The Sun.
London, England, 1868-12-24 00:00:00

THE LATE EDITION of " THE SUN" at
W. SMITH'S " Camden Stores," 78, Park-street, Camden.

town.

THEATRE-ROYAL, HAYMARKET.

Tins EVENING, A KISS IN THE DARK. After which,
IssETRA: Messrs. Chippendale, Howe, Kendal, Gordon, &c.
Ate man. Mrs. E. Fitzwilliam. And The last Two Acts of
L BaWith M AKE YOUR WILLS. Commence at 7.

THEATRE-ROYAL, ADELPHI.
THIS EVENING, at 7, DID YOU EVER SEND YOUR WIFE
TO CAMBICRW ELL. Mr. G. Belmore, Mrs. L. Murray. At 7.45
MONIE CRISTO . Messrs. Fechter, B. Webster, G. Belmore, A.
Stirling, R. Phillips, Stuart, Ashley, Stephenson, C. J. Smith, W
H. Eburne, R. Romer; Mrs. Alfred Mellon, Miss C. Leclercq,
and Mrs. Leigh Murray.

PRINCESS'S THEATRE.
Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. Vining.
BOXING NIGHT, at 7, to commence with THE SECRET. At 8,
AFTER DARK, a Tale of London Life: Mr Vining, Mr. W.
Lacy, Mr. Dominick Murray; Messrs. C. Harcourt, J. G. Shore,
Maclean, Holston; Miss Emma Barnet and Miss Rose Leclercq
Concluding with MASTER JONES'S BIRTHDAY.

GLOBE THEATRE-ROYAL.
THIS Ev r MSG, at 7, GOOD FOR NOTHING. At a quarter to
8, CYRIL'S SUCCESS: Messrs. Warner, Vernon, David Fisher,
Newbound, Andrews, Tindale, Hurlstone, J. Clarke; Mesdames
Henrade, C. Thorne, Bremen, Berend, Hughes, and Stephens.

ROYAL STRAND THEATRE.
Sole Lessee and Manageress, Mrs. Swanborough.
This EVENING, at 7.30, THE WIDOW HUNT. Messrs. Bel-
ford. Clarke: Miss Bufton. THE FIELD OF THE C tOTH
OF GOLD Messrs. Thorne, James. Fenton; NI esdames Maria
Longmore, B. Goodall, Lydia Maitland, Claire, and Hughes. To
conclude with A COMICAL COUNTESS

QUEEN'S TREATRF,, LONG-ACRE.
Manager, Mr. W. H. Liston
THIS F,TENING. at 7. THE LANCASHIRE LASS: Messrs.
Irving, L. Brough, Stephens, Wyndham. Clayton, and S. Emery:
Mesdames Hodson, Montague, and Nelly Moore And THE
STRANGER, Stranger than Ever. Mr. L. Brough, Miss Mon-
tague, etc.

THEATRE-ROYAL, OLYMPIC.
THIS EVENING, at 7, SL \ STIER &CRASHER: Messrs A tkins,
Vaughan, G. Vincent, (te. ; Miss Lennox Grey and Mrs Caulfield.
After which, at 7.45, THE YELLOW PASSPORT : Messrs. H
Ne ills, G. Vincent, E. Atkins, H. Vaughan, H. Cooper, and H.
Wigan; Mesdames Furtado, Lennox Grey, and Caulfield

ROYALTY THEATRE.
Under the Management of Miss M. Oliver.
THIS EVENING, at 7.30, A LOVING CUP. Mr. Dewar, Miss
M. Oliver. To be followed by THE RISE AND FALL OF
'ITCH ARD III.; or, A New Front to an Old Dicky: Mr. Dewar
Jr. Danvers: Miss Cab-Isom and Miss M. Oliver. To con
luJe with THE cLOCKNIAKER'S HAT.

PRINCE OF WALES'S ROYAL THEATRE.
Under the Management of 31 isa Marie Wilton':
Trip; EVENING, TAME CATS: Messrs. Hare, H. J. Montague,
Blakeley, Montgomery, and Bancroft; Mrs. Buckingham White,
Miss C. Addison, and Miss Marie Wilton. After which, WHO
SPEAKS FIRST Messrs. Montagtie and Blakeley ; Miss C.
Addison.

ROYAL A!,IPHITIIEATRF. AND CIRCUS, HOLBORN.
Titis EVENING, The Great Carre Troupe and magnificent Stud
of 50 Horses; also M. Ayolo, Alfred Bradbury, M. Clifton,
Captain Austin, Miss Carrie, and is.arnurelni Performing Dogs.

CHRISTY MINSTRELS. St. James's Hall, Every Night, at 8
Wednesdays and Saturdays, at 3 and S all the year round.

ROYAL AL lIAMB RA PA LACE. THREE BALLET=,
Promenade Concert. Baud of CO. Begiu at 8. ls. Box-oflica
open from 11 to 4.

ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS, RegerTs-pack, OPEN daily (ex
eel:I Sundays). Admission, Is.; on Ilendays, 6d.; Children
under twelve, dd.

TO OUR SUBSCRIBERS.

" THE SUN " WILL BE PUBLISHED AS USUAL ON

CIICISTMAS DAY.

I T

LOiVDOZV, THURSDAY, DEC. 24, 18G8.

Without, of course, making too sure of it, we are
sanguine that the Ballot may now, before much
longer, become the law of the land, as surely as Free
Trade or as Household Suffrage. Matters certainly
have never before looked so propitious, as they are
doing now, in regard to the prospects of this im-
mense reform. Bit by bit, or rather point by point,
we are getting the Charter incorporated with the
Constitution— that Charter which was once scouted as
nothing less than revolutionary. Two out of the
six points of the Charter we have already—the one
of these two virtually, the other actually—realised.
The Property ,Qualification for members of Parlia-
ment has long since been abolished. It has been so
completely and effectually got rid of that, if the elec-
tors in several important constituencies had so pleased
during this last General Election, some half-dozen bona
fide working men might have been returned among the
number of the national representatives, and might
have taken their seats, not, of course, in sleeve
waistcoats, like Dr. MARIGOLD, the Cheap Jack, any
more than in fustain or in corduroy, like so many 1
hodcarriers, but clad, like other gentlemen, in good
wholesome broadcloth. They were not there, simply
because they were not wanted by the constituencies
appealed to. But—had they been wanted—there
they would have been, the old obstructive Property
Qualification having been swept away as an obsolete
encumbrance. Then, as to Universal Suffrage, if we
have not that pure and simple, we have the next best
thing to it—we have (as we conceive) a much better
thing than it under the circumstances—we have
Household Suffrage. And now there is hope,
actually hope at last, of our next obtaining
the Ballot. Concede that, regard that as realized,
and half the Charter, three out of the six
six points of it, will have been already secured. One
of the remaining three points, if only one could con-
trive it, who is there amongst us who would not be
for its immediate realisation? Meaning—Equal
Electoral Districts ! The only difficulty, there, is as
to its practicability. If only it can be shown to be
practicable, that reform too, we may be certain, will
be accomplished. As to another point of
the Charter—that of Paid Representatives—that,
also, there are educated advocates of amongst us.
Conspicuous amongst whom is a distinguished man-
of-letters and brother journalist whose name
was eagerly sought, but, we regret to add, ineffec-
tually sought as that of the People's Candidate
among some of the most earnest Reformers
among the Liberal electors of the great metro-
politan constituency of the borough of Marylebone.
O ihers besides Mr. HEPWORTH DIXON are prepared
to advocate like him the paying of Representatives
i❑ Parliament. That may come in the course of
time. The notion of its coming is already at any
rate lifted out of the region of the simply fantastic
and ridiculous. Rational men—not mere day-
, dreamers or idle theorists—are already ra-

tionally discussing the question as to its
advisability amongst themselves. Whether it
may be accomplished in the present generation, is
an open question of course ; but, at the least, it is
under discussion. The only other point not yet
particularised, here, still remains among the Utopian
fancies of the hour as things are now—namely, that
sixth point of the Charter, Annual Parliaments.
At present, with open voting and all the
time and turmoil of contested elections in
counties and boroughs, the notion is clearly not to be
thought of. But—concede the Ballot, and the pro-
ject becomes no longer necessarily Utopian, becomes
no longer necessarily impractieable. Annual, or at
any rate Triennial Parliaments might be
brought readily enough within our reach
through the Ballot Box ! First, let us get
the Ballot, and the rest will follow. One
thing at a time. We have got Household Suffrage.
We have rid ourselves of the Property Qualification
for members of Parliament. Let us now at last se-
cure to ourselves the Ballot. Happily the Question
is in good hands. Sir HENRY BULWER, we may be
certain, will take no question up otherwise than ener-
getically. The Prime Minister and the Secretary
of State for War have each avowed a readi-
ness to secure free voting to the possessors of
Household Suffrage. Open Voting, they say, if
possible, but in any case Free Voting. There lies
our hope. Mr. GLADSTONE has spoken thus—Mr.
CARDWELL has spoken thus—at the very time when
converts to the Ballot have been appreciably multi-
plying—at the very time when the age and the infir-
mities of the veteran member for Bristol justify him
in conceding the lead of so vital a question as this
to a Liberal as staunch, as consistent, and as gifted
as the right hon. gentleman now restored to Parlia-
liament (after a very eminent diplomatic career) as
the colleague of Sir ROBERT PEEL in the representa-
tion of the Liberal Borough of Tamworth.

WE are glad to see that the Gibraltar question, to
which we called attention some weeks ago, is now
assuming prominence. There are few foreign
topics of greater importance than this. We hold
Gibraltar by right of conquest, but *the conquered
have never recognised the right. On the contrary, the
recovery of the Rockhas long been andstill is one of the
most cherished dreams of the Spanish people. That
people is now for the first time about to enjoy a
popular representative Government, and we may,
therefore, be sure that before long we shall receive
a demand for the restoration of this stronghold.
No doubt the demand will be diplomatically worded,
and urged with all courtesy ; but not the less will it
be a demand, to be enforced, in case of refusal, when-
ever we become involved in the exigencies of war.
Nor is that contingency so impossible as is some-
times thought. We do not say that the United States
desire or contemplate war with this country. Yet it
is not inconceivable that that Power might find its
advantage in making a close alliance with Spain—an
alliance whose conditions might include the sale of
Cuba and the restoration of Gibraltar. Nor in the
present unsettled state of Europe can we venture to
say that under no circumstances will we engage in
hostilities. These begun, we know not where nor
with whom we should have to fight.

But we prefer not to rest the matter upon the pos-
sibility of that, we trust, very remote contingency
being realised. There are other considerations which
should influence us—considerations of generosity,
justice, prudence. We gave the lonian Islands to
Greece when the new dynasty was set up five years
ago ; why should we not repeat that gracious
act by giving back to reconstituted Spain a
possession to which she has far greater claim than
Greece had to the Septinsular Republic ? It may be
said that the conduct of Greece does not encourage a
repetition of the experiment. But it must be re-
membered that that country is, unfortunately for
herself, the victim of constant intrigues, and that
these would have been more serious still both to
her and to us if the English flag still floated over
Corfu. The case with Spain is far other-
wise. Spain is strong enough to reconstitute
herself, and when reconstituted will doubtless become
a Power demanding respect as much as Italy
does, The cession of Gibraltar is likely to aid this
good work, and to tranquillise the newly constituted
Power. Nor would the cession be generous only ; it
would also be just. Fortunately the " golden rule"
is now being recognised by nations as well as by
individuals, and thus we are able to try all interna-
tional acts by the test of their effect upon ourselves.
It is enough to ask how we should bear to see
the Spanish flag floating upon British soil in order
to understand how odious must be the sight of the
Union Jack waving from Point Europa. Lest
generosity and justice should not move us,
there is the further consideration of prudence.

Self-interest counsels us to make this restoration.
Gibraltar is useless as a harbour of refuge, almost
useless as a coaling station, and would be worse than
useless as a port in time of war. South-westerly
and easterly gales alike render Gibraltar dangerous
nautically, the impracticability of erecting a sub-

stantial pier renders it unavailing for the supply of
our large steamers, and the increased range of modern
artillery renders it allbut untenable against a bombard-
ment. Add to these considerations that Gibraltar
is a most unhealthy station, that it costs us a
prodigious sum for men and materials, and we have a
strong combination of reasons for surrendering this
place unconditionally. Admiral GEORGE GREY has,
indeed, suggested that the Spaniards should give us
Ceuta in exchange for Gibraltar. We have yet to
learn if they are prepared to make the exchange, still
more if they are disposed to construct a pier for us
at their own expense. Even if they would consent,
it will be still a matter for consideration if in
relieving one nation from the yoke of conquest we
ought to impose our dominion upon another—if in
deferring to the national susceptibilities of the
Spaniards we ought to take no account of those of
the Moors. As for the arguments against the cession,
they will not bear a minute's scrutiny. The idea
that we should lose prestige by a volun-
tary surrender is not only unfounded, but con-
trary to the fact. Rather we should gain immense
moral influence by setting an example to Europe of
a sacrifice made out of a conscientious regard to the
doctrine of nationalities. Nor is the other objection
which the Times has started of much greater force.
True, the Fenian head-centre, STEPHENS, did argue
that because we gave up the lonian. Islands
therefore we might be worried into giving
up Ireland ; yet only a Fenian could draw
such an inference. Between the cession of a fortress
in a foreign land and the dismemberment of the
Empire there is nothing in common. The restora-
tion of Gibraltar would chew that we were prepared
to do justice to another nation; the suppression of
Fenianistr own.mohias
already shewn that we mean to do
justice to

Her Majesty's unarmoured screw frigate Are-
thusa, 35, 500-horse power, Capt. R. Coote, has
returned the whole of her powder and shell into the
magazines at Upnor Castle, Chatham, and yester-
day was taken in hand to be dismantled and
stripped, previously to being paid off out of com-
mission.

Her Majesty's ship Forte, 29, 400 horse power,
unarmoured screw frigate, is being brought for-
ward, in the steam basin, for the first division of
the Steam Reserve in the Medway, in readiness for
being despatched on foreign service.
A Lock Hospital will be opened in connection
with the camp at Colchester next month. The de-
signs of the hospital were supplied by the Royal
Engineer Department, approved by the War-office,
and the building contract has been substantially
carried out by Messrs. Everett and Son, of Colches-
chester. The total cost of the hospital has been
nearly £4,000 ; the accommodation provided is for
25 patients.