The Express.
London, England, 1866-08-18 00:00:00

CONTINENTAL POLITICS.

Glad tidings of peace and goodwill, says the
Times, reach us from all quarters. The Emperor Napo-
leon has no sooner reassured Count von Golta that the
friendly relations between France and Prussia shall in no
case be interrupted, than he follows up his pacific message
by an autograph letter to King Leopold of Belgium,
disclaiming all intention of annexing any part of Bel-
gian territory, and expressing his readiness to promote on
every occasion the interests of that kingdom and its dy-
nasty. Equally cordial are the greetings of the Em-
peror Alexander of Russia to King William of Prussia.
The principle of nationalities and that kings were made
for the people and not the people for kings, is pining
ground. Even the Czar of all the Russian will not stir a
finger to preserve his kinglet cousins in Germany. The
King of Hanover, the Elector of Hesse, and even the
Senate of Frankfort, stood in the way of the latent but
undeniable aspirations of Germany, and the bill that is to
abolish those sovereigns and that civic council was yester-
day laid before the Prussian Houses of Parliament by
Count Bismarck. Were all the rest of German royalty
to follow, the rinses could not find it in its heart to say
that German nationality had been bought at too dear a
price.
. . . .

Referring to the attempts of certain exalted ladies in
Berlin to arrest the national policy of Prussia, the Daily
News says that names dear to England are mentioned
among the leaders of this palace plot for thwarting the
national development of Germany, in order that the
heaven-born dynasty of the Pumpenknickela may not be
despoiled of their sovereign rights. If Hanover had not
taught us how easily German royalty can return to its old
form out of England, the Daily News could not believe
what it hears of the conspicuous part taken in these
transactions by a princess very near the throne, at the
impulse of affections which in the family circle are worthy
of all respect, but have no concern with national states-
manship.
The reassuring letter of the Emperor Napoleon to King
Leopold IL shows, says the Herald, that no scheme of an-
nexation, at all events, is contemplated in the direction of
Belgium. The countries which border on France need fea
no danger at the hands of her present ruler. Your French
liberal, however, evidently hankers after a large slice of
Germany, conceiving that it is the " manifest destiny "
of France to extend, and that this " extension " must be
made at the expense of the Teutonic population. We may
be glad that the destinies of France and the future of
Europe are not committed to the hands of such men as
Forcade.

The Telegraph anticipates the greatest benefit from the
assembling of the Prussian parliament. The new feeling
aroused in Germany will break up the thick crust of
apathy and indifference which had gathered on nations de-
serving of a better future, and must dispel the leaden
torpor under which public spirit was perishing, and the
light of freedom flickering to extinction. Revived liberty
and national progress throughout Northern Germany
must now mean their speedy extension to Southern Ger-
many, to Austria a little later, and, as the wave widens
with each succeeding year, by-and-by to Russia.