The Sun.
London, England, 1864-01-21 00:00:00

which had just then taken place in the Volksthing
of the Rigsdag, all the different parties in the As-
sembly had unanimously and formally declared that
the sole pledge of the independence of Denmark at
this moment is the unconditional adb erence of the
Legislature, the Government, the People, and the
Sovereign to the Constitution of the 18th of
November_ Immediately after which most solemn
and perfectly comprehensible declaration, it is
barely probable, it is bars,ly possible, that the
newly-enthroned KING, who is King expressly, as
before intimated, as the selected Champion
of the disputed Rights of Denmark,
in respect to Schleswig-Holstein—that this
chosen vindicator of the rights of Denmark should
sctually inaugurate his reign as Sovereirja of the
Danes by arresting the hostile advance agpinst him
of the Prussian and Austrian troops, not by crossing
swords with them or fixing bayonets r.long the line
of his own troops of defenr2e, but —by
meekly proffering at the last moment a
conciliatory proposal. No ! as the Flyveposten of
yesterday tersely and emphatically put it—" in the
reply of the Government to the Austrian and Prus-
sian ultimatum it should be distinctly de-
clared that Denmark will not tolerate the occu-
pation of Schleswig by those Powers, but that
she would repel by force of arms such an
hostile act as a decided breach of international
law." No !—again we say it—the rumour, as it
comes to us now at least, vaguely end dimly, is
hardly to be credited. Alea jacta est. Yielding,
is scarcely to be meditated without infamy, is
at this crisis in her history, on the part of Denmark,
assuredly not to be effected without a profound na-
tional abasement.

If war, therefore, still is inevitfkble for
;he Danes, at all events, they are preparing

hemselves for the emergency with spirit and

sympathy. The banquet lately given by
King CHRISTIAN to the members of the Rigsdag
evinces a feeling of goodwill, and affords a
happy proof of the unity that reigns in the land.

The President of the Lower House made a mos

admirable speech in proposing his MAJESTY'S

health, and it cannot be too much commended,
being at the present juncture a very suitable ex-
pression of opinion. He began by alluding to the

difficult and dangerous timQs in which the KING
had assumed his power. Yet he did not allow that
there was no prospect of a safe outlet to these
troubles. On the contrary, in earnest and emphatic

words, he told his hearers of the intrinsic resources
that were in the country, owing to the free and

.ndependent spirit of the people. This is the true

way to meet the emergency, and it is the righ

means to adopt to defend the country, to fall back
upon the native daring and indomitable resolution

of the people. This is the sure stronghold of the
Danes, and. relying on this defence, they may defy
the most irascible of their foes and keep at bay

heir most powerful armies. There is n( surer guit

rantee for the stability of an army than its ranks

being filled by men of goodwill and earnestness.
What a contrast does the Danish army assembled
at the old Danneoorke present to the forced troops
that are taken from Poland to swell the hosts of

their oppressors. The vital breath, the native air
are wanting in such an assembly. How different
to the thrilling eagerness with which the indepen-

dent sons of war rush to the contest and stand firm
in the defence of their Fatherland. Well did the
President put the case when he declared
that privations, sacrifices, and hardships were as
nothing in comparison with the principle that

informed and the idea that actuated them, " that
they were in arms for the right of his MAJESTY and
the nation." It is, indeed, most sincerely to be
trusted that there will be no present occasion and
no immediate necessity to give an instance of the
spirit of the army of King CHRISTIAN ; but if it
should unfortunately turn out to be so, it
may be relied on that the enemies, wherever and
whoever they may be, will not find their task of
conquest so easy as they may imagine in the in-
tolerance of their pride and the might of their
assumption. The President concluded with fitting
allusions to the exalted destinies which the two
eldest children of the Royal House had been called
upon to assume, truly saying that the foreign lands
to which they had gone received them " as the hope
of the future. The mention of the hope that ani-
mated the whole Danish people was the desire that
is the best one which well-wishers can utter for
those who are placed in arduous situations at
critical junctures,—namely, that Providence might
give the KING strength to meet the shocks of for-
tune." The conviction of a ri,ht cause, and the
knowledge that the issues at stake are important in
the extreme, and may influence the destinies of
after generations, can often inspire a zeal and
kindle an ardour in the minds of those on whom
devolve the responsibility of guiding the helm of a
State at critical times, and swaying the
passions of others who, excited and violated,
are not in a fitting state to command, or
in a right spirit to obey. So far as appearances
exhibit, King CHRISTIAN seems to possess the right
feeling to impress those under his rule, and to in-
fluence them in the way they should go, while his
own instinetive perception of the exigencies of the
case will serve him in good stead, and add addi-
tional confidence to till with whom he
comes in contact. VOLTAIRE'S description of
HENRY at the head of the two armies
aptly designates the secret of success in a
commander, En gagnant tousles occurs, it les a tous
unzs. King CHRISTIAN appears to possess this
faculty to a great extent, and it is to be hoped that
its exercise will lead to a happy issue. The at-
tempted
palliation that has been offered of the hasty
and unseemly exit of the ambassadors from Copen-
hagen does nothing in reality to allay the alarm
that has been unnecessarily excited. On the con-
trary, it seems but a subterfuge to put people off
their guard. This impertinent interference on the
part of these two Powers suggests the idea that the
policy of reciprocation might be tried with advan-
tage. Let Earl RUSSELL recall our ambassadors
from Vienna and Berlin until snch time as the un-
fair demands and unwarrantable attitude of the
Germanic Confederation shall cease, and it would
soon be seen that these wise and upright judges
would reconsider their decisions. It would be a
positive relief to witness some decisive step of this
sort taken, and to have the satisfaction of beholding
the might and majesty of our country in the ascen-
dant, warning the tyrant and encroacher not to
proceed too far, and to take heed lest the thunders
of our avenging wrath hurl
,destruction on their
path. If our Cabinet do not wish to stultify them-
selves as statesmen, and to abrogate the right of our
country to interfere for the protection of allied
States, they must bestir themselves, and act with
vigilance, care, and promptitude. It is idle to con-
ceal any longer the fact that an occasion has at last
arisen for the display of energy, and the evidence of
some definite opinion. The doctrine of non-inter-
vention has been carried out cut nauseam in the
American affairs, and in many minor instances
signs of laxity have been exhibited, which are alike
unworthy of the position of the country, and fatal
to the interests of those connected with it as allies.
Sometimes a serious event or an important crisis
will arouse the tardy action, and stimulate the
lethargic tendency, and it is to be trusted that the