The Sun.
London, England, 1863-09-23 00:00:00

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71:(p) 1.)
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LONDON, WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 23, 1863.

The Archduke MAXIMILIAN, it seems, has, after
all, deliberately and definitively accepted the
Imperial Crown •of Mexico recently proffered
to him so unexpectedly by the Emperor-
Maker NAPOLEON 111. This formal acceptance,
at any rate, is quite positively announced
as a fact by the Europe of Frank-on-the-
Maine. And the acceptance is, beyond that, an.
nounced to be, moreover, " at all risks and perils"
—the ARCHDUKE, in assuming the magnificent
title and dignity proffered to him, together
with their attendant responsibilities, renounc-
ing his own rights and prerogatives as the
Prince nearest collaterally to the inheritance
of the Austrian throne. The acceptance, therefore,
is one full and complete. It is like crossing over
the plank and kicking away the plank afterwards.
It is a manner of accepting the crown of Mexico
kindred in its way to the manner of CXSAR'S in-
vasion of Britain, when after landing the troops
be burnt his ships. Strangely enough, while this
incident is occurring in regard to the Empire of
Mexico in the northern of the twin continents
of America, in the southern the companion
Empire, that of Brazil, seems to give promise of
falling to the lot, eventually, of another of the
KAISER'S brothers, in this instance, the youngest !
Such a contingency being rendered, at any rate, pos-
sible, if not in the highest degree probable, by rea-
aOn of that youngest brother of His Majesty the
Emperor
of AUSTRIA, i.e, the Archduke Louis,
being affianced
to the eldest daughter and heiress
of the •
relgning Emperor of the BRAZILS, PEDRO 11.
Supp
'4'llg—et whatever date after this marriage
of the Archduke Louis of Austria with the Princess
DONNA 124,
°ELLA CHRlSTlNA—supposing that
Princess to a'wand the Imperial Throne of Brazils as
Empress regnant, the Archduke, as is usual in these
cases with the Consorts of the Bourbon and Haps-
burg Princesses when inheriting a Crown, would
inevitably assume the title
and dignity of Emperor.
occurring Such an elevation, if
in the lifetime of his
elder brothers—his Imperial
Majesty FRANCIS
JOSEPH, and his Imperial •t,..
Klaghness, rather, we
p„
should say nays', his Imita
Majesty MAXl-
iAN—would present to I,;_
mm -4 a conjunction
of circumstances such as certainly
never yet has
occurred in the annals of euSt dynasty.
lta
imuneously
Three brothers reigning simultaneously over three
separate empires—one in Europe, One in North
America, one in South America. The Emperor
FRANCIS JOSEPH over the Empire of Austria.
The Emperor MAXIMILIAN over the Empire of
Mexico. The Emperor LOUIS, through his wife's
inheritance, over the Empire of Brazil.
Knowing the posstbility cf this combination of
circumstances being actually and
brought about, natural
eventually
and that, moreover, by the
coarse of events, and upon no mere wild
anticipation ; knowing that two out of the
three incidents imagined
a while later, contemporaneous—know-
ing, posible to be•
come,
porancous—know-
ing, we say, that two out of the three have
already been realised, teat the Emperor FRANCIS
JOSEPH not only reigning still as he has been
reigning now for fourteen years past over Austria,
and that the Archduke MAXIMILIAN has virtually
become Emperor of MEXICO—it is peculiarly
worthy of consideration that a family called to
such lcrfty and resplendent destinies as the
House of HaPziwit.G should so very recently,
so very signally, and, be it added, quite

unmistakeably committed themselves to the cause,
to the principles, to the policy known as that of
purely Constitutional Government.

As certainly as, according to a famous and most

felicitous phrase of LAMARTINE'S, the slope of Russia
is towards the East, so surely, so unmistakeably may
it now be said that the slope of Austria is towar6s
Constitutional Government. It is from Despotism
and towards so much of Democracy as may/ be
implied under the term of Constitutional Go-
vernment. To this course the Emperor of
AUSTRIA is now pledged : not reluctantly but
spontaneously. The enthusiasm awekened, to
all appearance, at the time, to superficial observers
at least so very prematurely in the heart of Mr.
ROEBUCK by reason of his eat ly recognition of what
all Europe has since then come to recognise—that
strange and, at the time, bewildering enthusiasm of
Mr. ItOEBUCK.S for Austria, for the Austrian Em•
PEROR, for the Austrian Government, has, of late,
been to the full justified. The Austrian EMPE-
ROR has not ()lily given ample assurances of his
good intentions in the way of, so to speak,
constituting his hitherto purely arbitrary
Government, but, as one pledged to this
course, he has very recently held aloft the banner
of advance, of reform, of improvement, to the whole
Germanic Confederation. His brother MAXIMILIAN,
now about to ascend the Imperial Throne of Mexico,
will carry out there with him that predilection for
Constitutional Government,inevitabl a in some sort, in
a Prince who is younger brother to FRANCIS JOSEPH,
son-in-law of LEOPOLD, and the friend (shall we not
say, also, the protegee ?) of that NAPOLEON 111. who
has affected at any rate so to admire Constitutional
Government that his avowed policy is to prepare
France for it ! That NAPOLEON 111., one of whose
latest and most remarkable speeches was an elo-
quent panegyric upon the liberties assured to us
here in England under the aegis of our Constitu•
tional Government ! Predilections of a similar
kind, we may
rest assured, would, in all hu-
man likelihood, be taken out with him by
the Archduke Louis of Austria to South America,
should that Prince, in his turn, be called to ascend
an imperial throne in the Brazils. It is from an
appreciation of all this, that we can regard with
complacency, that we can regard without any sense
whatever of solicitude, the wonderful development
of late of the already lofty fortunes of the Imperial
House of Hapsburg.

Nothing can be more unsatisfactory than the
course which our Government are pursuing to-
wards the Southern States of America. Earl
RUSSELL seems resolved to do all in his power to
work against them, and the last result of his arbi-
trary actions and unwise proceedings is, that Mr.
MASON has been ordered to withdraw. He yester-
day sent to Lord RUSSELL a notification that be
1 has been instructed by the Confederate Government
at Richmond to withdraw from this country. He
will proceed to Paris. This proves how much has
been done to annoy and irritate the Confederates
by all the strange plans and novel modes of proce-
dure that Lord RUSSELL has adopted during the
last few months. In the first place, it was a great
error to respect the blockade at all. It has caused
great loss and irreparable injury to many of our
people ; but this is nothing in comparison with the
way in which the honour of England has been
called in question by the recent arrangements with
the Federal Government. In order to suit their
notions all trade with Matamoras has been stopped.
This entails a heavy loss on many of our merchants,
and is a most extraordinary thing for any Minister
to allow. The fact is, that a very convenient
excuse is trumped np about conveying arms,
&c., and thus the trade is monopolised by
the Americans themselves. Again, they insist
on searching ships, and arrogate to themselves the
right of deciding whether or not the documents are
genuine that are found in the confiscated vessels.
In the case of the Peterhoff, for example, they
averred that the papers were simulated, but took
no pains to prove the veracity of the assertion.
Earl RUSSELL was appealed to again and again by
various owners of vessels about to start for Ame-
rica, or to places in that direction, but no protection
would he afford to those claimants for his assist-
ance. In one case he ordered the mail-bags to be
taken from the vessel, instead of insuring it a safe
convoy under his declaration that all was right.
This was very unworthy conduct on the part of the
Foreign Minister of a great country ; it was a course
of proceeding originally calculated to give rise to
impertinence and assumption on the part of oppo-
nents. So it has certainly proved in regard to this
affair, for the United States Government have been
more sedulous than ever lately in interposing vexa-
tious hindrances to our commerce, and in insulting
our vessels at every opportunity. The last report
is, that a vessel was seized by the Americans on the
pretence of its being destined to run the blockade ;
but here, fortunately, retribution overtook the
assailers, for the captain and his men rose against
the prize crew and succeeded in making their
escape. This is very satisfactory, if true; but, of
course, it is only a chance that such a fortuitous 1
circumstance occurs. It is really scandalous that
such interference with English subjects, in English
vessels, on the high seas is allowed; it would not
have been tolerated in past days, when the affairs
of the country were represented by statesmen of
more spirit. Then England, was the mistress of the
deep, and no one in vain claimed protection beneath
her flab. Nov, unhappily, our ancient prestige is
fast departing, and all our old ideas of honour are
to be cast away to suit the dogmas and conform to
the creeds of the Manchester school of politicians.
These DANIELS come to judgment are apparently
resolved to revolutionise all things, but it is a pity
that they do not confine their efforts and limit their
attempts to home matters, where, if mistakes were
made, they could be rectified afterwards. In foreign
affairs a false step is not easily retraced, and it is
too much for those who have the interest and
integrity of the country at heart to endure
tamely that on so many vital points everything
should be allowed to go by default, and no check
put upon the overweening insolence and unblush-
ing effrontery of other nations. Earl RUSSELL is
making a lamentable mistake in his present course.
He is perilling the reputation of a long political
career, and tarnishing the lustre of a once mighty
name in politics. How changed is he from the time
when, as Prime Minister, he defended the conduct
of Lord PALMERSTON, then Foreign Secretary.
lie based his argument on the solid ground of
nationality. He said that the noble lord was not
the Minister of France or of Russia, but of Eng-
land' Now, in the same place, is he fulfitling the
same lofty mission, • and
right a cotri nfigt t
ir worthy
representative
vocation ?f
the majesty of Eng _
luta before the nations of the
world ? It seeingas if nothing could influence him
otherwise.
,n andting
Ia Parliament there
have been frequent
bboth sides of the Rouse have concurred
:
the state of affairs in regard to foreign
legislation.
Many important individuals in various
departments debates,
ita
tnt
ees
of trade and commerce have joined
their entreaties, but all to no purpose. Before next
session Earl RUSSELL will have disgusted or dis-
appointed both Bides in the American contest, so
as most likely will be the
that when they separate,
case, into two great Stites, neither will be amicably
disposed toward us. Besides this, in all probability

by -ths,t time France will have come forward in
some decisive manner, and then it may be reserved
for us to follow in her wake, and recognise the
South, and defy the North, too late to satisfy the
one or intimidate the other. It is high time that a
new leaf should be turned over, and if we are not
to take a decided tone in American affairs, at least
we should maintain inviolate the dignity of
our own country and protect the rights of our own
subjects. There is no greater error for a statesman
to commit than tamely to submit to outrages of the
kind the Federals are constantly putting upon us,
and some day the sense of the country will recog-
nise this. The spirit of the people will be roused,
and they will demand of their Ministers an account
of their interests that have been injured by tame
concessions, and ask indignantly what has become
of the national honour entrusted to their charge.

The aspect of affairs in Denmark is becoming
more threatening, and the clouds are darkening
round the political horizon. The German Conte-
deration do not seemingly intend to justify Lord
PALMERSTON'S good opinion of their deliberative
powers ; and, unmoved by the British Premier's
decided language, and unchecked by the firmness of
Denmark, they are preparing to put their threat
into execution by a military occupation of the dis-
puted duchy. Six thousand troops, partly Hano-
verians and partly Saxons, with a Prussian and
Austrian reserve, are to march into Holstein, a
movement which, if fully carried out, can scarcely
fail to light those flames of European war which
every wise and humane Statesman is so slow and
unwilling to kindle. Denmark on her part is pre-
paring to resist the aggression. On Monday last
the Minister of War issued an order that the regi-
mental lists should be filled up to war strength by
the Ist of October. This is the first step towards
placing the army on a war footing, and is in itself
no unsuitable reply to the report of the German
;ntentions. It shows the members of the Diet that
there are limits to forbearance and diplomatic cour-
tesy, and that should a German foot be advanced
on Danish soil as an invader, the sword would be
the barrier over which it would have to pass. The
Confederation, too, would do well not to forget the
offensive and defensive alliance entered into not
long ago between Sweden and Denmark. It is pro-
bable, however, that this gives them but little un-
easiness, since in a war in which Sweden was en-
gaged Russia would gladly give her assistance.
Finland is not the only province or kingdom on
which the longing eyes of Russia have been bent,
and her restless ambition will not be fully satisfied
until the whole of the north of Europe owns the
supremacy of the CZAR. It may be said that Russia
has enough on her hands just now without engag-
ing in fresh complications ; but that is no
check to resolute aggression. If prudence
were consulted, Prussia would look at home
before pressing on a crisis in Denmark; but, in spite
of the coming elections, the acquittal of the jour-
nalists, and the general discontent of the people in
Prussia, we know who is the chief instigator of the
mischief. Russia would be by no means sorry for
an excuse to embroil herself with Sweden, espe-
cially now the advancing season enables her to look
with indifference on AL DROUYN DE LIIUTS' de-
spatches and Lord RUSSELL'S mild remonstrances.
The Russian General in the Crimea reckoned on the
advance of his "two good Generals, January and
February," for doing him good service, and not the
less potent is the shadow of the coming October and
November valuable allies to Northern arrogance.
But while the plot thus thickens there is another
Power to be considered, with whom it rests entirely
to open or shut the door of strife. The position cc-
cupied by England ii a most responsible one, and
on the course she now follows the whole question
turns. Will Lord RUSSELL be equal to the occa-
sion ? That is the query which now bears the fate
of Europe in ila answer. From his former vacillat-
ing and inconsistent conduct there is grave reason
for fearing that he will not perceive the importance
of his interference until too late; but there are, on
the other hand, grounds for hoping that other in-
fluences may turn the scale. Let England come
boldly forward and join the Northern Alliance, and
not a step will Austria or Prussia take on Danish
ground, not a word will even Russian assumption
raise in their behalf. It is no less the interest than
the duty of this country to take a decided part. She
is bound by every tie to the brave and independent
little kingdom. The common sympathies and in-
terests of her people, the love of freedom, and order
characteristic of both peoples, render an alliance
between them only natural. The safeguard which
a strong Northern power offers against the aggres-
sion of Russia is too valuable to be disregarded by
wise men. England would possess in a free and
independent Denmark an ally which could not fail to
be serviceable, and might prove inestimable. Let
Denmark fall a prey to Prussian maritime am-
bition, let Sweden be absorbed in the ever-ex-
tending vortex of Russian ambition, and England
will surely rue the day. By her prompt inter •
sention she has it now in her power to rescue
Europe from the horrors of war. But if our
Ministry let slip the golden hour they need not
think themselves too secure from the hazards and
expenses of war. Popular indignation will pro-
bably be aroused, help for Denmark insisted on,
and we shalt drift into war through the very
timorousness that sought to avoid it. Can anyone
doubt that a plain declaration at the outset of
the differences in 1854, that England would re-
gard the passage of the Pruth as a cam belli,
would not have avoided hostilities altogether?
Foreign Governments are becoming so accustomed
to reckon on English dread of war, that they find
it difficult to believe that any question not directly
concerning her own interests has power to rouse
her. Indeed, from their experience of the Ameri-
can War, they may be well excused for doubting
if even direct affront and positive injury will stir
sleeping
lion. The policy of non-intervention,
which, after the long and bloody wars of the
lasttlie scle ntury, was hailed as a general boon, has
its brawbacks as well as its advantages. It may
be carried to a length unworthy of a great
nation, even as great evils may be drawn down
on the heads of a people by an officious inter-
ference in the affairs of other nations. It may
be right to stand aside from a fair fight, and
unduly influence neither side, but the same line
of action assumes a different aspect when we see
a highwayman attacking a traveller. Prudence
and pusillanimity are very different qualities, and
the one commonly involves its possessor in as
great difficulties as the other saves him from.
The virtue on the pert of our Foreign Secre-
tary is apt to run into the vice, and
we must trust to the savoir faire of
Viscount PALMERSTON, and his usual sagacity in
detecting the bent of 'she popular sympathies, to
preserve Denmark from the threatened aggres-
sion. It is no longer a case for gentle remonstrance
and courtly argument, but for a plaia intimation
of the part which England will feel it her duty to
take tinder certain contingencies. German pride
may be affronted, but will not take long to heal;
while who can tell what shall be the end of the
story if the first Power in Europe stands by, with
silent voice and sheathed sword, a passive witness
to a struggle which it
lay with her to prevent ?