The Sun.
London, England, 1868-05-06 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, MAY 6, iA6A.

public men, but it really is ridiculous to speak of
the Conservatives clinging to office in an indecorous
manner, and to overlook the fact that the Opposi-
tion are making a life-and-death struggle for place.
A more mortifying spectacle of public men for-
getting themselves in the excitement of the
hour was never witnessed than that which
took place in the House of Commons yesterday,
and long may it be before we have a repetition of it.
It has been the boast of this country that our public
business can be carried on in a far superior manner
than that which distinguishes foreign States; but
really we are beginning to lose this in common with
may other relics of the past. We have had enough
in all conscience of Mr. GLADSTONe9 interruptions.
Let the business of the country be ranked higher
than the gratification of mortified vanity, and the
House of Commons not degenerate into an arena
for the display of party tactics.

The legislation respecting our Friendly Societies
is confessedly a difficult matter. On the one hand,
it is highly desirable that every encouragement

should be afforded to such genuine and solvent
associations as will enable the working man to lay
aside what money he can spare as a provision for
the time of sickness or distress, while it is even

more desirable to exercise some supervision to put a
check upon those ill-managed or dishonest societies,
which only squander the money they have gathered
without profit to the subscribers. There are many
minor points which demand attention, and many
difficulties connected with the working of such
societies which do not affect the insurance
associations of the middle classes, while there exists
a very great obstacle to satisfactory and compre-
hensive legislation in the strong jealousy with which
the working classes themselves regard any attempt
at interference. Thus we find that a number of
petitions have already been 'presented against the
Earl of LICHFIELD'S Bill; but the facts to which
the noble earl referred last evening show that, in
the interest of the members of such societies them-
selves, there is much need for a change. The prin-
cipal features of the proposed measure are reason-
able enough, and the clause to which exception has
chiefly been taken—the third clause of the bill—
does not interfere in any way with the provisions of
the Act already in existence. Some of the points
touched on by the bill call loudly for improvement.
One of the most prominent of these is the transfer
of members from one society to another, without
their own express consent. This is often the cause
of loss and inconvenience to the members, because
they are unaware of the transfer baying been made,
and as the collector who has been in the habit of
calling for their subscriptions does not come, they
get out of benefit with the new society. This indi-
cates great negligence on the part of the new
society, whose managers, one might suppose,
would be anxious to secure the adherence
of fresh members, but there is often
great negligence in the administration of
such affairs. Another point is the forfeiture of
benefit, which often occurs owing to the collector
not calling at the right time ; and the bill intro-
duced by Lord LICHFIELD very justly and sensibly
provides that no member shall forfeit his claim on
his society without having had distinct notice that
if his arrears were not paid by a certain day he
should forfeit such benefit. Provision is also made
for obtaining more speedy redress iu the case of dis-
putes between members and the societies. There
are great difficulties attending the settlement of
such disputes at present, especially in the case of
burial societies, whose members are spread
all over the country, while it is specified that
the arbitration must take place where the
society carries on its business. Under Lord Lrcir-
FIELD'S bill a member may proceed against the col-
lector acting iu the 'lace where the member resides,
and thus the almost insurmountable difficulties
hitherto attending such arbitration
thearbi cotratliloenctowris. m
will be removed,embers
andi a check put upon
sometimessoficinedty
has be
that withoutcomea
theircompacny, onsent
Friendly their
and that
have consequently lost all the privileges to
which
they would be entitled. It is worthy of
they
notice that the opposition to the measure has not
been got up by the most influential societies—
like the Foresters, with their 40,000 members, and
the Odd Fellows, with their 400,000 members. Those
most instrumental in petitioning against the bill
are the Royal Liver, the Victoria Legal, and the
United Legal Societies. When we come to look
into their affairs, however, we shall find that some
changes are very desirable even in their own inte-
The income of the Liver Society is, it

LATEST INTELL MENGE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRA.II.)

(13y Atlantic Telegraph)

WASHINGTON, May 6.

The Secretary of the Treasury has issued the
usual monthly statement of the public debt of the
United States. The total amount of the debt on
the Ist of May was $2,639,500,000 against
$2,642,000,000 on the Ist of April last, being a
decrease of $2,500,000. The cash in the Treasury
on the Ist inst. was $139,000,000 against
$122,500,000 on the Ist ult., being an increase of
$16,500,000.

(Per the City of London, via Queenstown.)

NEW YORK, April 25.

At the cuntinuation of the Impeachment trial
yesterday, Judge Nelson, on behalf of the defence,
delivered a long argument, in which he sketehed
the life of Mr. Johnson, cited his loyalty during the
rebellion, and claimed for him honesty and integrity
of purpose. The Tenure-of-Office Law was uncon-
stitutional, but even if not it.was not violated by Mr.
Johnson, who only sought to test the matter in the
Courts. Furthermore, Mr. Johnson's case did
not come within the provisions of the law. The
speaker quoted the opinions of several Attorney-
Generals in justification of Mr. Johnson's interpre-
tation of the right of removal and appointment by
the President. He agreed with Mr. Johnson in
thinking that Congress, with ten States unrepre-
sented, had no constitutional right to attempt an
impeachment. The Senate was sitting as a legal
Court, and be urged Chief-Justice Chase to charge
it as a jury, and expound to it the nature of im-
peachable offences under the Constitution.
The officially announced majority for the new
Constitution in South Carolina is 43,000.

Mr. Johnson has:nominated General Sell°lfleld
Secretary of War, vice Stanton, to be removed.
General Soho Meld has postponed the election in
Virginia until Congress makes an appropriation to
defray the expenses.

Governor Brownlow has postponed the Tennessee
election at the request of the candidates for Con-

gresg.

Governor Pierrpoint, of Virginia, has preferred
charges to General Grant against General Schol-
field of allowing rebels to hold office without taking
the test oath.

The Inman Royal Mail steamer City of London
arrived at Queenstown at 4.45 a.m. to-day, with
$175,000 in specie. After landing mails and pas-
sengers she proceeded immediately for Liverpool.
All well.

CORRESPONDENCE TROM PARIS.

( mom Cull OWN 'CORRESPONDS Wit)
• PARIS, TUESDAY, May 5..
The sittings of the Senate recommenced yesterday, and
M. Maupas opened the debate with a severe attack upon
the new Press Law. This senator was formerly Prefect
of. Police. Ile was appointed reporter of the commission on
the Press Law, and had ',determined to present a report
unfavourable to the bill, when the Government, wishing
to avoid the :awkward complications in which its ultra.
Imperialist supporters would place it, succeeded in
Wincing one of the corolnissioners to change his mind,
and thus convert M, Maupas's majority into a
minority whereupon he resigned. But he was not to be
prevented from =4414. a Litfer speech against the bill.
Trp de loved that he could not see any reason why fresh
liberty should he given to the press. For sixteen years
Wad been under restraint, and daring that time there
lmd been no barricades, no street fighting; but if the
present bill became law we must expect a renewal of
disturbances. Moreover, now was a very bad time
to place greater power in the hands of the journal-
ists. The Emperor himself had said that there
were black spots on the horizon, earnmerce and
industry were in it had stmo, aild there was a general
mpipise, tending to make men's minds peculiarly open to
evil excitements. To make the proposed concessions was
dangerous to liberty itself, for the Government would
certainly, like the Governments of July and the Restora-
tion, be compelled to take back again by violent means
the license which it was now going to bestow. The pro-
posed law ought to follow, not precede, other reforms. As
long as these were not granted, the press would take
advantage of its new liberty to deal severe blows at the
Crown itself. M. Maupas then made the astounding
statement that the English press law was a hundred
timed more severe than the French, only the Government
had by little and little forgot its power over the press just
as the press had improVed in manners. He urged the
Senate to subject this measure to a second examination,
and concluded with an impassioned warning against the
dangers which the country would incur by sanctioning the
bill. On descending from the tribune, M. Maupas was
greeted with warm congratulations from a large number,
of senators. M. Hubert Delisle, who was appointed
reporter of the commission in the place of M. Maupas,
replied to this senator. The point of his argument wasl4,
that the Government of the Emperor strengthened itself
by allowing controversy, and would profit by the good
sense, the eloquence, the truthfulness, and the efforts of
all pat ties. He pointed out that in Russia and Austria',
,and even in Prussia, " where there is a Print*
so little generous, so little liberal towards the
princes whom he has conquered," the liberty conferree
• by this bill was already enjoyed. He concluded by saying
he should oppose the motion for referring the bill to a
second deliberation. He was followed by Count Sdgte

d'A guesseau, who was as fierce as M. Maupas was serious:
The count, no less than M. Maupas, opposed the bill. He
said that there had of late risen up a third party who
demanded their necessary rights," but who omitted
to add "in order to overturn the Government." lit
declared that to give the journals fresh liberty was
to deliver up the State to charlatans and quacks of all
kinds—to expose the most precious principles both of
government and religions morals to the attacks of subth
and perfidious men. He went on, amid frequent interrup-
tions from M. Baroche and M. Rouher, bo describe the
frightful evils which would, according to his acconnt,
follow the proposed change, and concluded by declaring
that there would be an trneute among the electors whoa.

the press would have corrupted and converted into " a
vile multitude," and that the Emperor was now handing
over the Government to his greatest enemies. This last
assertion caused considerable sensation, in the midst of
which the Senate adjourned until to-day.
M. Baudrillart's long article in the Conseituti anne/,whiqp
I summarised two days ago, has, as I expected it would!,
caused considerable sensation. It was not written in con,
sequence of any specific inspiration, but the writer hal
received a letter of thanks for it from the Emperor]
Cabinet.
M. Alfred de la Guerronniere is following in the footstelt
of his well-known brother, the viscount, by writing s
political pamphlet. It is entitled "L'Esprit du Temps et
-t l'Avcnir," and it argues strongly against personal, am
in favour of parliamentary government. It also denounc,
centralisation. It is also rumoured that the Viscount a
la Guerronniere will be sent to Brussels as Ambassadoi

He is at present a senator.
A farewell dinner was given at the Trois FrZ;res, in the
Palais Royal, on Sunday, to Baron Budberg, the Russiax
Ambassador. The Marquis de Moustier presided, ant
the Princess Metternich, wife of the Austrian Ambas-
sador, and kcidedly the most spirituelle woman in Parig.
was present, and made one of her neatest compliments ti
the Baron's wife.
Letters from Constantinople mention that Genera.
Ignntieff, the Russian Ambassador at that capital, hat
been treating M. Bournle, our Ambassador, with marke'
rudeness. This, I suppose, is all of a piece with the
sudden and diplomatic illness of the Russian Minister in
Italy when he was about to pay his respects to Prince
Napoleon at Turin, and with the equally sudderi
and diplomatic illness which prevented the Princess
Clotilda from receiving the Minister's wife. Clearly,
there is no love lost between Paris and St. Petersburg just
now, in spite of the ostentatious alliance between the
Emperor and the Czar last summer.
Another vacancy has been caused in the Corps L4gi:
latif by the death of a deputy. He was a supporter
the Government, and was clectod without opposition
I have not heard if the Opposition mean to start a candis
date to fill his place. They are very well pleased with the
result of the elections so far, and the Avenir National pub.
lishes some statistics in parallel columns to shew how great
is the progress made by the Opposition since 1863,
when the general elections took place. In the district
where the Government candidate did not obtain a clear
majority, a second election will take place on the 16th.
Both parties profess themselves confident of the result.
Four elections have just taken place for the provincial
councils. In two the Ministerial candidate was elected,
in one the Opposition candidate, and in the other case the
Government did not :rpose.
Patti has gone to England, and so has the Marquis de
Caux. Rumour says that Patti is in truth the Marquise
de Caux. It is believed that the fair, or rather dark
cantatrice has actually given her hand to the noblemar
who has so long aspired to it, and that the civil marriage
has taken place, but not the religious one.
With the sudden accession of heat there has been quite
an epidemic of suicides. No fewer than six took place 011
Sunday, in Paris alone.
I am sorry to say that the more favourable report of the
crops which I gave some days ago must be understood of
only a limited district. There has been rain in the
south-west districts, but in the south-east the
drought continues, and in the Rhone valley and
on the Alpine frontier the wheat is growing
yellow, and actually withering for want of water.
The farmers are in some places cutting down the growi
corn for litter. The fruit has been nearly all destroyed by
the frosts at the end of last month. In Algeria there
have been torrents of rain, which have been welcomed,
but unfortunately, owing to the famine, sowing has been
neglected, and it is believed that not more than a third of
the usual crops will be forthcoming this year.

Some idea of the cost which the " bloated armaments "
of the Continent involve may be gathered from the fact
that in the little State of Hesse Darmstadt the war budget
was before the war of 1866 1,800,000 florins, and is now
millions.

Trains are now running on Mr. Fell's railway over
Mont Cenis. The distance from St. Michael on the French
side to Susa on the Italian side is forty-eight miles, and
this distance has been accomplished in five-and-a-half
hours, including an hour of stoppages. The working of
the engines was very satisfactory, and it is expected that
the authorities will sanction the opening of the line at
once.

The Avenir National says that the Turkish Government,
finding itself supported by France and Austria, is accu-
mulating faults. In Bulgaria the Ottoman Government
has pronouncA its intention of levying the capitation tax
upon every male, even upon infants ; the Bulgarians declare
that their misery is such that they cannot pay the impost.
The Turkish troops, being very irregularly paid, take to
ravaging the country, and a serious collision occurred
between them and the people some time ago. Both the
Montenegrins and the Servians are waiting only for an
opportunity to rise against the Porte.

A correspondent from Annesley Bay, in a communica-
tion dated March 26, gives in the Times an interesting
account of the making of the Abyssinian Railway. The
writer recalls the manner in which the authorities in India
sent off for use rails of different make and sizes, old engines
already condemned as useless, bad fish-plates, and the like,
almost causing a failure of the whole thing at the outset.
Yet against this, Captain Darrah , Lieutenant Pennefather,
and Lieutenant Wilkins, struggled so effectually as to
make the work push on well. Seeing that neither of
these officers had ever had anything to do previously with
railway engineering, their efforts are most praiseworthy
and the result satisfactory. The manner in which the
Engineer officers worked reminds us of the manner in
which they are paid. In .the Indian Commissariat Trans-
port Train and Army Works Corps, captains draw 500 rs.
a month and subalterns giOrs. In the Adjutant-General's
and the Quartermaster-General's departments more is
earned; while in the Engineers, who hold more responsible
positions, captains only get 240 rs. and lieutenants 112 re.
Seeing that they are older men for their rank, this is s
most substantial grievance.