The Sun. — 1868-09-18 (London, England)

FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.).,  PARIS, THURSDAY, gepteintiejiTt • The speech of the King of Prussia at Kiel is natuial.-"ii the topic of the day here, but it would be a mere waste of spacf to repeat the expressions of opinion. The few words I spoken by King William may readily be construed either as a defiance or as a pardonable expression of pride, and the journals here accordingly interpret them according to their wishes. There is no deviation from the old tone. The independent papers all say that the King, whilst flourishing the sword, prognosticates peace, and the Constitutionnel remarks that the King said no more of his army and navy than any other monarch might have done. The Indipendance Beige gives perhaps the best summary of the whole matter. The words by which the King of Prussia declared his confidence in the maintenance of peace, expressed his real meaning. But, as is his custom, the bellicose monarch could not refrain from adding that the best security for peace was to be found in his brave army and navy. It is the addition of this flourish, which the Independence Beige thinks has nothing to do with the King's real sentiments, that has impregnated the whole speech with the smell of powder. The real significance of the two test elections, the Jura and the Var, may now be fairly estimated. The influence brought to bear in each case sufficiently proves that neither the return of M. Gravy for the Jura, nor the defeat of M. Dufaure in the Var, can be deemed very remarkable. M. Gravy had formerly administered the Jura department in a manner which had preserved for him a lively remembrance in the minds of the people. He had likewise relations in the district, and carried on a certain amount of business there. In short, it was only necessary to mention his name to the population. M. Dufaure, on the other hand, had appeared in the Var but twice in a public capacity. He is a man of high political character, known and respected by all who have any connection with political affairs ; but this is not enough for a country election. To be successful in the rural districts of France the candidate must be personally known. To ensure success the local committees ought to have frequently presented him to the electors, upon whom his simple manners, his good sense, and accomplished speaking must have produced an impression. But M. Dufaure accepted the candidature only at the end of August and did not arrive in the Var until the fifth of September. Then but ten days intervened before the period of inactivity which is prescribed by law to precede the voting. There was evidently no opportunity to counteract the desperate efforts of the Minister of the Interior. It is astonishing that M. Dufaure, under such circumstances, should have made such an excellent second. It is not at all surprising that he did not come in first. It is probable that if the local independents take their measures in time, they may carry this department at the next election. The statement that General Dix is about to retire from the American Embassy here is contradicted by some of the papers. The Marseilles strike has ended in a compromise. The masters have granted an increase of wages, and the workmen have withdrawn their other demands, which were calculated, in the opinion of the masters, to weaken their authority and infringe the right of property. The strike lasted ten days. A correspondent of the Independence Beige says he has received trustworthy information that in consequence of the agitation in several provinces of the Ottoman Empire, orders have been sent to the French Ambassador at Constantinople and to the commander of the French fleet in the Levant, to afford every assistance in upholding the authority of the Sultan and in guaranteeing the integrity of his empire. The same writer is responsible for the statement that the Chevalier Nigra, deeply discouraged by the relations between Italy and France, has finally demanded a change of residence. In all probability he will be appointed Italian Minister at London.  A great velocipede race is to take place on Sunday at the Hippodrome. A young man committed suicide yesterday by firing the contents of a cannon at his breast.  The Bourse has recovered itself materially.