The Sun.
London, England, 1865-01-05 00:00:00

his desire at the expense of what little
grace and consideration he has left: In relinquish-
ing their late efforts at centralisation for the mania
of incorporating Schleswig-Holstein among their
dominions, the smaller States of Germany have
made a fearful mistake, and in Herr BISMARK, who
was to have been the champion of their rights and
the upholder of their interests, they have, indeed,
caught a Tartar, for they can neither induce him to
follow their wishes, nor to leave them to pursue

theirs. It is, certainly, a retribution on their
vanity which they little looked for, but it is very
much to be regretted that such a stoppage to pro-
gress should have occurred. By this time the
world had expected to see something very diffe-
rent in the condition of Germany to the mor-
tifying spectacle it now presents, and the chief
blame of all this mischance rests, of course, with
Prussia, although, of course, things could not have
come to such a pass had not the other portions of
the empire been so defective in judgment and faulty
in their policy. Herr VON BISMARK expresses in
the strongest terms his surprise and indignation at
the course pursued by the minority who went against
the general desire for a termination of Federal exe-
cution ; and furthermore intimates that such a
course is most injurious, and that he finds it difficult
to understand how a number of " German Govern-
ments could be in doubt as to this declaration itself,
and could vote against the simple expression of
opinion as to the execution being concluded."
Poor mistaken mortals who have thus presumed to
stand forth in opposition to the great magnate of
Berlin ! If they thought that their errors were
hidden they are very much mistaken, and they are
not likely to hear the last of it for many a long day
to come. In this important missive there are hints
conveyed and threats indulged in that may dismay
some of the recusants, and cause them to wish sin-
cerely that they had never embarked in so perilous
an enterprise as this affair of the Dano-German war.
It is here, stated that the " motives and explanations
with which they accompanied their notes" only aug-
mented the evil, rand created apprehension for the

future of the German Confederation. Others be-
sides Herr VON BISMARK may well entertain appre-
hensions for the future if such edicts as this are
put forth, and such fulminations of the wrath of
offended majesty directed against those who have
so miserably failed in carrying out its decrees.
Really if things go on like this we shall not be
puzzled to give a reply if questioned as to the most
despotic Government in the world ; that President
LINCOLN with his military rule, nor the Emperor of
AUSTRIA in his autocratic sublimity, will equal the
King of PRUSSIA with his faithful Vizier and astute
adviser, Herr Vox BISMARK. His word is to be law,
and the privileges of representative States are
henceforth to be as nought. It is just what pre-
scient persons thought all along might happen if thi
mad notion of waging war for the possession of the
Duchies was entered upon, but how many
really well-meaning persons were deceived and did
not expect such a consummation of the designs of
Austria and Prussia. When the Middle States were
absurd enough to give their adhesion to the under-
taking they sealed their own doom in a great mea-
sure, and undid, by a moment's madness, what had
cost the work of years to build up, and put away
from themselves the chance of realising those aspi-
rations bf freedom and independent self-government
which were raising them in the estimation of the
nations of Europe, and which had won for them
admiration and respect. If this despatch means
anything, it certainly means
_that M. BISMARK
will not put up much longer with the difficulties
that have so often impeded his progress in
carrying out his intentions, and also that
they who so wilfully obstruct his course will regret
contumacy and bewail their obstinacy. It is clearly
shown that no expression of the wish of these lesser
States will be suffered to influence the Cabinet of
Berlin. Indeed, Herr BISMARK seems as if he
sought to rival the fabled deity at whose word all
Olympus shrunk.- For-the future It-la-TArbe
cient that an opinion is given and a desire intimated
to insure immediate acquiescence and ready com-
pliance. Le roi le veut had better be the watchword
of his policy and the maxim of his life. At all
events, those who have been dupes hitherto
need be so no longer; they have heard
the Ade pronounce their fate, and if they any
longer hesitate it cannot be for lack of knowledge.
They cannot lay claim to the double cord of the
Platonists of ignorance—that they are ignorant ;
they have seen the statute which sets forth the rela-
tions between them and the chief powers that be.
Herr BISMARK has not minced matters, he openly
declares that he sees in the recent occurrences " a
tendency to extend the competence of the Diet
which find no basis in treaties, and which he cannot
avoid, characterising as dangerous to the existence
of the Diet itself." Ominous words, which the wise
and wary will not fail to recognise as presaging
wrath to the liberties of the independent States ;
and, after all, who can expect that consideration for
their welfare should stand in the way of Prussian
policy, or be suffered to retard the march of the
conquering hero of diplomacy.

Our veteran Premier has just reappeared in a
new form, and, with that singular versatility of
mind and power of adaptation to his company
which makes him so universally acceptable, he has
shown himself to peculiar advantage in what, to
most men, would have appeared a dull rustic enter-
tainment. Lord PAL3aßsToN—whose thoughts
must be busy enough just now with the threaten-
ing aspect of America towards our Canadian pos-
sessions, with Continental Europe, to say the least
of it, in a disturbed and critical position, and with
the state of parties at home not quite what he would
wish it to be on the eve of a new session and a
general election—contrived to address the Romsey
labourers very much in the capacity of a plain
English country gentleman, who seldom or never
troubled himself about foreign affairs, and whose
views of the much talked-of advancement of the
masses was far more practical than theoretical. In
this respect Lord FALDIERSTON did good_aervice to
the cause, which, like other causes, is very apt to
suffer from the mistaken enthusiasm of its sup-
porters. Most politicians, when called upon to
make a speech at the annual distribution of prizes of
an Agricultural Association, would have got through
their task by indulging in a few generalities on the
improvenient now perceptible in the mental condi-
tion of the working classes, the great things that
had been done for them by the opening of Mecha-
nics' Institutes, the establishment
of Schools of Art,
the facilities given for acquiring scientific knowledge,
and other platitudes. But Lord PALMERSTON brought
the criticism of sound English sense to these fine
theories. He knew it was not really probable that
i
agricultural labourers should acquire much distinc-
tion as scientific scholars, or that such knowledge,.
if gained, would be of much service to them in their
daily occupation. He knew, too, the danger of sub-
stituting a little hurried superficial learning for really
thorough practical knowledge, and, therefore, while
leaving theologies alone, he strongly recommended
them to let their children learn what they did learn,
well. They must not, he said, expect too much—
ct them to compete with those
they must not expect
in other ranks in the extent and variety of their
, studies but three things they could learn