The Sun.
London, England, 1864-09-10 00:00:00

German Sovereigns are her satraps, and the people
of Germany either her dupes or her slaves. She,
commands a considerable and efficiently equipped
army, a force capable, if well handled, of putting
down any professorial insurrection in Berlin, but
which Austrian officers believe they could give
good account of in the field. For the rest Prussia
depends on an alliance that is at present simply for"
midable in its diplomatic appearance, and on the
reluctance of England and France to engage
prematurely in a war the results of which they
cannot forecast. The latter is, probably, not the
least consideration ; for Count Bismara>t
would hardly have demanded from Dew
mark more than she could with honour and Neal*
rity afford to pay if he had not been intimately
persuaded that he was dictating terms to a fallen
and friendless nation; and this, that aggravate&
the criminality and cowardice of the proceeding, je
the fatal error which Prussia may not discover
until it is too late to retreat from the position &be
has taken up. Every act arising out of the aggress
Biwa which has gratified Prussian ambition at the
expense of Denmark proves more and more cogently
that it is necessary to maintain some code of inter'
national law, and that such a law can only be main'
tained by force of arms. It is too evident that, 0°
things now are, the Powers of Europe think the'',
may do what seems right in their own eyes, and
that the possession of might is often held to consti.
tutu right. This, however, cannot go on, and in one
way or in another the securities for peace must be
re-established. Prussia is only heaping fuel on the
fire she has kindled, and her avarice can precipitate
the inevitable conflagration. We do not ask rbt,e
Germans to believe what it is not likely they Will
now believe until the conviction is brought home to
them ; but they might at least take warning frail
the history of their own country, and from its actrie'
condition. Let them place nu dependence on the
military power of Prussia, for it is neither more Der
less than it has been in times past. No doubt the
Prussians could have beaten the Danes single'
handed, and would have done so if Austria had not/
for reasons of her own, resolved to keep them led
view. That was altogether an unequal battle, 013,
one, it should be remembered, in which the DanioP
people, as a people, did not take part. The invasiee
of Denmark Proper would be quite another affair;
and within the last few years a far greater Polder
than Prussia has paused in a career of victory rathe'
than accept an extension of the conflict. Many re:
cent predictions have not been verified, but it remain:
true that the first cannon-shot fired in the Balt°
will proclaim war on the Rhine and in the Adrieci
tic. If there ever was a question that exacta
moderation it is that which is the subject of discus(
sion in the Vienna Conference. According to a'
law and all reason the liberated Duchies should psi
the cost of their liberation. There is no measure of
extortion which, in so far as Europe is concerned'
Count Bismarck may not practise upon the people
he has emancipated. It is right that they shell',
be made to feel practically the worth of their de
liverance. But to pretend that in parting 'W'
Denmark violently they are entitled to make 013'4
claim for compensation, either as regards the Salle
Dues or the Danish fleet, and, above all, that Prue'
sia is entitled to prefer and support such a claire;
is only not absurd because it has been seriotiel;
mooted. Prussia is mistaking both her own Poll
tion and the position of Denmark. The Danis
monarchy, it should be observed, is intact. Dent
mark has lost nearly half a kingdom, but W°:o
remains to her is her own past all quibble. There
are German Powers that hold provinces which are
not nearly so securely guaranteed to them aa t„,
little land he reigns over is to King Christi
They cannot, as he does, rely on the royaltY of
their subjects, and they have forfeited, as he 11
not, the confidence of foreign Powers. Prudence",
for it is, we fear, useless to think of moderation d,
should therefore advise Prussia to hold her hue„
She has already done more than enough to exaol3":
rate Europe, and the indignation of powerful int
tions has not been restrained without diffiewhtioi
In this country we have every reason to desire t'.'4
the Prussian throne should be sustained e!jo
strengthened; but we cannot help seeing thelo
policy which is tyrannical to the weak will Prea,
weak in itself when opposed with its own argo
merits ; and that those who attempt to crush tits
vanquished will, when their turn comes, invoke ,130
vain the aid of the justice they denied, and
mercy they refused to consider.