The Sun.
London, England, 1863-11-09 00:00:00

LONDON, MONDAY, NOV. 9, 1863.

The EMPEROR'S proposition of an European Con-
gress appears to be a good deal more than a mere
vague hint, or passing suggestion, thrown out as one
may say just haphazard as a possible matter for
uncertain consideration according to the turn taken
by the chapter of accidents. A thoughtful Sove
reign like NAPOLEON 111, was obviously indeed one
not likely to deal in such idle generalities. A
Proposal iu every way so momentous, was cu.-
"in to be seriously put forward, was if put
forward at all, certain in common parlance to
mean something. it is therefore no subject of sur-
prise whatever, to find that upon Rio very
morrow of the delivery of this imperial
speech from the throne, diplomatic proceeding:
consequent upon that proposition should have coal•
menced. While the EMPEROR and the Imperial
F,mily have left for the enjoyment of their winter
holidays at Compiegne, from the Foreign office at
Paris the strings have already been-pulled. Letters
from the French EMPEROR, inviting the Sovereign:
to nn F,uropean Congress, were despatched, accord
inf. to La ratrie, on Thursday. According to
La France, they took their departure only
Oa Friday- iv
~„,,,,".her sent on Thursday or
, at any rate they
apparently
on Friday—sen'
have been. h answers will, therefore,
come dropping in upon the EMPEROR at uncertain
intervals during his sojourn now at Compiegne. It

seems to us by no means so Utopian, as some have
imagined, to dream of the Congress being convened
at all. The possibility of such a Congress being
holden, was demonstrated in a remarkable manner
in 1814 and again in 1815. It requires no Waterloo,
moreover, as its necessary preliminary. A con-
juncture among the nations may be imminent
and momentous, without its requiring one of the
world's few great turning-battles to point
it. As indeed is this present conjuncture
—significantly indicated in half-a-dozen startling
phrases by the Emperor NAPOLEON. Now—while
the general peace of the Old World and the New
appears to be trembling in the balance,hanging like
the sword of DAMOCLES upon the suspension of a
hair, here in regard to Poland, there in regard to
the fratricidal (almost, it might be called the
suicidal) contest between the Federals and Confede-
rates—now, if there ever has before been such a crisis
in history,here in tru th is onej nstifying,or it should be
E aid clamouring loudly for precisely one of these great
Congresses. One thing, moreover,may be predicated
of the French EMPEROR'S proposition, not only with
confidence but with satisfaction : namely, that its
submission thus frankly to the consideration of the
various Powers of Europe, affords at any rate a
chance of a happy settlement of existing and accu-
mulating difficulties, without the dire necessity (for
so doing) of resorting to the supreme arbitrament
of the sword. Regarded manfully in that light, it is
a noble proposition
it is something to h
EMPEROR may lay that "fl
1. Even if nothing comes of it—
ave made it. The French
attering unction" at
least to his soul. If like CARMILLUS he has thrown
his sword in the
sea e, at certain memorable periods,
in regard now to Russia, now Austria, now to
China, now to Mexico—he has at other moments,
even though he may have failed to prove success-
ful, attempted to enact the part of a Peacemaker.
Formerly, not so very long ago, on two occasions,
by suggesting a compromise between the American
Belligerents. Nowadays, at this present juncture,
by submitting to contemporary sovereigns this mag-
liificent, all but Arcadian proposition, for a grand
European Congress with a view to an universal pa-
cification, and, to a certain extent, also, to a rational
extent, that is, with a view to a general disarma-
ment.

It is said that the King of PRUSSIA intends to
open the new Parliament in person. If so it may be
a good augury that he intends to conduct affairs in
this fresh session with a more genial and gracious
manner. The presence of the CROWN PRINCE also
serves to testify that a better aspect is coming over
the confused state of politics, since it is well known
that the opinions of the young Prince are all on
the right side in the entangled and disastrous state
to which public questions are reduced at this mo-
ment in Prussia. All accounts seem to concur in
asserting that the King is taking a more prominent
part in public affairs than he has done of late. In
his address to the officers at Stralsund he made a
very significant statement, to the effect that "the
danger of war was very near at hand." This may
mean a great deal, or it may mean little or next to
nothing, but of course it may be turned and twisted
in various ways to suit different opinionists. It has
been freely circulated that it refers to a war with
France, and rumours declare that next spring will
see its occurrence. This may be verified, it is true,
but the King could hardly have referred to that
issue so decidedly, since there is nothing which the
authorities in Berlin are so likely to deprecate as a
" Franco Prussian" contest, and this solution of the
enigma of the royal speech has its origin in the fancies
fears, or wishes of the interpreters thereof ; also the
allusion might mean the crisis now approaching in
regard to Denmark. This reading of the riddle is
more likely to prove a correct one, since from one
motive or another the Prussians aro most anxious
to press on the controversy, and use every exertion
ro obtain by force of arms what strength of argu-
ment and skill in diplomacy have hitherto failed to
procure. The proposals recently made to resort to
extremities were sufficient to explain the animus
that existed in the minds of the rulers of Prussia,
and must have excited the indignation of all who
were capable of examining the question in its true
bearings, and to appreciate the greed that stimu-
lated the des:re, and the spirit of monopoly that
actuated the entire proceedings. It is still possible
that the trite sentence bore reference to a domestic
issue. The KING might have intended to hold out
a warning, or to suggest a danger that was immi-
nent. It is true that with one thing and another
the chances and changes of political life may soon
bring about a stormy state in Prussia. All is ripe
for revolution ; the exterior may seem calm, bat
those who are skilled in the signs of the times may
detect a working danger, and discern a covert
snare that a small thing and a trivial action would
be enough to set in motion and bring sad and
serious effects to follow in its train. The smoulder.
ing embers of discontent may be fanned into a
flame that would spring up as a beacon light of
liberty before the startled nations of Europe.
Then the time for parley would be over, aed the day
of grace gone by ; all would be losers for the time,
but hereafter the country might emerge the freer
Ind the brighter from the sharp struggle and the
bitter trial. To avert such evils by a timely con-
cession, and to convert the indignant protest into
the grateful acknowledgment, is one of the highest
and happiest efforts of statesmanship, and makes the
Minister who effects the triumph one of the bene-
factors of his country, and entitles him to the respect
of mankind in general. It is to be feared that there
are no heroes of such stuff in the Berlin list of nota-
bilities, and that the Sovereign referred to the
danger in the distance more as a sort of interrorenz
argument to admonish caution and to counsel a safe,
if timorous, and subservient course. If so, the new
Parliament inaugurated to-day may teach him
otherwise, and, in a very short time, evince their
determination to uphold the integrity of the Con-
6tit4tiln andcl. " yin icate the independence of the
People. King WILLIAM -.Nang has a grand part before
him how;
en him devolves one of those responsibili-
ties which are
awful to contemplate, and to avoid
incurring the risk of whose failure many would
willingly eeeeer, the chance of a glorious success. It
is a fearful thing .
and
precipitancy
the
that through inadver-
tence or
interests of a nation may
be compromised end
even
restoration i ouosfly injured.
ough not probable, . Alth
possible that
KING
have reason and turn
thoughts to the
the land
peace, instead
ttilli:
to its pristine state oTtproseirtit 3
fluctuations and startling changes
• eded the progress, end restricted the
state and its subject
ofof ltahtee so imp
energies of the
he a bright day la; but ,
1 I fen tine is to be adhere.,
for the welfare of Prussia;
exaggerate
unhappily, the oJ.• , to, 8,,,d,
me maintained in milli
the BISMARK prcgr:Ltn force,
overrate or exa
then it will be difficult to
the consequences. First and foremost, there will
ensue angry debates between the Ministers and
roposals of the
)
the representatives; then the I
Cabinet will be scornfully rejected, while the
Government, in turn, will confute the decrees of
the Legislature, and doubtless another dissolution
will change the scene of action, and again throw
upon the country the onus of settling the contro-
versy, and deciding upon the merits of the rival
disputants. Beyond this the prospect looks dark
indeed, and well may the sanguine tremble for the
Lome. There ale few sadder eights than to see a