The Sun.
London, England, 1864-06-29 00:00:00

of every word of this, of every syllable of it, we
take to be patent and undeniable. It is beyond
contradiction. And for one simple reason enough
—namely, that the Conference, now closed thus
abortively and ignominiously, was directly,express-
ly, and exclusively, an emanation from the English
Government. It was suggested to the other
Powers of Europe by—the English Government.
The responsibility of the Conference rests entirely
with—the English Government. The ignominy
of its utter failure devolves, not upon the
belligerents,' not upon the neutral Powers, not
upon both neutrals and belligerents together, but
wholly and solely upon—the English Government.
Hence, every word of the proposed Address to the
Crown is within the mark, as to the lowering of the
influence of this country in the councils of Europe—•
and by whom ? by the Government.

The assembling of a body of popular representa-
tives during a time of great national anxiety and
distress is always an occasion of deep interest, and
such is especially the feeling with which we in this
country regard the opening of the Danish Rigs.
raad, in the midst of the trouble and perplexity in
which the affairs of their country are involved. On
the very day on which the members reassembled
the long talked of Conference terminated its labours
—those labours from which every one had professed
to hops so much, and from which no one of the
slightest political experience or sagacity could have
expected even a little. But the object is gained,
end the delay is won, though neither party is much
the better for it ; and now the farce is played out,
and the last pompous leave-takings of the potent,
wise, and reverend seignors engaged in it were
being spoken on Saturday, much as the Danish
representatives sadly but firmly assembled to hear
the words of their desp )iled King, Unfortunate in
many things, King CHRISTIAN has not been un-
fortunate in the unity and determination of his
people. The Danes are not quick to plan nor rapid
to execute, and they often give their adversaries
advantage of their want of promptitude and energy;
but when they have once accepted a principle they
are by to means deficient in resolution, and ail the
sturdy determination of the northern character
seems now to have filed itself upon the union of
Schleswig with Denmark. Holstein they are not
unwilling to abandon—in fact its German pro-
clivities are too manifest ever to leave the
kingdom tranquil ; but Schleswig is a part
of themselves, and they will never consent to its
separation from the Danish dominions. The people
themselves are even unwilling to consent to that
division of the Duchy to which their KING has,
from the force of circumstances, been forced unwil-
lingly to assent, and consequently the break up of
the Conference and the failure of its negotiations
cannot have been to them any great matter of
regret. The President of the Council read the
speech from the throne, in the absence of King
CHRISTIAN, which referred to the proposed parti-
tion of Schleswig. The threateniug crisis and the
increased expenditure necessitated by the war have,
according to his MAJESTY, compelled this convoca-
tion of the Itigsraad, and he goes on to say with a
mournful bitterness that is fully comprehensible in
a Sovereign so despoiled and defrauded by the
strong hand of insolent aggression, " We have re-
cently learned for how little the clearest right
reckons in Europe, and how isolated we are. We,
therefore, acceded to the painful sacrifice of the
country south of the Schlei." This is a passage
which Englishmen will hardly read with equani-
mity, when they reflect how a different line of
policy, the assumption of a different attitude, might
have preserved the integrity of Denmark without
striking a blow. Had Germany believed one quar-
ter of English protestations and threats she would
hare taken very good care not to cross the Eider,
but events have proved that German sagacity was
wiser than Ecglish professions, and that Herr von
BISMARK and his coadjutors knew very well they
had little need to trouble themselves about empty
words. It is certainly somewhat of a satire on
the boasted progress of modern civilisation. I'Ve
hear a great deal about the lofty principles upon
which most continental sovereigns profess to act;
we hear also a great deal about the vast improve

rnent that has taken place in our own policy during
the last century, but the old story comes up again
.fter all, and notwithstanding the pathcs, the pity,
the eloquence, the indignation expended on the
partition of Poland, the tragedy is to be repeated
in a milder form. A country ie to be dismembered,
and Europe stands by, remonstrating, watching
and calculating the CCM& quences with very little
care for the right or the wrong of the matter. But

he partial dismemberment reluctantly agreed to by

the Danish Government does not fulfil the wishes
of the German invades s. Their appetite seems to
grew by what it feeds on, and they feel so secure

in their impunity and sa well satisfied with their

positions that they are unwilling to retrace a step
which they have taken. Fortunately the Danish

authorities are not so lost to honour and to public

spirit as to abandon the cluse without another

struggle. War, with all its losses, can hardly re-
duce them lower than their enemies would place

,hem, and at least Europe shall not be spared the

shame of witnessing their spoliation. They stood
firm upon the line of demarcation of the Schlei, and
their evil genius, Earl RUSSELL, promised that he

would support no less favourable demand; but this

promise, like the empty words that have gone before
414 not bind its speaker very closely, since he sub-
sequently proposed that the question should be
submitteil to arbitration, though Denmark refused
to follow mioh a course. " I cannot," says the
Danish President,
"explain how this proposal was
consistent Earl RUSSELL'S promise," and this
quiet
satirewitl wasi euung
h to show the light in which
the proceedings of the Conference were looked on
by the Danea. The 81tIlant northern people are,
to the real feelings of
the English nation.
Indeed
however, better informed
they have been so

openly manifested on every public occasion—they
have shown themselves so Immixtakeably in the
presence of the fair young daughter of King CHRIS-
TIAN that the Danes can hardly be lett in doubt as
to the warmth and reality of the English interest

n their cause. In fact, the King admits as much
n his address which includes this remarkable pas.

sage: "May God grant that at least in a Certain
place the sympathy for us may grow into active

support." It remains to be seen how this earnest
aspiration may be fu'filled.

In Mr. DI3RAELI'S few remarks the other night
there was no passage more effective than that in
which he referred to the anomalous state of our
present policy as regards peace or war. We are
always making the most extravagant assertions,
and uttering threits, yet when circumstances seem
to call upon us to verify the ore or carry out the
other, we draw back and hesitate, and finally do
nothing. Truly did the right bon, gentleman call
these tirades " usel4s.s and spiritless menaces,
which, by impairing the influence of our country
in the Councils of Europe, have really diminished
the most effective means of maintaining peace."
Farther on he stated that it would be better if the
were governed according to tho principles
and vi tr
wB
of Messrs. Coßizzisr and
d o Ti oay BRIGHT, r_lan
after the present fashion, for it would be a course
mare consistent, hzspitalle, and dignified. This is