The Express.
London, England, 1866-03-14 00:00:00

GerManio Diet to the London Conferenos.

claims preferred on Denmark year after year had
been made in the name of Germany, and the rights
of the Prince next in order of succession on the
death of the late King of Dirmaax were main-
tained by Prussia to be indubitable. In fact,
when she crossed the Elbe in arms, Prussia by
every means in her power proclaimed that she
did so in a spirit of disinterestedness, in order to
fulfil s great duty. But ever since she has had a
firm military footing In that territory her language
has been gradually changing. At first, to prepare
the world for further demands, the Government,
through its accustomed organs, dilated on the ex-
traordinary sacrifices which Prussia had made for
Germany, and incidentally on the inestimable im-
portance of her military prestige to the Father-
land. Then we were told that the title to the
mown of the two Duchies was by no mesas clear,
and fictitious claims were paraded and (Bloomed
with seriousness, so as to give an appearance of
complication and difficulty to the question. Gra-
dually the world was permitted to understand
that Prussia had claims which the publicists of
Berlin had carefully examined and found to be
well grounded. In time it appeared, on the same
authority, as the result of profound investigation,
that the title of the house of Honnwrousair was
clear, irrefragable, and exclusive. These, however,
were but the successive stages by which the Prus-
sian Government was slowly reaching the point
which it had from the first kept in view. That Go-
vernment now thinks the time has come for de-
daring roundly that it has set its heart upon the
annexation of both Duchies as an object of State
policy, which it pursues in virtue of its mili-
tary and political strength. Schleswig, as being
entirely in the possession of the Kiirois troops, is
regarded as not worth wrangling about ; while as
to Holstein, at present held by 3,000 Atuitsians,
the Prussian Minister expressed himself lest week
with perfect frankness in his reply to the address of
certain members of the equestsianorderof Ho'steln:
" I have already had occasion to declare publicly
" that amongst the various modes by which the
" interests of Prussia and those of Germany may
" be maintained in the Duchies, the union with
" the Prussian monarchy is that wbich would be
" moat advantageous for Schleswig-Holstein itself."
And he subsequently stated that his Government,
while making new efforts to obtain the assent of
Austria to this settlement of the questioo, will
" absolutely maintain its claims." Thus the rights
of the people of the Duchies,which were pretended
as the ground of the war, and apart from which
that enterprise could have no other character than
that of downright robbery, are contemptuously
thrust aside, and their country is treated as so
much conquered territory. This is in every way
the most flagitious proceeding that has been
attempted since the peace of 1815. Of coons it
is a matter that does not especially concern us, but
inasmuch as, in our sanguine speculations on
human perfectibility and the irresistible progress
of our race in virtue, we are liable to presume a
little too much and take promise for achievement,
it is well to note from time to time
the character of what is actually dons
around us, and observe in how much that is simply
and flagrantly wicked our generation is content to
acquiesce. The danger to the peace of Rwmpo
which arises from these aggressions is another
reason why we should endeavour to understand
their spirit and aims. How near we may be to a
great war, towards which the armies of other na-
tion., impatiently and notoriously expecting the
enlargement of their frontiers, would be drawn
with irresistible attraction, no mortal can tell. As
the decisive hour approaches, the Governments
both of Austria and Prussia eye one another with
scrutinizing glances, each attempting to mason