THE Grey River Argus. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1866.

Grey River Argus, Volume III, Issue 150, 27 December 1866, Page 2

T HE Grey River Argus. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1866.

TKiiEGiiAPino summaries, of foreign news are oiot the most satisfactory means of arriving at a correct estimate of the ''progress of events. The last summary of news by the Suez and Panama mails is a striking example of how much it is possible for a communication to give a- great deal of information without elucidating a sequence of events. The most startling items relate first to the prosecution, conviction, and sentence to death of Fenian leaders in Canada j but we learn nothing 'of the particular acts of which these men have been guilty, nor of the circumstances which led to their trial. We can only infer that they have been tried- for treason, .and that the " strong feeling spoken of as existing in the United State* on the subject has sprung from the adherents of the Fenian cause thereWe are inclined to credit the telegram with regard to the non-fulfilment of the extreme .sentence. It would be extremely bad policy of the British to make martyrs of any Fenians to the extent of executing them. Much as their crime may deserve strong measures, it Is repugnant to humanity as well as to good policy that men engaged in ostensibly a national movement should forfeit their lives as ordinary criminals. The British Government h.us been hitherto too wary to afford the Irish revolutionists the opportunity of using themenioiT of executed leaders ;is a watch cry, ami we are satisfied they will not now depart from the policy so far followed. We can account for the I prev.i'eut incitement in America because the Irish are now a. very numerous class, i and their .support is assiduously courted by the various contending political part'es. Tiie state of Europe is pretty much the .same as when the previous mail left> witli the exception that the anomaly appears of a reported fiicmllv feeling between Austria and -Italy on the one ha ul and Prussia and Kussia on the other. Verily the |kaleiiloscope of European polities reveals some extraordinary changes. Prussia, ami Russia have been, on unfriendly terms ever since the Crimean war, although Prussia took no part in it, whilst Austria ami Italy have been sworn foes for a decade. But we can at least see the policy of Austria in conciliating Italy, anil we have little doubt that if the former power frankly yields to the force; of events with regard to her lvccnt Itnlian dependencies, she ami Italy may find it well to pull togetherThe Ilusso- Prussian alliance is however fraug'it with hidden dangers to the peacj of the world. Prussia is now pevlnvis the first military power in Europe, anil Russia is hurilly second to her. An alliance between these two means the union of two powerful military nations, each with ambitious views, and each favorable to the abolition of the Turkish kingdom. The reported ill state of Napoleon is a serious'' matter for France ami the world. What food for speculation, for secret revolution, and the projection of dynastic changes does it not contain ? Depend upon it the secret societies of France are busy now. Legitimist-si , Republicans^ and Imperialists will each be preparing themselves for the possi- j bilities which are likely to follow the i death of Napoleon should it occur soon. From Englaud, the news brings us word of the growth of the popular feeling for an extension of political rights. Mr Bright has plunged "in mediiis res," and frankly demands the abrogation of the rights hitherto enjoyed by tho privileged classes. The question of Refomi has now assumed a magnitude which nominisity can afford to neglect, and we are told that the tenure of tlu Derby Ministry depends on its bringing /orward an adequate measure of 'reform. America is in the throes of politic il excitement, and President Johnson | grows" daily more unpopular— fur no other reason than that his policy of reconstruction which he has ho faithfully followed is repugnant to the dominant Ivadical party. Danger and Avar loom ahead, and we should not be surprised to learn that the tocsin has again been sounded in the American States. Our cousins arc passing- through a severe ordeal; and we. can only hope 'that better influences Avill prevail, and the infliction of a second devastating civil wa- bo avoided. . The Mexican Empire is on the eve of collapse. It was only founded and maintained by. -Fi-erieh arms, and as these aro now withdrawn, the peopl<» proverbially revolutionary, appear to have united to drive out the Austrian Emperor. The position, of the Pope is not it satisfactory one. Badgered on

all .sides, deserted. by Napoleon, pressed ■by Victor linnianuel, and cajoled by Spain, the unlucky Pontiff docs not know how to turn. His Roman subjects arc the least favorably inclined towards him, and unless concessions are >niade at the Vatican, it i.s probable the Pope Avill be compelled to fulfil his threat of flying to another land. Those scourges, the cholera and the cattle plague, are said to have almost abated in England, a circumstance which, is probably largely due to the ■ preventive 'means employed. Cholera and other epidemics can be controlled by attention to sanitary measures — a matter, by the way, which is sadly neglected here. The other news, excepting the attempted assassination of the Emperor of Austria, is unimportant.