The Sun.
London, England, 1864-02-26 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

Post —The Deno-German war will still con-
tinue, and a Conference of the principal European
Powers may possibly take place. Such is the sub-
stance of the reply given in the House of Commons
last evening by Lord Palmerston to a question put
by Mr. Darby Griffith. For such an announcement
e prepared the public, and those who choose tney
welcome it as a confirmation of those prognostica-
tions of peace in which some have seen fit already
to indulge, The Government of this country have,
as the Premier observed, been unremitting in their
endeavours to effect a pacific solution of those dif-
ferences which now array Germany and Denmark
in arms against each other. Until hostilities had
actually commenced they ceaselessly strove to pre-
serve peace by counselling mutual concessions, and,
after blood had been shed, they importuned the
belligerents to consent to an armistice. But the
success which they deserved was denied them, and
each succeeding day saw the breach between Ger-
many end Denmark still further widened and the
peace of Europe will be more seriously jeopardised,
In this extremity one hope was still left to the
English Government. It the belligerents would
not consent to an armistice as preliminary to a Con-
ference, possibly they would have no objection to a
Conference as an accompaniment to a campaign.
If you are obstinately bent on fighting, gratify
your inclination, but meanwhile nominate a few
disengaved diplomatists who will quietly discuss
your d ffirences round a table in our Foreign-office.
Such was the latest proposal of the English Cabi-
net, and the chief of that Cabinet last evening ad-
mitted his inability to state its probable result.
Austria and Prussia have signified their assent, pro-
vided they are to be permitted to pursue unchecked
their career of invasion, and the latter Power is
said to annex other conditions to her compliance.
On such terms we should have been indeed sur-
prised if the astute statesmen who direct effeirs at
Vienna and Berlin had refused to send their repre-
sentatives to a conference of diplomatists.
" France," said Lord Palmerston, " I believe, will
assent to our proposal, and Russia, I fancy, will
adopt the same course. This language is sanguine,
but it can scarcely be regarded as reassuring. In
speaking, however, of the Dan'sh and Swedish
Cabinets, the Premier franely acknowledged his
ignorance of the course they would follow, and did
not venture a conjecture as to their possible accept-
ance of the English proposal. Such, then, is the
stage of the Dano-German dispute at velicb, after
ceitaeless negotiation, we have at length arrived.
The war is to be pursued with no less rancour than
before, and the contest is to be prolonged, though
the attacking and the resisting forces stand to each
other in the ratio of five to one. Whilst, however,
thousands of human lives are being uselessly sacri-
ficed, a Conference may possibly take place, and if
it does an agreement may just as possibly be arrived
at which may satisfy the belligerents and bring
hostilities to a close. In other words, war is a cer-
tainty. and peace a remote contingency.
HERALD.---There is nothing. 80 inconvenient as
law. It interferes with oppression, it checks vio-
lence, it prevents evil doing, it even sometimes mars
equity and justice. But for all this it is the safe-
guard of the people. The English are a law-reve
renting nation, and to maintain this character they
of en choose to put up with injury and obstruction.
But they know that there is no medium between
the absolute will of a tyrant and the recognition of
enactments which shall bind every one. It is not
enough to say that such and such a deed, if it be
executed, would be unjust or disagreeable, or a loss
or a calamity, unless at the same time it present the
necessary conditions which are admitted to violate
law. Mere suspicion will not suffice. This is the
ready instrument of tyranny, unsuited to a free
people. It is as well that these plain principles of
legal right should be understood and asserted, even
in our very liberal age; for it is evident that a set
attempt has been made egaiust the very palladium
of English liberty, We are told in unmistakeable
terms, and by strong facts, that it is justifiable to
seize property, if suspected of being converted to a
use calculated to excite war against us. And when the
Government, who have actually possessed themselves
of the goods, are asked to produce the papers whiell
may warrant their suspicions and justify their act,
they turn round on the House of Commons and de-
eliirQ that, peudiDg li6ipti9n, the people's reprvon.