The Express.
London, England, 1867-09-21 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, SATURDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 21, 1867.

vereiu. Nor yet does the Prussian states-
man affect to claim the credit of extraordinary
self-denial for this judicious and moderate
conduct. He is anxious not to be misunderstood

in this respect. Whilst the North German Con-
federation, he declares, " will eagerly co-operate
" with the Southern Governments in the entice-
" your to extend and consolidate the national
" relations between the North and South of Ger-
" many," "the task of determining the limits
"of this mutual approach " will be left to the
free decision of the South. And in the existing
treaties of alliance and commercial conventions
between the North and South he finds sufficient
guarantees for the " independent development of
" the national interests of the German people."
Whatever may be the defects or the excesses of
Count BISMARCK'S domestic administration, it
seems impossible to accuse his foreign policy,
since the battle of Sadowa, of ambiguity or insin-
cerity. His course is straight and clear ; his aim
is national union ; nothing more and nothing less.
Unroofing but unhasting to this end he
marches on. Is it possible to doubt that he has
all Germany at his back ? Observe tho recent
debate on the address in the Baden Chamber of
Deputies. The representatives of that fortunate
little State are not blind to the inconveniences of
absorption in Prussian supremacy. They aro far
from admiring Count BISMARCK'S habit of dis-
pensing with a budget, or his mode of dealing with
the annexed provinces ; they desire more
liberty in the Federal constitution of North
Germany. But they perceive also that Prus-
sia is threatened by the restless jealousy of •
foreign Power which was always the enemy of
German unity, and, therefor*, they declare that
" the union of North and South Germany is corn-
" mended alike by duty and honour ;" that
" only children can prefer a Southern Con-
" federation," and "only rascals recommend an
" alliance with the foreigner ; " and that " those
" who desire the greatness of Germany are bound
" to serve under the Prussian flag." The language
of Count BISMARCK'S Circular Note seems tame
enough in comparison with these speeches of the
Baden deputies ; but, like the speech of the King
of Patnens. to the North German Parliament, its
reserve is the eloquence of an unshaken purpose,
and its calmness is the confidence in a certain
destiny. Who shall gainsay it T Certainly not
France, the typo of a perfect national unity, cm-
solidated not by domestic annexations and
alliances, but by foreign conquests ; the
champion of the rights of nations. Put
M. DE MOUSTIER in the place of Count
BISMARCK, and Paris in the place of Berlin, and
what would be the language and the policy of
the Foreign Minister of France ? We heartily
concur with the Liberti and the Debats in recom-
mending tho golden rule, "Do unto others as
" ye would that they should do unto you," to
French statesmanship at this juncture. It is the
only rule of international peace.

OUR CONTEMPORARIES.
(THIS DAY.)

The loss of Sir Frederick Bruce is an especial
misfortune, the Times observes, at a time when negotia-
tions of the utmost intricacy and delicacy are pending
with a government which is not always disposed to ap-
proach Great Britain in a spirit of generosity and for-
bearance. Seldom has a citizen of another country visited
the United States who possessed so keen an insight into
the political working of the great republic, and et the
sane time ingratiated himself so thoroughly with every
American who approached him. The Times divulges no
secret in stating that it was in accordance with the
late minister's repeated advice and exhortations that
• wise overture towards a settlement of the Ala-
bama claims was made by the present government.
The office is one of the most onerous and perplexing in the
gift of the government. Each occupant finds his labours
more exacting than those of his predecessor.
In another article the Times describes • new method of
persecution which the French government has adopted
towards the press in compelling it to publish • whole page
at • time of official communiqués. Thus to tamper with
public opinion, to tease and aggravate it, implies • mixture
of malice and pettishness, of vrilfulneu and pedantry,
which it seems natural to lay to the charge of official
subalterns.

The Daily New characterises Lord Dufferin's inaugural
address at the Social Science Congress as pure politics--as
the manifesto of a liberal Irish statesman upon the peat
political questions which divide parties in bis country and
ours. To turn the presidential chair into a party tribune
is an act of questionable propriety, being a mistake some-
what similar to that committed by the President of the
late Peace Congress at Geneva. The Daily Nan feels
bound by its very agreement with his lordship to enter a
protest against what be has done.

The Port, in dwelling upon Count Bismarck's circular,
asks if anyone can doubt from the events of the past
few months, from the tone of national feeling in Germany,
and from the addresses, such as those presented to the
Grind Duke of Baden by his Chambers, that the fusion of
Northern and Southern Germany is resolved upon, and
will be effected, even though at the cost of a European
war!

The Standard urgently counsels the French press to
leave German affairs alone. Neither North Germany nor
South Germany is at all anxious for any immediate ap-
proximation greater than that which exists already, and
Count Bismarck is both aware of the fact and thoroughly
well satisfied with it.