The Sun.
London, England, 1864-06-24 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

TIMER,--Yesterday both houses were crowded to
hear the Ministerial explanations which it was
thought Most foiloW the important meeting of the
Conference on Wednesday. Seldom has such
anxiety been shown for the appearance of a Minis-
ter in his place as preceded the arrival of Lord
Palmerston in the House of Commons; seldom bav
the tedious gentlemen who begin the evening's
businetj been listened to with more oievions demon-
strations of impatience. The curiosity of the public
was, however, not destined to be fully gratified.
The Conference meets again to-morrow; and
though it is known that at thle Meetinar it in
only to transact some formal business, the Govern-
ment is not at liberty to presume that negotiations
are at an end. As long as the Conference lasts it
is possible that some proposition may be made tend.
ing to the restoration of peace, and it would he pre-
mature, therefore, to make any annonerreectent im-
plying that a finel rupture has taken place. The
crisis is eo serious and the deliberations on which
the Ministry must enter are so important that every
one will rejoice that they have three or four days to
consider their situation and their policy. The Cabi-
net will meet to-morrow, and on Monday next the
Premier will lay on the table of the house the pro.
ceedings of the Conference, and will make a state-
ment on the important subjects which have occupied
its attention. The country will then have an oppor-
tunity of judging how far its honour has been main-
tained in the past transactions, and how far the re-
commendations of the Government deserve its con-
fidence for the future. Of one thing, however, we
may, happily, be certain. The protocols of the Con-
ference wiil make known not only how constant and
urgent have been the efforts of the British represen-
tatives to devise means for the preservation of peace,
but also how greatly the foreign members of the Con-
ference, including those most opposed to our views,
have valued and acknowledged the good faith and
courtesy of our Government. Whatever may be the
end of the negotiations, no one will charge us, and
we shall not have to charge ourselves, with any fault
of the nature either of rudeness or of deceit. Our
representatives have neither allowed their convic-
tions to hurry them into any bitterness of expression,
nor their policy to lead them into any dissembling
of their intentions. They have with perfect fairness
and courtesy explained the principles on which
they take their stand, and convinced every one,
both ally and adversary, that their only desire has
been to maintain the peace of Europe, and to pre-
vent. if possible, an ancient ano respectable State
from being despoiled in pursuance of theories wnich,
if carried out, would bring humiliation on the great
German Powers themselves. We believe the Pieni-
potentiaries of each State will be found ready to
confess that if war, prolonged and embittered, is to
be the fate of Northern Europe, the fault is not to
be attributed to the counsels of our statesmen. Ae
regards the foreign members of the Conference the
opinion of our Government is equally favourable.
They have, as far as they have exercised any inde-
pendent judgment, shown a tendency to di,cues the
proposals submitted to them in a fair and friendly
spirit, and it is probable that had they been
empowered to deliberate and decide, and not re.
etrioted to the communication of decisions made
eesewhere, the result of the Conference might have
been different. As it is, they have been delegates
acting strictly under the instructions of statesmen
who had come to a foregone conclusion on all
the subjects in debate. They will separate with
mutual good will and respect, though perhaps with
no high notion of the advantages to be g,..ined from
such .neetings as those in which they have played a
decorous part for the past few weeks. The German
Plenipotentiaries will, however, be able to inform
their Governments from personal observation that
in no class of English society has there been any
animosity ag, inst their country or any wish to
humble it, but that the action of Government
end people has been influenced only by a convic
tion that the Danish Government was defending
rights which it is for the general advantage to
maintain. The Conference has failed ; but we
think it really desired its own success, The time
and labour may not have been wholly lost if
some of its members carry beck to their own
countries a conciliatory temper, which may have its
consequences when they are placed in positions of
more real power. However, all is over, and it is for
Her Majesty's Government to decide what is the
course now to be taken. In what way should a great
nation act which finds that its efforts to restore peace
among its neighbours have been made in vain ?
For several months, by constant communication with
both parties, by alternate advice and remonstrance,
by counsels that were generally wise, mingled here
and there with expressions that may have been im-
prudent, the Government of this country has sought
to hinder the deplorable events of which a new series
will begin on Monday next. Both sides have lis-
tened to 05 with an outward show of respect, but
have in the end followed the bent of their own in-
stincts and taken to war, because in war they have
seen their best prospect of gaining their respective
ends. Th© Germans would fight because a campaign
gives them Schleswig; the Danes because they
fancy that war, by calling others to their assistance,
will give them the whole or part of the Duchy in
absolute possession, while a continuance at the °lea
relations without the Constitution of November
would in no long time alienate Schleswig as much
as Holstein, In the last act of this drama the
situation of the leading personages is as strange
as can be imagined. Prussia and Austria on the
one side, and Denmark on the other, the invaders
and the invaded, the tyrants and their victim, are
found entirely agreed on the subjects in dispute.
Each party rejects ou: scheme of arbitration, each
party desires to settle the matter by the sword.
England addresses useless remonstrances to both,
and to strengthen her pacific representation turns in
vain to France and Russia, who on their part affect
unconcern, and look on the unequal combat with a
feeling no stronger than curiosity. This is, uo doubt,
a most embarrassing position for a neutral Power
which has pronounced strongly in favour of peace.
We find that the belligerents do not accept it, that
the other neutrals are indifferent about it, and that
the only way that we can promote it seems to be by
going to war ourselves, and choosing as our ally
one of the two parties who have rejected our pro-
sals. It is a matter that will call for all the delibe-
raton which the experienced statesmen at the heed
of affairs can give it during the next tbree days.
Whatever may be the dory of this country will, we
feel sure, be reedil7 undertaken by all classes; and
her Majesty's Government need have no fear of
lacking support in any measure which may be
necessary to maintain the honour and interests of
the nation or the general safety of Europe. If these
be endangered by the contest which is to recom-
mence on Sunday, if the Government be really able
to show Parliament that on the fields of Schleswig
great English interests are at stake, whether mate-
rial or moral, there will be no unwillingness on the
part of the nation to act with vigour. If assured
on these points, Parliament would be boned seri-
ously to consider whether the policy of mediation
which has been hitherto practised should be aban-
doned for one of a less peacefal character. This
most weighty question, with all its momentous
issues, we leave for the present to the Government,
bt lieving that it will be time enough to discuss any
proposal for a change of the national policy when
that proposal has been made on the responsibility
of the Cabinet,

POST —Far some time past numerous complaints
have been made from year to year against the
laws which regulate the registration of voters. Last

moansoftbhee ae r
autumn, while the revision courts were at work
throughout the contitrfr, these complaints were
more loud than usual. Thousands of voters in
different districts, whose right to the franchise
was tottnd to be undoubted, were compelled to
avOkii fiefniqi the tetising barrister under pain of
losing their electoral tfriviegea. In those Cquntiesi
especially, where the two great f olitieal parties are
pretty equally divided, the complaints of indignant
electors were numerous beyond all precedent; and
the grievance was, in truth, not a light one. It is
hard to bore a right put in jeopardy by the mere
caprice of a politioal opponent, and to be put to
the alternative of either lowing it altogether, or of
being obliged to defend it at much inconvenience,
and often at considerable cost. The reau.vlot n
fie% s or
this policy of objecting to ♦otes upon
y found who
insufficient grounds ie found uponi thefrl whole to
answer. Atiny persons will
:tvias defending their
omit to take the proper
refuse to take the
of Pat halm nt
electoral tights. Siime positively
h inadvertence, fail to COM-
troutvie 1 others, through
objections, as th, y die;
ph, wiTh the r,
dflubivreeinke:tit:
nt,fr:ng,g.-tits, are turned
;nodcitehrui;tetrhmesee sp.ecolo we
the CD
• rue that the grievance :n
num battle of the
a remedy The revising
registration '‘
foodis er•loonat rc lc:7:1ot: int s
qbaurersitsitoenr, if satisfied that a frivolous objection has
been made to any vote, may order the objector to pay
costs to the amount of 20s. The inadequacy of this
sum in cases of county voters is notorious. In order to
defend his vote a min is often required to produce
his title deeds, which are probably in the hands of
his solicitor in the county town, or, it may be, in
London. But wherever they may happen to be.
and whatever may be their antiquity or their bulb,
some one mast be employed to bring them to the
_ • . .

registration court, and 20s. is the utmost amount
which their owner can recover in the shape of costf.
for any expense ho caay have incurred. There is
another grievance zonneeted with these objection,
which render them still more vexatious. The pert
Whose right to vote is disputed has no means of as
certaining the ground which his adversary means ti
take until they are confronted in the whole court
He must, therefore, come prepared at all points to
deteud hit; right, 4nd -_he trouble and expevae to