The Sun. — 1866-01-23 (London, England)

THE PREMIER'S SUBLIME SUPERCILIOUSNESS.— Lord Russell, says the Spectator, received a deputation from the Reform League and the working mon of the metropolis on the subject of the Reform Bill on Tuesday. Several working men spoke at length. He dismissed them with characteristic curtness--" I shall not be able, having an important engagement, to listen to you any longer." After a haughty compliment to the working men's speeches, " I have always been of opinion that great injustice has been done to the working men by attempting not only to depreciate their talents but their habits of life," of course he added, "It is impossible for me to agree with the sentiments that have been expressed." It would be his duty, ho said, to introduce a measure that would "improve the representation, and that would be likely to obtain the assent of Parliament,"—which has a sound rather ominous of a ricketty and sickly constitution for the measure itself. But this at least is stronger and important : " We will stand by the'measure, which we think is calculated for that purpose, and which we expect to carry, and wo shall not remain except we can." That is manly, but why does Lord John always feel so keenly that he is a superior order of being to the people for whom he fights? They are "at least vertebrated animals," and he spoke to the working men the other day as the late Mr. Justice Mauls .once accused the late Sir Crosswell Cresswell of speaking to the Bench—" like God Almighty to a black beetle."  I hoped that in this first international war your Excellency would impress on your subordinate that `a prisoner of war is a man and a Christian, and when surrendered no longer an enemy, and that the prisoners at least would be respected in their misfortune, and treated as generously as we treat those of the allies. But itis with profound regret that I have to abandon such hopes, in view of the atrocities committed with the unfortunate Paraguayans who have fallen into your power. Your Excellency has obliged the prisoners of Yatay and Uruguayana to take up arms against their country to swell your ranks, putting aside all hope of an exchange of prisoners, and at once cruelly immolating those who dared to refuse. Such as escaped so sad a fate have been either sent as slaves into Brazil or (some of white: skin) sent as presents and rare curiosities to people in Montevideo and Buenos Ayres. " This contempt not only for the usages of war, but for common humanity, this barbarous alternative between death and slavery, stand without example in history ; and it is to your Excellency, to the Emperor of Brazil, and to the Ruler of Montevideo must be ascribed the perpetrating such enormity. The Paraguayan Government by no act, either before or since thg war, has provoked such barbarity. The Argentine, Brazilian, and Montevidean citizens have been permitted to retire with their effects from our territory or remain, as they preferred. "My Government expected the usrges of war, although our treaty had expired, considering them of benefit to humanity and national honour, and never so far forgetful as to allow the tearing down of your flag or shooting your Excellency effigy (even though at war), much less murdering any stray I Argentinesor Brazilians in our encampment. Public opinion and history will severely judge such acts. The allied Powers have not waged war according to civilised usages, but with atrocities that will for ever brand them with infamy. " Such being the case, my position as General of the armies of this Republic obliges me to check such acts as far as possible. I therefore invite your Excellency, in the name of humanity and docorum, to abandon this barbarous method of war, to treat your Paraguayan captives as prisoners of war, and to prevent further atrocities. And I notify your Excellency that, in case you do not reply, or that the Paraguayan prisoners be kept in arms against their country, or that you hoist a Paraguayan flag inyour ranks, or commit any fresh enormity, I shall feel myself excused from any further consideration, and, however unwillingly, make all Argentines, Brazilians, and Mon tevideans that may now or hereafter be in my hands, answer with their lives and properties for a vigorous reprisal.  - " I will await your answer for 30 days; you can send it to Paso la Patria.  " May God preserve your Excellency for many years. " FRANcisco S.