The Sun.
London, England, 1863-05-16 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

TlMES.—Partly from its intricacy, and partly
from the comparative narrowness of the interests
involved, the question of Schleswig-Holstein has
never been much studied by the public of this coun-
try. It is a subject of which professed politicians
have made much, and respecting which the press
has accordingly been called at intervals to repeat
facts and to pronounce opinions; but the explana-
tions have, we fear, been soon forgotten, and the
public has altogether omitted to follow the question
through the weary disputations of later years. Yet,
though people may not care for the details of an
interminable discussion, there is a strong sympathy
for the gallant little State which has been engaged
in so unequal a contest. This feeling is naturally
increased by the alliance between the Royal Houses
of Great Britain and Denmark, and hardly less
naturally by the apparent recklessness of Lord
Russell in abandoning the policy of this country and
that which he himself formerly approved, in order
to lecture Denmark and bid her yield all that her
opponents demand. Hence our readers will hardly
fail to take some interest in the debate in the House
of Lords last evening. Lord Ellenborough thought
the time opportune for a recurrence to the subject,
inasmuch as it seems likely that the quarrel may
come to a crisis within the present year. Indeed,
for some time past the Federal Government of
Germany has been threatening an armed interfer-
ence with the Danish Monarchy. We well know
that the distance between the conception and the
execution of an idea is greater with Germans than
with most people, but it is not at all impossible that
one of the two great Governments may, sooner or
later, be induced to march a force into the Duchies.
Should future difficulties give France or Russia
the opportunity of appearing as champions of Den-
mark against its German foes, it will be impossible
wholly to acquit Lord Russell of having aided in
producing so untoward an event by his despatch of
a few months since, and by the attitude he has
assumed towards Denmark in the present discuss-
sion. As to the despatch, Lord Derby admits that
it was written, not on the mere motion of the Bri-
tish Government, but as part of a diplomatic eorre •
spondenee ; that the interference was not forced
upon the contending States, bat was consented to
by them; but it is not less the case that the lan-
guage of Lord Russell and the proposals he made
were wholly inconsistent with the former policy of
this country, and even with his sown expressed opi-
nions. It is well blown that Denmark, acting under
Russia,advicethe
has o
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thing. to content the people of the Duchies, so far
as this contentment was consistent with the inte-
grityconnected with the suecessAiosnnis.
of the monarchy.
of Denmark, though the unity of the kingdom was
much impaired, endeavoured
and Lauenbue
fno soon
good
de
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. questions
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were settled the King
a constitution to all parts
t eni hpioephu I
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nmark Proper,
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That there was
might
and no unprejudiced
have conferred liberty. and security upon all the
subjects of the Danish monarchy.