The Sun.
London, England, 1868-01-03 00:00:00

LONDON, FRIDAY, JANUARY 3, 1868.

The New Year's Reception at the Tuileries is
sure to attract general attention ; but it does not
seem to have been quite so important this year as
usual. The Papal Nuncio was the spokesman of
the Diplomatic Body, and the EMPEROR replied to
him in general terms, declaring that he was happy
to commence the New Year surrounded by the re-
presentatives of the different Powers. "I am able,"
added he, " to affirm once more my constant desire
to maintain the best relations with them,"
concluding by expressing his thanks for the good
wishes they had expressed concerning France, his
family, and himself. Further on, in reply to the
Archbishop of Paris, his MAJESTY said that the
prayers he addressed to heaven for the Empress
and himself affected him deeply, for he felt con-
vinced that they sprung from a " noble heart."
" I know that you do not separate religious in-
terests from those of the country and of civilisa-
tion." What with one thing or another it must
be confessed that the Emperor NAPOLEON has had
a very difficult part to play in framing his answers
to these communications, fur the existing circum-
stances are so very complicated and peculiar that
the utmost caution is required in order to prevent
any collision of interests, and any misapprehension
that could inevitably arise if so important a per-
sonage said too much or too little. The Moniteur
du Soir seems to take a favourable view of public
matters, and even goes so far as to say that the
year begins under favourable auspices, because
peace is not disturbed in any part of Europe. It
is satisfactory at any rate that this authority
should be so sanguine as to the appearance of
things, but still we cannot help entertaining grave
doubts as to the success which is attributed to the
power of diplomacy to deal with those awkward
questions which abound at the present time. The
Moniteur lays great stress upon the failure which
has attended the " anarchical attempts" iu
Spain, England, and Italy, and argues
from that circumstance the progress of the
various countries in peace and prosperity. One
remark here met with may be questioned as to its
accuracy, namely, that which sets forth the manner
in which France has " understood how to reconcile
the principle of authority with the regular exercise
of wise and fertile liberty." As a complete con-
tradiction to this may be mentioned the statement
made in the Chamber of Deputies concerning the
ten or twelve newspapers which had been " cited"
before the "Juge d'lnstruction,"on account of having
contravened the decree of February respecting sum-
maries of debates in the Chambers. As M. GUERXLT
truly said, how were the journals to estimate public
opinion without making it known precisely ? M.
RouHER made some ingenious excuse or other to
prevent discussion ; but the fact remains, and can-
not be gainsaid, that France has not a free press,
and if the Emperor NAPOLEON desires to leave a
glorious record of his reign in the annals of Europe,
he must change his policy in this important parti-
cular.

The Yorkshire working men have been busy in
getting up a political association of their own, and
we are glad to see such traces of political vigour
among the sturdy mechanics and artisans of the
north. The association at Armley is professedly
Conservative ; but, in fact, it matters less by what
particular name such gatherings call themselves than
that they should address themselves to the conside-
ration and discussion of the affairs of the day with
intelligence and moderation. These associations
are calculated to do great good in promoting the
political education of the people. They hear the great
questions which agitate the time spoken of by well-
informed men, who address them in a very different
tone from the mob orators who are in the habit of
declaiming before them. To hear the arguments on
the other side, whichever it is, examined and an-
swered, is a very different thing from listening to
the reckless abuse professional agitators pour upon
all who differ from them. These associations, too,
bring the men of different ranks and classes into
contact, and help much to remove local and pro-
fessional prejudice. They promote a cordiality and
unanimity of feeling, a sense that all are alike in-
terested in the good and efficient government of
the country. They are thus calculated to help
greatly in bringing the new voters under the Re-
form Act to a level with the older and more expe-
rienced of their fellows.

The Armley Association has no particularly dis-
tinctive features. The principal address was by
Mr. KENDALL, who occupied himself in reviewing
the legislation of the Whigs and examining their
policy by the test of their famous motto—" Peace,
Retrenchment, and Reform." He showed that their
influence had in many instances been exerted in the
oppositedirection. Their mismanagement of Reform
is an old story, and their manner of " drifting into
war" is also nothing new. Mr. KENDALL was also
severe upon them for the heavy addition to our
national burdens which they incurred in the Crimean
War. There was little or no difference of opinion
among the speakers, and the "inaugural banquet,"
as it was styled, passed over with flying colours.

A similar demonstration was made yesterday in
Cambridgeshire, though the object was more de-
finitely partisan in its chara3ter, and the persons
present belonged chiefly to the upper claims. The
Earl of HARDWICKE, the Lord Lieutenant of the
county, took the chair, and defined the objects and
nature of the society which they proposed to
establish. Its principal aim was the registration
of Conservative voters for the county, and they
wished it to include subscribers of all ranks, so that
it was proposed to fix the annual payment at a low
rate, leaving those whose means or inclination
prompted them to give more to supplement their
subscription by donations. As we have said, the
meeting was principally of a local and party cha-
racter; still we are glad to see these signs of politi-
cal life, which argue well for the future. There is
much to be done still in the way of social and ad-
ministrativo reform, and it will need the strength
and energy of all parties to carry it out.

Fenianism is still rife in Ireland, and the greatest
care is being taken to stop its course and check its
ravages ; but so far as lacing it down is concerned
we cannot say that the efforts of the authorities have
as yet been crowned with that success which their
zeal and assiduity deserve, and which the wishes of
all lovers of peace and order earnestly desire. We
learn that " extraordinary precautions" have been
adopted by the military authorities in the South.
Lord STRATHNAIRN has gone on a special mission
to Cork, and the garrison has becu largely
increased. This is a very necessary thing to
do, for the greatest excitement seems to prevail
in that direction, and too much vigilance can
scarcely be exercised. At Queenstown the men-of-
war are closely guarded, and patrolle.l by boats.
Another very wise thought has been to remove the
poWder from the Martello towers. Lilac .ight sig-