The Sun.
London, England, 1865-08-31 00:00:00

easily as a glove by any great naval Power, that mak-
ing the Adriatic or the Baltic the base of its opera-
tions, attacked Dantzic or Trieste. And, as the Prus-
sian Minister of War seems to be aware, there is
another way to the same end. The German guarantee
could be a security to Austria only in so far as it
might serve to postpone the inevitable reckoning,
and, while Italy might read hope and assurance be-
tween its lines, Germany would be literally bound
to a moribund came and an indefensible policy.
The circumstance that secret stipulations of such a
character should have been made is less suspris-
mg than suggestive. Happily the instruction they
convey has been already appreciated. We do not
wish to disparage the military prestige or the mari-
time enthusiasm of the German nation. Austrian
and Prussian soldiers have fought well in former
times, and they would, no doubt, maintain their
reputation in the field. That is all, however, that
can fairly be said. The troops of Austria have been
recently defeated, and there is no reason to suppose
that they are presently better able to meet any for-
midable force than they were when they fell back on
the plain of Solferino. With regard to the Prussian
army, its actual efficiency has to be proved, and we
will not advert to its historical antecedents. But it
is evident that the Germans entertain erroneous
opinions as to the power which other countries are
capable of exercising. We are not going to refer
them to the allied fleets now represented in our
waters ; their signals are quite intelligible. What it
may be well to explain is, that England and France
are not observing silence because they anticipate
another difficulty. The Germans should dismiss
this thought from their minds. They must not ima-
gine that the Western Powers of Europe are para-
lysed by the nature of their relations with the
United States. We do not believe that those rela-
tions admit of the imputation ; but if they did, nei-
ther the Monroe doctrine nor the Fenian conspiracy
would cripple the action of England and France.
Germany should know that the forbearance which
has been turned to a most discreditable account was
dictated in the first place by circumstances, and
since by a policy which will ultimately be justified.
There is no ground whatever for surmises which
simply betray feelings we will not stop to dissect.
Sooner or later, these conventions and complica-
tions, this trafficking with right and paltering with
honour, will eventuate in serious difficulties. A
tempest would clear the horizon. Many obstinate
obstructions to progress, and many entanglements
that continually disturb the peace of the Continent,
would be swept away like chaff before the wind.
It is, however, for the German people to consider
the question in the light in which it is now brought
before them, for they would have to bear the bur-
den of the contest. Are they prepared to under-
take a great war for the purpose of upholding
Austrian oppression in Italy ? All their interests
lie in the other way—all their professions go in a
diametrically opposite direction. Still, it is difficult
to find a reason, we will not say to explain, but to
extenuate the acquiescence of a great nation in the
course which its Governments are taking.