The Express.
London, England, 1866-08-21 00:00:00

Tau tIoXritESS,

BENSON, J. W., by Special Appointment to
the Maus of Wale&

BENSON'S SILVER and ELECTRO-PLATE.
Prim Modal, MI

BENSON'S GOLD JEWELLERY, Novel
sad Artistic.

ON,Old Bond-street find Westbourne-grove:
eta= d
Taolory and City &ow Law Laos,
g'B mo Ladonata-hill.

MAPPE'I BROTHERS.—Established A. D.lBlO.

CIIMSTS of SILVERPLATE for the COLONIES,

CUTLERY and SILVER PLATE for
TIYILWISHING.

MAPPIN BROTHERS, LONDON-BRIDGE.

MAPPIN BROTHERS, 222, REGENT-
mum.

_T and G. SAMPSON, Tailors and Outfitters,
V • 1 and 2, Prtamonetrost, Letereterequare, W., keep as
esonamis Stook of BOY'S CLOTHING ready made.
Hors K rdekerboeker Salts
Mon and Dram Salts
Summer Overcoats lts. to 21.1.
Suitable for all times

GO AND SEE THE SHOW
NAo 128, Od TRousras in try shop window, and select
therefr Princes J. and G. SAMPSON'S, on end Outfitters,
1 and 2 street, Ineeesterequare, W.

A ITER WHAT I—After Mellon's Promenade
XII- concerts. =VANS' to sup. We shall garnet there.

Ille ei:oreoo.

TO CORILEOPONDINTS
mesadvertlmintended for "Tee &prow," London Ifvesdng
Paper,
be at the OSee, 10, louverteetreei, by Two
o'clock on the day of publication.

?ftPlc.Ma

Tian Emma, THE HUGUENOT CAPTAIN. Mom
and G. Honey Moss Neilson, August& Thcaisoa. and Mr&
Stirllug.—And QUIST LODGING&

lIILITANNIA.

Emote, JACK MINGO, FHE LONDON STRAW
BOY. Mr. Reynolds; Kr Yarnold. W. Jester:
Yr. F. Rains & NW Amy Rosalind: Mr. C. Brown; Mks Lydia
Latimer: Koster E. Sander—And DIOORNICEL

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
Trigg DAY —Morning, OIL 4 Afternoon. 10k. flier.
To.Moaaow—Morning, Ilk Ma Afternoon, Ilh. 4.

LONDON, TUESDAY, AUGUST 21.

Fr is not wonderful that the change that has
been wrought in the tone of foreign critics by the
moms of the Prussian arms should have given
rise to much misunderstanding. In England, at
all events, Count Bismaacsee policy was viewed,
before the war, with almost universal dissatisfac-
tion ; and it must be admitted that the revulsion
of feeling which has followed the result of the
conflict looks singularly like that worship of suc-
cess which delights in describing Paovimuscz, by a
species of political anthropomorphism, as invari-
ably taking the side of the strongest battalions. How,
it may be asked, does the fact that Count But-
luaus laid his plans astutely and counted their
cost accurately affect in the slightest degree the
character of the plans themselves ? In his own
country, indeed, rapacity may so far resemble
treason that when it prospers none dare call it
rapacity ; but the pen of an English journalist
need be fettered by no such restriction, and the
issue of the war can in no wise shift from the
shoulders of the Prussian statesman the responsi-
bility of originally provoking it. If you con-
deinned the attitude of Prussia three months
ago, why should you now urge her to per-
severe in the course upon which she has
entered ? If the sympathies of honest men
were on the aide of Austria all the
spring, what was there in the victory of
Sadowa to turn them into a different channel I I;
the mere evidence of superior military organiza-
tion and long and studious preparation for war is
sufficient to work such a revolution, why do you
not honestly confess that might is the sole standard
of right and failure the only inseparable charac-
teristic of crime t

We answer these inquiries by drawing a dis-
tinction between the position of affairs at the two
periods. We do not mean that the differerce
between right and wrong can ever be the creature
of circumstances, or that the verdict of history on
the part played by Prussia in the war of 1866
ought to be reversed by the knowledge that she
has played it to such good purpose. But the
function of a politician necessarily differs from the
function of a moralist. The former has in an
eminent manner to make the best of things. He
is constantly driven to admit that the course of
events has a certain wilfulness of its own which
compels recognition even where it cannot compel
approval. It is his wisdom to understand that
where the status quo has been definitely overthrown,
even by acts which he is forced to blame, it
by no means follows that an approximate
restoration of it is necessarily the beat thing that
can happen. The conditions of the problem have,
it may be, undergone an entire change, and the
old solution of it may have ceased to be legitimate
simply by ceasing to be possible. The question,
therefore, which a politician has to answer is not
whether he approves of the manner in which
things have come to their present state, but
what is the best direction in which they can be
impelled, circumstances being as they are. It is
in this aspect that we have endeavoured to regard
the part which Prussia has now to play in the re-
organisation of Germany. The view that we have
taken may, of course, be open to dispute ; all we
my is that the arguments on either side should be
drawn rather from the future than from the past.
There is nothing in its own nature to prevent the
former advocates of directly opposite theories from
accepting ours as the only one which is now
capable of being put in practice. In doing so,
they will seemingly be only following in
the steps of the Germans themselves.
Before the war began there wan, to all
appearance, a very general desire throughout
Germany that the " dualism " which had so long
paralysed the national forces should be put an
end to. Both in Germany and abroad there were
more schemes than one from the realization of
which such a result as this might be expected ;
and so long as these existed aide by side they
might reasonably have their several partisans. But
where are these schemes now ? What has become
of the dream of a revived empireunder the restored
predominance of Austria I What has become of
the vision of a strong Confederation, to be formed
by the fusion of all the minor States into a real
Third Power which might balance Austria and
Prussia in the Federal Councils t Events have
given the lie to both, and consequently the sup-
porters of each are now released from their alle-
giance, and free to seek in new combinations ti•e
ends which the old have no longer any power to
promote.
In the struggle between Count BISKARCY and
certain family influences which has just ended in
the triumph of the Minister, the true interests
alike of Prussia and of the States whose destiny
was in dispute pointed to the course that has
finally been pursued. It is wholly needle's
to argue the question as between annexation and
independence. The only choice that could Uwe
been submitted to Hanover or Hewn was between

annexation and military subject - If Coat
BISMARCK had been defeated, disposoella
sovereigns might have returned to their capitals
and have been there solemnly invested with the
insignia of Prussian viceroys. Their foreign re-
lations would have been dictated from Berlin ;

their military contingents would have swelled the
Prussian forces wheneverthe House of Hohenzollern
chose to take the field. In return for these sacrifices
some concessions would doubtless have been made
to the rehabilitated princes, and it is pretty obvious
that these could have tended but in one direct;on.
They would have been compensated for subjec-
tion abroad by a fresh lease of license at home ;
they would have been suffered to visit upon their
people the indignities which they must have put
up with from their master. No position can well
4)e less enviable than that of the subjects of a
dependent ally, and this is precisely the posi-
tion to which the success of the palace intrigue
would have reduced the people of the North
German States. Nor would such a conclusion
have been much less injurious to the Prussians ]
themselves. Hitherto Count BISMARCK has had
his own way alike in peace and in war, and the
additional strength which he will derive from the
military triumph of his policy will only make him
more absolute than before, unless the ranks of the
Liberal party are recruited by accessions from
without. The mere exercise of military control
over the smaller States would only serve to in-

crease the power of the Crown, without making
any corresponding addition to the power of the Par-
liament. In the creation of a strong and united
Germany, and the consequent merger of the
Prussian people in the larger nationality thus called
into existence, lies their best justification for the
past, and their best hope for the future ; and if in
the compassing this end they can End an ally in
Count BISMARCK, we strongly recommend them to
accept him. A short memory is sometimes among
the first virtues of a politician, and so long as the
interests of the Liberal party and the " Thorough"
Minister point in the same direction it can hardly
be wise in the former to reject such powerful aid.

. •
Oeteg rapidly paid off, w we are content simply 11,
pv the lateral* ours. Its it happens that iu the
Bided SipaiNi baxstiop *aunts to 111. Bin, sd. per
head, while we only pay at the rate of 22. 6s. 4d. This is a
startling difference, and the result of a deliberate policy.
The policy which rules this country is to shift and reduce
the taxes so that they may be yearly borne with greater
ease. But the policy of the government of the United
States is totally different. The fact is shortly this :
we care for ourselves and not for posterity, while
the American policy is to properly appreciate both.
After referring to the indebtedness of other States, the
Star observes that whatever of instruction there is in them
points to the conclusion that those nations which have re-
cognised the necessity of holding their resources well
together by as far as possible meeting from the current
revenue the meant expenditure, are those which are not
merely stronger for the time, but better able to face any
sudden trial into which they may be plunged.

,
I
2 SHE UpRESS, TUESDAY EVEN
,AL.,....-LI
1vy..., rapidly paid off, wtswe are content simply Is
BENSON, J. W., by Special Appointment to ' annexation and military subject - If Cos& '
KKR. the ?linos of Wales. psy the in ours. it happens that in tile
BISMARCK had been defeated, disPosselleit jaded eZterteltsaation, esmants to 114. Ha. sd. !sr
BENSON'S SILVER and ELECTRO-PLATE. sovereigns might have returned to their capitals
head, while we only pay at the rate of 22. 6s. 4d. This is a
Prim Medal, 193 t
—. startling difference, and the result of a deliberate policy.
BENSON'S GOLD JEWELLERY, Novel insignia of Prussian viceroys. Their foreign re- The policy which rules this counts", is to shift and reduce
and Artistic. lations would have been dictated from Berlin ; the taxes so that they may be yearly borne with greater 'p
BEN§ON,OId Bond-st t and Westbo e-grove: their military contingents would have swelled the ease. But the policy of the government. of the United. anal.,
States is totally different. The fact is shortly this . .„ ha'
eta= Tectory and City Blow goes" Prussian forces wheneverthe House of Hohenzollern
lin sod ee, Ludgatehill.we care for ourselves and not for posterity, while `"
After referring to the indebtedness of other States, the is en
I
whirl
i
merely
stronger
for
the
time,
but
better
able
to
face
any the I
cumay
and
snialvNie
mot Tic
for chase to the field' In return far
these sacrifice. he American policy is to properly appreciate both. King
MAPPDI BROTHERS. —Established a. D.lBlO. some concessions would doubtless have been made
I 1 llili •
1 (SHXBTSof to the rehabilitated princes, and it is pretty obvious
SILVERPLATE for theCOLONIES, that these could have tended but in ono direct'on. points to the
31[APPIN BROTHERS, LONDON-BRIDGE.Star observes that whatever of instruction there is in them Minn
conclusion that those nations which have re- Britii
They would have been compensated for subjec- cognised the necessity of holding their resources well
peoplej the indignities which they must have put
sudden tit*, into
which
they
may be
plunged. corer
of tb
t I ,
' I MAPPIN BROTHERS, 222, REGENT- 4ni less enviable than that of the subjects of a
ISTRaer. dependent ally, and this is precisely the posh-
and G. SAMPSON, Tailors and Outfitters, tiou to which the success of the palace intrigue OSBORNE, ADOCUST 20. Th
I 41 • i and z, rrtscesetreet,Leteseteremare, W., keep an would have reduced the people of the North The Queen walked in the grounds this morning that'
sacemoss Stook of kors CLOTHING ready made.
Boy's K nickerbocker Sults
Mon and Drew Suits
fkuniner Overeeen..,_
..__
..., _ Its. to 21a. Aomenlvne. Hitherto Count BISMARCK has had Messrs. London and Ryder have had the honour of sub- caps
. . .. ...__ ..