The Sun.
London, England, 1864-08-26 00:00:00

LONDON, FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 18641

It is some satisfaction to find that Prussia will
not succeed in her dire attempts to despoil Den-
mask without getting into trouble herself. It has
been said that the altars of NEMESIS are beneath
every outraged roof, and it Is but fitting retribution
that some disapppointment should fell upon the
arrogant and aggressive Power that has ruthlessly
plunged an nnoffending country into misery. The
announcement that Wurtemberg intends to propose
that the minor German States, with Bavaria at their
head, should form a third Power is the German
Confederation—the other two being Austria and
Prussia—will be certain to carry consternation to
the Court and Cabinet of Berlin. It is well known
that for a long time it has been the dearest desire of
Prussian policy to be at the head of the Germanic
Confederation, and to supersede Austria in that
high position. For this purpose strenuous efforts
have been made, and deep designs concocted, but to
little avail, as things promise eventually to turn out.
Last year the Emperor of A-UM:IA stole a march
noon his brother King, and, by his apparent
zeal in the cause of progress, he contrived
to make a great impression upon the people,
and influence those whom he wished eventually to
govern directly or indirectly as the case might be.
she idea of this triumph was a bitter mortification
to Prussia and her mitre, and doubtless in some de-
gree this disquietude was the original cause of the
Danish war. King WILLIAM was determined that
at any cost his people should be diverted from their
ill omened notions of reform, and his venturesome
attempt has certainly hitherto been crowned with
signal success. It remains to be seen what the
sequel will be to this fitful presage in the history
of States; and in all probability it may be said,
when we survey the aousequences of the rash acts
committed that Le jee ne vaut pas la chaudelle.
Here, for instance, in this Wurtemberg proposition

may trace a very significant feature of the times.
" Coming events cast their shadows before ;" and,
dimly foreshadowed in the shadowy outline of this
proposition, it is really no exaggeration to trace the
final discomfiture of the hopes and disappointment
of the ambition of the haughty and tyrannical
kingdom. Pride goes before a fall, and if that
sia by which the angels fell deserves to
bring down on its possessor a heavy retribution,
surely cruelty, rapacity, and cunning of no c,;mmon
order deserve a signal punishment. It will be po-
itical justice, if not poetical, that witnesses some
stoppage put to the encroachments of Prussian
greed, and some check interposed on the career of
wanton covetousness and unwarrantable spoliation,
Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further has been
said often and again since the world began to those
assuming mortals and pretentious nations that
dared to expect everything to give way. " See all
things for my use" is considered a satire on selfish
expectations, but the Prussians of the present day
are even worse, they appear to think that all things
are for their abuse, and that they may ride rough
shod over the feelings and prejudices of indivi-
duals and tr:mple down the rights and liberties
of nations under the iron heel of conquest. Such
a course can never be pursued long with impunity,
especiallyon an eX tended scale, with the eyes of the
world upon the perpetrators of evil. The spoliation of
Denmark will long be remembered by al, who have
been lookers.on at the life and death struggle which
that brave people made with so little success. It is
to be trusted that, as well as the regret, there may
ale° appear many tokens of loss and discomfiture on
the side of the German Powers, and especially on
the part of Prussia. This intelligence concerning
Wurtercherg is as the iiey.note sounded which will
hereafter merge into a tumult of discordance and
B 'rife. It is a scricus stoppage to the plans of
Prussia that the minor States should thus become
quite distinct from her authority. So vast and
v.iTious are the chances now taking place in Ger-
many that it is not probable if a settlement of some
slrt b. made now which :alienates the influence
P: cassia from the taaallo: Principalities)
that eventually events Will
restore the chance
that is now being lost. The presentiment of this
unpleasant fact will make the Berlin
Government
if possible, increa
very savage, and, as their present
nn genial aspect. SCOTT has well said_
" Oh, what a tangled wpb we weave 1
When first we practise to deceive;"
1

and it is most probable that the allied Powers
will prove the truth of this adage to their coat
The wholb scheme of this Schleswig' Holstein affair
h,s bfen a perfect "dodge" from the beginning,
and es it has procseded in iniquity, and the con-
spiratars have unmasked themselves, the world has
stood r.ghast at the enormity of the demands and