The Sun.
London, England, 1864-02-23 00:00:00

more than another is unfitted for its inconvenient
and disastrous influence, it certainly appears that a
workhouse comes under the ctcgo►y.

The sympathies of the English public have of
late been very strongly excited on behalf of the
Danish people. Kindred in race and in character,
cherishing the same love for freedom and the same
resolution to maintain it at any hazards, we have
watched their conflict with the invaders with the
keenest interest. Whatever view individuals may
take of the vexed and entangled question of the
Schleswig-Holstein Duchies, it is.impossible to avoid
sympathising with a brave people in their resistance
to a hostile force advancing upon their rights. The
story of the campaign has, as yet, been short but
eventful, It has resulted in much bloodshed and
suffering, if in nothing more, and the eager desire
so generally felt by Englishmen to lend some aid
has at length found the means of expression in at-
tempting to relieve the distress occasioned by the
encounter. In waiting for the production of the
long-promised correspondence Parliament has not
even ventured upon a decided declaration of indig-
nation or of sympathy. The public has ceased to
hope for the despatch of an English fleet, or even
the vigorous expression of the Cabinet's displeasure
Half-a-dozen English vessels appearing on the
scene would dispel a good many German illusions ;
but everything, so far as this country and its
rulers are concerned, is to take its olvn course.
Chafing under this inaction, some earnest and warm-
hearted Englishmen have devised a plan by which
they can at least diminish the sufferings inflicted
upon Denmark by this unjust and causeless war, if
they are prevented by the jai/goat policy of the
Whigs from arresting the infliction of those suffer-
ings. The Marquis of CLANItICARDE has addressed
a letter to the Times, announcing the formation of
a committee with a view to the transmission of aid
to the sick and wounded Danes. Many persons, as
the noble lord informs us, have stated their willing-
ness to contribute to such a scheme, and we have
little doubt that the subscriptions will flow in
largely and freely. Lord CLANRICARDE says that
the sufferings of the Danes, suddenly called upon
to protect their country against overwhelming num-
bers, must excite our compassion, whatever may be
our political opinions. In this we apprehend that
he is mistaken, since those who espouse the German
cause would be scarcely likely to subscribe for the
assistance of the Danish wounded. Happily this
point is likely to create little disturbance in the
present instance, since the public has been through-
out on the cause of the marine people—our old
allies, to whom we are so nearly bound by the late
happy Royal marriage. To the ordinary horrors
of battle are superathied the sufferings caused by
cold; and in spite of the hardihood of the people, It
will be a severe trial to the health and fortitude of
the strongest to bravo exposure during the bitter
nights of a northern winter. This trouble, although
not remediable, can at least be mitigated in its
stern effects, and we cannot doubt that English men
and women will seize this opportunity of showing
that national sympathy for the oppressed and ill-
used Danes which the supineness or timidity of
their Government hinders from more tangible and
active expression,