The Sun.
London, England, 1868-06-13 00:00:00

THE SHIFTINI

It is not to be denied that the tendency
of modern Europe, for good or for evil, is
towards democracy. Power is passing out of
the hands of Kings into those of the people.
The era of the personal government of Kings
seems drawing to its close. The King is no
longer the head of his .people, in the sense that
his royal word is a binding engagement, which
the nation he nominally governs accepts and
locally executes. Such pledges, however just,
and however solemn, have no longer any bind-
ing force. The real power is in the will,. not
of the people, but of a section of the people,
which arrogates to itself the title of the govern-
ing class, speaks in the name of the nation,
and pays little or no regard to the rights and
interests or to .the religion of the people at
large. Such is the modern State. In almost
every country in Europe, it is the stronghold
of irreligious Liberalism, and the avowed and
deadly enemy of the Church. Kings, however
often they may have abused their prerogatives,
and refused to recognize that their authority
in the State was subordinate to the Spiritual
Power in all matters affecting directly or indi-
rectly the moral or religious interests of the
nation, were on the whole less inimical than
modern Parliaments. What is a so-called free
and constitutional State now-a-days in Europe,
but a State which is in the hands of the middle
and professional classes, a Government of the
bourgeoisie and of bureaucrats ? The Crown,
the Church, the territorial interests, and the
people, are set aside in favour of a class, the
most selfish, the most irreligious, and • the
most degraded in the nation. This class is
the seat and stronghold of that impious Libe-
ralism which now dominates in Europe, and
is by its misdeeds, its arrogance, and its de-
fiance of law and justice, preparing the way
for a terrible social, and perhaps religious,
revolution. Let us take Austria, in its actual
condition, as a signal illustration of the evils
of a modern State. Austria but lately was a
monarchy, strong in its ancient traditions, and
in the loyalty of its people, but shorn of its civil
and of its religious liberty by the absolutism of
its Kings. When the day of danger came,
in the Revolation of 1848—the prelude of
greater Revolutions yet to come—the monarch
sought safety for his throne by restoring to the
Church the liberty it had been deprived of for
so long a period by the worst of his predeces-
sors. But the remedy came too late—evil
had taken too deep a root. The Monarchy
fell into disgrace; the Emperor in his weakness
and timidity handed the Government over to
the noisiest, the most selfish, and the most
unprincipled section of his
people—a class
which represents neither the interests nor the
rights of the vast majority of his people, which
has no regard for the traditions of royalty ;
no respect for religion or justice. The ques-
tion, then, at once suggests itself—why does
the vast majority of a nation tolerate the
government of a class inimical to the Crown,
to the Church, to the great landed interest,
and to the people? The same question is
suggesting itself more or less in every coun-
try in Europe, and awaits a solution. On the
right solution of the tremendous question—
Why shoutdthe many suffer?—depends the fate
of Europe. A false solution will but too surely
bre% iopei traateey
itsh e impending
becoming
ev e
ry sociala y r
me voorleu t
and
more conscious of its strength and of its
organization, and more impatient of its treat-
ment at the hands of a selfish and dominant
Liberalism. Taught, in place of the old sanc-
tions and restraints of religion, that sensual
aurtdtos otfhe life,
m
butenjoymentsbalkedi
nthe
arethe aimand
thhe ew
expectationsand finding that toil, privations, and hunger
erldo
are the portion which chiefly falls to their lot,
the people are forming new combinations and
cherishing lopes of a short road to prosperity.
This is the secret of that communistic move-
ment, which is now taking place in Germany,
in Austria, in Italy, and in France, and which
shows itself amongst ourselves in strikes and
trade unions.
There are three forces at the present moment
encountering one another in Europe—Liberal-
ism, Communism and Christianity. The Church
proscribed, plundered or persecuted wherever
Liberalism is dominant, sees, humanly speak-
ing, but two outlets for the salvation of Europe.
One is the displacement of Liberalism by a
Conservative reaction, leading to a restoration
of the Christian monarchy in union with the
Spiritual Power, and the other is a clean
sweeping away of the present seats of power by
a triumphant democracy. The Church is not
deluded by idle hopes, but in the presence of
a great danger is prepared for the worst. She
naturally sympathizes with the peoples be-
trayed by the false doctrines and visionary
hopes of material enjoyment which Liberalism
has everywhere inculcated, and labours to
lighten the unbroken and too often ill-requited
toil, and remove the almost intolerable priva-
tions which, in many parts of Europe, depress
and demoralize the working classes. The
Church, while entering into the views of the
people, is forward in cecking the spread of
Communistic principles, and in bringing men
back, when they have gone astray, to the
severe but salutary principles of Christian
patience and resignation. Liberalism has taken
offence at this action on the part of the Church,
and has uttered a cry of alarm and fear. It
sees its danger; for, no sooner are the Church
and the people brought together again in close
and Christian union, than the days of Liberalism
will be numbered. It cries aloud, especially in
Germany and in Austria, that out of hatred
to Liberalism the Church is conspiring with
Communism to bring about a shifting of politi-
cal power. But the Church, far from con-
spiring with evil, combats Liberalism on the
one hand and Communism on the other. It
is true that Christianity has a greater hold
on the masses of the people than on that par-
ticular class which in so-called Constitutional
States, such as Italy, Austria, Bavaria, Baden,
Belgium and Portugal—is exclusively in pos-
session of political power, and openly at war
with the rights and liberties of the Church.
It has a hold, too, on the masses in France, as
was attested in the popular movement which
compelled the Emperor Napoleon to go to the
aid 'of the Pope against the rampant Liberalism
of Italy. But Communism, with its visionary
dreams, its wild hopes, and its passionate hatred
of the middle and moneyed class, is also rapidly
spreading among the working classes, espe-
cially in France, Germany, and Italy. The
great material progress, and the spread of
knowledge, for whic our times are so con-
spicuous, have placed within its reach means
of organization which its leaders do not fail
to make use of.
Between these two combatants the Church
takes its stand. It demands from those in
possession of political power and of the wealth
of the land, justice to the suffering, to the too
often half-starving classes—the right of the
labourer to labour, the right of all to live in
the land where God has placed them. Chris-
tianity denounces those false principles of poli-
tical economy which are in conflict with the
higher principles of the Gospel, and which lead
to the isolation and to the separation of the
interests of those whom Christianity has made
brothers. But, while recognizing a just and
sufficient cause of grave complaint, and of re-
sistance on the part of large numbers of the
working classes to the intolerable conditions
of life imposed upon defenceless labour by
capital, vested with innumerable rights and
tChoemomr
dui nn iasume
eisn if t sGtoudr ni n a
es
oan
sr
gn
sagainst
.
exclusive privileges, Catholicism condemns
o
n
It rebukes, moreover, the fierce impatience of
toil and of sufferin,2;,, and the wild longing
andhe a r t
sd o
omf i nmi oe nn Nay
and
cnzedonulyponrestuhlet
for material enjoyments—for wealth, power,
which has
seized
in the destruction of • t some y. It desires the
reconciliation of classes and of interests—not
a social war, in which the last vestiges of law,
order, and religion will disappear from modern
society. But the danger is not likely to be
easily averted. Liberalism, by its example, by
its impious teachiengs, and by its

(From the Anglo-American Times)
By the Scotia we learn that General Schofield
took up the post of Secretary of War on the Ist
June, General Stoneman being appointed by the
President his successor in the command of the First
Military District. The latter officer, on assuming
charge, issued an order continuing in force all
or,lers at the time existing.
Those best acqu,tinted with the really Creditable
constitutions framed by the Southern Conventions
will rejoice at the news yesterday received iu Lon-
don by the Cable, dated Washington, June 11 :
" The Senate passed to-day Mr. Stevens's Bill,
which was agreed to by the House of Representa-
tives on the 14th ult., and which provides for the
admission of North Carolina, South Carolina,
Louisiana, Georgia, and Alabama to representation
in Congress, on the condition that the constitutions
of those States shall never be so amended as to de-
prive of the suffrage those now entitled to vote."
The further news by the Cunarder is to the effect
that the counsel both for and against Mr. Davis
recommend the further postponement of the trial
till October. A vote has passed the Senate by 37
to 11 thanking Mr. Stanton for his public services,
but 30 to 11 voted against tendering thanks to
Chief Justice Chase for his conduct during the
Impeachment Trial. That is, the IL Democrats
voted in both instance.; in a body, and 7 of the Re-
publicans, who could not agree with the majority
in the second instance, did not vote at all, among
whom no doubt are several of the " recreants." A
resolution has been introlucl d into the Senate ex-
cluding the Southern States from participation in
the Presidential election unless such States have
been admitted to the Union under the Reconstruc-
on Act before the Presidential electors were

chosen.
The President re-appointed Mr. Stanbery A
torney-General, but the Senate, as we think in
very bad taste, rejected the nomination. They
can scarcely anticipate moderation on the part of
Andrew Johnson when he is thus met at the com-
mencement of a new record.
Specie continues to flow across from America to
Europe in abundance. On Saturday the steamers
carried from New York $925,000 ; on Wednesday
$975,000. On Thursday the City of Baltimore is
reported to have carried from New York on June
6 £430,000 in specie, but it is not improbable that
dollars may be meant ; and on Thursday $550,000
were remitted.
We regret to announce the death of ex-President
Buchanan, but the data of whose decease has not
been given by Mr. Reuter. The President has
ordered that the Executive Department be closed
and draped in mourning on the day of the funeral.
James Buchanan was elected to the Presidency, in
1857, with John C. Breckenridge on the same ticket,
and his term will ever be memorable as that which
inaugurated the Civil War.
A correspondent of the Pall Mall Gazette, writing
from Paris, speaks of a trial that commenced
there, which will be regarded, bath in France
and England, with great interest, as it involves a
question of much importance in connection with the
American war. He says—" When the war broke
out France declared its neutrality, but the Confe-
derates applied to a French company for ships,
which were duly constructed. The Government
prevented these vessels, which hal been paid for,
from leaving port, and they were consequently sold
to Prussia. The United States now comes for-
ward and claims the sum of 2,8?,0,099 francs,
which was paid to Meisrs..Aunan all Ca., on the
ground that the money is national property. M.
Berryer is one of the lawyers retained by the Ame-
rican Government."
Gin ,ral Gillem has order° 1 the election on the
ratification of the new State Constitution in INlis-
sissii pi to commence June 22, making
the singular
provision that it is to "continue till complete],"
which is likely to be a very indefinite time. The
order is accompanied by the usual directions guard-
ing against violerce, fraud, or the interference with
raters at the polls.—General Canby on Tuesday,
Miy 26, issued an order removing thirteen of the
eighteen aldermen of Charleston, and. appointing
persons to fill the vacancies. Under the new or-
ganization there will be seven negroes on the board.
The resolution forbidding the diplomatic corps of
the United States to wear Court costume as an in-
fringement of Republican simplicity is likely to be
repealed. The agitation of some newspapers, among
whom we are glad to be able to include ourselves,
backed a diplomatic condemnation, which has at,.
tracted the attention of Congress, and the Senate
has now called for 'copies of the correspondence on
the subject between Mr. Seward and the Ministers.
We believe that this is the first step to rescinding
the resolution.
The Senate, on the 28th May, adopted a resolu-
tion offered by Mr. Morton, calling for copies of the
correspondence on the subject of the Alabama
Claims. It is not stated why this step has now
been taken.
It is curious to observe the revelations brought
•

to light by the Investigation Committee. Butler's
object was to fasten the crime of accepting bribes
on some of the Senators who voted for acquittal,
but he may succeed in damaging ono or two Sena-
tors who voted for conviction. Nobody expected
anything to transpire against Secretary McCulloch,
but the telegrams seized have revealed the fact that
the intentions of the Secretary to sell or to refrain
from selling gold have been fully known to the
speculators and the whisky ring at Washington,
and formed the basis of the operations of their con-
federates in New York. The idea was that the
Treasury would obtain the best price by availing
itself of what the Secretary considered the most
favourable opportunities to sell, and in giving the
Secretary the power of acting at discretion, the
Executive had the further power of exercising a
control over the gold gamblers, and breaking down
their formidable combinations against commerce.
It is not pleasant then for the community to learn
that what the Secretary intended to do was always
known to the ring days before he acted, by which
the profits went into their pockets to the damage of
the finances and of the trading classes. Public at-
tention being directed to this, a fact has transpired
which is not favourable to the character of the
Secretary. Nearly all the sales of gold have been
made by one house, whose leading member is a re-
lative of the Secretary, and the commissions on the
last seven years' sales amounted to no less a sum
than $231,000.
Senator Pomeroy, of Kansas, whose conscien-
tiousness has been so:strongly contrasted with the
depravity of his colleague, Senator Ross, is the only
man, as yet, whose name is brought into question
by the investigations of Butler's Committee. If
what has transpired be correct (and it should be
borne in mind that the committee has been framed
with the one object of bringing home, if polsible,
guilt to the Republican Senators who voted
for acquittal), the Republican Senator Pome-
roy, who voted for conviction, before making
up his mind, attempted to discover what he could
get for voting for acquittal, aul on his inquiries
proving unsatisfactory 43.3aure convince.' of Me.
Johnson's guilt. That and the machinations of the
golf ring appear to be Butler's discoveries, but
I another bit of scandal has also resulted. Miss
Vinnie Ream, a sealpter, whose s`aulio is a room in
the Capitol, was discussed as a conspirator in the
Houfe.Mr. Bingham asserts that she induced Senator
Ross to vote for acquittal, au] it transpired in the
debate that Mr. Julian, of Indiana, had requested
her to use her influence to get Mr. Ross to vote for
conviction, and on her giving an indignant refusal
she was threatened with ruin. It appears that by
"4" the
_r991114 have bees Iqttercd 13 C, &c.,