The Sun.
London, England, 1864-05-21 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

Tz —As the month of suspended hostilit;as,
which it required so Much negotiation to obtain,
passes away, the prospects of a satisfactory result
of the Conference do not improve. It is im-
possible to resist the conviction that the German
Powers attended the Conference with a predeter-
mination f elude all terms and conditions, even
those to which they gave the mockery of their
assent. It appears that the Austrian squadron in
the North Sea has been reinforced, though Denmark
hae raised its blockade of the German ports, To
the Prussian land force the armistice has been
merely a suspension of operations in the field, an
interval of battle, like the truce of a few hours to
bury the dead. To the Vanes it has been much
more, since raising a blockade may fairly be accepted
as a preparation for peace. In this stage of the war,
as in the first, it is evident that the fulfilment of
every condition or promise Denmark has made is to
be rigorously exacted, while the most formal en-
gagements of the two German States are repudiated
with almost a cynical contempt for the opinion of
the world, What Denmark has lost and yielded of
course leaves her less capable of resistance, but
every hour since the commencement of the armis-
tice has been employed by Prussia in increasing
her means of carrying on the war. In fact, she
has never really ceased from acts of hostility, and
has shown how possible it is to wage very effective
war even with the sword in the scabbard. Day by
day the work of destroying the Danish forts and
works has continued. With regularity equally un-
sparing the Prussian army has continued to raise
enormous war contributions in the province of Jut-
land. The last accounts from this portion of the
Danish territory, into which Germany has no more
right to carry its Federal Execution than to ravage
a department of France, read precisely like as many
chapters in the history of the Thirty Years War.
Though every State of Europe seems compelled to
keep largo masses of its population ready for
battle, mankind hoped that civilised nations had
advanced beyond the period when war was mere
brigandage on the most extensive scale. But we
have been destined to see the worst and oldest bar-
barisms reproduced. In Jutland there has been no
resistance to the German arms. The two provinces
the alleged rights of which were alone to be asserted
by the war are in full possession of four German
Powers. More than enough has been seized for any
" material guarantee" that can possibly be required.
With both Schleswig and Holstein under the shadow
of German bayonets, and all the Danish authorities
displaced, it is only insulting the common sense of
Europe to assert that Germany has not gained a
sufficient " security" as against Denmark. The
Prussians have not the plea of necessity, for the
means of supporting a German army engaged in
such a war are ample. The slightest appeal to the
" nationality" of forty millions in whose name the
invasion is made, would produce money and sup•
plies in profusion. From the Eider southwards to
the Rhine, and eastwards to the Danube, we are
told of the burning enthusiasm that pervades Ger-
many for the cause of which Prussia is the cham-
pion. That spirit should find sotee solid form of
expressing itself that would at least save the mili-
tary renown of the nation from the stigma of vulgar
robbery. It can be called by no softer name. What
the Prussians demand are not contributions and re-
quisitions in the real meaning of those terms. Their
demands are not only for corn, cattle, or things
necessary for the subsistence of the army; there is
a general seizure and confiscation of pperty of
every kind. Money comes first, and the refusal to
pay sums which it is impossible for the towns and
villages of a country far from wealthy to raise is
punished by the Arrest and imprisonment of the
authorities. The contents worth taking of every
establishment are then confiscated and become the
property of the State of Prussia. The goods of
manufacturers, retail dealers, tailors, dyers,
goldsmiths, turners, are all included in the
sweep. The houses are sealed up ; and a
military guard placed at the doors. Wallen-
stein, when he supported armies for a bankrupt
Emperor of Austria by open plunder, could hardly
have done the work more completely. In the
Schleswig-Holstein campaign of 1848 Field-Marshal
Wrangel was the Commander-in-Chief. He then,
as now, demanded a heavy cnntribution in money
from the inhabitants of Jutland. But it was not
levied. The proceeding was disclaimed at Berlin,
and shortly afterwards General Wrangel was re-
called. Now, just as the reports of similar but
greater oppression of the invaded country are dis-
crediting the Prussian name throughout Europe,
General Wrangel " gains a step" in the Prussian
Peerage—that is, from a Baron he is made a Count.
\era fear, therefore, his exactions in Jutland are
fully sc2roved. From the brief statement made last
night by L'lrd Palmerstonlit is clear that as far as
the inhabitans:g of this portion of Denmark are
concerned the Cont,' rence has effected nothing. We
still trust it may ho ino,:p successful in what remains
of the political portion of ;,..s task. It is with no
surprise we learn that Prussia finally and openly
repudiates the Treaty of 1852. M. Bismark asserts
e
that his Government is completely
rel,:sd " from
all the obligations that may be deduced" from it.
He only repeats what was often urged on tLe eve
of the hostilities, that the war will annul the tr6a:.l"
altogether. This is the point at which the negoti-
ations have arrived, and all the Conference has to
do, according to the Prussian Minister, is to discuss
" any other combinations that may be entirely in-
dependent of the treaty." Prussia has made a
tabula rasa of this passage of its history, and
concedes to the other Powers of Europe the right
of discussing what shall be inscribed on the blank
page laid before them. Practically, the Treaty of
London has, by the declaration of Prussia, ceased
to be a subject of discussion. What the Conference
can effect, assuming the old engagements are set
aside, is new the only question. It seems rather
late to hope, but it may still be too early for
despair. The great object in any settlement of
this long dispute should be to leave nothing that
may hereafter raise fresh controversies to be em-
bittered into war. This necessity brings us back
to the suggestion made some years ago by Lord
Palmerston, that the Duchies should be divided so
as to separate the Danish and German nationalities
completely. What German subjects have done for
the Monarchy of Denmark we now see too dis-
tinctly; and it should be the lass wish of Germany
to have Danes under its political control. The
division of the races, when first practised, mould
in all probability have prevented the presee:t miser-
able conflict. Whether the German populat;on is
more likely to be handed over to the Federatinn,
with a new Prince added to the Band, or held by
the strong hands now upon it, are different ques-
tions. Having shattered the old diplomatic fabric,
we presume the Prussian Government has deter-
mined on what is to be the process of reconstruction.
May it be partly divined with the assistance of a
small indication from Berlin ? Commercial enter-
prise, at least, has begun to consider the soil of the
Duchies as Prussian territory. A company, pro-
-oted by M. von der Heydt, is to be forthwith
Le.
establie had to construct a Schleswig-Holstein canal
the North Sea with the Baltic." The
" to connect.
Prussian Treasur; offers to defray the expense of
the preliminary worlt:, and a Prussian Privy Coun-
cillor is " intrusted with the execution of the un-
dertaking." This may prove g gleam of light to
guide the Conference when it meets from its long
adjournment to consider the new comt;inations that
must be quite independent of Treaties.
HERALD.—We heartily congratulate Lord Pal-
merston upon his convalescence. From a merely
partisan stand-point we might have looked with
complacency upon a prolongation of that absence
from Parliament which has exhibited his col-
leagues in such a sorry light. But the public
interest, which must always suffer when the Pre-
mier is prevented from taking his proper part in
public business, was sustaining the most serious
injury from the illness of a Minister who is the
sole bond of union of his Cabinet, and who
alone commands any popular esteem and con-
fidence. We should receive with no regretre-
the announcement that the Ministry had
signed. They have neglected the interests,
sacrificed the allies, broken the faith, and tar-
nished the honour of the country; but if they will
cling to place, and, in o
e spit all the defeats and
rebuffs they sustain, persist if n holding office, we
should be extremely sorry to have the chances of
mischief increased by the inability of the only
Minister who can be suspected of caring for the
honour and power of the country to join in their
deliberations and take the leading part in the con-
duct of public business. Lord Palmerston will need
all the strength he has regained to preserve his
Administration from a disgraceful fall. His per-
sonal popularity, the confidence felt in him by some
members of the Opposition, will no longer suffice to
protect the Cabinet. A storm of indignation is
gathering throughout the land which can only be
conjured by the adoption of a policy diametrically
opposite to that which the Ministry have pursued
during the last few months. The country feels that
it has been betrayed by the Government, it writhes
under the insults of Europe. All the generous in-
stincts of Englishmen aro profoundly wounded by
the outrageous conduct of Prnasia. in Denmark.
They feel that their true interests would be sacri-
ficed in the destruction of the integrity of the
Danish monarchy, and they. are irritated beyond
endurance by the low cunning and the insolent
brutality of Germany. They see that the cowardice
and vacillation of the Government have been mainly
instrumental in bringing affairs to this shameful
pass. Hitherto the general expression of indigna.
Om has been restrained by the hope that the Con-
ference would bring a satisfactory peace. or at least
by a desire to give the Ministry, which promised so
much from the Conference, the chance that it de.