The Sun.
London, England, 1863-08-21 00:00:00

himself (vaguely at the time of its revival, but very
explicitly since then) the first to indicate. By
that phrase signifying nothing less than the gra-
dual addition to the Imperial constitution of one
liberal institution after another : until eventually,
with an Emperor still at her head, France should
be endowed, under the rule even of a NAPOLEON,
with the various social and political liberties—con-
spicuous among them the freedom of speech and the
freedom of writing—peculiar to the genius of every
truly constitutional Government. NAPOLEON 111.

has done much hitherto by the combined daring
and prudence of his Imperial policy, he has done
very much already, towards the enhancement of his
influence in Europe, and towards the encrease of
his own personal prestige as a NAPOLEON over
the imaginations of his own glory-loving people.
He may now, however, readily enough when he
pleases, surpass all that he has yet accomplished
in that direction, by his own loyal and faithful
fulfilment of his promise of advancing in ano-
ther ! Doing this by adventuring, with the like
combination of prudence and daring, not to-
wards the further enhancement of the pride of
France, not towards the gratification yet more of
her greed of glory, whether military or diplomatic,
but towards the more effectual consolidation of the
imperial edifice he has been so signally successful
in building up anew from the midst of the ruins of
the last Revolution! Its effectual consolidation,
that is, by the very process he has himself already
specified, by the symbolical phrase of crowning it
—in other words, by adding to the evidences of
the vigour and the glory of his rule as a Sovereign,
the accordance to France, no matter how gra-
dually, no matter how cautiously, of the inesti-

enable blessings peculiar to Constitutional Govern
meat.

The business at Frankfort seems to have begun
n good earnest. It is satisfactory to find that so
many princes and potentates have answered the
invitation of the EMPEROR, and actually appeared
in person at the Conference. It often occurs that
there is some flaw in these affairs, however well-
intentioned may be the originators of the scheme,
and however anxious may be the promoters of it.
Nothing could pcssibly have been more auspicious
than the commencement of the illustrious conclave;
and it is to be hoped that its performances will
equal its promise. At the banquet given by the
Senate the EMPEROR made a short speech, which
appfars to have been animated with the most libe-
ral and benevolent feelings. He observed, after
thanking those who gave the entertainment, for the
hospitable reception accorded to himself and his
brother Sovereigns, that he thought they—the
princes of Germany—could not better express their
gratitude than " by proving that a heartfelt love
for our common fatherland is the bond of union be-
tween us." At the opening of the "Congress of
Princes" the EMPEROR made a long address, in
which he clearly explained the purport of his un-
dertaking, and endeavoured to elucidate his policy
in a straightforward manner. He commenced by
calling attention to the fact that an assembly such
as that had not occurred for centuries. Trusting in
the elevated sentiments of his fellow-princes, and
the just spirit of the people, he had brought about
that meeting. He thought it incumbent upon him
to state openly that Germany looked " forward to
a development of its constitution." He therefore
came there in person to state his views, and to declare
what he was ready to accord. He then explained
more fully his meaning, and that one point was the
periodical meeting of the German princes. In order
to increase the sphere of the Bund, the power was
to be placed in the hands of a Directory, which
should be a Federal Council, In all these arrange-
ments, as much as possible, equality should be up-
held, making allowance, of course, for the
population and political importance of the
different independent States. Furthermore,
the EMPEROR went on to explain the
chief object of the whole plan, " the single idea
that had taken complete possession of his mind."
This was, that the time had come for renewing,
according to the epirit of the times, the " Bund
which our ancestors entered into." Certainly, the
EMPEROR deserves great credit for his boldness
in thus coming forward, and he stands alone in
the glory of the idea. No one else can take from
him his due in this respect, however much they
may approve of it, or adopt it as their own by
assimilating their policy to its intentions. No
one could speak out more strongly for popular
rights than did the Austrian EMPEROR in these
words----" By allowing our peoples to participate
in the Bund, we shall give new vigour to it,
and enable it to uphold to the end of time the
honour, power, security, and welfare of Germany
as one great and inseparable whole." If this
idea is carried out in its grandeur and integrity,
the name of FRANCIS JOSEPH will be honoured
and reverenced for generations to come ! And
when the splendours of his august State have
vanished, and the brilliancy of his sovereign rule
has faded, the recollection of the public services
he shall have rendered to the nation he represents
will crown his reign with enduring lustre, and
rank his name among the honoured benefactors
of his kind !
The EMPEROR then explained the necessity that
existed for immediate improvement in the state of
things in Germany; and he very truly observed that,
allowing that his proposals might admit of altera-
tions hereafter, there would be no gain in very "pro-
longed deliberations." This was most correct, for no
good ever came from a very lengthened controversy
or long-drawn out argument. The disputants
be-
come involved in elaborate ideas, and at last are
so excited and irritated by contradictions that
they dissent from everything proposed, unless some
pet project or some
particular prejudice be first at-
tended to. It then followed, as a matter of course,
that allusion was made to the nation conspicuous

by its absence from that national assembly and

most illustrious Congress. The EMPEROR lamented
that Prussia was not represented. " One of my

moat heartfelt wishes has not been fulfilled," he

said, in reference to that vexatious event. He ex

plained that King WILLIAM had no other objection
to make to the proposition to hold a Congress than

that the proper preparations had not been made.
He wished fora " Conference of Ministers" to pre-

ritory.