The Sun.
London, England, 1868-07-11 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, JULY 11, 1865.

ISTRAUBDINARY CASE OF HOMICIDE.

At the Hertfordshire Assizes, on Friday, before Mr.
"ustice Willes, James Blow, carpenter and builder, of
Velwyn, was charged with the manslaughter of Reuben
irobbs, at Welwyn, on the 6th June. Mr. Clark and
Ir. Douglas Walker prosecuted ; Serjeant Parry and Mr.
'udlow defended. The circumstances of this case are very
eculiar, and appear to have excited much interest. The
risoner is a carpenter and builder in a large way of busi-
.ess, living at Welwyn, near Hertford, and the deceased,
teuben "..T.obbs, was not only in prisoner's service, but
Ned in his house, was his trusted companion and confi-
'Ant, and appears to have thoroughly reciprocated the
ood esteem in which his master held him. Between nine
.nd ten o'clock on the night of Saturday, June 6, a
listurbance took place between prisoner and a groom
tamed William Orchard, who had been " larking" with
ome girls, and who had given some offence to the
irisorKT Blow. The result of the altercation was that
Slow knocked Orchard down in the street, and then went
in to his own house, and shut himself in. When Orchard
:ot up, he was much excited ; be took off his coat and
up, and went and hammered at Blow's closed door,
challenging Blow to come out and fight. He, however,
made no sign at first, and Orchard went away, but pre-
'ently came again, and renewed his knocking at the
loor repeating his challenge for Blow to come out and
ight. Blow (who was described as a man of very excit-
ible temperament) then opened his door, and rushed out
ipon Orchard with a poker in his hand. He struck
)rehard twice on the arm, and drove him backwards to
he gate of the front garden, which was shut. It was
searly dark, but several persons in the street saw the
ray. Among them was Reuben Nobbs, who was
walking with his sweetheart, .to whom he was about
:o be married. He rushed forward towards the com.
)atants, and ' it is supposed that he was bending
town to open the gate, with the intention of assisting -
sis master, when Blow struck him a deadly blow
in the skull with the poker, causing a severe fracture.
31ow expressed great sorrow, and repeatedly declared that
le bad no intention to strike Nobbs. He had the
wounded man carried indoors, where he died next day,
saving first expressed his belief that Blow did not mean to
lo him any harm. The medical man who was called in
sp Saturday night did not apprehend any danger at first,
)ut a post-mortem examination disclosed the full extent
.f the mischief. Blow was committed for trial for
manslaughter both by the coroner and the magistrates,
mad released on bail. Serjeant Parry contended that
?risoner was justified in self-defence, but the judge in-
structed the jury otherwise. They accordingly returned
t verdict of guilty, accompanied by a strong recommen-
lation to mercy. Prisoner was released from custody on
finding sureties to keep the peace for twelve months, and
e...-dertaking to appear for judgment if called upon.

CHRISTIAN DEMOCRACY AND
C Oaf UNIS3I.

What is to be the political future of Europe,
is a question which every lover of his country,
every honest man, every Christian must take
to heart. As things are, there seems to be

only two alternatives possible—Communism,
or a Christian democracy. Liberalism, which
is now dominant in Europe, cannot possibly
survive the social and political conflicts it pro-
vokes ; it carries within itself the seeds of
its own dissolution. The essential feature
of Liberalism is, that it recognises no standard
of right but the will of the majority, sub-
stituting in politics, as Rationalism does in
religion, the will of man for the will of God.
Now this principle, carried to its logical con-
clusion, as will speedily be done in the war of
classes, which such a theory must needs bring
about, cannot end otherwise than in the de-
struction of Liberalism and the triumph of
Communism. What is Liberalism, as seen
in the modern State, but the government of a
party, of a class, of a small fraction of the
people, which, while it possesses in theory a
belief in the absolute right of the will of the
majority, yet, in reality, governs by the means
of one class, and in no wise represents the
rights, the interests, or the faith of the people?
It is a standing lie. Its falsehood corrupts
the moral sense of a nation ; representative
government in its true sense, as the experience
of mankind proves, best secures equal justice
to every class, but Liberalism as it now exists
in the Parliaments of Europe, is a gross per-
version of a true and noble theory. It is to a
real representative Government, what heresy
is to faith. In the modern State, the power
of the Crown is -virtually set aside ; monarchy
is dead, or lingers where it does still survive,
merely as a graceful tribute, which the present
owes to the past ; but its pith and power are
gone. It fares no better with the aristocracy.
The Upper House in fear and trembling abdi-
cates its rights, and countersigns, as the
Austrian Chamber of Peers did, out of dread
of a revolution if it refused, the acts of the
Lower Chamber. Together, with the rights
of the Crown and of the Peers, the rights of
the Church, the appointed guardian of the
supernatural interests of the nation, are abo-
lished by the representatives of a single class
and party, and finally the rights, interests,
and wishes of the vast mass of the people,
entitled to be heard in a true representative
assembly, are not consulted in the remotest de-
gree in modern European Parliaments. What
is to be the upshot of such a state of things?
Nay, what is to be devoutly wished, but that
Liberalism, this false idol with feet of clay,
which the dominant class has set up for public
worship, should be tumbled down and broken
to pieces ? Europe is rushing headlong to
wards democracy, and as things now are in
Europe, what honest man can pretend to re-
gret it ? No change, however radical, can be
worse than the permanent instalment in the
government of Europe, of that gross political
fraud which goes by the name of Liberalism,
but which, even in its infancy, foreshadows the
most corrupting and all pervading tyranny,
the roost bitterly anti-Christian form of Go-
, vernment, which, since the days of Paganism
has risen up in Christian Europe.
What is the remedy against this gigantic
and growing evil, which is eating into the very
core of Christendom ? Is there even hope of
conversion to truer ideas and to Christian prin-
ciples of the present holders of political power,
the issue of the most corrupt class in Europe ?
Let us cherish no vain delusions ; as things
are in Europe, who, however sanguine, sees any
chance of, we do not say immediate, but of a
proximate restoration of the Christian monar-
chy, and of the ancient constitutions of Europe?
The irresistible current of democracy is flow-
ing onwards—we will not say downwards, for
we are hopeful enough and confident enough,
that the current may be guided aright by the
Divine Hand that shapes the course of events
—and if in its impetuous assault on stubborn
and selfish Liberalism with its false Parlia-
ments and Kings, the popular stream sweep
away, together with every vestige of Liberal-
ism, the last trace of the ven.erable structure
of monarchical Europe, we cannot but rejoice
at the result, however great and painful the
cost.

No form of Government is in itself incom-
patible with Christianity, and a Christian de-
mocracy is infinitely to be preferred to a god-
less Liberalism and a sham monarchy. But
the natural heir to Liberalism is not a Christian
democracy, but Communism. Liberalism de-
clares: that the will of majorities is the only
foundation of every right, that there is no ab-
solute right or truth in the world, and that
of numbers is the only
consequently the
obedience.
But if this supreme will, not content with
rule
to.vs,hiehtheuavaonice owes
abolishing religion, destroying monarchy, and
upsetting the supernatural sanctions, on which
goes a step further
has no rights other,
by the will of
the majority, and that, as in the alleged
principle of authority,
1 ita
than
tadhned rett
ehol
oacsri
eev
si l
conferredt orderhat rested,
property
upon
it
inte-
rests
overthrown, it
humanrweas
st s
now of fauttime
mankind,ep tiovi
introduceuteh, the
had
modifications into
the existing distribution of property, who is to
say nay ? In the natural order, in the consti-
tution of civil society, Providence has ordained
that property should be the necessary condi-
tion of peace and civilization, and Christianity
has singularly :confirmed and sanctioned the
rights conferral by the natural order. But if
Liberalism sets aside the precepts of Chris-
tianity, the commandments of the Church and
the supernatural sanctions of revelation, it is
own principles
of the rights of
principles to resist, if
powerless
property, at any rate a modification in these
trhleess
abosnoluittse
rights such as would lead to a redistribution
of property—in other words, to Communism
Is there anything so peculiarly sacred in the
rich man's purse, that Liberalism which has
sacrificed so many higher rights, lawman and
Divine, on the theory of the absolute right
of majorities, can say to the masses of the
people—the real majorities—combined in an
organized attack on property, so far shall you
go and no further ? Before such a movement
the present holders of political power, the re-
presentatives of a class, the inventors of the
new principle of Government, the political
atheists, would be swept away like rotten leaves
by the winds of autumn, and, instead of Libe-
ralism, Communism and anarchy would reign
in Europe.
But, although Communism is the natural
and necessary heir to Liberalism, Liberalism
in spite of its lying boasts is not in possession
of the minds and hearts of the Christian
peoples of Europe. Christianity, the Catholic
Church, is still the master of the noblest intel-
lects, the highest literature, and of the vast
masses of the peoples of Christendom. In the
day when direct or universal suffrage gives a
voice to the real people, the representatives of
the popular rights, interests, and religion, will
be found, in spite of many aberrations, stand-
ing up on behalf of civil and Christian order,
against the class legislation and godless tenets
of Liberalism.
In such momentous changes and conflicts as
must needs arise in the struggle against the
present possessors of political power, the dan-
gers to civil society cannot be few nor slight.
Infidelity, the revolutionary spirit, Commu-
nism, are all at hand to seize the opportunity
of perverting the popular mind, and of abusinc,
popular power. Many of the safeguards of
civil liberty will have been overthrown in
the conflict. Democracy is a dangerous power.
Europe under the long rule of an anti-Christian
Liberalism, has been profoundly corrupted ;
irreligion spreading from the middle classes has
made fearful inroads on the masses of the
people ; artizans of many of the larger cities
have been infected with Materialism. By a
vicious system of education, by an infidel
press, the lower and grosser aims of life, have
to a certain extent taken the place of higher
and religious motives. But in spite of these
evils and dangers, and the inherent weakness
of Democracy, the danger to society and to re-
.

ligion is infinitely less than under the modern
State, as it now exists in most countries of
Europe. The results of the democratic move-
ment in 1848, were beneficial to civil and re-
ligious order in France and in Germany, and
we have no doubt that a Parliament, the real
issue of the masses of the people, the product
of direct or universal suffrage in Austria or

Italy, would be far more favourable to order
and religion than the Governments which
now in those countries represent the tenets
and interests of one class. The sooner corrupt
and selfish and revolutionary class-legislation is
put down the better for Europe. The combat
will be over a wide field. The Church, with
the Gospel in its hand, will have to encounter
and put down the anti-social theories of Com-
munism on the one hand, and on the other

the selfish doctrines of a false political economy.
And in so wide a field we have no fear that
Christianity will prove unable to save Christian
society from social anarchy and shipwreck of
faith.—Wcstmiuster Gazette.

MISCELLANEOUS NEWS.

(From the Anglo American 2 inzes.)

The Russia arrived at Queenstown at 10.40 a.m
yesterday, and her news to July 1 is as follows :
The House of Representatives passed a concur-
rent resolution to adjourn on the 15th of July.

The Florida member has been admitted to a seat
in the House.

General Canby yesterday removed the Governor
and Lieutenant-Governors of North and South
Carolina, and installed the officers elect. Gene-
ral Canby has also issued orders suspending the
administration test oath to 'civil officers.

General Buchanan has issued orders announcing
that the oath prescribed by the new Constitution
of Louisiana may be administered to the members
of the Legislature instead of the Test Oath pre-
scribed by the Reconstruction Act.
The Hamburgh and' Americaan Company's
steamer Ijolsatia arrived at Southampton with
news to June 30. She has made perhaps one of
the most extraordinary passages on record, run-
ning the entire distance, from Sandy Hook to the
Needles, allowing for the difference of time, in nine
days and four hours. The news she brings re-
lating to the South is that General Buchanan has
removed the Governor and Lieutenant-Governor of
Louisiana under Grant's directions, and installed
the officers recently elected—Warmouth and the
negro Dunn. The Legislature assembled on the
29th, and the majority of the Democratic delegates,
feeling, we presume, that they were of no account
against the strength of the Opposition, withdrew.
The Mississippi election still progressed, the Demo-
crats being largely ahead. General Grant was re-
ported to have informed the District Commanders
in the South that the military will soon have to give
place to civil rule in all the States (except Missis-
sippi and Texas) which have been re-admitted to
representation ; that is, when, the Constitutional
requirements had been complied with.
-.The Bill which elsewhere we announce as having
been passed by the Senate, establishing eight hours
as a day's work for all mechanics in Government
employ (although, as we understand the measure,
it was not thus limited in its application) has been
signed by the President, and ie therefore law. Some
months ago it was taken up warmly and strongly sup-
ported by the workmen of the United States, but they
seem to have cooled on it, perhaps persuaded that
it will not in reality affect their position. In the
Aew York Times of June 27 the strike between the
master masons and their men is alluded to as being
as far as ever from a settlement, and the masters
are reported as about to set to work themselves to
complete the unfinished buildings in hand. - What
effect would an eight-hours' law have on such a dis-
pute ?
The King of the Sandwich Islands, in conse-
quence of the annexation agitation by America, has
threatened to place the island under British pro-
tection if his nationality is interfered with. We

imagine England has causes enough of quarrel
without attempting to redress the wrongs of his
Hawaiian Majesty. The best thing that could
happen to the islands would be annexation to the
United States, and perhaps the best thing that
could happen to his Majesty would be to get a
round sum out of the Washington Treasury in com-
pensation for his loss of dignity.
The action of the Democratic Convention, recom-
mending the taxation of the U. S. Bonds, appears
by the Holsatia's news only to have followed that of
the Republican House of Representatives, who.
passed a resolution by 92 votes against 55 ; di-
recting the Committee of Ways and Means to re-
port the Bill taxing the interest on the U. S. Bonds
at least 10 per cent.

Surgeon Boustead, of the Abyssinian Field
Force, maintains the correctness of his account of
a day's sport in Abyssinia, as it appeared in the
Field. He acknowledges that he had very remark-
able luck on the occasion, while declaring that he
has been equally fortunate since in " bagging"
other elephants. We should have liked to see the
Doctor bringing in his little bag. There is another
singular fact stated by Mr. Boustead; he adds,

" Colonel Merewether killed an elephant near
Massowah before the expedition was organized, in
July, 1867. This was the first elephant seen in the
country." Indeed ! have the Abyssinians no eyes ;
and, if not, are all travellers in Abyssinia blind ; or
did the expedition " grow " the elephants ?
The Woman's Rights' movement is everywhere
making progress. Governor Bullock, of Massa-
chusetts, has appointed Mrs. Rachel Howland, of
New Bedford ; Miss Elizabeth Fisher, of Lancaster ;
and Mrs. Mary A. Fay, of Worcester, to the ad-
visary Board of Women established by the Legis.
lature to aid the seven men who are now the trus-
tees of the State Industrial School. The Legisla-
ture refused to allow women to serve on school
Committees, and though this institution is for girls
still the appointment of such a board to aid in its
management is a concession.
At the meeting held in the Boston Music Hall on
the evening of the 25th June, to present the medals
awarded to the Massachusetts exhibitors at the
Paris Exhibition, a resolution was adopted to me-
morialise Congress in favour 9f, , Grand Interna-
tional Exhibition to be held. at,Washington, open-
ing on Independence Day, 1876, and continuing
during the whole year of jubilee. Although rather
long to look forward to, a better time could not' be
selected. It is a fine idea to assemble the world in

the capital of the Union, and show what a Repub-
lic has achieved in a century of independence. A
tithe of the English scattered through the United
States during the centenary year, listening to
Independence speeches, would have a fine effect'
in reducing insular conceit and send them
home sadder and wiser men. We hope the
project will be taken up and grand prepara-
tions commenced. Governor Bullock distributed
the medals and delivered an address ; Commis-
sioner Usher, Messrs. Eustis and Loring, of Salem ;
Mayor Shurtleff, of Boston ; and the Rev. Leon
Pilatte, of France, also addressed the meeting. The
Messrs. Chickering and Sons received the Cross of
the Legion of Honour and the gold medal ; and the
grand prize of a gold medal and 9,000 francs was
awarded to the Pacific Mills, at Lawrence, for the
promotion of the welfare of their workpeople and
the development of harmony between the employer
and the employed.
Senator Sumner is a consistent politician, carry-
ing the arguments he advances to their logical
conclusion. He has written a letter in reply to a citi-
zen of Norfolk, Virginia, to express his hope that
a competent representation of the coloured race will
be sent either to the House or to the Senate, or :to
both. He considers that until that step is taken
the success of the object for which he has striven is
incomplete. It is ridiculous to hear him described
as a fanatic, by those who in theory agree
with him, for pushing his views to such an ex-
treme. It is no extre:ne ; bat the clear end at
which a man arrives who walks by the light of such

reason as his; and wherein he differs from many
who 'profess to believe in equal rights is, that they
do not, or that they have not yet seen the goal
to which they are travelling. Whether Senator
Sumner be right or wrong in this course, he is a
clear..headed and consistent statesman who does not
shrink to carry his principles into practice.
Governor Humphreys pt Mississippi reused, to

vacate his office at the command of Gen. M'Dowell,
and was forcibly removed in consequence. But the
Governor has fitted np another room for his office,
and still claims to be Governor of the State. Go-
vernor Holden had ordered the Legislature of North
Carolina to convene July 1, and the members of the
Alabama Legislature are assembling at the State
capital in anticipation of the " Omnibus" Recon-
struction Bill becoming a law. The Legislature of
Florida elected a full complement of Senators for
the next six years, and adjourned to July 7. The
Mississippi election began June 22, and progressed
peaceably during the week ; the negroes acting
with the Democrats in numbers so great that it is
believed the Constitution has been defeated by a
majority of 25,000. By General Grant's instruc-
tions the Legislature of Louisiana had been con-
vened, and the New State and Municipal ofli:ers
were to be inaugurated. Only the oath prescribed
by the Constitution will be required. Three of the
lately elected Aldermen of New Orleans have been
replaced by General Buchanan, as they failed to
qualify, and both boards are now full.
The nomination of Mr. Collector Smythe, of New
York, as Minister to Austria is an instance of the
disregard even to decency which has at times
marked the conduct of Andrew Johnson. It is a
defect in the Government of the United States
that a President must almost necessarily be a par-
tisan. Bat though he can rarely rise but to the
highest office except through party, yet, when it is
attained, he ought to be as little as possible parti-
san. Mr. Johnson has carried into the Presiden-
tial Chair a standard of morality little elevated
above the professional politician intriguing at Wee,-
ington, and if requested to give au instance in proof
of the assertion, we would select this appointment.
Our readers are aware, from the evidence given by
Mr. Thurlow Weed, that certain votes of &ma-
tors, were openly proposed for purchase (by a per-
son named Adams) to Mr. Smythe, which would
insure the acquittal of the President. Collector
Smythe informed Adams that he would con-
sult Thurlow Weed, to whom he afterwards
introduced him, and the scheme was dis-
cussed by the three. This, following on the " Mrs.
Perry" scandal, caused much comment, and Mr.
Smythe was strongly recommended to retire. A
high officer of Government, working to corrupt
the Senators engaged in a solemn duty, coal,
not fail to attract public attention disagreeably
towards himself ; and while these circumstances
are fresh in the minds of the people, the Pre-
sident selects Mr. Smythe for a high diplomatic
post. He has also named Edward O'Perrin for a
judgeship in Utah. On the 24th June, • not con-
tent with these nominations, he picked out Perry
Fuller to succeed Mr. Rollins as Commissioner of
Internal Revenue. Whatever may be Mr. Fuller's
merits, his character is not spoken highly of in the
newspapers of the country, and it is said that there
is not the slightest chance of the nomination being
confirmed. A great pressure has been brought to
bear to push Mr. M'Culloch out of the Treasury,
to which many Republicans have unadvisedly lent
their strength. He is very unpopular with a section
of both Houses, and the President is reported to
have said that he would be glad if he would resign,
as it would relieve the Administration from great
embarassmeut, though he declined to ask him to do
so. This was carried to the Secretary, who, it is
believed, will act on the President's wish. But
people say if Perry Fuller is the President's choice
for the Commissionership of Internal Revenue,
what will the selection be for the most important
post in the Cabinet ? Whatever may be Mr.
M'Culloch's shortcomings, it may earnestly be
hoped that the opportunity of filling such a vacancy
will never fall into Andrew Johnson's hands. The
name of Mr. Evarts has also been sent in as At-

torney-General, and it is thought that the appoint-
ment will be confirmed, though it is still doubtful.
At Frederick, Maryland, a school for the Deaf
and Dumb of the-State was inaugurated on the 2d
June, and henceforth they are to be educated within

the State instead of being sent to Mr. Gallandet's
school at Washington. A convention has been
held at Washington of superiutendentsof such schools,
who have discussed the best mode of treatment with
regard to articulation, and adopted the views of
Massachusetts. The Clarke hstitation at North-
ampton had been compelled to refuse many applica-
tions for want of roam, but it will soon be able to

take in many more candidates. The Principal, Miss
Rogers, has been heartily received during her tour
round the Schools for the Deaf and Dumb in the

ffest. Notwithstanding the defeat of th 3 scheme

last winter by Mayor Norcross the proposition for
a new insane hospital for Boston has again been
brought forward, and is discussed by the city coun-
cil. The estimates have been reduced to under
$lOO,OOO, and they are likely to be accepted. An-
other wing will soon be ready for the new asylum
at Middletown, Connecticut. The Hartford Re-
treat is being repaired, and the New Hampshire
Asylum has received extensive additions.

On the night of the 20th June the steamer
Morning Star left Cleveland for Detroit. When
about 30 miles on her way she came in contact with
the bark Courtland, and in seven minutes after the
collision both vessels had disappeared under the
waters of Lake Erie. The Morning Star carried a
crew of 30 men, and had on board 40 passengers ;
the crew of the Courtland numbered 13, and out
of the total of 83 persons 20 are missing. All
would have been drowned, but for a passing
steamer which picked up 63 persons. On board
the Morning Star were the Misses Patchen, of Troy,
New York, who were on their return from a wel-
ding they hai attended at Cleveland.
Independence Day was chosen by the President
for proclaiming the pardon of all participants in the
Southern rebellion, excepting those already indicted
for treason or felony. We approve of such a pro-
clamation, while strongly condemning the extraor-
dinary course pursued by the President in " par-
doning," as an Americau paper says, "the rascals as
fast as the courts can convict them," Daring the
week ending June 27 he pardone I Joseph Has-
bruck, the embezzling cashier of the First National
Bank of Hudson, New York, Thomas Fitzgerald,
convicted in Milne for assault with intent to kill ;
and Alfred Delastasius, convictel in Pennsylvania
for making a counterfeit mail key. 'We had been

trying to discover a key to this action, but
could not succeed until after the Democratic plat-
form had been erected at New York. The appeal

being to the dishonesty of the United States, Andy
desires to strengthen his party by setting a; large
all the gaol-birds. He is an extraordinary man, de-
serving of the admiration and support he has re-
ceived in England, which he has already taken an
opportunity to repay in Mr. Seward's letter, June
22, and will doubtless avail himself of other oppor-
tunities before his term .for doing mischief ends.
This is the man who declares that owing to Con-
gressional enactments he can neither protect inno-
cence nor punish crime.
Of course the President vetoed the biil for the
admission of North Carolina, South Carolina,
Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, and Florida, known
as the " Omnibus" Reconstruction Bill. His mes-
sage was brief, a 3 he deemed it unnecessary again
to state his reasons at length. Congress, he says,
has assumed an authority never delegated to it,
and, in the case of Alabama, it has violated its own
law, forcing on the State the Constitution rejected
by the people under the Congressional Reconstruc-
tion Act. He declares the bill to be subversive of
the principles of Government. The respect enter-
tained for the President's opinions in Congress may
be judged of by the action, as it required less than
an horir for both Houses to pass the bill over his
veto, the Representatives by 111. to 31, and the
Senate by 30 to 7.
The Hon. Reverdy Johnson is to sail from Balti-
more on the Ist August on his mission to London.
Amougst the passengers in the same steamer will
be Mrs. Abraham Lincoln and her son, who will
proceed to Englind under the protection of the
Nlinister. The board of trustees of St. John's
College, at Annapolis, Maryland, have conferred
on him the honorary degree of LL.D. St. John's
College has been proverbially chary of its academic
honours. Mr. Johnson is an alumnus of that insti-
tution, and he is the fifth person who has received
this dignity from the board since the foundation of
the college in -the year 1781.
•General. Grant was to leave Washington; June
29, for the West after the " Omnibus" Jtecoustrue-
e