The Sun.
London, England, 1868-11-03 00:00:00

SPIRIT OP

PUBLIC JOURNAL&

The Times remarks that in a day or two we ghat
probably learn that General Grant has been raised to the
highest office in the Republic, and that the party which,
since 1860, has been dominant is destined to control for
an indefinite time longer the national destinies, though
under the influence of a man who is understood to be by
no means committed to the extreme doctrines of his
party. It speaks much for the strictness of American
political discipline that by the election the whole question
will be settled. The General is one of the youngest men
who have ever been raised to the presidency. He is only

40 years old, and has thus won fame and political fortune
at a comparatively early age through the chances of the
civil war. It remains to be proved how far his talents are
suited to the administration of a great nation's affairs at
so difficult a time. Those who know him do not conceive
him to possess any brilliant genius, but the qualities which
are attributed to him are often the most useful in the chief
of an Executive who is surrounded with a crowd of coun-
sellors and instigators, and who needs rather a sound
judgment to discriminate than a fertile imagination to
suggest. General Grant has had opportunities of studying
the part he will have to play, and his prudence and
self-command promise that he will make up his mind for
himself, and act upon his own convictions. Succeeding a
President who has become personally unpopular with the
majority of the nation, he will have the advantage of a
favourable contrast ; and in his character of an " old
soldier" he will appeal still more widely to the popular
sentiment. Although the Democrats are strong in the
Union—much stronger than the representative assemblies
of the Republic would indicate—yet General Grant will
have a sufficient majority of steady supporters to make
him almost as powerful a President as Mr. Lincoln was
during the war.

The Telegraph reckons that Parliament may get to
business on the 14th December. That date brings us
within eleven days of Christmas. Will the interval
before the recess be sufficient to enable the House of Com-
mons to displace the present Ministry? The question is
one of practical importance. Unless the great issue be
decided before Christmas, it must be postponed until
February. The estimates for the next financial year would
then be framed under the auspices of the present Ministry,

while their successors who have seats in the Lower House

would have to be re-elected, and, consequently, the
business of Parliament would be most inconveniently
delayed. We do not, however, anticipate any such
result. The brief winter session of 1863 is held, noto-
riously, for the purpose of determining whether we are to
have a Liberal or a Conservative Cabinet; and the next
question relates to the mode in which the issue will be
raised. There are good reasons why we should not fear
any such inconvenient delay in the determination of the
great issue before the country. Both parties are equally
anxious to facilitate a seasonable decision; for the chiefs
of both would find it most irksome and embarrassing to
undertake, in view of the re-assembling of the House in
February, the preparation of governmental measures
which the course of events might make only so much
wasted trouble. We may expect, therefore, through the
hearty co-operation of both sides, to know before the
present year closes what set of men will prepare the
measures of 1869.

According to the Standard, the assumption of the Times
as to the great Liberal majority is a ridiculous blunder.
Before the lucubrations of our contemporary saw the light,
a number of Liberal seats, which'his calculation assumes
to be uncontested, were threatened, and before the day of
the dissolution, near as it is, we will undertake to say
that the Liberals will find their majority of uncontested
seats reduced to a very small figure indeed. What can be
more absurd than to assume that seats will not be con-
tested at a general election because three weeks previously
no opposing candidates had presented themselves ? Many
shun the cost and the fatigue of a long canvass. They
will wait until the dissolution is announced and the
day of the election practically fixed, before plung-
ing into the struggle, and all experience shews
that although it may, as a general rule, be an
advantage to be the first in the field, to have been in the
field three or four months is far from being an advantage
when a new candidate presents himself for a British con-
stituency. If the Times wants to shake our confidence
and awaken that of its friends, it must give some better
reasons for assuring a majority of 120 than figures already
out of date. If, however, our contemporary will take our
advice, he will keep back his prophecies until after the
event. It is possible that a " few weak brethren," say in
Lancashire, may be encouraged by such cock-and-bull
stories to believe that the Opposition will obtain an enor-
mous majority ; but, on the other hand, the great bulk of
the electors, as well in Lancashire as in the rest of the
country, will look upon the cause which needs to be
bolstered up with such inventions as almost hopeless.
The Herald approves the late ecclesiastical appoint-
ments, and draws especial attention to that of Mr.
William Bright. The importance of the post of Professor
of Ecclesiastical History at Oxford can, especially at the
present time, not well he overrated. It was in this
capacity that Dr. Stanley, Dean of Westminster, not only
vindicated most brilliantly his claims to learning and to
literature, but gained a far deeper influence over the minds
of Young Oxford than he had ever been able to exact in his
character of college tutor. It is unnecessary here to
examine precisely what the nature of that influence
may have been ; it is sufficient to point out
that the post is one which, if efficiently filled, may be
made a powerful lever in the religious and educational
organisation of the university. It was a trite saying
years ago'at Oxford, that the lectures which the Ecclesiasti-
cal History Professor delivered were either the most popu-
lar or the most unpopular—the most unpopular if they
were nothing more than lifeless résumés of historical fact,
the most popular if they were made instinct with that life
and warmth which a sympathetic imagination on the part
of the teacher only can inspire. Mr. Bright possesses the
gifts exactly calculated to arrest the attention of the
student, and his convictions are on the side of the
soundest truth and most healthy doctrine. It is no small
thing that, when Oxford is assailed as she now is, the
teacher who is elected to fill one of her most important
professorial posts is a man of such a character and such
powers ; one whose learning even his enemies do not dis-
pute ; and one who, realising the importance of his new
dignity, will be the staunchest ally that the religious
education of Oxford could have.

The Daily News thinks that Mr. Disraeli has shewn
what we may begin to call his usual judgment in his latest
distribution of ecclesiastical patronage with reference to
the claims of the two great parties in the Church. Canon
Champneys, the new Dean of Lichfield, has, from the time
when he was curate in sole charge of St. Ebbe's, Oxford,
in 1831, until now been an indefatigable and successful
parochial clergyman, having been twenty-three years
rector of Whitechapel, and for the last eight
years vicar of St. Pancras. If Mr. Disraeli,had no
original knowledge of these facts when he rewarded thirty.
seven years of faithful and fruitful service with a deanery,
be must, at least, have some good advisers near him.
Mr. Champneys is a Low Churchman. The Rev. William
Bright, of University College, who succeeds to the Pro-
fessorship of Ecclesiastical History at Oxford, and the
canonry of Christchurch annexed to that office, is a
High Churchman who has given proofs of learning and
impartiality in a " History of the Church from the Edict
of Milan to the Council of Clarendon." a period of extra-
ordinary ecclesiastical contention. If former professors,
not possessing prominent qualifications for the post,
have accepted it as a stage of promotion, and relinquished
it without leaving permanent memorials of their occupa-
tion, it may be expected that a gentleman who has made
a special study of Church history will be able to inspire
his hearers with something of his own spirit. Certainly
there never was a time when the moderating lessons of
Church history were more needed than at the present day, 1

The Post says that the grossly ineffective state of our
public guardians is by no means a novel discovery. For
years the crass stupidity of the " intelligent officer" has
been a byword, and the general invisibility of Policeman
X when wanted a standing joke ; but since the Reform
League demonstrations, when the roughs were so carefully
instructed as to the enormous power they possessed, things
have been getting from bad to worse. It would almost
seem as if the preservation of the public peace had
been given up as a bad job ; apathy and indifference
reign supreme, and the official calm of superin•
tendents and inspectors declines to be ruffled by
petty complaints. If Mr. Smith loses his watch,
or Mrs. Brown has half a dozen teeth knocked
down her throat before parting with her reticule, Scot-
land-Yard will possibly go so far as to assist in apprehend.
ing the ruffian who committed the assault, but as for
using any endeavour to prevent the recurrence of such
outrages, that is quite beyond the department. Ii spite
of daily complaints, Sir Richard Mayne loftily dis,laim tc
correct the abuses which taint his system, and with senile
perversity weakens an already inadequate force by an
unmeaning crusade, first against dogs, and now, save tl:e
mall! againSt children's hoops. We have no desire tc
deal hanbly with Sir Richard Mayne. Ile is no Nigel
young, and it is idle to eNpect the energy- of mid(re age is
a man of threescore years and ten. Sit Richard has dont
the State some servi..e, and a graceful retirement at the
present time would be alike honourable' to himself anC
advautanous to the community.

AADAME IttenEL.—some misunderstanding pre.
wills as to the present phase of the Rachel case. Befon
a writ of enor can be obtained a fiat must be obtained
from the Attorney-General on which bail can be put in,
until the determination of the writ of error. At present
the fiat. issued is to amend the record shelving the judi
cial psrmus resent. vilien Madame RachOiym tried.'

ITHE BISHOP OF LONDO2 0.N7 Ylll LA
! ARCHBISHOP OF 04.NTERBUBIre,

On Sunday last the Lord Bishop of London preached
A the parish church of Broadstairs. In alluding
to the death of the late archbishop, he said : "We
are met together this day on a very solemn occasion;
we are commemorating the saints' glory, and this diocese
is mourning the departure of one who lived here
amongst us for the last six years a truly blameless Chris.
tian lire. How is it that a mini in an exalted station, with
all the temptations of abundant wealth, with many pressing
cares of secular business, is able to live that consistent
Christian life of which the head of his diocese and province
just departed was a notable example? Certainly by having
the route (of Christian life) in the heart by living in his
inward man a life of faith and prayer, and then amidst all
tumults and temptations of outward life Clod keeps him safe,
and a pattern of saintly virtues. It has been my privilege
during the last twelve years to live inveryintimate relations
with the last two Archbishops of Canterbury—two men
holding the very highest position next to Royalty
itself in this realm, and I can truly say that it seemed to
me ever to be a blessing to this Church and nation
that two men thrust to such pre-eminent posts were
not less exalted in their wordly rank than they were
in their consistent Christian character. A good
thing indeed for the Church of Christ if it is presided over
by those who are first in all Christain graces. Both the
cre and the other will be long remembered by those who
were privileged to have intercourse with them." He added
that the influence which each exercised in their day and

generation by a quiet, enduring Christian life would long
be felt by all who were privileged to be brought into their
intimate society, and he appealed to his congregation to
all endeavour in their respective walks to live that con-
sistent life of Christian principle, that when they were
called they might be able to give account of themselves,
and join the great company of saints in heaven.