The Sun.
London, England, 1868-08-15 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, AUGUST 15, 1868.

of the Line. The EMPEROR made no speech, which

has disappointed some ; so that, unless he does so
to-day, there will be nothing for it but to fall back
on the speech he made at Troyes, and comment
upon that at leisure. The Emperor NAPOLEON is
in this position, that when he declares for war he
is implicitly believed, but when he speaks in
favour of peace he is not credited by those who in-
sist upon knowing his intentions. Thus the Opposi-
tion journals go on criticising the few remarks made
at Troyes, and find out very ingeniously that more
is meant than meets the eye, that some explanation
should be given of its context ; and, finally, that
war is very probable, though it is the fashion to cry

peace.
The news from Cochin-China is not satis-
factory, and it is confidently affirmed that the
state of affairs in the colony is much more
serious than the Ofoniteur would have the
public believe it to be. It is said that all the
victims perished in fighting to the last. A strange
incident occurred at the Sorbonne, when
young CAVAIGNAC refused to take the prize which
was his due. This misguided course of action
on the part of the young man has given rise to
much comment, but nothing has been elicited
that can at all account for or justify the
strange proceeding. If he be deemed unfitting
to receive the prize he should not have contended
for it at all, and a little reflection will show him
that he has made a great mistake, while he doubtless
imagined that he was performing a grand action.
The unfortunate attack of the Lanterne still en-
gages public attention, and it is much to be de-
plored that the Government should have acted so
harshly in this respect. Far better would it have
been to treat the matter with indifference, and
allow it to pass as a joke, than to have considered it
in a serious light and pushed matters to extremity.
The imprisonment of the editor is a great mistake,
and so it will be found out in the long run. The ,
continued system of press surveillance which
has been kept up by the Imperial Govern-
ment may be regarded as its weak point ; its
failure so far as consistency is concerned, and its
condemnation in the sight of all who value the
independence of States. Promises and professions
have been made so often without advancing
any nearer to the desired end that we are quite
justified in putting no faith in any intimation of an
improved policy in this direction until some per-
formance has taken place that will compel doubt
to resolve itself into certainty.

The intelligence which reackes us from Brazil is
of the highest importance. As was suspected for
some time past by those conversant with the state
of affairs the Brazilians have grown tired of their
burdens. The war has been prolonged indefinitely,
notwithstanding the confident predictions of speedy
success made by the Allies after the attack on
Humaita, and the popular discontent has been grow-
ing formidable. The issue of the struggle is a mat-
ter of vital moment to the Paraguayans, but it is
no slight thing to the aggressors, who see their re-
sources wasted, their country impoverished, and the
lives of their soldiers thrown away in a protracted
and unnecessary struggle. In the Argentine Re-
public, too, the dissatisfaction was increasing some
time since, and though it is very difficult
to ascertain the truth from the partial and
incomplete accounts which are transmitted
through Brazil, we may easily believe that
the population are not growing more warlike
with time. In Brazil itself, however, there can no
longer be any doubt that the crisis has assumed a
serious aspect. A Ministerial crisis took place at
Rio de Janeiro last month, and a new Government,
professing to be Conservative, came into power on
the 13th July, the Premier and Minister of Finance
being Senhor YTABORIIY. Five days later the Cham-
ber of Deputies was dissolved, having refused the
supplies, and carried a vote of want of confidence,
and the new Chamber is ordered to meet on May
3rd. Meanwhile the Paraguayans were not idle,
but were, it would he seen, gaining in confidence.
They had made a boat attack upon two of the Allied
iron-clads at Tayi ,on the 9th ofJuly,b u t were, accord-
ing to the Brazilian account, defeated with loss. This
item of news, we must remember, comes through
the enemy, and therefore we must accept the assur-
ance of their defeat and loss with reserve. The
admission, on the part of the Brazilians, that the
Paraguayans were in a position to make an attack is
inconsistent with the accounts which they have been
lately forwarding to Europe. They told us that
LOPEZ and his followers were reduced to the last
straits ; that they were arming the women, because
their forces were reduced and the men of the coun-
try exhausted ; that destruction was inevitable, and
the triumphant success of the Allies only a question
of time. The faits which they are now forced to
acknowledge, the crisis in Rio, the attack at
Tayi certainly do not confirm these assertions,
while all we learn from Buenos Ayres is that SAR-
311ENTO has been elected President of the Argentine
Confederation. If the Alliance breaks up, as it
probably will do, the treaty with Brazils having
been already condemned by the Buenos Ayreans,
the war must come to a speedy conclu-
sion. The Brazilians already chafe under
the pressure, and they will hardly submit to bear
the whole outlay and harass of the struggle. The
Paraguayans have only to prolong their gallant
resistance to obtain their reward, and if they suc-
ceed in defeating so formidable an opponent,
Brazil will not soon forget the lesson.
Some short time since Lord STANLEY stated,
in answer to an inquiry in the House
of Commons, that neither of the belligerents
had accepted his proffered mediation. Brazil was
probably too confident of success to do so, and be-
sides had no specific ground of complaint against
Paraguay except the never-failing quarrel of the
wolf against the lamb. Paraguay, on the other hand,
might very well decline any interference, however
well meant. Time fights her battles, and if she can
hold out long enough to force the Brazilians to
give up the struggle and retreat of their own ac-
cord, she will gain far more than she could win
from the mediation or assistance of the best of
friends. Such, we may hope, will be the result of
the protracted struggle, and before the new Cham-
ber meets at Rio it is probable that the drama will
be played out, and that peace will be restored to
the exhausted but invincible little State of
Paraguay.

Judging from present appearances in the United
S;ates the success of the Radical candidates at the
forthcoming Presidential election is more than
doubtful. The Radical party has lost one of its
foremost men in Mr. TEADDEUS STEVENS, and
though eventually the loss may be lessened by the
fact that the party will be less likely to be driven
to violent and unpopular extremes, yet during
the crisis they will miss his indomitable energy and
his influence. The change in popular feeling
throughout the country has been very marked of
late months. Almost every election of note in the
Northern States has shown increasing favour
towards the Democrats ; while the only elections
at which the Radicals have obtained decisive
majorities have been those of the reconstructed
States, where the voters have been picked Rad:-
eals ! We learn by the arrival of the Australasian,
from New York, on the sth, that the Democrats

have carried the State elections in Kentucky, re-
turning Mr. STEVENSON, as Governor, by a
majority of 60,000 votes I This proves that Ken-
tucky, at least, is not much disposed to
support the Radical platform ; while the Southern
States, encouraged by the change of feeling in the
North, are inclined to take some action in the
matter. The leading Democrats of Virginia are
taking steps to contest the validity of the Pre-
sidential election, if the electoral vote of Vir-
ginia should be rejected, as threatened. It
will be the boldest of all the Radical innovations on
the traditional constitution of the United States if
three States are excluded from a voice in the selec-
tion in which every American is supposed to
be represented. In Florida a new plan is pro-
posed, and the Legislature has passed a bill trans-
ferring the election of the Presidential electors from
the people to themselves. This is directly opposed
not only to tradition and to constitutional law, but
to common sense and justice. Now that the Radi-
cal registration laws are in force, the voters for the
present members by no means represent the people,
and therefore the effect of the bill in question is
to prevent the real opinions of the population from
making themselves heard in the Electoral College.
There can be no doubt that the excessive expendi-
ture which has been going on under Radical
management has disgusted and alarmed the people
of the North as much as their oppressive
arrogance has alienated the South. The
Northerners are beginning to see the truth
of President JOHNSON'S assertion last year, that the
maintenance of military rule in the South was
a needless and oppressive burden on the Northern
taxpayer. The rapidity with which the district
commanders are now declaring the supremacy of
civil law to be re-established in the South
is suspicious. The Radicals are afraid to
meet their electors with no better news
than heretofore, and are eager to pro-
claim the success of their reconstructive policy
as shown in the tranquillising of the South, which
would have been tranquil two years ago if the
Radicals had allowed Mr. JOHNSON to take his own

CORRESPONDENCE PROM PARIS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
PARIS, FRIDAY, Atigust
The oracle has not spoken. The grand review of to-day
was simply a grand spectacle ; no speech was made, or
incident of any kind occurred. The disposition of the
troops was the same as I announced in my last. Splendid
weather, of course, attracted an immense crowd, and there
was, it must be allowed, some demonstration in favour of
the Imperial personages. The Emperor left the Tuileries
precisely at three o'clock, accompanied by the Prince
Imperial, the Empress preceding them in an open carriage.
The Emperor and his son rode down the line of troops,
and then stopped at the Palais do l'lndustrie to distribute
the decorations and witness the defile. That was all.

M. Drouyn do Lhuys has gone to Lucerne, and has
engaged a villa situated close to that occupied by Lord
Stanley.
The French Ambassador to the Danish Court is now in
Stockholm, where he has been invited by the King of
Sweden. This movement on the part of the French diplo-
matist is generally considered as being in support of the
idea of a Scandinavian union.

The Litertg has received intelligence from Spain stating
that a confidential circular has just been addressed by the
Minister of the Interior to the governors of the provinces.
This circular recommends them to rely chiefly upon the
civil guard and the levee en masse. The Government has
no confidence in the regular troops. This is serious
news, but it adds nothing to our information. It has long
been known that the army is disaffected ; and it is now
mote than ever clear that the arrest of the generals was
only just in time to prevent the overthrow of the Govern-
ment.

M. Henri Rochefort will now, I presume, go to reside
at Florence, as he intended. His trial, for exciting to
hatred and contempt of the Government, has ended in a
sentence of twelve months' imprisonment and a fine of
£4OO. The printer of the journal has been condemned in
two months' imprisonment and a fine of £BO. La Lanterne
is extinguished. There was some talk of printing it in
Belgium, but this idea has been abandoned. Had
it been carried out, there can be no doubt that it would
have caused much unpleasantness between' the Govern.
ments of France and Belgium, and it was doubtless this
consideration that induced M. Rochefort to consent to
the disappearance of his journal. Like many others of
its kind, it will soon be forgotten. France is essentially
the land of ephemeral writing, and it is some tribute to
the popularity of La Lanterne that it should even now
continue to excite so much attention. The emblem of
the defunct paper is everywhere. Cigarettes have been
manufactured, with the wrappers of red paper, stamped
with the design of a lantern. These have been forbidden ;
but the notepaper most in fashion is that with a decoration
*eprezenting a lantern.

Many of the foreign ambassadors at the Court of the
Tuileries have returned to Paris to take their place at the
dinner of M. de Moustier and the reception at the
Tuileries.

General Frossard has made a report to the Emperor of the
Cavaignac incident at the Sorbonne. It has been remarked
that the Archbishop of Paris, who has regularly assisted
for several years at the distribution of prizes, was absent
on that occasion. This circumstance is explained by the
theory that a misunderstanding ex'sts betweea the Arch-
bishop and the Minister of Public Instruction.

It is stated that the result of the negotiations between
Italy acid Rome on the subject of the division of the
Roman debt will be the evacuation of the French troops,
The Incldpendence Beige has received positive information
that the Menabrea Ministry have given the French
Government the fullest assurances of the integrity of the
Papal dominions. The works executed by the French at
Rome and Civita Vecchia are so strong that, in case of
an invasion, it would be easy for the Pontifical troops to
hold out until the French could lend assistance.

The subscriptions for the loan has greatly pleased the
Emperor. The total amount applied for is from thirty to
forty times the sum required. Another million has been
added to the bullion in the bank.

On the same day that the drama of reality—the life of
Miss Menken—was played out, "The Pirates of the
Savannah" was reproduced at the Chittelet Theatre. The
piece was magnificently put upon the stage, and the place
of the deceased actress was taken by Mlle. Dowe, who,
though less favoured by nature, acquitted herself very
well. The famous steeple chase dos-a dos on a wild horse
was very well performed, as was also the rest of
the pantomime of this " play." As for poor Miss
Menken, she is credited, after the manner of
civilised life, with virtues which her most reckless
flatterers would never have discovered in her whilst living.
One paper does not hesitate to say that "her theological
works are greatly esteemed by clergymen." The writer
has forgotten to mention the name of the sect to which the
clerical disciples of Menken belonged. L'ALime of Charles
Dickens continues to meet with public favour at the
Vaudeville.

THE WEATHER, TABLE.-THIS DAY.

METEOROLOGICAL REPORTS.

Extreme Sea
Saturday, 4, I F. 1
.41 1
August 15, B. T. f W. 11 to F. I D. WR. Ito
8 a.m.
I 12
--1-- 19
Nairn
Aberdeen
Leith
6
Shields
62 60 2.8
Scarborough 29•90 r. 63 1 5..5 3 6 S. c. 'o''o9 3
Yarmouth s9'BBr. 68 165 S.E. 2 3 S.W. o.c. 3
Helder
Cuxhaven
Skudesmos
Ardrossan 29"86r. 59 53 E. 2 1 E.S.E. r.m o'oB 1
Greencastle 29 82r. 60 58 E. 3 4 S.E. c.
Holyhead
Liverpool
Valentia 29 57r. 59 (56 E. 6 7 N.E. b.rcl 5
Cape Clear 29"45r. 57 55 E. 2 3 S.S.W. 0.c.,017 2
Roches Pt. 29'51r. 59 59 S. S. E. 2 7 E. S. E. r.o. 0'55 3
Penzance
Plymouth
Weymouth 29'79r. 64 61 S.E. 8 8 S.E. 0.c.10'06 5
Portsmouth 29 79r. 65 60 S. 4 5 S.W. c. I 3
London
Brest .. 29 70s. 57 57 S. 8 8 E.S.E. r. o'l6 4
L'Orient 29 75r. 63 61 S.W. 7 5 S.W. 0. 0'55 4
Rochefort .. 29'845. 66 62 S.W. 5 5 S.W. c. 1
Biarritz ....
Comma...
Brussels
Paris
Strasbourg
Lyons
Toulon ..• 29'875. 75 75 R 7 4 W. f. 6
Heart's Con-
tent (6 a.m.
local time) 30'075. 59 58 S. 1 2 S. b. 2
EXPLANATION.
Barometer corrected and reduced to c 2 deg. a sea level. Theletter

-PLANATION.
Barometer corrected and reduced to c 2 deg. a sea level. Theletter
r., rising; f., falling ; s., steady—indicate direction of motion of the
mercury within last 14 hours. Thermometer exposed in shade.
Bxtreme Force with its Direction during last 24 hours. Z.—calm
Weather : sky ; c.— clouds. detached ; f.—fog ; h.—hail;
I.—lightning m.—misty, bury ; o.—overcast, dull ; r.—rain; s.—snow;
t.—thunder. Rain-fall, snow or hail (melted) during last 24 hours.
Sea disturbance,