this or that party in the na-
tional contest is not always so great or so conclusive
as it appears at first sight to be. ANDREW JOHNSON
was elected by the Radicals, but ANDREW JOHNSON,
once in the Presidential chair, knew that he had to
govern not New York or New England alone, but
the whole population of the United States. In the
same way Gen. GRANT, should he reach the desired
elevation, may well disappoint those political fana-
tics who look to the confiscation of the Southern
plantations, and the perfect social and ipolitical
equality of white and black, for the regeneration of
the country. We must hope that whatever be the
issue of the contest, the general voice of the people
will be so distinctly raised in favour of a prudent,
enlightened, economical, and conciliatory policy,
that no President, from whatever party he may
come, will venture wholly to disegard it.

--
eirinn oragat

HER MAJESTY.

BALMORAL CASTLE, 0Ct.112.

The Queen, accompanied by Princess Christian,
and attended by Lady Churchill, went out yes-
terday morning.
In the afternoon her Majesty drove out, accom-
panied by Princess Louise.
The Rev. Dr. APLeod left the Castle.

The Princess of Wales drove out, attended by
the Hon. Mrs. Coke, yesterday.

LATEST INTELL MENGE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

THE REVOLUTION IN SPAIN.
MADRID, Oct. 14.

The municipality of the capital has laid down
rules for the organisation of the popular forces of
Madrid by districts.

The Junta of Madrid will probably cease its
functions within a few days. The official decree
replacing the octroi duty by a personal tax excepts
from that tax military persons of every grade up to
the rank of colonel.

A new law on public instruction will be issued

shortly.

BELGIUM.
BRUSSELS, Oct. 15.

The Moniteur Beige of to-day contains the fol-
lowing :—" At a medical consultation held yester-
day on the state of the Prince Royal it was unani-
mously agreed by the seven physicians who attended
that although his Royal Highness's state was still
extremely critical, yet a decided improvement was
perceptible since the last consultation held on the
28th August."

SAXONY.

DRESDEN, Oct. 15.

Riots took place yesterday afternoon amongst
the numerous body of commissionaires of this city.
The police endeavoured to arrest several indivi-
duals, who however were rescued by their com-
rades. In the evening large crowds of people were
in the streets, and the disorder continued, and the
mob proceeded towards the Town Hall, the win-
dows of which were broken. The military then
occupied the streets, and it was past midnight be-
fore they succeeded in dispersing the rioters.

11ORREEIPONDENOE FROM PARIS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.:`
PARIS, WEDNESDAY, Octobei 14;

Projects of Ministerial changes still find their way into
the newspapers. The ever active, but not ever trust-
worthy Presse, says that these changes will
have greater significance than would be implied
by a simple modification of the personnel of the
Ministry. They will tend to render complete the system
of each department being defended in the Chambers by
its chief. The Ministry of State will, therefore, be
reduced to the position it formerly occupied. By
this arrangement M. Rouher will want a portfolio,
and will accordingly take that of the Interior.
M. Pinard, the present Minister of the Interior, will take
the department of Justice, and M. Baroche will retire.
These statements require confirmation, but if they
obtained it they would not then carry much
significance. 31. Rouher would lose a very little
of his present importance, but the Ministry would
really be not affected in its general character, either :for
better or worse. The Presse, though I cannot say that it
is a mountain, or has been long in labour, has
decidedly brought forth a mouse. It is not too much to say
that such announcements enrage the public. The
old uncertainty, which was merely put aside for a moment
by the startling stampede of the Spanish Royalists, is now
reviving—as, indeed, it must under any circumstances.
What the French people require is, not a statement
that M. Rouher is to become a little less the
factotum of the Ministry, but a change of
policy in one direction or the other. The report that M.
Drouyn de Lhuys is to return to the Foreign Office is
revived. This would in some sort be satisfactory, if it
were true. We should then be tolerably sure that the
warlike counsels were beginning to prevail. The Govern-
ment, and its official or semi-official organs, are ever
deluding the people with false hopes. The Liberal papers
are now becoming united on one point. They demand as
the next step towards "crowning the edifice" that the
system of official candidatures shall be abolished. The
Government, they justly argue, ought to stand by a
majority thinking for itself. I fear the advocates of
progress are insisting upon the least probable of internal
reforms.

The controversy respecting the health of the Duke of
Brabant—strange that a controversy should be necessary
on such subjects !—has now been set at rest. There has
been another consultation of physicians. They are unani-
mously of opinion that the state of the prince is very
serious, but they admit that there has been some improve-
went since the last consultation. The Princess Charlotte,
who has also been the subject of disputes more in ,earnest
than in good taste, was able yesterday to take a long ride,
in an uncovered carriage, in the neighbourhood of Laeken.

The "extraordinary session" of the Grand Duchy of
Luxemburg has passed off amid general inattention.
Nobody has asked to be annexed to any State. The
Duchy, for the present, accepts the hard fate of being rid
of the profitable Prussian garrison.
The papers are down upon General Prim for the letter
he wrote to the Gauloig. The Opinion Nationale is angry
with Prim for prejudging the decision of the Cortes ; the
Avenir Nationale thinks the General, to say the least, has
been excessively bold; and the Siecleis grievously astonished.
The Liberte publishes a letter from M. de Girardin, shewing
that his complaints of the tardiness of the revolution were
not altogether out of place. A revolution must be quickly
followed up by an after settlement of affairs, or trouble is
likely soon to ensue. General Prim thought that a dynasty
which had lasted so many years could not be overturned
in a day. The Liberte is, however, right. The Spanish
Liberals have run a terrible risk by their slowness.
A. letter from Rome states that, since the revolution
of September, all official communication has ceased
between Spain and the Vatican, and that it
is the French Embassy which has undertaken in a
friendly spirit the protection of the interests of Spanish
subjects.

M. Aubertot, one of the wealthiest merchants in Paris,
is dead. Report says he has left a fortune of £1,200,000.
Offenbach's La Perichole, at the VariAds, is simply
disgusting. In one portion of the play a whole party of
lords and ladies, a bridegroom and a bride, become intoxi-
cated. Mdlle. Schneider is the bride ; and Mdlle.
Schneider's intoxication may be imagined— but not realised
in print.