The Express.
London, England, 1866-07-13 00:00:00

MB WAII.

In three distinct articles the Times, approach-
ing the subject from various sides, deals with the war on
the continent of Europe. Lord Stanley's address at
King's Lynn affords an opportunity for describing the
foreign policy of England. Our sympathy is declared to be
naturally and necessarily not with potentates or govern-
ments, but with peoples and races. We have no part
whatever in negotiations for ascendancy or precedence in
Germany or anywhere else. Should we live to see a
people invaded and overwhelmed against its will, and in
the face of a national resistance ; or should we see a really
popular monarchy subjected to these indignities, that at
least will be a new emergency, for it has not yet occurred,
and is not even threatened. But for the present England
has nothing to contribute to a European congress beyond
its sympathy for any brave and united people, its pre-
ference for popular institutions, its natural love of justice,
and its tastes for peace and order.
The Pt assian government, the Times says, Is exhibiting
as much ability in its political manoeuvres as in the eon-
duct of its ini'ltaiy operations. There is no doubt that,
independent of the prestige of victory, Prussia would at
all times command the sympathies of northern Germany,
and indeed, the union of all Germany with all Austria
would constitute such a monster monarchy as would be a
menace to Europe ; because Austria is a catholic, and,
what is worse, an ultra-pepistic power, and, as such, in
antipathy with the genuine inst'ncts even of most German
I a itholics ; finally, because the House of Hapsburg had for
centuric: before been in possession of the German empire,
and suffered it to perish in its hands, 014 :111g to the bigotry,
the improvidence, and the pusillanimity of many of its
race. The fortune of war has settled the dispute in
favour of Prussia, and she is now fully entitled to pro-
claim " that the nation's hopes stand or fall with Prussia:,
The Austrian army, it seems clear, has been nearly ruined
as a military force by the present campaign. An Austrian
correspondent, writing three days after the battle, says it
may be true that VO,OOO were killed, wounded, taken pri-
soners, or drowned ; and it must be doubted whether at
that date 100,000 effective men were to be found in the
army of the north. Meanwhile the Prussians are flushed
with victory, and have lost no time in following it up.
Their object is doubtless to march along the line of rail to
Briinn and Vienna; but the Austrians, under their new
commander, are not likely to give up Brfinn without a
struggle.

Despite the gravity of various symptoms, the Daily
News is disposed to think that the prospects of an early
peace have increased within the last few days. The French
government has disproved the common assumption that it
could not mediate pacifically, and the Emperor at present
has done nothing to preclude the parties to the war from
availing themselves of his friendship to effect a rapproche-
ment. Another day may change all this, but such appears
at present to be the political situation. Prussia is fighting
to compel a recognition of its plan for reconstituting the
German nation, and Italy is compelled to assert its
claim to be treated as an independent power, and it is
proper to believe that the policy of the Emperor Napo-
leon is comprehensive enough to allow room for the ad-
justment of these dispositions. At the beginning of the
present century, the Daily News observes, English
liberals favoured the maintenance of small states, but
events have taught us now to consider the excellence
at which we aim in our institutions in connexion with
the probability of defending them from external attack.
And we cannot shut our eyes to the fact that the inha-
bitants of a small state are never sure that they will not
be used as a make-weight in the adjustment of some
quarrel in which they have no direct concern. A govern.
ment desiring to effect annexations will always desire to be
surrounded by confederacies which may be divided by the
use of a very little art. The events of the last month have
shown how unavailable are confederacies for the purpose of
defence, and Germany ought to profit by the lesson.
The Post contends that whatever Europe may think of
the Emperor Napoleon we at any rate have no reason to'
complain of him, and it is no part of our duty to join in the
cry against the Rhine annexation coming from those who
have robbed Denmark and are invading Bohemia.
Neither in word nor in deed is there, so far as the Post
knows, any justification for the supposition that France
is shaping her course without regard to public interests.
The Herald thinks there is no longer any doubt that the
armistice proposed by the Emperor of the French has been
substantially, if not verbally, rejected by the allied Powers
bent on the destruction of Austria. The Herold is lost
in wonder at such temerity on the part of l'russia and Italy,
but concludes that such conduct will be severely punished
in both cases by France.
The Telegraph insists that the Emperor of the French
does not wish for war, and that the despatch of a fleet to
Venetia indicates merely the determination to fulfil the
responsibilities of the trusteeship with which he is in-
vested.