The Sun.
London, England, 1868-02-04 00:00:00

lIIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.

THIS DAT.—Morning, 9h. 37m.—Afternoon, lob. 15m.
To-310RRow.-Morning, 1011. 57m.—Afternoon, 1113. Um.

tft;'

LONDON, TUESDAY, FEB. 4, 1868.

Fenianism, which has been a little too active of
late in this country, has not, it would seem, quite
exhausted its stock of mischief in Ireland. The
good citizens of Cork have just been startled by
the blowing up of a gateway with gunpowder ;
though, so far as we as yet know, without any
fatal result. Another wanton act committed at
the same time is the cutting of all the telegraph
wires simultaneously in a circle of four miles round
the city. It is no great wonder that a goad deal of
alarm should be excited among the residents by
such acts, which naturally lead them to suppose
that Cork is fixed upon as the scene of some despe-
rate attempt.

It is possible that the main object of the conspi-
rators is to harass and terrify the population without
any specific purpose, but as they have previously
shown sufficient organisation to make them actively
dangerous, and as none can tell whether his own
person and property may not be implicated in the
next outrage, the feeling of insecurity and appre-
hension which is kept up is most prejudicial to the
social wellbeing. One conclusion must be drawn
from all these occurrences. There are evidently
some desperate and reckless characters still
abroad, and there must bo a good deal of
collusion among the populace, or they would
not have so long continued to elude justice. What
mad schemes they may be still planning it is im-
possible to say, but the most credulous and the most
sanguine among them can hardly by this time sup-
pose that they will be able to resist the weight of
English authority. The system will be kept up no
doubt as long as possible, since there are always
those who turn the credulity of their dupes to good
account. We know of old that in America llead-
centres were living in ease and feasting at the chief
hotels, while Irish labourers and maid-servants
were hoarding up their hard-earned shillings and
pence for their support and the cause of " Ould
Ireland." These sudden explosions and destructive
acts keep up the popular excitement, and convince
the ignorant and unthinking that Fenianism is really
a serious and formidable thing, which Englishmen
will at last have to treat with the respect and con-
sideration it deserves. There is no cure for the
evil but time and vigilance, and it is fortunate that
arrests continue to be made, notwithstanding the
ingenuity of the offenders. Two brothers, named
BARRY, were yesterday arrested in Cork on suspicion
of Fenianism, and the capture was an important
one, since one of them was identfied as having
taken part in the robbery of ALLPORT'S gunshop.
On searching his house a sword, revolver, military
books, and other suspicious articles were found. It
will be remembered that it was thought very pro-
bable that the same desperadoes who robbed Mr.
ALLront plundered the martello tower, and com-
mitted other outrages. It is very likely that the
same men are now busy in Cork, and therefore we
may regard the capture of the brothers BARRY, and

their associate SULLIVAN, as most important.
Another arrest was made of less note. A printer
was taken into custody for threatening a police-
man who arrested WALsa a little while since. All
these arrests have occasioned a good deal of excite-
ment, but they will, we may hope, be productive of
the best effects, by reassuring the citizens, and by

interrupting the course of these mischievous and
reckless ofienders, who have no doubt been con-
cerned in a good many other disturbances.

Yesterday the Bill on the Press was again under
the notice of the Legislative Body, and the amend-
ments were considered. First of all came that of
M. OLLIVIER, but it was rejected, as was also that
of M. BAqTE3IONT. So far, certainly, much has
not been done to retard the progress of the Bill,
but, perhaps, those who COlll3 afterwards may be
more successful in their attempts to alter the cha-
racter of the measure if they cannot wholly do
away with it. To-day the first paragraph of the
Bill will come on for discussion, and then we sup-
pose the excitement of last week will be renewed.
There is great diversity of opinion prevailing about
this, the chief subject of interest, in Paris. The
Patrie and the France are unwilling to think that
the Ministers contemplate the withdrawal of the
Bill, and even go so far as to calculate the chances
of a division, giving a majority of over a hundred
for the Government. The Minister of the Interior
has, it is affirmed, signified that it is not the in-
tention of the Cabinet to withdraw it ; but all this
is rather vague, and we must not attach too
much importance to it. At any rate we
may be tolerably certain that the measure is
extremely unpopular, and that all this confusion is
the result of the recent prosecutions in Paris. The
case of the ten journals was a convincing proof that
there was nothing to hope for in the way of im-
Frovernent from the powers that be, but that rather
they were retrograding in the cause. It is long since
such a decided disapproval wi,s manifested in France
to anything that emanated from the Government,
and this is the cause of it. Deputies and journalists
alike feel that a vital principle is at stake, and
that the situation is a critical one. Undercover of the
b 11 at present put before the Corps Legislatif, it
is easy to make a protest against.the whole style of
management which prevails about these journals.

Whether the bill pass or no-, it has been shorn of

its prestige by this time, for few can admire what
has been the theme of so much controversy, and
also the subject of ridicule and unsparing criticism.
The course pursued by the Government has neither
inspired respect nor commanded obedience. It
has resolved itself into a series of petty
prosecutions, and a system of repression which
could not but have had the worst effects upon all
immediately concerned, and in the end irritate and
bewilder the public, who looked to the Press for
that (information which it did not receive. The
very plain speaking regarding facts which has taken
place in the Corps Legislatif may impress all who
have doubt upon the details of the debate, and very
little, if anything, was said upon which Ministers
can plume themselves. M. PICARD'S remarks cut
both ways, for he held out no hope for the
Government as regarded the amelioration of its
position. If they passed the bill they would seem
odious, if they failed in the effort the weight of the
responsibility which thereby must devolve upon
them would be overpowering. Of curse we shall
all feel the greatest interest in the fate of this mea,
sure, but the prevailing sentiment concerning the
whole affair is that of disappointment. It is so
vexatious to know that a false system prevails, and
that a wrong principle of action pervades those
who rule the destinies of a great nation, and that
neither time nor experience can suffice to influence
them, or to induce them to take another or a better
course. Granted that some of the details of this
bill arn, improvements, does not the startling fact
remain that the Press of France is gagged, and
while this is the case what man of reason or reflection
can give his sanction to such a proceeding ?

Amid the stormy scenes which are taking place
in France, and the very unsatisfactory nature of
the work which proceeds in Prussia, it is really a
relief to turn one's thoughts to the Austrian Em-
pire, and to note how calmly and courageously the
friends of the Reforms are going on their way.
The union with Hungary is likely to produce the
most advantageous change to the Austrians—not
exactly on account of material benefit, but be-
cause of the character of the people, and the con-
stitutional support they will convey.
Nothing is of more moment, when any striking
change is made, or any comprehensive work under-
taken, than for the parties most interested in such
works to know what they are about. Experience,
then, is not wanting to the Hungarians, and they
can both act with discretion themselves, and also
impart some of their wisdom to their friends and
allies. Prussia, as we all know, is not a teacher
to be depended on ; but Hungary has been trained
in the school of adversity, and has gathered therein
moderation to temper the fire of her ancient zeal,
and to turn her impulsive energies in the right
direction. Some doubts are entertained as to the
propriety of the recent changes in some respects, and
interpellations have followed as a matter of course.
It is objected that the independence of Hungary
will not admit of the titles of Imperial Minister or
State Chancellor being used by the Ministers, and
also that there is no Hungarian among the three
Ministers, and thus the principle of equality is not
maintained. These errors are apparently trifling, but a
little reflection will show that their effects are not
to be regarded as trivial. All that goes against the
feelings or awakens the prejudices of others should
be avoided in such a task as this; and, above all, it
seems strange and peculiar that affairs could not
have been so arranged as to let one Hungarian, at
least, take part with the Ministry. It is to be
hoped that the Government will be able to give
some explanation on the matter, which will satisfy
those who are so eager for these errors to be
rectified. If not at once, perhaps in a
short time they may be able to do so. In every
respect it would be a grievous thing to witness
lavffitahir
innotewr,esatnwdatihfouslelywho regard
appreciate
thetahn eyflaw
importanceregimein the
of the matter. It will very likely
tura out that a little consideration on one side, and
a little patience on the other, may smooth these
difficulties, and leave the way open for future ne-
gociatious of a satisfactory nature. In all these
matters some tiai must necessarily elapse before
the change can be effectively carried out, but there
is no reason to fear that those who have put their
hands to the plough will look back, and thus mar
the good work they have been so instrumental in
effecting.

The intelligence which reaches us from the
Brazils augurs ill for the ultimate success of the
Allied Powers. It is true that the war news is said
to be unimportant ; but remembering how unreli-
able is the information which comes to us through
the interested parties, we may be very sure that
Fortune has shown
heherselfiliirt ne
tee sympathymore friendly to the Pa-
mies'S
in theirhould mis-
adventure. this bse_
d
srangftitaleyaAnlsliteshamnilltofint
find l
Theys tState,
eh,a
with
toppressed h
eand a persecuteduthnrity t
than
na
a gallantv e ntu rl
ittle
le droit du plus fort, and have attempted
to play to-
wards Paraguay the same part which Spain didagainst
Chili. Fortunately, in both cases
the spirit of the
smaller State has proved itself more than a match
for the unwieldy forces of their
powerful and un-
scrupulous opponents. Brazil is the real offender,
the les3er Allies having joined her
from fear as from love to her or from hate to
Paraguay. In fact great chisatisfaction exists in
parts of the Argentine Confederation, and in the
province of Santa Fe there has been a revolution.
Rosario, when the mail left, was in the hands of
the insurgents, who declared, however, that
their uprising was not against the national
authorities, but only against Governor Anoso,.
who was holding out in the capital.
The great topic of the day, however, which has
rendered the war comparatively unimportant is the
prevalence of cholera. This deadly enemy has
produced a panic in Buenos Ayres, where business
was at a complete standstill. All the horrors of
the time of the plague are reported from the devoted
city. The coffins were being carried about in fur-
niture vans, and the public cemetery was filled
with the dead waiting for sepulture. Half the
population, it is said, have left the city for the
camps, but as the epidemic was believed to have
come originally from the pestiferous quarters of
the Allied armies, where it originally appeared,
this seems to be only exchanging one danger for
another. The municipality, who had taken no
measures to allay the epidemic, had been forced to
resign their posts by the indignation of the people,
who were greatly excited by the disastrous condi-
tion of affairs. The Government had been active in
cleaning the streets and taken other sanitary mea-
sures, and the mortality was beginning to diminish, 11
favourable change having taken place in tin
weather. In the camps at Corrientes and Gran
Chaco the epidemic was still virulent, and had pro-
bably greatly weakened the Allies, for we learn that
they had no intention of attacking Humaita,
which LOPEZ still hold=, and they were contentil4,
themselves with strengthening their lines. \V
hear no more of the disputes between the rival
commanders, the presence of the one overwhelm-
ing foe having apparently silenced all minor dif-
ferences. If the Paraguayans continue to stand
firm, as we hope they will do, there is little
doubt but that the victory must eventually be