The Sun.
London, England, 1868-09-18 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER9IB, 1868.

encouraging, and we may reasonably hope that the
expQrience of future years may show even more
promising returns.

Mr. CHILDERS is determined not to give in, but
to fight on, whether he gets the best or the worst of
it. Last night he addressed the electors of Ponte-
fract, and went over the old ground of accusing the
Government with extravagant expenditure. Ac-
cording to what appears in the portion of his speech
as yet received he is repeating what he said before
with additions. His great argument is, that the
late Government reduced with one hand] if they
increased with the other, but he fails to show that
the result of all this was very good for the country.
A nation like England cannot afford to have no-
tions of " cheese-paring economy" put before the
vital interests of the community, and it is
a fact not to be disputed that when the RUSSELL-
GLADSTONE Administration went out it left many
important matters in a state of great inefficiency.
The Conservatives had a difficult task to perform
to rectify the errors of their predecessors, and to
remedy those evils which had bean brought about
by ignorance or negligence. So great was the de-
ficiency in the Naval Department that Sir JOHN
PAKINGTON, even at the advanced stage of the ses-
sion at which the new Ministers came in, had to
make mention of it in the House ; and in the army
things were also in a state of great neglect.
Those who speak at election meetings have an ad-
vantage over those who discuss public questions in
the House, that they cannot be answered at once,
and therefore the meeting separates, and they have
the last word, and nothing spoils the effect of their
communications. It is, however, a fact which the
most devoted partisan cannot dispute, that most
of the expenses at which the new school of politi-
cians are railing at were sceasioned by the direct
action of the former Government, and those that
were not they are responsible for from
having left the defences of the country in
so imperfect a state. Mr. CHILDERS seems
very proud of the manner in which his friends
reduced the army—they gradually decreased the
number by sixteen thousand, and the marine in the
same proportion ; but this is an achievement whose
wisdom is by no means clear, and, indeed, in the
existing circumstances of Europe it may be called
most injudicious. It is true that the arch-apostle of
peace presided at the councils of the late Adminis-
tration in spirit if not in person, but the people
of England have always believed it to be the duty
of their rulers to be prepared for emergencies. We
cannot be a first-rate Power and keep our resources
on the level of second-rate States, and those who
expect to do so will come to grief themselves, and
bring discredit on the work they perform so in-
efficiently. We shall have another opportunity of
referring to this topic when the rest of Mr. CHIL-
DERS' speech comes to hand, and it is a subject
that will well bear investigation and inquiry.

LATEST INTELL MENGE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

'CORRESPONDENCE FROM PAMO:i

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.),
PARIS, THURSDAY, September` 17,
The speech of the King of Prussia at Kid is naturally
the topic of the day here, but it would be a mere waste of
space to repeat the expressions of opinion. The few words
spoken by King William may readily be construed either
as a defiance or as a pardonable expression of pride, and.
the journals here accordingly interpret them according to
their wishes. There is no deviation from the old tone. The
independent papers all say that the King, whilst flourishing
the sword, prognosticates peace, and the Constieutionnel
remarks that the King said no more of his army and navy
than any other monarch might have done. The Independence
Beige gives perhaps the best summary of the whole
matter. The words by which the King of Prussia
declared his confidence in the maintenance of peace, ex-
pressed his real meaning. But, as is his custom, the
bellicose monarch could not refrain from adding that the
best security for peace was to he found in his brave army
and navy. It is the addition of this flourish, which the
Independence Beige thinks has nothing to do with the
King's real sentiments, that has impregnated the whole
speech with the smell of powder.
The real significance of the two test elections, the Jura
and the Var, may now be fairly estimated. The influence
brought to bear in each case sufficiently proves that
neither the return of M. Gravy for the Jura, nor the defeat
of M. Dufaure in the Var, can be deemed very remarkable.
M. Gravy had formerly administered the Jura department
in a manner which had preserved for him a lively remem-
brance in the minds of the people. He had likewise rela-
tions in the district, and carried on a certain amount of
business there. In short, it was only necessary to mention
his name to the population. M. Dufaure, on the other hand,
had appeared in the Var but twice in a public capacity.
He is a man of high political character, known and
respected by all who have any connection with political
affairs ; but this is not enough for a country election. To
be successful in the rural districts of France the candidate
must be personally known. To ensure success the local
committees ought to have frequently presented him to the
electors, upon whom his simple manners, his good sense,
and accomplished speaking must have produced an impres-
sion. But M. Dufaure accepted the candidature only at
the end of August and did not arrive in the Var until the
fifth of September. Then hut ten days intervened before
the period of inactivity which is prescribed by law to
precede the voting. There was evidently no opportunity
to counteract the desperate efforts of the Minister of
the Interior. It is astonishing that M. Dufaure, under
such circumstances, should have made such an excellent
second. It is not at all surprising that he did not come
in first. It is probable that if the local independents
take their measures in time, they may carry this
department at the next election.
The statement that General Dix is about to retire from
the American Embassy here is contradicted by some of
the papers.

The Marseilles strike has ended in a compromise. The
masters have granted an increase of wages, and the work-
men have withdrawn their other demands, which were
calculated, in the opinion of the masters, to weaken their
authority and infringe the right of property. The strike
lasted ten days.
A correspondent 9f the Independance Beige says he has re-
ceived trustworthy information that in consequence of the
agitation in several provinces of the Ottoman Empire,
orders have been sent to the French Ambassador at Con-
stantinople and to the commander of the French fleet in
the Levant, to afford every assistance in upholding the
authority of the Sultan and in guaranteeing the integrity
of his empire.
The same writer is responsible for the statement that
the Chevalier Nigra, deeply discouraged by the relations
between Italy and France, has finally demanded a change
of residence. In all probability he will be appointed Italian
Minister at London.

A great velocipede race is to take place on Sunday at
the Hippodrome.
A young man committed suicide yesterday by firing the
contents of a cannon at his breast.
The Bourse has recovered itself materially.

THE WEATHER TABLE.-THIS DAY.