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 exclusiyely, 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 Engligh 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 von—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 hope 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,
and 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 despoiled 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 no means deficient in resolution, and all the
sturdy determination of the northern character
seems now to have fixed itself upon the union of
Schleswig with Denmark. Holstein they are not
unwilling to abandon—in fact its German pro-
clivities are tco 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 threatening crisis and the
increased expenditure necessitated by the war have,
according to his MAJESTY, compelled this convoca-
tion of the Rgsraad, and ho 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 Danmark without
striking a blow. Had Germany believed one quer-

to of English protestations and threats she would
have taken very good care not to cross the Eider,
but events have proved that German sagacity was
wiser than English 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: We
hear a great deal about the lofty principles upon
which most continental sovereigns piofees to act ;
we hear also a great deal about the vast improve-

ment that has taken place in our own policy during
the last century, but the old story comes up again
after 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, remonstraticg, watching
and calculating the consEquences with very little
care for the right or the wrong of the matter. But

the partial dismemberment reluctantly agreed to by
the Danish Government does not fulfil the wishes
of the German invaders. Their appetite seems to
grow by what it feeds on, and they feel so secure
in their impunity and so well satisfied with their
position, 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 cause without another
etruggle. War, with all its losses, can hardly re-

duce them lower than their enemies would place
them, 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
promiiia, like the empty words that have gone before
did not bind its speaker very closely, since he sub-
sequently Proposed that the question should be
submitted to arbitration, though Denmark refused
to follow such Et course. " I cannot," says the
Danish President, "explain how this proposal was
consistent with Earl I)..ussELL's promise," and this
quiet satire was enough to show the light in which
the proceedings of the Conference were looked on
by the Danes. The gallant northern people are,
however, better informod as to the real feelings of
the English nation. Indeed they have been so

openly manifested on every public occasion—they
have shown themselves so unmistakeably in the

presence of the fair young daughter cf King Cußts.

TIAN that the Dines can hardly be ieft in doubt as
to the warmth and reality of the English interest

n their cause. In fact, the King admits as much

a his address which includes this remarkable pas.

sag : " May God grant that at least in a certain

place the sympathy for as may grow into active

support." It remains to be Been how• this earnest
aspiration may be fa:filled.

In Mr. DISRAELI'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 makiJg the most extravagant assertions,
and uttering threats, yet when circumstances seem
to call upon us to verify the one or carry out the
other, we draw back and hesitate, and finally do
nothing. Truly did the right hon. gentleman call
these tirades " useless and spiritless menaces,
wklob, by impairing the iefluence of our country
in the, Councils of Europe, have really diminished
the most effective means of maintaining peace."
Further on he stated that it would be better if the
country were governed according to the principles
and views of Messrs. COLDEN- and Br,IGHT, Lan
after the present fashion, for it would be a course
ms.rc ecnsistQw, h:rritalle, and dignified, Ihis is