The Sun.
London, England, 1864-05-03 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF TEE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

TlMES.—There are many who when they are told
that the Conference meets again to-morrow will
only think that a solemn and well-intended, but
ueeless ceremony is to be repeated, and that England
is to persist for a time longer in the unappreciated
and almost ridiculous task of peacemaker. The
German Powers have certainly given but too much
reason for this depreciation of the assembly which
now resumes its sittings. They have shown that

neither respect for treaties, nor regard for the tra-
ditional alliance between England and themselves,
nor generosity towards a weak State, nor a sense of
shame in attacking it, nor a fear of endangering the
peace of Europe has been sufficient to restrain them
from gratifying their pique against the Danish
nation, and endeavouring to earn a cheap renown
by crushing its armies. At last we may truly say
the cap of their wrongdoing is full. They have
not only occupied Holstein as a part of the German
Confederation, but they have overrun Schleswig,
with which they have legally no more to do than
with Kent. But, as if this were not enough, they
have now advanced beyond the limits of the
Duchies. Fredericia is abandoned before their
legions, which have pushed into Jutland, and are
now reported to have imposed a war contributionr
on the inhabitants, to be paid in 48 hours. They
calculate on pursuing the broken
remains of the
Danish army into Alsen, and possibly into Funen.
The desperate courage of the Mues favours the
plans of their pitiless enemies. Pruss:23 and Ause
tria could wish nothing better than tOt the
generals opposed to them should be forced to
their positions through fear of the wrath of Copen-
hagen, and that a King and Cabinet should think
an overthrow better than a retreat. The German
Powers, to whom success is a rare gratification, have
been too successful to turn back at the bidding of
justice or prudence, or anything but a manifesta-
tion of superior force ; and if they persevere there is
nothing to prevent still further victories, involving
even the destruction of the Danish nationality.
Denmark proper may be said to be in their hands.
They are spreading over Jutland, and from the
Jutland coast they can cross into Funen, and thus
occupy one of the two chief Danish islands. Nor
is there any reason that they should stop there. An
Austrian squadron has passed up Channel ; it may
well he that the campaign, it continued, will extend
into Zsaland itself, and the alleged wrongs of Ger-
many be avenged under the wails of Copenhagen.
When high-handed Sovereigns, not accustomed to
much loyalty at home or any great triumphs abroad,
see the opportunity of winning popularity and
military credit at the same time. it is not wonder-
ful that they should yield to the temptation. Only
the fear of sharp intervention by some great Power,
capable of inflicling humiliation, is likely to restrain
them. This deterring force has been wholly absent
on the present occasion. Lord Russell did, indeed,
speak loudly, according to his wont, but the only
effect of this was to bring about the calamities he
sought to avoid. The Danes thought they would
have a protector; Germany knew they would not.
The natural tendency of a weak State is to rely on
its neighbours, and to think that good will and
amity mean an alliance offensive and defensive, was
exemplified in the confidence with which the Copen-
hagen Government appealed to arms. The Germans
knew better. They were aware that though Eng.
land might, as was the case ten years ago, enter into
a war when some great and paramount interest,
involving the fate of Europe, was at stake, public
opinion would not consider the transfer of a province
to so inert a body as the German Confederation a
sufficient reason for drawing the sword. That En-
gland would not fight was from the beginning plain
enough. The press was against war; it was certain
that the House of Commons would be against it ;
the Cabinet itself could hardly have seriously enter-
tained it. Thus encouraged the German Powers
persevered, and the result shows that they judged
with sufficient discernment. It would require
something more than the mere occupation
of the Duchies and the expulsion of the Danish
army from the mainland to bring England into
the strife. Hence the diplomacy of our Minister
has been in vain, for his expostula-
tionslhave been disregarded as those of a Danish
partisan, and his threats as the utterance of one
unable to move a ship or a regiment. It may be,
however, that the two Powers count too far on the
forbearance of England. A nation like ours is
generally guided in its policy by a calculation of
what it can effect and what it must fail in. The
invasion of Holstein and Schleswig by Germany
was a movement which could only be opposed by
Englatid patting forth all her strength. The way
was open, and must be defended by large armies
prepared for a regular campaign. No doubt Eng-
land, together with Sweden, might have success-
fully held the Dannewerke ; but public opinion in
England would never have sanctioned the waste of
so much blood and treasure in such a cause. Now,
however, the case is different. The Germans have
occupied the mainland of Denmark, and are sus-
pected of a desire to make themselves masters of
one or more of the islands. The last design could I
easily be prevented by the presence of an English