The Sun.
London, England, 1864-09-22 00:00:00

nparalleled ffrontery is almost past understaeding
Earl RUSSELL'S reply to the communication referred
is a very suitable one and well adapted to the occa-
sion. It refers at length to the course taken by the
Prussians in the affair and forcibly comments upon
their very remarkahle proceedings. It is unfortu-
nately too late for anythingmore to be said or done
on behalf of the Dines now, but still, as the Cabinet
of Berlin has had the audacity and the impertinence
to exult in their crimes, and to call upon us to co-
incide with their extreme conduct, it seems some
satisfaction, though a trivial one, to know that a
fitting answer has been given to their despatch.
It is unnecessary to add a comment to the passage
in M. BISMARK'S dispatch, in which he instructs
Count BERNSTOFF to express to L()r3. RUSSELL the
hope that his Government will recognise the mode-
ration and placability which have been displayed
by the two German Powers. After this we may
certainly expect anything, and our expectations are
not likely to be disappointed as to the hard mea-
sures imposed upon Denmark, and the arrogant tone
assumed by the conquerors. We learn that the
Prussians were obliged to insist upon the cession of
the three Duchies in obedience to the "national feel-
ing." How was it that the national feeling
imperatively demanded this surrender to be made,
and that the necessity should have sprung up so
suddenly for the possession of places not before
belonging to Prussia or Austria. It is all an idle
excuse, and besides, where, may we ask, was this
deference to the national feeling exhibited, when
the Government of King WILLIAM resolutely dee
clined to fulfil any of the wishes of the Chambers.
Did not they bid open defiance to the popular de-
sires? did they not render a revolution imminent
by their unworthy fulfilment of the duties of their
position ? As if the preceding passages were not
enough, the writer goes on to affirm that they de-
serve great consideration for not having insisted
upon the cession of a part of the kingdom of Den-
mark, although they held in their hands " a large
and important province." We then learn that it is
through the fault of the Danish Government that
these exectione have been rendered necessary, but
surely that is a very unnecessary piece of intelli-
gence. Herr VON BISMARK cannot imagine that
any one will have the effrontery to say that it is
the fault of the Prussians. By his showing they
are immaculate models of clemency in war, patterns
of moderation in negotiation, and throughout all
things only animated by the desire of rendering
justice to all parties—such is the Berlin version of
the story. The English reading of the riddle may
differ slightly to the foregoing conclusions, and
Earl RUSSELL has not proved himself an unfit
scholar in his construing of it. He begins well by
saying that " Her MAJESTY'S Government would
have preferred a total silence to the task of come
menting upon the conditions of the peace." Surely
this is a significant hint that even the obtuseness of
Prussian vanity cannot fail to comprehend, and it
speaks volumes as to the opinions entertained over
here as to the conduct of the German Po wers.lllow-
ever, says the noble lord,as they are challenged by M.
BISMARK to admit the moderation and forbearance
of the great German Powers, they must not hesitate
to express their opinions upon the subject. There.
upon he speaks out and declares that it is the con-
viction of her MAJESTY'S Government that the war
waged by Austria and Prussia against Denmark
was an nejust one, and had not for its groundwork
any of those causes which alone can sanction the
prosecution of hostilities. As to the national feel-
ings referred to by Herr BISMARK, Earl RUSSELL
very truly states that no infringement his been
made in this respect, and that whereas before com-
plaints were made that the language ofD.mmark
-,vas forced upon the German subjecti' We Danish
Sovereign, it cannot with equal truth be averred
that the language of Germany is forced upon the
Danish subjects of a Getman Sovereign. His lord-
ship gives a hint as to the want of good faith every-
where apparent in the proceedings of M. DE BIS-
MARK and his friends by saying that the suggestion
made by the Prussian Plenipotentiary has not been
carried out, which alluded to the retention of the
districts north of Flensburg by the Danish CROWN.
The most striking censure of all, however, in the
despatch is contained in the passage which treats of
the claim on the part of M. DE BISMARK as to the
consideration displayed by his Government. It says
that "If it is said that force has decided this quesa
Lion, and that the superiority of the arras of Austria
and Prussia over those of Denmark was incontest-
able, the assertion must be admitted. But in that
c3se it is out of place to claim credit for equity and
moderation." This is as cutting a satire upon the
upstart pretensions of Prussian arrogance as can
well be conceived, and it is a credit to Earl RUSSELL
that he should have penned such a document. It
cannot be very agreeable to the Prussian Minister
to receive it, and doubtless he has treasured it up
as another in the long list of affronts that he has
received from England. The German papers are loud
in their diatribes against our Government for send-
ing forth this communication, and if they are really
as hurt and mortified as they profess to be, so much
the better. It is well that the shaft has struck
home, and that they should understand that from
the shores of England no voice of approval will
ever come forth, and no sympathy will be felt
in their proceedings. Lord RUSSELL indulges in
another hit at the expense of Herr YON BISMARK'S
eloquence. He says that he is glad to find that the
latter admits the right of King CHRISTIAN to rule
over the Duchies of Schleswig, Holstein, and
Leuenberg, "for if they were not his to hold, they
could not be his to give away." Surely the rest of
Germany has been greatly at fault to permit the
possibility of such an interpretation being put upon
enunciations of policy and assertions of negotia-
tions. What is the object of this despatch of M.
de BISMARK ? Is it that he is really ashamed of hie
proceedings, and that be is resolved to brave it to
the utmost, and defy public opinion ? Whatever
are his motives, it cannot be said that he has taken
much by his motion. Earl RUSSELL, with some-
thing of the spirit of his better days, has given an
answer to the extraordinary communication im
parted to him. No twisting and turning can make
the reply look otherwise than a rebuff, and so it
hraeisalal beiet.n taken by those whom it concerns. So it
w
doubtlessAchbanegetamkeunstbyshaolrltlwyhtoakheepalracoef
ii
it at nh de
tactics of Prussia, or she will have evil days to en-
counter ; but meanwhile it is lamentable to witness
the spectacle of Danish immolation before the greed
and vain glory of her ruthless conquerors. It is
one of those occurrences which are a disgrace to
human nature, and make honest and honourable
men blush for their species. If anything would add
to the regret experienced at the sight of such epo-
liation and sacrifice it must be the thought that in
this crisis of her fate Denmark has not found the
arm of England mighty to save, nor her influence
powerfulbut still at the eleventh hour
it will
not impress;
improvers s; m
titters to mike no protest, and
Earl RussUlL has shown the Prussian Minister that
he is one of those arch deceivers who cry peace
where there is no peace.

The deliberations of the British Ass6ciation have
just been brought to a close before the opening cf
the other assembly, kindred rather than rival in its
nature, which is now gathtriog at York. As the
Scientific Association, whose labo ire are most