THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1881.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6190, 19 September 1881, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1881.

Of the .news brought by the mail steamer there is on this occasion little that has not been anticipated by cable, and little which gives fuller accounts of subjects of importance. Of the exceptions, the incidents connected' with the construction of the Panama Canal are one. The statement which had been given currency, evidently with the object of injuring the company, that disease amongst the workmen had brought the project to a standstill, is as untrue as it was certain to be. A considerable number of the men have succumbed to the malarious conditions of the atmosphere, but. the work is progressing, and arrangements are being made for the employing of men better able to resist the pestiferous exhalations of the isthmus than those previously engaged. The construction of the railway encountered precisely the same difficulty; a large number of labourers lost their lives, but the line was made, and the canal will be made if there be no financial difficulties, and the American Government do not interfere, and there is no prospect of either. Arrangements are being matured for the importation of_ 4800 labourers. To this colony the undertaking is one of paramount importance, and it is therefore satisfactory to be assured that the statement of a suspension of work is nothing more than a canard. By means of the canal we shall get the real direct steam service with England, as- distinguished from the chimerical project with which Mr. Macandrew has not succeeded in Parliament, and whether M. de Lesseps live or die, and let the difficulties to be overcome be what they may it will be made, and Auckland will enjoy one of the advantages belonging to its geographical position, the ambition of the South notwithstanding.

The threats made by the Fenians of the United States of having recourse to some of the devices of the Nihilists to terrorise England with regard to Irish affairs, appear to have but little significance, regarded by the light thrown on the matter by the American newspapers. The Fenian organisation failed some years ago by reason of the perfidy of some of its members and embezzlement of funds. The same influences are again at work. The Governments of England and America succeed in obtaining information by means of spies among the organisation, and some of its members are once again appropriating the funds to their personal objects. The story of the infernal machines has been made known, and the matter thus divested of much of its importance. It is said that, whilst there is a split in the ranks of the Fenians with regard to the employment of dynamite, the Irish Revolutionary Convention of Philadelphia has decided to compass the destruction of British merchant vessels. But it may be treated as an idle threat, designed to injure British commerce. The Irish party in the United States labour under great difficulties. They are regarded with increasing disfavour by the native Americans as an incessant cause of disturbance, and their present projects are either denounced or ridiculed. Irrespective of the fact that the American does not love the Irishman, the feeling of the country and of the Cabinet is eminently favourable to close and amicable relations with the parent country. The old jealousy has disappeared, and there is an ever-increasing conviction that the two great Englishspeaking nations should co-operate in all works of utility, and for the enforcement of all those broad views of personal and.national liberty, of which they are the foremost and only real exponents. Americans are not disposed to allow their country to be made the source of infamous attacks upon a friendly Power by those from whom their sv-ipathies have been alienated by trouble which they have themselves suffered from them. There was a time when the Irish faction had considerable power in the United States, but it is dwindling away, and its extinction is only a matter of time. The conduct of the British Government during the Confederate war, the payment of the Alabama claims, and the interest taken by the Queen and English statesmen in the affairs of America have created a bond of union which is always becoming stronger..

The references made in the English papers to the land question as regards England would be important if there was any certainty that Mr. Gladstone had determined to deal with the question of tenant rights and it is consistent wi.th what has fallen from his lips that he may contemplate legislation in this

direction-.-. K thfel'mbVement ia its favour ahouldldevelop sfcretigthihe Mil" probably promptly seize the ; oppor-' tunity. of setilingl'an important quea-. tion, but theYlanguage.he'ihas.used has rather indicated ha appreciation of its significance 'than"any 'intention' o£ taking immediate action. It is possible however,- that he may be coerced by ' circumstances. Once again the crops are likely to be a failure, and the resultant discontent of the tenants may assist to give sach potency to agitation as he may not be able to disregard. The possibility of the ill-feeling be-t-ween England and France, created bythe high-handed proceedings of the latter in Tunis, being intensified by the difficulty with regard to the rerision of the commercial treaties, appears likely to be avoided by the firm stand of theBritish Government having induced the_ French authorities to review their decision. In a modified form these treaties are likely to be renewed, and the important declaration of il. Gambetta in favour of free-trade will probably assist an amicable solution. M. Gambetta is France. Hecan bePressident whenever he chooses to be, and it -will be impossible for the French Government to disregard a pronunciamento which is so accordant with the wishes of the powerful commercial classes of England. With regard to Tunis Earl GranviUe is taking a very firm, if a very discreet course, and M. Gambetta wUI be only too anxious to placate him on this question by commercial concessions which would be received with satisfaction.