The Sun.
London, England, 1868-11-20 00:00:00

SWITZEIILAND.

An interesting agitation is now being carried on in some
of the Swiss cantons in favour of a further infusion of
democracy into the constitution. This movement aims at
pure and simple government of the people by the people,
through the communal assemblies. Universal suffrage
is already part of the constitution which was
established in 1848, but it is now sought to
make its application more direct and general. The corn.
munal assemblies, which have hitherto managed all local
affairs, now seek to meddle in matters hitherto reserved to
the central executive. They also aim at supplanting the
body or committee which is now elected to draw up the
law. Sortie of :the most liberal of the Swiss public men
have opposed this movement, fearing that too much local
influence may prove an obstacle to progress, but their
exertions have not availed much.

THE "TIMES" ON THE SETTLEMENT OF
THE AMERICAN QUESTIONS IN DISPUTE.

( From the Anglo-American Times.)
We seldom transfer to our columns articles from
English newspapers, but we mustinsert the following
from the Times, although our readers may have been
surfeited with it before they see it here. Our rea-
son for quoting so litUe from our contemporaries in
London, is that most of our readers have the oppor-

tunity of seeing such papers as the 7 imes, and our
object is to give them news they cannot readily get
elsewhere :

The public will learn with much satisfaction from the
speech of Mr. Reverdy Johnson at the Guildhall that the
questions in dispute between England and the United
States of America have been so tar settled that they can
no longer disturb the relations of the two countries. After
long and earnest negociation, though carried en in a very
friendly spirit, certain principles have been agreed upon,
and a machinery has been provided by which the ques-
tions at issue may be fairly decided, each party stipulating
to submit to the award. It has been before stated that
three separate matters form the subject of discussion be-
tween the two Goveinments, the most important being the
liability of Great Britain to make good the damage in-
flicted on American commerce by the Alabama; and the
other two being the question of naturalization and
the old San Juan difficulty, which, though looked
upon as serious enough before the war, has of late
years been almost forgotten. It has now been de-
termined to remove at once all cause of dissension
by a general examination and settlement of the
claims on either silo. For this purpose it has been agreed
between the two Governments that a commission shall be
appointed, consisting of four members, two be named by
each Government, with the power to choose a fifth person
as President or Umpire. To this Commission will be e-
ferred whatever questions have arisen since the year 1853.
This date h•as not bean arbitrarily selected, since up to the
year mentioned the questions in dispute between the two
countries had been disposed of by a similar machinery.
The Commission will not have any lack of work, since
there are not only claims against us on the part of Ame-
ricans, but claims against the United States on the part of
British subjects on matters arising out of alleged invasions
of the rights of neutrals and damage done to neutral property
during the war. But with respect to the Alabama there is an
important political question, on which it is desirable to have
the decision of an authority higher even than that of such a
Commission. The liability of the British Government for the
lossesinflictedby this vessel and her consorts isa matter to be
judged by the principles of international law, audit has been
thought that the decision of an independent arbitrator will
be more satisfactory than that of a Commission, which
would possibly decide only by a casting vote. It has,
therefore, been agreed that this primary question of the
liability of Great Britain shall be referred to a European
Sovereign of the first class. The Emperor of the French
and the Emperor of Russia were both inadmissible, inas-
much as each might be represented as having acted some-
what as a partisan during the war. But there is another
Sovereign of the highest rank to whom no such objection
applies—one whose character inspires the highest respect
on both sides of the ocean. To this monarch, and to the
able lawyers whose advice he will command, will be sub-
mitted the question whether Great Britain, under the cir-
cumstances of the escape of the Alabama, is liable for the
depredations which she committed. Should the decision
be in our favour, the claims drop to the ground ; should it
be against us, the Commission we have mentioned will re-
ceive the statements of the parties aggrieved, and proceed to
examine each case in detail. It will thus be seen that the
claims arising out of the late war are now taken out of the
sphere of political controversy, and placed in the way of a
definite legal decision. Subsidiary to the Alabama claims
was the grievance of the American Government arising
out of the recognition by England of the Southern Con-
federacy as a belligerent. Cur Government has throughout
denied that any injury was inflicted on the United States
by this act, which was not only within the sovereign
power of the British Crown, but was, it is contended on
our side, absolutely necessary for the defence of our inte-
rests at sea. Our readers have read enough on this inter-
minable subject. and will probably be of opinion that,
though interesting as an abstract question, it has little
relevance to any matter which is now practically in
dispute. Such has teen the view of the British Govern-
ment, and we are glad to learn that the United States so far
acquiesce iu this opinion that it has been agreed not to
press the question of the recognition of the Confederacy.
The Government of the United States maintains its opinion
that it was treated with discourtesy and injustice, and
we maintain the contrary. There the matter rests, the
correspondence is not withdrawn, but nothing more will
be urged on either side. Thus end the controversies which
grew out of the war, and we sincerely congratulate Lord
Stanley on the success with which he has dealt with them.
Although they might not have led to war, although Great
Britain is strong enough to maintain her own construction
of facts and law, yet it cannot be doubted that the injuries
inflicted through the alleged negligence of the British
Government had created a very biter feeling in America
which it would have been injudicious, as well as unfriendly,
to ignore. The late Government was, unfortunately, too
much concerned with the origin of the dispute, and had
used too decided a tone respecting it, to be able to carry
on negotiations with advantage. The present Foreign
Secretary has successfully availed himself of his more
fortunate position. Shortly after his accession to office
negotiations began on the subject, and, though these

were at first unable to overcome the obstacles whicl
rose on either side, yet the Minister has the satis-
faction of finding that his endeavours have at last
prevailed. Without making any concession which the
country might disapprove, he has taken these trouble-
some questions out of the sphere of debate, and engaged
both parties to consider them purely in their legal aspect.
Whether the American Government be right or wrong, it
will have justice done to it by competent judges, and will
be unable any longer to accuse us of denying its rights.
The second matter in dispute between the two Govern-
ments related to the denationalization of British emigrants
who might become citizens of the United States. In one
or two cases among the Irish trials there was just the
shadow of a ground for alleging that England tried and
punished men who had become American citizens for acts
done in America. The outcry on the subject has, how-
ever, died away since the real nature of the convictions
is understood. Yet the incidents have called attention
to the fact that the law of naturalization and allegi-
ance, as it prevails in this country, is antiquated, and
not in accordance with the requirements of a time when
great masses of people are transferring themselves
from one part of the globe and one political community to
another. We believe that a protocol has been signed
which will form the ba3is of more reasonable legislation.
There remains the San Juan dispute, which nine years
ago almost brought the distant forces of the two countries
into armed conflict. Our interest in so remote a part of
the world has much lessened since then, and we aro con-
scious that a time is approaching when all the rights and
duties connected with it will be transferred to the Confe-
deration which has been established under the supremacy
of the Crown, but with all except nominal independence.
Yet it was desirable to bring the dispute to a close, and
the means suggested seem fitting enough. It is, we be-
lieve, the suggestion of the United States Government
that the subject should be submitted to the arbitration of
the President of the Swiss Confederation. As the arbitra-
tor on the larger question is to be a King, we see no ob-
jection to accepting for the smaller a respectable Re-
publican magistrate, and shall be quite prepared to accept
his decision.

One or two inaccuracies have been attributed to
the above article. It is asserted that the Times is
incorrect in stating that the United States will not
press the question of the right of England to recog-
nize the Confederacy as belligerents, as the point
has not been given up at Washington, though the
American Minister has withdrawn that question for
specific reference to arbitration. The arbitrator
will have the whole correspondence between the
Governments submitted to him, and on that he will
decide. The Times has narrowed the arbitrator to
a European sovereign, but that is by no means the
case, as the words are, some sovereign or head of a
friendly State, in proof of which we quote Art. 4 of
the Treaty, which was signed last Wednesday :
"The Commissioners shall have power to adjudicate
upon the class of claims referred to i❑ the official
correspondence between the two Governments as
the Alabama claims, but before any of such claims
are taken into consideration by them, the two high
contracting parties shall fix upon some sovereign or
head of a friendly State as an arbitrator in respect
of such claims, to whom such class of claims shall
be referred, in case the Commissioners shall be un-
able to come to an unanimous decision upon the

same."

REPIZESEN7 A 77 ON OF MID OLE=
-

Mr. Labouchere addressed two meeting of elec-
tors,t,
one at Edgware and the other at Finchley
The meeting at the latter place was held at the.
Park-road Hotel, and was largely attended. The
Rev. T. Hill took the chair.

Mr. LABOUCITERE, who was loudly cheered, said
there was no measure for which he should vote with
a stronger conviction that he was doing right than
Mr. Gladstone's proposal to disestablish the Irish
Church. It was a measure which would be an act
of justice to Ireland, an advantage to the whole
empire, and a benefit to the Protestant religion.
(Cheers.) The State had no right to impose upon
a people a religion in which that people did not be-
lieve ; and though he did not contend that disaffec-
tion in Ireland, which was England's chief weak-
ness, would cease when the Church was diestab-
lished, yet he held with Mr. Fox where there was
disaffection you must remove the grievance, and
the disaffection will cease. (Cheers.) With re-
gard to the disposition of the money now enjoyed
by the Irish Church, he asked that before he was
called on to agree with, or differ from, the policy of
a pArty, that party should state what its policy was.
So far Mr. Gladstone had stated his policy, ani Mr.
Disraeli had not ; and he agreed with the policy of
Mr. Gladstone. (Cheers.) Clergymen who cried
out against that policy seemed to forget that they
were the clergy of the whole empire. They-would
do well to look at the faults of the Church of Eng-
land, and remove the causes which were sending
perverts to Rome perpetually. (Cheers;) The
title of the Established Church to exist in England
was the will of the majority—(cheers)—and if the
Irish Church had any such title it would not be in-
terfered with. (Hear, hear.) Referring to the
question of economy, he contended the Conservative
Government was more expensive than the Liberal
Government. He called attention to the fact that
28,000 men were kept in Ireland to repress disaffec-
tion ; and he said, if the country followed Mr.
Gladstone's policy, they would remove the disaffec-
tion, and it would be no longer necessary to
keep such an army there, or to spend the money
the Government was now expending upon the
army so maintained. (Hear, hear.) He objected
to the whole system of finance now existing ; and
he advocated the proposal of Mr. Bright, which
was once brought before the House of Commons by
Mr. White, the member for Brighton, that ques-
tions of expenditure and the estimates should be
submitted. to a select committee of the house. (Hear,
hear.) He was in favour of compulsory education
as an economical measure, which would save ex-
penditure in workhouses and gaols. (Cheers.) He
spoke in favour of Mr. Locke King's measure, in
reference to the disposal of the real property of in.
testates, and of the ballot. He thought the ballot
an absolute necessity, though Liberals differed on
the subject, and even Mr. Mill was opposed to it.
He was sorry Mr. Mill had lost his seat for West.
minster, because he was very much of the opinion
of a working man he had heard say in front of the
hustings at Westminster, "All the Smiths in the
world don't know as much in their whole bodies as
Mill knows in his little finger." (Laughter and
cheers.) There was a good deal of intimidation even
in Middlesex; and he preferred that a man should
vote secretly, in accordance with his own opi-
nions, rather than publicly in accordance with
other people's opinions. (Loud cheers.) He was in
favour of the equalisation of poor rates—(loud
cheers)—and, with regard to Reform, he thought
that the redistribution of seats must go much far-.
ther—(hear, hear)—and that the personal payment
of rates must be done away with. (Loud cheers.)
He reminded the meeting that all that was
left of the Reform Bill as it was brought in by Mr.
Disraeli was the simple word " Whereas—(loud
laughter)—as Mr. Childers had told the country
already. He thought Middlesex wanted a change
in its system of magistracy. (Cheers) The deci-
sions of the unpaid magistrates (who in Middlesex
were a mere nest of malignant Tories) were not
satisfactory, and their system of licensing was a
system of favouritism. (Loud laughter ar d cheers.)
The police system of the county called for much
improvement, as he pointed out in detail. (Cheers.)
In answer to questions, he said he thought the whole
question of police management ought to be brought
before a committee of the House of Commons. He
would not advocate a reference of the licenses of
beerhouses to the unpaid magistracy, and he was
not in favour of the Permissive Bill. (Hear.)
Mr. JAQUES proposed, and Mr. ROBERTSON se-
conled, a vote of confidence in Mr. Labouchere ;
and the resolution was carried with one dissentient.
Mr. LXBOUCIIERE, in reply, referred to the pro-
posal of the Conservatives to put up Sir John Ka:s-
lake as the second Conservative candidate for the
county. (Laughter.) lie had no objection to a
fair stand-up fight between the two parties ; but it
was monstrous that the Carlton Club should look
on Middlesex as thongh it were a nice little rotten
borough which would return any law officer who
had lost his seat elsewhere—(hear, hear)—espe-
cially in the present case, when it would not matter
much to Mr. Disraeli if, for the rest of his term
of office, he should be without law officers in
the House of Commons. (Loud laughter and
cheers;)
The candidate answered some other questions ;
and a vote of thanks to the chairman brought the

['meeting to a close. After the meeting it was ex-
plained by a member of the local committee that
arrangements had been made by which the cen-
tral committee would be able to secure the con-
veyance to the poll of voters communicating with
them.

Lord George Hamilton addressed a meeting of
his friends and supporters at Mr. Bird's Room,
Crouch-end, Hornsey, yesterday, at 5 o'clock.
Mr. Wm. BIRD presided, and expressed a bop°
that the chivalry which his lordship had displayed
in coming forward to contest a county which had
been so long misrepresented in Parliament would
gain him a host of friends, and that his youth and
determination would disarm all his enemies.

L'rd GEORGE HAMILTON explained the reasons
which had induced him to present himself before the
electors, and said he would not have ventured to
assume the position of a candidate for the repre-
sentation of such a constituency, had he not been
assured that unless he came forward no one else
would. He then adverted to the present crisis,
and said he objected both to the manner in which
Mr. Gladstone's proposition with regard to the
Irish Church had been submitted to the House of
Commons, and to the principles it embodied. Ile
maintained that he was fully justified in using the
word "abruptly" in the paragraph of his address
describing the introduction of the resolutions, and
denied that the threatened action of the Opposition
could be fairly said to apply only to the Irish Church,
because, until the Act of Union was repealed, the
Church of England and Ireland was indissoluble.
(Applause.) Endowments had been enjoyed by
the Protestants in Ireland for three hundred years,
and they were secured by the Act of Union, the
Act of Settlement, and the Coronation Oath-
The Protestants of Ireland had never done anr
thing to forfeit these endowments. It would
be manifestly unjust to suddenly deprive them
of what they had enjoyed so long ; and fur-
ther, if the proposition were carried out, it
would materially affect the rights of property,
But, besides the plea of justice which was urged
in defence of this attack upon the Church, there
was the other argument of conciliation. But he
contended that no one had a right to say that the
Roman Catholic laity of Ireland felt very strongly
on this question. (Hear, hear.) Ile admitted that
the Roman Catholic hierarchy—the priests—did
feel strongly in the matter ; but they had an equal
hate to the Church in England, and the overthroW
of the Irish Church would not content them. (AP-
plause.) Was Rome ever yet content with religions
equality ? (Hear, hear.) What she required wag
supremacy, and therefore this measure would only
tend to give political power and aggrandisement to
the Church of Rome. (Applause.) The real ques-
tion to be considered was that cf the land tenure'
(hear, hear)—and it was a pity that the very geed
measure brought into Parliament to amend the 10
was " squashed "by the Opposition. (Hear, bear,
and laughter.) It was of material importance that
the present pernicious system of agitation in. Ire-
land, coeducted by interested men, should cease:
for, so long as it continued, men would not invest
money in improvements ; and until the country Was
more settled and became richer, emigration, whieb
was draining the land of its best population, must
continue. (Applause.) If people could be induced
to turn their attention t) the real wants of Ireland'
he would feel that happier days were in store for
that country, and that she might yet become the
home of a contented people. Speaking of public
expenditure, his lordship said he would not deaf
that the Government had exceeded the estimates;
but that was the fault of those who had built forts
without supplying them with guns. (Hear, hear;
and laughter.) He did not view with favour th
proposal of compulsory education. (Hear, bear
To the poor man it was not merely a question et
whether he wished his child to be educated, bite
also of whether he could afford to dispense with di
money which the child might earn. (Hear, hear.)
Bat he would support any measure to give addi-
tional grants to aid the voluntary system. (AP;
plause.) He considered that the amendment e
the poor law effected by Mr. Hardy was a stop 53
the right direction ; and, although he knew bet
differed from some of his supporters, he could ne
think that the present system of tlocal taxation 53
the metropolis was right. In the Eastern parishes
it often happened that a large number of workine3
were thrown out of work, and then the rest of the
inhabitants, who from the very same causes which
had deprived the others Qf employment were
pro-
bably working at reduced wages, had to suPP° t
them ; while in the next parish, or the next hlls
one, inhabited by well-to-do-people, the rat%
were very low. (Hear, hear.) Therefore be
should approve of any measure which would tell
to a more equal levying of rates.—(APPlans°
and a Voice—" Equalisation, sir." Laughter;)
The present Government had conscientionev
endeavoured to do 'their duty to the country
Some persons said they had not passed the Refer
Bill ; but, anyhow, they assisted to pass it---(1;
plause and laughter)—and they had done more
ameliorate the condition of the poor than had beef
accomplished in the previous thirty years. (AP;
plause.) The present Government inherited it
legacy in the shape of the Abyssinian war ; bto
was turned, as he dared to say it would be---(11 it
no)—he could not tell—(laughter)--the legal of
would leave would be the amicable adjustmer!!
the Alabama claims. (Cheers.) [A Voice :
about the ballot?] (Laughter.) He did not ar
prove of the ballot-box being introduced in I;
land. It was contrary to the nature of Engbetr.
men to wish to use a public trust in a private r13,f4,0
ner. (Hear, hear.) The sole advantage of bm,
ballot was said to be that it would prevent bribed '
be
but anybody who had been in America—au ,tit
had spent some time there—would tell themt'ot
the system carried on there would astonish the 013 t
rea
corrupt borough in England. (Applause.) A g
victory had been achieved in Westminster, and 13
_ i 0
hoped they would achieve as great a victory

Middlesex. (Cheers.),l,
On the motion of Mr. T. SXITH, seconded -Y
ATTENBOROUGH, a resolution approving of the 106
didature of the noble lord was agreed to, and
meeting separated.
His Lordship addreasel a second meeting
• 11
Tottenham, and a third at Wood-green, later 10
evening.

p'llo/
ADVERTISEMENT.] -Holloway's Ointment and -
With the advent of the inclemencies of winter initu..Yol'
fictions will arise unless effective means for prevents", U+
checking their course be adopted. No lingering C°o '
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should ne permitted to continue a single day withsa' vbetl
sures being taken for their removal, more especially 00'
remedial means are safe, rapid, and effective_thesern
ties are displayed in a high degree by Holloway's Pr'3rryll
Mons. The ointment rubbed upon the skin draws 5-„01i5
blood from congested structures, and gives immedse 0 nod
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the circulation. This wholesome effect externallh 1'
by the alterative action of the pills internally, dig
danger from latent mischief.

Births. • Itior
BEARD —0 n the 19th inst., at Langdale-road, r,ec, oA
the wife of H. Gi.,odlake Beard, of the India Owe'
son. P3tl'

----
Pym—On the 17th inst., at 26, Phillimore-gardens' 0. .
slngton, the wife of Captain H. Pym, R.N., of a e°,l tl/'
RILEY—On the 18th inst., at Elm House, Winkfie. '
wife of Major Riley, of a daughter.
Marriages. ~ 1)11
D YER —Canit—On the 19th inst., it Christ ChliNl. 0,0
caster-gate, Frederick C. S. Dyer, Esq., late 01. g Ase"
Regt., third son of Sir Thomas yer, Bart., to xir csrf'
v
Margaret, only daughter of the late Sir Willi lu .
Knt., Chief Justice of Ceylon. °'-}I.
POTTER--RAIN— On the 17th inst , at Edinburgh, creelord
der Potter, of Upper Westbou. rne-terrace, fig titer
"
and Lloyd's, London, to Christian, youngest 014'
William Bain, Esq., banker.
Deaths. , cooo
CA.MERON —On the 17th inst., at Seymour-streeVP
naught-square, Major-General T. M. Cameral/ tf
Army. cheo9
CHAPMAN—On the 18th hist at Turner's-hill,
~
John* F. Chapman, Esq., aged toofe'
CHENEY -On the 17th inst at 93, Mount-street,
.1
I;.eir
nor-square, Mr. John Cheney, aged 76. e_ t ,
CHARETTIE —On the 18th inst., at 11, Hornton-5,,.
- ,
sington, Captain John Charettie, aged 81. virj tie
WITTEN —On the 18th inst., at Richmond, Jam
for nearly 40 years a member of the Stock'''
__......„y"

aged 62. - ----"'____---„c;0'
NDJA-11.:,
London : Printed and Published by WELLIA-gt. go ~ et
of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at Tait Strg 03.'''020.1t1
Strand, in the Precinct of the So voi, in t/16
Middlesex,—Friday, November 20, ld6B.