The Sun.
London, England, 1863-10-28 00:00:00

Danish journal, the Dagbladet; and in the extract
which we published yesterday the subject may be
said to be exhausted. The Diet have, as is well
known, based their present complaint sgainst the
Danish Sovereign on the publication by him of a
royal ordinance in the month of March last, which
gave to thepopulation of Holstein a constitution to
which, in respect to comprehensiveness, it would be
impossible to find a counterpart in Germany. But
why, it may be asked, if the boon is rejected by the
Federation, does the Danish Government endeavour
to force it on their acceptance; why not rather with-
draw the despised gift, and remove the pretext for
Federal intervention ? if the threatened aggres-
sion could be averted by cancelling the royal ordi-
nance of March, the refusal of the Danish Govern-
ment to do so would certainly be inexcusable. But
such a result would not follow, because on the re-
peal of the royal ordinance the Danish Sovereign
would of course resume his absolute and unrestric-
ted authority in the duchy, and the status quo would
be restored which led to the Federal resolutions of
March, 1860, and February, 1861, with the demands
incorporated in which the constitution given to
Holstein in March last was intended to be an act of
compliance. If, three years since, a Federal execu-
tion was threatened because the Danish Sovereign
would do nothing', the ground for intervention
would exist unaffected if he were now to repeal
what he has since done. The question at issue ,
_ _

does not, as stated in the Danish journal, affect the
autonomy of Holstein, but that of the Danish
kingdom and provinces ; and whether the Federa-
tion are satisfied or not with the constitution given
to Holstein, they have no right to dictate a form
of government to be adopted in territories entirely
independent of their control. In truth, however,
there can be no question that Denmark would
willingly adopt any measures consistent with the
preservation of Ler sovereign rights to retain
friendly relations with the German Federation.
Proposals without number have emanated from
the Danish Government, with a view of obtaining
a satisfactory solution of the long-pending dispute ;
but they have invariably been met with counter
proposals, which were alone made because they
were known to be untenable. In the second de-
spatch transmitted by the British Foreign Secre-
tary to the Federal Diet the latter are reminded
that the Danish Government are willing to modify
the ordinance of the 30th March to the sense of the
resolution passed by the Diet in March, 1860, and
to make that ordinance provisional until the
definite position of Holstein with regard to Ger-
many has been settled. To such a proposal as
this it is difficult to understand what objections
could be offered by the German powers, seeing that
by this arrangement the Holstein Estates would
retain their constitutional privileges pending the
settlement of their final status. The fact, how-
ever, that even this arrangement finds no favour
with the Diet affords au additional proof that
Holstein and its government are not the objects
of tile threatened execution. If the German
Powers are inclined to overlook the immediate
consequences of attempting to occupy Holstein
in leaguing against themselves the chief mari-
time Powers of Europe, they ought not to
disregard the inevitable complications with
which in any event the Holstein question will be
thereby invested. Even assuming, as Earl Russell
points out, that the execution was confined to the
latter duchy, the Danish Government would make
reprisals by instituting a blockade, which could not
but prove highly injurious to German commerce.
" The war," writes the Foreign Secretary, " would
thus become embittered, claims for damages would
arise on both sides, and new difficulties stand in the
way of a peaceful settlement." In the event of the
war extending to the Danish territories, then, in
accordance with the treaty of 1852, not alone Great
Britain, but Austria and Prussia, would be bound
to interpose to preserve the integrity of Denmark,
and, as Earl Russell pithily remarks, " this obliga-
tion would of course be fulfilled, but might bring
about fresh complications at Frankfort." However
the proposed policy of the German Powers is re,
garded the difficulties whin it must occasion are
so great that it is scarcely possible to believe anY
rational or responsible Government advocating its
adoption. None other than the German Diet would
ever counsel an aggression of Denmark at the pre-
sent time, and no other people but the Germans
would hail their decision with satisfaction. As to
Denmark, both the Sovereign and his subjects are
of one accord as to the course to be pursued. The
King has recently made a very remarkable speech,
in which he has evinced his determination, if aided
by his people, to resist the whole power of Germany
—and finally, when worsted in the unequal contest,
to descend from his throne and proclaim a republic.
" History shall not tell that the last of the Olden-
burgs parcelled out Denmark. If, however, in the
course of time we must succumb as being the
weakest, and France and Sweden permit the most
southern province of Scandinavia—the old Jutland
of the south—to share the fate of Galicia, of Poland,
and of Northern Italy, by being overpowered and
suppressed by Germen Governments, then I will
descend from the throne and proclaim the re-
public." The King of Denmark need be under no
apprehensions—neither France nor Sweden, nor,
for that matter, Great Britain, will permit Den-
mark to be expunged from the map of Europe,
simply to gratify the insensate ambition of Ger-
many.

COUNTRY MARKETS.

w.. y..__. V.----

LEEDS-TUESDAY.

The market was rather slow for wheat to-day, and in
the little business dono last Tuesday's rates were main-
tained. Fine barley at fully last week's prices, but other
sorts rather easier to purchase. Oats, beans, and other
articles unaltered.