The Sun.
London, England, 1865-02-23 00:00:00

um SUN, LONDON, TIIIIIISDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 23, 186 k

groundless, the Prussian Ministers, with the want
of good faith that distinguishes them when they
have a purpose to serve, allowed matters to go on
precisely the same as if no representations had been
made to them. Recognising his mistake, however,
the Premier endeavoured to do away with the false
impression that had been created by making a speech
of a conciliatory character towards those who had
-been treated unjustly. But the error was not
allowed to be so easily repaired, and Herr REICH-
ENIIEIM, the manufacturer who had been so grossly
misrepresented in the petition, rose to express his
indignation at the whole of the transaction from
beginning to end. He declared that he did not
require any praise from Herr VON BISMARK, and
that the whole affair was a " puff," which was no
credit to royalty, and was a" puff such as had never
before been attempted in that or any other civilised
country in the world." What a failure was this
of all the Minister's high-flown harangue,
and what an exhibition of insincerity and
mean devices. It must have been a most
mortifying occurrence for the statesman who is quite
sharp-witted enough to recognise the damage thus
done to his reputation. As for shame or sorrow at
having been proved to have committed an injustice,
that, of course, he could not experience, because he
is incapable of such a sentiment, and evidently acts
upon the principle of all things being fair in politics,
as supposed to be in love or war by some rather
lax moralists. It has come to something in the
annals of Prussia when the chief Minister is pointed
at in the popular Assembly of Representatives as
being the agent of a dishonest transaction, and
as having counselled the KING to bestow money
upon them who aided, by their one-sided address,
the Ministerial manceuvring to alter the laws rela-
tive to workmen. So strong was the impression
made that Herr von BISMARK thought it necessary
to make some remarks on the subject the next day;
but his excuses were as lame as his conduct had
been despicable, and with all his dexterity he could
make very little of his case. He was forced to
admit that the KING had bestowed money upon

these petitioners, though not " quite " so much
as had been stated, and thus endeavoured to extri-
cate himself from his awkward position by declaring
that the Kings of Prussia had always considered

the poor favourably. Then, not content with his
own reasons, he fell back upon another mode of de-
fence, and said that the private acts of the KING
should not be criticised by honourable gentlemen.
This is quite ridiculous, because, in this instance,
the matter was of public import, and implicated the
conduct of Ministers to a great extent. The retort
of Herr REICHENHEI3I was very strong, and Herr
BISMARS'S attempted ludicrous rejoinder failed to
gain applause. This episode must have been most
annoying to the Government, but it is to be hoped
may eventually prove of service to the members in
unveiling some of the Ministerial machinations which
certainly bad enough to alarm and irritate all up-
right minds and honest judges of public life.
The Liberal party do not agree respecting the
Military Bill of the Government. It is satisfactory
to find that the truth has been in some degree
elicited from members of the Prussian Legislature
respecting their recent vaunted military exploits.
It often occurs that in the excitement of alterca-

tion many unwelcome truths come out, and even
in this discussion it was observed by some that
there was no sufficient reason adduced for the pre-
sent system being maintained ; and the war, they
say, was no proof of its efficacy, because the
" Prussian army must, under all circumstances,

have been victorious against an opponent, so weak
as Denmark." This admission must be recognised
as strictly correct ; but how much is it at variance
with the oft-repeated assertions and vehement gra-
tulations of the majority of the Prussians in high
and low ranks. It is not likely, under existing
circumstances, that this measure will be carried
this session ; and as one failure is generally the
precursor of another, Herr BISMARK and his coad-
jutors had better look out for evil days and inimical
encounters.

Some curiosity is naturally felt respecting the
terms which Austria and Prussia are likely to come
to concerning the Duchies, but nothing definite is
as yet decided upon between the deliberating
parties. It seems pretty certain, from all accounts,
that PrusAia will take the lion's share in all the
partitions, and that her grasp of power in the dis-
puted territories will be firm and extended. So
much for the fulfilment of promises and the ratifica-
tion of engagements. If only half of the suppo-
sitious proposals see the light, which in all proba-
bility they will, the Schleswig-Holsteiners will have
ample cause to regret the day when they put them-
selves forward in favour of a change. When
Prussia has settled the military and naval organisa-
tion of the Duchies, the occupation and command
of the chief fortifications, &c., it is evident
that very little will be left for others to do
in respect to the conduct of important matters,
and the influence on interests vital to the mainte-

nance of the Constitution.
Austria is very likely to be foiled in this matter,
and to find that on her side a very bad bargain
has been made, owing to the cupidity of one side
and the treachery of the ()tiler. It is very likely
that this will be an instance of the folly of trusting
to an unscrupulous ally ; and the result is the more
to be regretted because it is most likely that the
the Duchies would fare better under Austrian rule
than under Prussian management. The Emperor
of Austria keeps a little more to appearances than
his brother Sovereign of Berlin, and besides his
Ministers are some degrees in advance of the Berlin
Cabinet in point of rectitude and manifestation of
propriety. The Duke of AUGUSTENBERG and his
party are not in a very enviable position
just now, and if their only consolation be that
Austria will not accede to the proposals of Prussia,
they are leaning on a broken reed, because it does
not appear likely that the Government of Vienna
are prepared as yet to proceed to extremities. The
Austrian Note, which professes great dislike to the
tactics of Prussian policy, cannot be regarded as an
infallible test of future conduct, because it has often
been shown that vox 0 praterea nihil is the watch.
word of the enemies and discontented allies of
Prussia. It is this tame-spirited course which has
given so much fatal strength to the actions of Herr
VON BISMARK, and has encouraged him to pursue
his policy without let or hindrance. Had more firm-
ness and determination been shown at the outset,
we should not now have to deplore so many and
such unfortunate occurrences in German affairs,
and in the end a kinder course would have beeii
pursued towards Prussia, because with one thing
and another she is now prolonging a very suicidal
policy, and rushing along a course that must sooner
or later end in ruin,

THE DAVENPOttT 13110THERS.—The Broilers Da-
venport were last evening to have given the first of
two performances at the Public Rooms, at Hull. They
arrived in the town yesterday with their manager, Mr.
Palmer, and Dr. Ferguson; but during the afternoon it
oozed out that Messrs. Hulley and Cummins, of Liverpool,
had also made their appearance in Hull. This report was
followed by a statement that the performances would not
take place, and when the hour for opening the Hall arrived
there was but a small number of persons waiting for ad-
mission. The doors were kept closed, a notice being
posted that the performances were postponed. " Great
disapp9intment was expressed," says our correspondent,
"that the anticipated row was not to come off."