The Sun.
London, England, 1865-09-25 00:00:00

LONDON, MONDAY, SEPT. 25, 1865.

The Emperor of AUSTRIA has issued a manifesto,
which is animated by a very liberal spirit, and seems
to carry out the principles before inculcated by his
Government. In this he is so far to be commended,
but it is evident that he is engaged in a very uphill
task in the endeavours he is so strenuously making
to consolidate his empire. The manifesto states that
the accomplishment of the EMPEROR'S design is
quite impossible so long as the first condition of
success is unfulfilled, namely, bringing all the com-
ponent parts into clear and unmistakeable harmony.
It would seem as if the EMPEROR had determined to
lose no opportunity of ingratiating himself with all
his people, for he intimates further on that in order
to carry out his idea in the spirit as well as in the
letter, it is desirable to; lay before the Hungarian
and Croatian Diets the fundamental law that was
promulgated by the February Patent. In order to
arrive at this disideratum of extending privileges, jt
is deemed necessary to suspend for the present the
validity of the Constitution. This necessary stop
is greatly regretted, the more so as it entails the
suspension of the lesser Reichsrath ; but the Go-
vernment undertakes, so long as this suspension
lasts, to forward all the measures that cannot be
postponed, more especially the " commercial and
financial" interests of the empire. Finally, the
Imperial manifest-o- declares that the course
which leads to an understanding is now open, if the
pecple only exhibit a " sacrificing and conciliatory
spirit," as it is confidently expected they will, and,
therefore, the Imperial word is addressed to them in
" thorough confidence," that a ." ripe insight" may
guide their views and influence their conduct.

No doubt the Vienna Government think that a
liberal home policy may in some degree compensate
for the notorious foreign policy which has brought
the nation into so much discredit, and called down
so many animadversions from neighbouring States.
It is a very significant statement that has been made
by one of the Vienna journals, to the effect that a
note has been despatched to the Austrian represen-
tatives abroad, " defending the policy pursued by
Austria in the question of the Duchies." It will
certainly be a curiosity to peruse this document
when it sees the light ; but it proves one thing, at
all events, that the comments which have been so
freely circulated by the various journals in several
countries have not been without effect. The Aus-
trians do not appear to emulate the imperious
nature of the Prussians, but are quite on the alert
to defend themselves from awkward insinuations
and direct charges. The fact is, that Austria has
taken a decided step in advance of late years, and
while Prussia has been retrograding she has pur-
sued a steady path of progress. A short time
before the Schleswig:Holstein affair the EMPEROR
bid fair to take the lead of the Germanic Empire,
and had not the untoward affair of the Duchies
supervened, no doubt by this time we should have
seen him outstripping, his ally the King of PRUSSIA,
and offering, by his consolidated empire, a striking
contrast to, the fearful confusion and vexed spirits
that abounded in Prussia. Circumstances have for
the moment yielded the palm to the powers that
reign in Berlin, and with one thing and another suc-
cess may seem to wait on their steps ; but time will
prove the difference that exists between a nation
.strivinr, to improve by slow degrees, and a kingdom
throwing away chances and losing all the advan-
tages it has gained. When the inevitable day of
trial arrives that will shake the Germanic Empire
to its foundation, Austria will have a much better
chance of extrication than Prussia, although the
former was vaunted for its advance in liberal prin-
ciples, while the latter was considered to be wedded
to a hopeless system of inactivity and intolerance.
The Emperor of AusintA seems to have won golden
opinions in many directions by his comprehensive
arrangements and consummate management. It is
declared in influential quarters that the plans pro-
posed in the manifesto are the only right and fitting
ones for the realisation of the Imperial intentions,
and for the removal of the obstacles which have of
late opposed their accomplishment.
Meanwhile it is evident that Prussia is incurring
great odium everywhere, especially in France.
The Monitory denies, in the most emphatic manner,
the statement which has been circulated relative to
the intentions of the Government. These current

rumours had declared that a change would speedily
take place in the members and policy of the
Government, and even went so far as to fix the
14th of October as the day when the momentous
events -would occur, It is all very well for the
official organ to announce that these rumours are
totally unfounded, and that they are "the invention
of evil-disposed persons," but it stands to sense that
such observations would never have been made if
there had not been some reason to distrust the pre-
sent aspect of affairs. Doubtless France will prove
the NE3IESIS of the wrongs of Denmark, and the in-
juries sustained by the minor States of Germany,
but may be the time has not yet arrived for the
djnoltement to take place. We must wait in patience;
yet rumours and on dits may betoken future events
as straws show which way the wind blows. Nothing
can possibly obliterate the scandal of the recent
transactions in the Duchies from the memory of
any one who has had an opportunity of form-
ing a judgment upon them ; and it follows as a
matter of course that they will rankle in
the minds of all concerned immediately and remote.
Propitious circumstances may postpone the fatal
day, and powerful allies may ward off the catas-
trophe, but all these will only prove temporary
respites, and the time cannot be far distant when the
labours of the Berlin Cabinet will reap a deadly
harvest. Herr BISMARK has had several very un-
pleasant reminders already that he is working
against the groin, and his desperate efforts to stem
the tide of popular opinion may yet prove to be
too much for his personal safety, as well as for
his political reputation. The present state of
things in Germany tends to disquiet the public
mind of Europe, and alternately gives rise to
doubts, misapprehensions, and alarms. So true is
it that in the present advanced condition of affairs
in the history of nations, no wrong can be perpe-
trated without some retribution taking place, that
it naturally follows for far-seeing judges to consi-
der this episode of the Gastein Convention as a
prelude to disturbances whose force it may be
difficult to quell, and
.whose end may be far dis-
tant.

Now that there is some hope of the conclusion of
the long and wearisome war that has exhausted the
energies and hindered the progress of New Zealand,
the condition and prospects of the natives become
matters of considerable importance. The prospect
of their gradual extermination is by no means a
satisfactory one. It is a well-known fact that
aboriginal races usually melt away before the white
man, like the North American Indians have vanished
year by year before the onward march of the strong
and adventurous Anglo-Saxons. But there are
several reasons which combine to make that result
very undesirable in the case of the Maories. In the
first place, it is not consistent with our English
notions of humanity and of justice that we who are
in any case interlopers in the islands should totally
destroy, or even gradually exterminate, the original
possessors of the soil. Again the decay of the
natives is the more to be regretted, because the
Maories are naturally a fine, intelligent people,
evidently quite capable of further and higher
development. The ingenuity and resolution which
they have shown during this very war have been
something very remarkable. Their earthworks and
fortifications presented really formidable fronts to
our regular troops, an d it has cost them many an hour's
hard fighting to carry a position where the Maories
lay entrenched. Their devices to supply their lack
of arms and ammunition were full of ingenuity ;
and once, when percussion caps were unattainable,
they contrived by some curious manoeuvre to make
some other articles of common use serve the pur-
pose. It was only from the extent of their purchase
1 of these everday belongings that the secret was dis-
covered. Of course they have had the advantageof
European assistance and direction, but the promp-
titude with which they have profited by these aids
shows how fit they must be for cultivation and civi-
lisation. There is hope for the Maori if he can be
preserved from extermination by these incessant
wars and embroilments, and if such lands and goods ,
as are fairly his right can be guaranteed to him by
the Government. An address which has been issued
by the Aborigines Protection Society, and widely
circulated among the natives of New Zealand, is
likely to do good. It is much to be regretted that
those rivalries and contentions, which militate so
much against the real wish to civilise and improve
the natives, have interfered between the society and
some of the colonists ; but setting these aside, the
general tone of the advice given in the address re-
ferred to is all that could be desired. The "Eng-
lish friends" of the Maories profess their sorrow at
the war, and declare that they live too far off to
pronounce upon the rights of the question, but that
they know it to be quite useless for the Maories to
attempt to subdue the white men, who are so strong
and powerful that, if they lose many battles, they
will still conquer in the end. They wish therefore
to tell the natives what they think is the wisest and
best course for them to pursue. Believing the war
to be over, they advise the Maories to be careful to
frame a just and honest peace under the sanction of
the Governor, and to be governed by the English
laws. They need not be joined to Auckland or any
other province, but should have the advantage
of the just and equal laws of the colo-
nists. The natives are also advised to divide
their lands, so that each man may have a piece
for himself and his family that he cannot sell, as
well as a share in the. public common to all the
tribe. The advisers also caution the Maories to be
very careful how they let their lease on land. The
gradual diminution of the natives is boldly dwelt
upon, and the bringing up of the children, which is
the great anchor of hope to all reformers, is one of
the chief topics of the address. The education of
the girls is-especially spoken of, the Maories being
reminded that, as mothers of the future men, they
will exercise a powerful influence on the future of
their race. For the general development of the
natives they are advised to study English, so as to
be able to read and understand English books and
newspapers ; to obtain a printing press, and learn
to print for themselves ; to cultivate the ground and
rear live stock ; to study the modes of the colonists
in farming and agriculture ; and to discontinue, as
much as possible, the use of gunpowder, spirits, and
1 I
tobacco. It is not, of course, to be expected that
the
aories will at once conform to these regula-
tions,
v
them butas unzoiftl,7 more intelligent of them accept
and useful, we may hope to see
themat produce a
gradual effect in civilising and ele-
ing the whole native race, thereby preserving
them from destruction, while they terminate the
prolonged hostility existing between colonists and
natives. _

By the arrival of the Africa, from Boston, with
news up to the 12th instant, and from Halifax. up
to the 14th, we have intelligence from New York to
the latest date. It appears that President JOHNSON
is a good deal troubled by petitions and deputations
respecting pardons, and the reconstruction of the
several Southern States. lle listens to all, but ap-
pears determined to carry out his own ideas as to
the reconstruction, notwithstanding the stubborn
opposition of the fanatic supporters of negro suf-
frage, and the universal confiscation of the Southern
States. In short, some of these fanatics ao so far
as to say that the YRUIDENT is guiqy of treason

because he will not rule and act in accordance with
their save ge views. They even declare that he
ought to be impeached for his conduct. They say
that his proclamations are of no account without
the sar teflon of Congress, and that all he has hitherto
done is wrong wherever it has clashed with the
sovereign power and wishes of the New Englander
and his ideas of slavery and universal emancipation.
It is very singular how these people go to such
extreme lengths in their ideal fraternization with
the black man, when in practical intercommunica-
tion they cannot even bear the sight of him, far
less have any dealings with the unclean thing.
They shrink from their "free brother's" company,

his touch is considered contamination. Is not this
an idle self-delusion, a wicked hypocrisy against
common sense, and a sad wrong perpetrated on the
very people for whose freedom and future welfare
they have laboured so long and so incessantly. The
poor ignorant slave has been so long inured to
bondage, that his sudden liberation has come on him
with a bewildering surprise. Emerging from mental
darkness, he is " blasted with excess of light," and
his deliverers seem only anxious to play a sort of
blindman's buff with him—showing him the beauty
of freedom in the abstract, while he is loft to feel
the penalty of starvation as the hitter reward of
his freedom. A heavy reckoning is yet in store
for those who betray him and yet glory in their
deeds.