The Sun.
London, England, 1868-02-17 00:00:00

171GH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.

THIS DAY.—Morning, Bh. 45m.—Afternoon, 9h. 23m.
To-llonßow.-Morning, 10h. 2m.—Afternoon, 10h. 43m.

t•
. Snit

LONDO.N, MONDAY, FEB. 17, 1868.

The intelligence from Abyssinia, though some-
what uncertain, is not altogether so favourable as
we could wish. The latest news comes from Malta,
Feb. 16, where the Indian troopship Crocodile has
arrived from Alexandria four days earlier. She
brings reports that the main body of the expedition
cannot advance until the depots have been formed
at Sande, a task of considerable time, as each
mule's burden on reaching its destination is reduced
to an average weight of 101 b. ! We may
faintly conjecture the length of time which
it would take to form a depot under such
circumstances. Nineteen miles of piping for the
conveyance of water was passing through Egypt
for Abyssinia. A good supply of water is of course
one of the first requisites, and we find from the
earlier advices from Annesley that a great scarcity
of water prevailed there, the daily allowance being
three quarts. It is matter of regret that so many
preliminary arrangements are necessary, and that
the inevitable delay which always attends upon
English expeditions should have weighed down so
heavily the progress of an expedition
.in which so
much depends upon time. As no active or
organised opposition has as yet been offered
to our troops, it seems a pity that
they should not push on faster, so as if possible
to get the captives into English hands. If the ob-
ject of the war were merely to punish THEODORE,
to destroy his dynasty, or open a way into his
country, slow and sure might be the wisest motto,
but since the definite purpose is to rescue a few in.
dividuals from his keeping, the time lost before the
somewhat cumbrous preparations are complete is
matter for regret. Sir R. NAPIER is no doubt most
anxious to effect the liberation of the captives, and
is at the same time influenced by a praiseworthy
desire not to expose his men to unnecessary risk.
The want of knowledge aboet the interior of the
country, the lack of means of conveyance, and the
doubt about the water supply are still embararssing
considerations ; still there are cases in which, as
Lord DERBY said of Parliamentary Reform, " Bold-
ness is safety." It is easy to criticise the actions
of those at a distance without fully appreciating
or understanding their difficulties, and it is not fair
to blame individuals for the defects of a system.
But we should be very glad to find matters going
on a little faster, and especially glad to hear that
some definite plan was arranged for opening com-
munication with the long-imprisoned captives.
The movements of the Egyptians are as unexpected
as they are perplexing. The great jealousy exist-
ing between the Abyssinians and their northern
neighbours rendered the proffered assistance of an
Egyptian contingent in many ways undesirable. It
was not our object to embroil ourselves with the
whole population of Abyssinia; and, in fact, the
assistance of the chiefs has been serviceable to us.
The proposal of the Egyptians to join our expedi-
tionary force was therefore courteously declined ;
but we now learn that the Egyptian troops which
the VICEROY assembled some time since on the
coast are now in motion, quite independently of
the simultaneous movement of Sir R. NAPIER. This
is a complication which is by no means desirable.
We cannot certainly fight the Egyptians for pro-
fessing to aid us, but their assistance is equally ill-
timed and unwelcome. MENELEIC and the other
chiefs who have hitherto declared themselves against
THEODORE will assume a different aspect, when they
find their neighbours and rivals appear on the
scene. If the Egyptians once get a footing in the
country it will'not be very easy for the Abyssinians
to dislodge them, and they will very likely be un-
willing to retire without retaining a slice of the
country. England generally gets on best when she
has no allies fighting with her, and Abyssinia is as

likely to illustrate this truth as our earlier and
more momentous battle-fields.

Mr. ROEBUCK has written a defence of his late
address on Trades Unions to one of his constituents,
and many will be glad to read it ; for the subject is
one of great importance and interest just now, and
the hon. member's opinions on the question natu-
rally excite a good deal of notice. In the first place,
he makes allusion to the complaint made as to his
not having treated of the duties of capital in the
lecture which he delivered a short time ago in Shef-
field ; but, as he very truly put it, the circumstances
under which he spoke were most peculiar—he was
speaking to working men of a town in
which horrible disclosures had taken place,
relating to acts of murder and cruelty ; and these
deeds had been done by men of the class he then
spoke to. At the same time it must be borne in
mind that there have been many opportunities
afforded to these men of bringing forward charges
against the capitalists, but none such have been
preferred ; and there was no evidence to
show that, if brought forward, they could have
been "substantiated." Hence Mr. ROEBUCK
not unreasonably directed his attention to
the subject now paramount in men's minds,
namely, the " wrong views entertained re-
specting the nature of labour and capital." The
explanation and illustration of these errors took
some time, and besides this the hon. member spoke
very plainly as to the course which he deemed it
advisable for the Legislature to adopt, in order to
remedy as far as possible the mischievous tendency
of the prevailing notions. Some most misguided
individuals have drawn from all this that Mr. ROE-
BUCK'S sympathy for the working man has greatly
diminished, if not altogether vanished ; but this is
only another instance of the very erroneous impres-
sions which people take when their minds are under
the influence of passion or prejudice. We consider
that this letteris a very complete explanation of the
course taken with respect to this lecture, and should
fully convince those who peruse it that the lecturer
was animated by the most upright motives, and the
most con:cientious desires in all he said or inferred
on this matter. In fact, Mr. ROEBUCK has hit the
mark when ho put it thus—that people have be-
lieved that capital and labour are antagonistic ;
tad, therefore, if the mistakes of one class are
shown, the errors of the other ought to be exposed.
This was not necessary for the end in view, how-
ever, and all the fault found with the remarks in
question were quite uncalled for.
A better reply to the seditious comments could

not be given than in the passage in which Mr. ROE-
BUCK declares that his legislative life has been spent
in supporting those acts of legislation which de-
terred capital from using any detrimental influence
on labour ; and yet, because he did not droll un-
necessarily upon the theme of the shortcomings of
the capitalist prejudice rose rampant, and as
he put it emphatically, "my past life was
forgot, and I was treated as an enemy,
through the whole vigour of my mind and body for
thirty-six years had been stedfastly and disinterest-
edly devoted to promoting and watching over the
interests of my fellow-countrymen of every class
and degree." He is always the truest friend of the
people who tells them their faults, and in doing so
Mr. ROEBUCK has rendered a better and truer
service than those who pander to the passions of
the hour to gain themselves political notoriety.
The writer of this communication suggests to Mr.
ROEBUCK that his sympathies with the " hardy sons
of toil" may have been alienated in consequence of
his having had mare constant intercourse with the
rich and powerful ; but Mr. ROEBUCK► answers very
truly and effectively, at what time have they chosen
to set this idea afloat ? Why just when he has
been exerting all his influence and employing all his
energies to accomplish the great work whereby
these " hardy sons of toil" will attain a greater
place in the Government of the country than any
which they have yet enjoyed. This is, indeed, a
glaring instance of inconsistency and wrong judg-
ment, which cannot be too stronglyd enounced. We
fully agree with all Mr. ROEBUCK here says, and
consider furthermore that great injustice has been
done to him, but the only way for a politician to
succeedis to follow the cause he thinks right himself,
whether it leads to popularity or the reverse of it.
The time is not far distant when the general intelli-
gence of the working classes of this country will
declare against the tyranny and oppression of
Trades-Unionists, under which they have too long
been crushed down and injured, and then the pub-

lic spirit and patriotism of Mr. ROEBUCK will be
recognised as it ought to be. Meanwhile we must
put up with the disappointment that too often
awaits those who look tothe gain of others and not to
the immediate gratification of their wishes ; buit it
has been well said—

- -
" One self-approving hour whole years outweighs,
Of stupid starers and of loud huzzas."

As we expected the news from South America
shows us that matters are more favourable to the
Paraguayans than to the Allies. The latest advices
received through Rio Janeiro, bearing date
January 23d, report that no fighting had taken
place since the departure of the last mail. Presi-
dent LOPEZ was fortifying his position, making a
road in the Chaco. Evidently he is very well able
to hold his own, and is willing to leave sickness and
disaffection to do their work in the enemy's camp
and fleet. The Marquis DE CAXIAS was inactive,
being perhaps disheartened by the prevailing sick-
ness, which must have paralysed his move-
ments. Notwithstanding the systematic at-
tempts to make the worse appear the
better cause the truth is beginning to be known,
or at least suspected, in the Empire. Some anxiety,
we are told, was beginning to be felt in Rio as to
the effect of the war, there appearing to be no hope
of an immediate termination. How different from
the confident assertions of an easy victory, and the
contemptous depreciation of the military skill and
strength of the Paraguayans, which we heard a
short time since ! It is no great wonder that the
people, groaning under the visitation of a terrible
epidemic, look with apprehension and anxiety on the
costly war, to which they are inclined, rightly or
wrongly, to attribute the advent of the dreaded visitor.
The cholera, according to the latest news, has spread
to all parts of La Plata, while at Buenos Ayres
business was completely at a standstill owing to its
ravages. The last mail informed us that owing
to the adoption of active sanitary measures the
disease was disappearing ; but from these accounts
it would seem that it has taken fresh hold. Before
its appearance there was disaffection in the camp
and divisions between the rival authorities, the
general at the head of the army accusing the com-
mander of the fleet of causing the fail-
ure of their joint attempt against LOPEZ,
and the latter returning the compliment,
with interest. The disputes between the heads of
the forces could not have tended to reassure the
people, and it would now seem that the same dis-
union exists in other ranks. In the Argentine Re-
public the war is becoming very unpopular. The
people, no doubt, are beginning to ask why they
should lavish their blood and treasure to forward
the ambitious designs of Brazil, and the sufferings
inflicted by the cholera will, no doubt, stimulate
them to break off from an enterprise which has led to
such disastrous results. At Santa Fe the revolu-
tion has assumed a serious aspect, and probably by
the next mail we shall learn that it has exercised a
sensible influence on the war. The Allies will do
wisely to retreat from the hopeless contest before
they have made further sacrifices, and before con-
cessions are extorted from their necessities which
might now be granted with better grace and less

Count BISMARCK seems determined to do as
much harm as he can in all possible ways, and
wherever and whenever it is possible to give
offence he does so directly. His last exploit is
one worthy of record, for it will in all probability
have most serious consequences. He has refused
to receive a deputation from the Conservative
party in the Lower House, who had come to him
with the view of settling the pending differences.
This is a most unwise determination, and one that I
cannot be too strongly condemned in all its bear-
ings. It shows very plainly that the irascible states-
man is quite indifferent to the feelings of others,
and that all he wants is to have his own way, and
if that be impossible he will take no heed to any-
thing. This is not the way a statesman should be-
have if he wishes to secure regard and respect, and
still more if he would retain influence. He will
find that the tone he adopted with regard to the
Chamber of Deputies the other day was a great
mistake, and now this churlish refusal to receive the
Deputies is another. It seems now doubtful whether
M. BISMARCK will leave Berlin daring his leave of
absence, which is another extraordinary piece
of proceeding on his part. If he required
relaxation he need not take it just at a time
when so much of an important nature has to
be decided upon, and when he himself has declared
that the unity of Germany is at stake, and can only
be secured by the most strenuous exertions.
From France we learn that the rumour as to Minis-
terial changes is an incorrect one, and that there
will but be constitutional modifications. It would
certainly be a very awkward time to have recourse
to alterations just now, when so many affairs of im-
portance are pending, and the Army Bill and Press
Bill are still to be consolidated. Meanwhile it is
satisfactory to notice that commercial affairs are
proceeding satisfactorily, and the official confirma-
tion has been given to the news of the ratification
on Saturday of the Treaty signed between
France and Mecklenburg. After the treaty between
Austria and the Zollverein has been signed other
arrangements will be put in force. The new order