The Sun.
London, England, 1868-09-22 00:00:00

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Slitot
• s

LONDON, 7 UESDAY, SEPT. 22, 1868.

Congress met yesterday at Washington after the
recess, but only to adjourn again until the 16th of
October, and probably till a later date. 'When the
members actually reassemble for the despatch of
business the great question of the day—the election
of a President—will most likely be decided. Indeed
until the contest is over the leading members of
Congress can hardly be expected to be in their
places.

Meanwhile throughout the country there is little
change. The Republicans have carried, as we know,
the legislative elections in the territories of Colorado
and New Mexico, and have done so by increased
majorities. This is not a very important victory,
even though they have succeeded in electing their
candidate as member for Colorado in Congress. In
Massachusetts the Republican Convention has been
busily at work, has nominated a Governor for the
State, and has unanimously passed resolutions en-
dorsing the legislative measures of Congress and
the platform of the Chicago Convention, favouring
the payment of the national debt in gold, and de-
nouncing the course of the Democrats as revolu-
tionary. The payment of the debt in gold is what
all well-wishers of the Republic desire. The eva-
sion practised or recommended by those who would
take advantage of a casual oversight in the terms of
the agreement is unworthy of a great and powerful
nation, but we fear the higher standard of com-
mercial morality in New England owes its origin to
the strength of the bondholders' interest eastwards.
In the Western States repudiation, or at least pay-
ment in currency, has plenty of supporters, while
the claims of the national creditor are regarded
with indifference. As for the course of the Demo-
cratic party being revolutionary, there is little
to be said by the other side in extenuation of their
own irritating and aggressive policy. Certainly what-
ever sins the Democrats have coannttted they can
hardly be convicted of having exceeded the Radicals
in violent and inflammatory harangues. As for the
financial difficulties of the country the Radicals
have not much to boast of. The last formal state-
ment of the condition of the public debt on the Ist
of S,l.Ttember shows that since the Ist of August it
had increased more than 12 million dollars. How
can it be otherwise when for the month of August
alone the military expenditure was over thirteen
million dollars ? Eight years of the army
and navy cost less for a whole year,
and yet the present time is a time of
peace, and there is no reason why the rate of
expenditure should be so exorbitant. The cost of
the military arm of the States is now estimated at
$160,800,000 a year, and yet no one can pretend
that there has been a campaign or even a skirmish
requiring any excessive outlay during the last
twelvemonth. The explanation is to be found in
the system of military governments in the South,
since the principal part of the payments are actually
for that purpose. The Radicals are always ready
with one excuse or another. They are ready,
too, to boast of their retrenchments ; but
Americans are too shrewd, or as they them-
selves would say, too "'cute," to believe that
a policy which increases the debt at the rate of
! nearly $400,000 a day is a policy of retrenchment.
The first question to be asked in such a state of
affairs is naturally what standing expense can be cut
down to bring the expenditure a little more in har-
mony with the income. The reduction of the costly
military establishments in the South, which serve
the double purpose of absorbing the public money
and crushing the reviving energies of the Southern
States themselves,is an evident cure for a growing evil.
There is no lack of money in the country. The people
yearly pay into the Treasury between four and five
hundred millions of dollars, and yet in a time of
peace they see their burdens rapidly growing in-
I stead of diminishing ; and so long as the Radicals
are at the head of affairs there is no chance of a
change for the better. This question of the finances
alone is sufficient to alienate the mass of the
people from the Radical candidates. It is very well
to talk about gold payments on the platform, but
where is the gold to come from if they per-
sist in the course they have hitherto pur-
sued ? If they are able to maintain the lavish
expenditure of the present system for another year
or two it will only be by enormously increased
taxation or by additional public debt. In view of
their future necessities they may think it worth
while to keep faith (at least in professions) with the
national creditors ; but when the election is over
the pressure of the time is likely to put their good
resolutions to flight. Mouth of ter month goes by,
leaving the finances in the same hopless embarrass-
, ment as it found them in, while the Northern people
chafe more and more under their burdens, and
the South is becoming more and more disturbed

and divided. The Congressional scheme of
Reconstruction can hardly be regarded as
other than a failure, even as regards the negro him-
self. The attempt to force him upon the white
man as a political and social equal would result in
nothing but mortification and irritation—in em-
bittered feelings on both sides. In Georgia the
question of admitting black members is now being
considered by the Senate, but the Lower house has
already declared them ineligible. Naturally this
decision has greatly excited the negroes, and the
leaders of the blacks advise retaliation. how,
under such a state of things, can trade and
commerce flourish, and the Treasury be enriched ?

Although accounts are still doubtful, there is
every reason to believe that the State of Spain is
most serious, and that with one thing and another

Queen ISABELLA runs the risk of losing her favour '
altogether. She has not yet abdicated, it appears,
but is said to have offered to do so, perhaps worn
out with the excitement, and hopeless of seeing
matters improve. The interview between the
Emperor NAPOLEON and the Queen of SPAIN is
now said not to have taken place, the QUEEN having
left for Madrid as soon as she heard of the rising in
the provinces. It is certainly most perplexing to
form an opinion concerning intelligence that is
either put vaguely, or may be contradicted to-
morrow, but the impression conveyed by the vari-
ous telegrams and accounts generally is most unfa-
vourable, and leaves no one even to doubt of the
danger that exists to the monarchy. Among other
rumours that are current it is said that the QUEEN
has offered to abdicate in favour of her eldest son,
and mentioned General ESPARTERO as a fit person
to be Regent, but this scarcely deserves credence.
If it comes to the QUEEN abdicating, the insurgents
are not likely to listen to her suggestions, and to
look with very favourable eyes upon those she
puts forward to supply her place. Meanwhile
the Ministry have resigned, and their resigna-
tion has been accepted. General CONCHA has bee❑
appointed President of the Council of Ministers,
but in all likelihood it is now too late to remedy
the evil that exists. Disaffection has taken too
deep a root for the tardy effortkof the authorities to
eradicate it, and there appears little or no chance
of matters being patched up again, even for a brief
space of time. The QUEEN and her advisers, not
to forget her favourites, have certainly brought
their doom upon their own heads, and a scant mea-
sure of pity is all that we can allow them. After the
ill-advised and most unwarrantable step had been
taken of banishing the Duke and Duchess of MONT-
PENSIER there was little or no chance of a wiser policy
prevailing, and much of the interest that existed in
the affairs of the peninsula was dissipated by the
spectacle of such want of English feeling prevail-
ing, and such subserviency to her selfish motives•
From Paris we hear that Seville has pronounced for
the insurgents, and the garrison followed its
example, which looks very ominous for the authori-
ties, that being au important city, and one likely
to affect other places. At Madrid great agitation
necessarily prevails, and the telegraph wires are
cut, thus adding to the general state of confusion
and misrule.

Respecting Cadiz conflicting accounts prevail,
it being asserted on the one hand that the revolu-
tionists are still outside the city, and that the
inhabitants and garrison remain faithful to
the Government ; and, on the other, that the city
is in the hands of the Progressists. In all probabi-
lity the last news is correct, or, at least, only pre-
mature, for the next tidings will most likely con-
firm it. Another source of dispute is to be found
in the position of GONZALEZ BRAVO, it being con-
sidered that he has resigned, and again that he
will keep the post of Minister of the Interior. If
the last version of the story prove the correct one
there is but a sorry chance of the Queen's retention
of power, for BRAVO is most deservedlp unpopular,
and much mischief has been effected under
his auspices. The French papers consider
the "political situation" of Spain to be
most serious, and one and all who comment on
it agree in this. The semi-official Constitutionnel
admits the grave character of the affair, but urges
upon the public the necessity of receiving all
reports with caution, because of the interruptions
that have taken place in the telegraphic lines. This
is no doubt very wise counsel, but it is impossible
to divert one's mind of the notion that we are on
the eve of witnessing great changes in Spain,
whether for the better or not remains to be proved,
because it is one thing to find fault with existing
arrangements and another to improve upon them ;
and iu the confusion and anarchy that bid fair to
prevail the insurgent 3 may d'a little after all but
illustrate the truth of the saying that two wrongs
do not make one right.

Mr. AYRTON has been addressing a large meeting
of the electors of the Tower Hamlets, in Spital-
fields. In the course of his observations he said that
some of those who were ignorant of politics had
asked what he had done since he represented the
borough. This was certainly to argue themselves
unknown, because whatever may be the sins and
short-comings laid to Mr. AYRTON'S charge, that of
doing nothing is in nowise applicable to him. He
has made himself only too busy, and ',shown more
zeal than described on various occasions. It
amusing to see that the hon. baronet has deemed it
be incumbent on him to take notice of this however,
and, in default of anytbetter reason, puts the blame on
Mr. GLADSTONE. That right hon. gentleman will
be obliged to him, we should think ; and really it is
a little too bad to turn round, after this fashion,
besides being most unwise, to sow dissension in
the Liberal camp. Mr. AYRTON does not mince
matters, but refers his friends to " what is most
palpable to all, the failure of the leader of the
party, Mr. GLADSTONE, during the past two years,
to prove to them how extremely difficult it was for
a private member to do anything, especially when
he happened to be among the Opposition." Then
follows what we must admit to be an animated
description of the tactics of the Opposition
leader. Mr. GLADSTONE, it is said, has not suc-
ceeded in doing anything but criticise the
doings of the Government, and intreat the country
not to allow the present Administration to remain
in office. This is very much what he has done, for
little or no policy of a general character has been
enunciated ; and it seems the old, old story over
again, that the claims of the Liberal party to sup-
port rest on the fact that they are not as the Con-
servatives are. As for the duties of private mem-
bers, Mr. AYATON thinks that they can comprise
a good deal on the whole. He could ask questions,
and express his opinions on the answers for the
benefit of his constituents, or he could sit on
committees, although, as he plaintively added,
few took the trouble to read the reports
when they were presented to them as the result of
the investigation. The useful men are those who
are always on the " look-out" for what may be
beneficial to their constituents, and among these
faithful few Mr. AYRTON believes he finds a place.
He takes credit to himself for having been the most
active member for the Tower Hamlets during the
last session ; and this may, in truth, be accorded to
him ; but activity is not always to be commended,
because it depends upon the cause in which it is
employed, and we have only to point to the Metro-
politan Cattle Market Bill to show that inaction is
sometimes more to be desired than officiousness that
will not take a hint of any kind.

M. Czerny, editor of the Narodny Pokrok. of
Prague, has been sentenced, for having disturbed
public tranquillity, to eighteen months' imprison-
ment and a fine of 3,000 florins. M. I),:lnik,
holding a similar position on the Workman's 'Judi'
Sheet, has been sentenced to three months of the
same punishment and to pay 100 florins, for hav-
ing excited hatred against nationalities and re-
ligions.
The Corriere Mercantile of Genoa alleges that,
in consequence of dissensions between the Loft, the
Garibaldians, and the Ratazzi party, the Naplei
meeting has been postponed until towards the close
of October. Many persons still think it is
kAnitivoly abandoned.