The Sun.
London, England, 1868-12-22 00:00:00

MR. LAYARD'S RETURN.

Mr. Layard was also returned without opposition for
Southwark. In thanking the electors he contended that the
present Ministry was the most democratic, and the House
of Commons of the present day the most democratic, and was
proud to acknowledge that years ago he had advocated
the claims of Mr. Bright to office, and now he was only
too happy to see that the right hon. gentleman was a mem-
ber of the present Government. Of this he was certain—
that Mr. Gladstone would carry out the ;great principles
he had already advocated, if allowed to do so by the
Tories. With regard to public expenditure, of one thing he
was certain that the expenditure of the War Office must be
decreased besides those of other departments. Reduction
of taxation must be the great aim of a Liberal Govern-
ment. And with regard to another question, viz., the ex-
penses of election, he could assure his supporters that a
measure would be introduced in Parliament respecting it.
With respect to the labouring classes, he was certain that
unless their dwellings were improved and made comfort-
able intemperance would not cease. Regarding the Eastern
question, which was one he took a great interest in, he
was decidedly in favour of non-intervention. Let Malio-
medans and Christians settle their own differences ' • do
not let us interfere. What he contended for was justice
for all classes. Let there be no religious distinction.
Let the Turks resist intervention by all means, as England
would resist improper interference with her power. In
answer to a question. the right hon. gentleman said he could
not say what was the intention of Mr. Gladstone with
regard to the appropriation of the revenues of the Irish
Church, except that they were not to be for religious pur-
poses.

SETTLE AT ONCE THE ALABAMA

CLAIMS.

(From the Anglo-American Times.)

Our Paris correspondent settles the Alabama
claims in the off-hand way usual with people who
have no responsibility—" Pay," or say "You won't."
Could we all thus manage our little difficulties
lawyers would have less to do, for the questions
would come to a sort of toss up. There are, how-
ever, very intricate points involved—of equity, of
precedent, as well as of international law. An
American correspondent of a London paper, under
the delusion held so generally in both countries,
alludes to theßritish claims outbalancing the Ame-
rican claims, and instead of the settlement being
likely to end in a transfer of gold from the British
to the Washington Treasury,John Bull's coffers may
be replenished at the expense of Uncle Sam. This
implies the delusion that either Treasury can be
benefited by the settlement ; the fact being exactly
the reverse, for whatever may be the gains of in-
dividuals and companies, all the money will go into
private pockets at the national expense. Out of the
taxes of the United States, British subjects will be
reimbursed for damages sustained through the ac-
tion of the fleets and armies of the United States, so
far as the Commission allows, and American citizens
will be reimbursed out of the British Treasury for
losses through privateers like the Alabama, which
can be shown to have been fitted out from British
ports owing to the negligence of the British Govern-
ment. It is possible, when the people on both sides
begin fully to realize that those will gain who have
profited most by the war, they will be the less eager
for this settlement. The more so, as we maintain
that the public have already paid. It will take a year's
hard work to adjudicate on the claims alone, which
our correspondent says " Pay,' or " Don't ;" and,
when they are settled, the most important precedent
of international law ever made will be established.
It is this principle which is the real matter of mo-
ment to both nations, more especially to Eng-
land. Pope says, " Fools rush in where angels fear
to tread ;" and in this Alabama case we actually
saw a nation rush exulting into an act which
was suicide to itself. There could not be a more
disastrous precedent against England than the pre-
cedent made by England in the case of the Alabama.
Richard Cobden, in the letter we publish to-day,
alludes to this ; but the marvel is that it was only
such men as he who saw it ; and even now English-
men generally are but beginning to be aware of the
necessity of obliterating, by ample restitution, a
precedent likely to be so disastrous to England.
Still it does not follow because there is more glass
in the house of the man who commenced throwing
stones that it would be wise in him whose house
has less glass to reject the other's overtures and
offers of payment, urging his loss as ample reason
for keeping up the practice. Indeed, this, as an
act of madness, would be a fit sequel to the estab-
lishment of the precedent itself. Mr Reverdy John-
son, in his speech at the anniversary dinner of the
French Hospital and Dispensary, in effect observed.
—many newspapers here and in America thought
they had discovered some insuperable impediment
to a settlement upon fair, just, and honourable
terms. But it was all, thank God! a delusion. Al-
though his friend Lord Stanley and himself had not
been reticent in relation to their negotiations, they
had not told everything, and the art of guessing had
not been very successfully resorted to. Not desir-
ing to lead astray, he might be pardonedfor adding
—without stating what was its nature, or what
impediment there was, if any—that with the suc-
cessor of Lord Stanley, who shared in the spirit
of his predecessor—a spirit which animated himself
—there was not the most distant expectation, and
he hoped that no one would endeavour by a report
to the contrary to cause a fall of five per cent. in
either English or American Consols—there was not
the most remote possibility that the friendship be-
tween the two countries would not be fixed upon a
firm and enduring basis. He would therefore warn
other nations—for whom his heart beat as warmly
as it did for England—not to be guilty of the folly of
entering into a contest with England and America."
If the check does come it will be on the other side,
not on this, when Columbia will cap Britannia's
folly. Notwithstanding the censure passed on the
American Minister for misrepresenting American
feeling towards England, we do not hesitate to as-
sert, and as strongly as possible, that there has been
a general response throughout America to the Eng-
lish overtures of friendship. This reactionary fit
is but the receding wave of an incoming tide, and
although Mr. Johnson may be now abused, perhaps
even recalled, while we do not believe it, yet he is
but in advance of his country's sentiment. If
these people who assume to represent the working
men of London had been trying to do something
to cause a reaction in his Excellency's favour, they
could not have hit on a better expedient than that
they have devised ; and if the Times were really his
friend, it would begin to abuse him. Then there
would be seen a sudden change of front in America,
for there is an instinctive dread in the nation of
any American who has the misfortune to receive
the approbation of the Times. Mr. Coningsby's
letter and his Excellency's reply have been pub-

lished, and furnished matter for comment to nearly
all the daily papers, but we have nothing to add to
what we last week said in condemnation of the ex-
traordinary course pursued by the self-styled repre-
sentatives of the London working men. There is,
however, a little obscurity noticed by the Star in
Mr, Johnson's statement of his introduction to Mr.
Laird. Was it Mr. Laird himself who requested
the introduction, or was it Mr. Roebuck to whose
entreaties Mr. Johnson yielded? The Minister's
words, in his reply, are—" The allegations which
you mention as having been made in the United
States in regard to myself arose from my having
sat at the banquet given to me in Sheffield with
Mr. Roebuck, then a member of Parliament and
au invited guest, and for having consented at
his request to be introduced to Mr. Laird, a
member of the past and the present Parliament,
at a banquet given to me at Liverpool, who
was also au invited guest, and for taking when
he offered it, his hand, and because of my continu-
ing efforts to cultivate friendly feelings between
the people of this country and my own." This
leaves us under the impression that Mr. Johnson
consented to the introduction at the request of Mr.
Laird ; although the version of the story given in
America was that Mr. Laird hung back, sensible of
the awkwardness of his position, and evidently feel-
ing it painfully, when Mr. Johnson voluntarily
came forward and proffered his hand iu a manner
so cordial as to set him at once at ease. There is
nothing absolutely contradictory in the two stories,
for Mr. Johnson might have been acting on the
previously conveyed request of Mr. Laird, and on
the fixed idea in his mind of a general reconcilia-
tion—a reconciliation in rapid progress between the
North and South. There has been a stand-up
fight ; the North won, and terribly punished the
enemy while suffering severely herself ; the fight is
over, the questions raised are all but settled, and
the new historical phase has been entered. Mr.
Johnson's ideas, and our own are identical, which
may be simply interpreted in the motto of the Pre-
sident Elect, " Let us have Peace." We have
had wrangling enough, fighting in the field, fight-
ing in the forum, fighting in the Cabinet, and fight-
ing in the Press—aye, even fighting in the pulpit.
We are weary of the folly, yet we cannot allow an
Ambassador of peace to settle his mission without
having a shy at him, and the only argument
that those can use who desire to check the
reviving spirit of friendship is, that England
behaved maliciously and foolishly towards the
United States, but they back from the logical
conclusion of their own argument, which is—that
therefore the United States should behave mali-
ciously and foolishly towards England, not doing
evil that good may come of it, but evil that evil
may be the fruit. This is the most appropriate
season for forgiveness, and let America—if she de-
sires to do a great act, and one worthy of what
she claims to be as,the most Christian, the most in-
tellectual, the freest, and best educated among na-
tions—show that' she is beyond dispute the most
magnanimous, for she has unquestionably a deep
injury to forgive, which, if she forgives will be what
no nation has ever done before. Noblesse oblige
is true of all communities as well as of individuals,
for the man who professes high honour and purity
cannot maintain that character while indulging
in rowdyism, and he is tried occasionally by hard
tests; so it is with nations, for we cannot assume
the magnanimous and the grand without something
magnanimous and grand in our actions. That
nations can act like vicious fools is alas, too evi-
dent ; let the Union show that they can also act
with a wise conciliation, forbearance, and forgive-
ness.

CONGRESS ON REPUDIATION.

A cable telegram from Washington, on the 4th
December, says :—" The House of Representatives
passed to-day, by 154 votes against 6, a resolution
declaring all forms of repudiation of the national
indebtedness odious to the American people, whose
Representatives will not offer to the national credi-
tors a less amount than the Government has con-
tracted to pay." Although gratifying, this sort of
thing does not satisfy the public. The notion that
the United States will in same shape or another
eventually evade the rigid fulfilment of the contract
with the bondholders, has been so fostered by the
enemies of the national credit, and is so deeply im-
planted generally, that it cannot be eradicated ex-
cept by strong and direct means. The weight at-
tached to these resolutions is seen in the market
price, which in no degree responds. 'What does the
house mean by repudiation ? Webster (unabridged)
thus defines repudiate—" To cast off and disavow ;
to have nothing to do with ; to renounce ; to re-
ject." Although the term is, as we have often said
frequently applied, it is never in its strict sense
really meant ; for no one ever supposed that the
United States intended to cast off and disavow all
liability for the money lent the Government to sup-
press the rebellion. Nor do those who have some
knowledge of the subject believe that Americans will
offer to the national creditors a less amount than
the Government has contracted to pay, although
they may hold that greenbacks will be offered
where gold is not specified. The essence of the
subject is, What was it the Government contracted
to pay when they issued Five-twenty Bonds? It is
possible that the law, if appealed to, will answer,
Greenbacks ! in which case the Representatives will
comply with the resolution, and not offer the credi-
tors a less amount than that for which they are le-
gally liable. If the present House means to interprete
the contract in favour of a gold redemption, then
it ought to say so, for nothing less will now have
any effect. The resolution is, however, valuable
as an index of feeling in the United States, and is
singularly opposed to the statement of that most
unfortunate man who is always predicting and
always wrong, the Philadelphia correspondent of
the London Times. Our readers may remember
that he carefully analayzed the Congress elect, as
he carefully surveyed the field prior to the Presi-
dential Election, concluding in the former case that
by a considerable majority the House would sup-
port greenback redemption, and in the latter case
that the nation would elect SEYMOUR. Now, one
of the first votes taken is given in the above tele-
gram, and though the correspondent would say
that he wrote of the incoming not the outgoing
House, yet a glance at the list we published Dec.
5 of the old and new members will show their
identity ; at least half of the former Representa-
tives being re-elected. These, too, are the best
men ; those of greatest influence, who have deve-
loped the most talents, and possess the highest de-
bating qualifications. It is reasonable to conclude
that the feeling of the incoming House will be
shown pretty distinctly by a body so constituted,
and those who suppose that this vote is only an
expression of opinion of a Parliament at its last
gasp know little of Congress—for in reality it in-
dicates correctly what the 41st Congress will do
when it assembles. Englishmen are under a delu-
sion who think that the Representatives now oc-
cupy a somewhat similar position to that held by
ANDREW JOHNSON. So far they do that the present
House will not outlive his Presidential term, but
it will be succeeded by a Republican Assembly,
composed mainly of the same members, not men
similar to, but the identical persons. if ANDREW
JOHNSON walked out of the back door of the White
House on the 4th of next March, and came in by
the front door, his case would not then greatly
differ ; but as ANDREW JOHNSON disappears into the
backwoods of Tennessee to be lost in a cloud of
obscurity, while many of those who cast their votes
for or against the resolution we now discuss will be
debating measures as national legislators, the case
widely differs. Of course to us this resolution is
0-ratifying, and we only find fault with it for not
clearly expressing how the payment is to be made ;
setting that question at rest, beyond the power of
the enemies of the nation to cast doubts thereon.
But we cannot expect such a sudden jump, and we
rejoice at the wisdom displayed in thus giving a
slap on the face to detractors, and those, such as the
Philadelphia correspondent of the Times, who have
lost no opportunity of endeavouring to injure the
credit of the United States. While anything
against that credit furnishes a text for a hundred
leading articles in the English Press, no one adverts
to the resolution telegraphed. But, strange as it
may appear, the men who habitually detract from

4 N,
everything American, and do all they can against,
the weakest point, are American correspondents of
Loudon papers—not Englishmen, but Americans'
The weakest point—the more shame to the United
States —is the national credit. Credit is a weak
point with all who profess to have any, for it i 3
easy to shoot shafts over a wall and assert the kil-
ling of the game which no one can see,
there cannot be attack in reply, and au idle
shot may explode a magazine ; but the poo
of the shame is that the United States is plainly t°
the eyes of all the one nation of •the world 10°,
from a material stand-point is above suspicion 01'
being able to meet all liabilities ; yet who has 50
played with her great gifts that she stands belt)/
the credit leavel of the South American Republic,'
Yesterday, after the above had been written, we
7 ivies published an article on this te'egratn. TUe
subject would have been difficult to handle by 3
paper less practised in swinging round the circle/
as the resolution is in ludicrous contrast to tb°,
statements of the Philadelphia Correspondent aniii
in its own leaders. The Times asserts that
the American correspondence of all the Britist
press for many months past has been under a vast
common delusion;" but if so, the more credit to IA
for our readers, at least, know, that that " delue,
11
sion" found no place in our columns. Indeed,
have done all we could to expose the errors of th;
Philadelphia Correspondent, and to show up his Pr-
edictions by bringing them to the test of events.
Often we have been impressed with the convictiovl
so contrary to the general sentiment were his viewe
s'
that he wrote for the purpose of influencing tij:
market; and if we are harsh in even hinting at th
the truth is undeniable that he unscrupulously use
the greatest organ of opinion in the world to dis'
seminate false notions about America. To give an ;lit;
stance. When the Erie Directors operated on G°.'
as elsewhere described in this paper, they sent,the prie
.
up at abound, and thishappened just after GRASTs
~,
election. Pointed remark was made to the rise ie tl;
correspondent's letter, of the significance of wit
he left his readers to judge,insinuating that the r'
was wholly owing to the insecurity caused by the
Republican triumphs, while he knew that the elec;
tion of GRANT had strengthened every investinei3
in the United States, and had given firmnessto
the tone of every market North and South, althotT;
the operations of a clique of speculators had, fnj
the moment, deranged values. As we anticipated
the Times takes hold of the ambiguity of the resot
lution, as well as of the fact that the prantirt,
question cannot be dealt with by this House, age to
ing" that whatever this Congress may have to sai,,
it is a declamatory resolution, and nothing Ore.o
Our readers will see the necessity for the answerthe
have already given. There are also remarks in
article far from the truth. " All sorts of dePO,
ij
tures from the letter or from the spirit of the
have been freely ventilated, not only without m
;
of credit to the speaker, but even with P°ilsert
cal advantage." Now we deny this, and arch
the reverse to have been the case, of If l,
Mr. PENDLETON is the most conspicuous exaoP
who, had it not been for his financial berfsbe
would have been the Presidential Nominee of ties,
Democratic party. BUTLER passed through 3 0 tdB
ing ordeal even to his face of brass on the pot
account, and he would have been defeated had he
a'•
been unequalled morally in " pluck," and with 3n oto
lity which makes him lead wherever thrown• ri4
truth is, although the Times cannot see it—
erica
this surprising in writers who do not make Acnitovo
a special study—that the leaders of the nation they
decided on returning to specie payment, allu.tv Of
are not such fools as to neglect this opportunl deo
strengthening the national credit. Specie parn,tiog
settle all greenback redemption theories, Pn' de.
such questions out of court, as the Plaintiff ancl.,ao
fendant are then agreed. It is, in fact, the
Unit
solution ; and if some ill-advised men in the nre.
States have used greenbacks as a handle to ue4 to
ciate the national credit, surely the others oul,uiya
use the intended return to hard money to neutral
the effect.—Anglo-American limes.

goit,'
CHRISTMAS NOVELTIES.—The novelties p.rA, oro
for the festive season by Mr. Rimmel of the Straeu
this year the most tasteful and ingenious that have °of
been presented to the public. They take every Variet'e,
pt
form, many of them will produce the greatest merrerr;
and at the same time add a new pleasure at every Isteel
party at which they may be introduced. Amongst 0. 0,
will be found bouquets of the most charming deseriPti,cp.
each charged with a miniature pet fume fountain; others cOO
tain surprise fans of great beauty ; and as for the ornatrwa ip
for the fitting out Christmas trees they are to be fc)si'.D,re
endless variety. All the characters of the pantoralltl;l33
pressed into the service, and here we find Harlequhl,i,eo
Clown transformed into gardeners, with their e ,r 0
filled with the most delicious perfume. Christmas 115534.013,
abound, and as for comic heads, ladies' cigars, 'op
fancy boxes, and baskets they are in endless pofs pro'
The articles for presentation are really superb and :14)053
priate, and amongst the more valuable is the teag'eicol
tree, which is really a splendid present. TIT raitioo,
scent casket is a very ingenious and elegant corehiLl;,,,lo
and as it can be had for one guinea, its sale will ue
be very large. The perfumed satin glove and handi"e.r:telf
sachets are of ,exquisite workmanship, and the dellct air
ornamented fans are equally beautiful. The bah's, Den'play is open for public inspection, and a greater tre;'bso
not be given to the young folk home for the holidays .410 f
visit to Rimmel's establishment, which, at this partitiM
season of the year is positively overflowing with gr
of the most exquisite taste and sweetness. f
At a meeting of the Council and ClergY ° 01
London Diocesan Home, held this day (Dec. 21° og
Willis's Rooms, the Archbishop (elect) of Canterbtir?.o
00
presented with two addresses, both beautifully
sil'
on vellum, lined and covered with the richest iopt6
bound in antique Russia leather, with massive gilt cop o!
The one was lettered, "Address to the Lord Dis,ll„oe.
London by the Council of the London Diocesan 'flaos' ate
The other address was accompanied by a very 15 or
patent A B C despatch box, in rod Russia leather/ to of
mented with gold lines, massive gilt handle in COIs),
top, surmounted with the monogram A. G. T.
tp
the handle the archiepiscopal mitre ; below* 'Tite
raised Gothic letters, "Archbishop of Canterbury: ooth
interior is fitted with every dainty device, the instrhwoor
lock, hinges, &e., being all ablaze with gold. On Oa,
mental gold plate is inscribed—" Presented to his I,OV
the Archbishop of Canterbury, by the Clergy of theitivi
don Diocesan Home." Both the illuminating and :1 'ere
of the addresses, and the manufacture of the I)?7,teir
executed by Messrs. Jenner and linewstub, of St.
0146
street.
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I
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