The Sun.
London, England, 1854-04-13 00:00:00

most. Since his accession to the throne, he has been ar-
rested neither by romantic sentiments nor by bonds of
relationship. Hetbas been guided alone by the consi-
deration of what the grandeur and power of his country
called for and in that respect he has certainly distie-
guished himself amongst his peers. He wants to hold
the key of his own house, as Peter the Great expressed
it ; and no one can blame him in the Russian point
of view. But we, gentlemen, have to look at our
interest in a Prussian point of view. If Russia should
seize on the Bosphorus and the Sound, she becomes in-
vincible, and you have a direct interest in opposing it.
If you are an European power, you ought to oppose
such projects most energetically ; if you are not, you
ought the more to join those who can defend your.
weakness. Russia is the most pewerful neighbour of
Prussia, and her territory runs into ours. For a length
of time Russia covets our Eastern provinces ; mean
while she is cutting into the veins of our commerce
Russia was against us in the Seven Years' War.
In 1813, she wanted to have the Eastern province.
swear allegiance to her. In 1850 she menaced us with
war. It is known that an influential party in Russis
wants the Vistula for frontier. Remember the &Lyles!
of the Great Frederick—. If the Russians are at Con-
stantinople, in a week after they will be seen at Ticenigs-
berg.' The ties of relationship have been spoken of, but
I think too well of our monarch to admit that he cal,
sacrifice the interests of the country to considerations
which have never weighed with the Emperor of Russia.
The question of religion has been put forward in this
matter, but every one now knows, since the Anglo-Rue
sian correspondence has been published, that the real
question is the inheritance of the 'sick loan.' Besides,
who does not know what persecutions the dissenting
sects, the Catholic and Protestant religions, have
been subjected to in Russia. Imprisonment and
Siberia are the fate of the Christian missionaries
It is, in fact, a systeei of the most cruel into-
lerance that can even be imagined. Others have
placed Russia in opposition to revolution. whilst it is
she who has always spread revolution in neighbouring
countries : in Poland, in Sweden, and at this moment in
Turkey. Russia besides has herself revolutions at home.
In order to have revolution, it is not necessary that
kings should be killed in the open day or by the guillo
tine. To represent Russia as the natural bulwark against
revolution is a sophism of the specific party : it. is not the
inspiration of good sense. Russia has been caled the
oldest ally of Prussia. That is not the case. We have
had more ancient alliances with England, with France,
and with Turkey herself. And how did this old ally
treat us ? In 1807 she took advantage of our misfor-
tunes to appropriate to herself a province. In 1815
she prevented Alsace from being again united to
Germany. In 1829 she wished to give to the Bourbons
the left bank of the Rhine, in order to obtain Constanti-
nople in exchange. In 1850 she recommended England to
declare war against us, and if England, then as now full
of honour, refused, it was not the fault of our good old
ally, who in the correspondence which was lately brought
to light made no mention of Prussia. And then, gentle.
men, can we forget the Conferences of Warsaw which
broke the heart of the man (the Count de Brandeburg),
whose place the present President of the Council now
fills. The true policy of Prussia should, therefore,
tend to emancipate us from Russia. If the Government,
before Russia had crossed the Pruth, had declared
against her, we should have had peace at this moment.
Protocols no longer suffice. A great power should co-
operate in the execution of what it regards as being the
basis of right. Instead of that, Prussia has made
herself the European postman, carries propositions of
peace here, and propositions of peace there ; asks
Austria what she intends to do, and finishes by
guaranteeing to that. power her Italian possessions
by extending the treaty of May 16, 1851. The state
of Frederic may dispense with Austrian direction.
I nevertheless consider that, at this moment, the
interests of Prussia and Austria are identical, and there
is reason for,congratulation that the magnanimous Em-
peror of Austria has at length resolved on drawing the
sword. The Prussian government, while it professes
not to confine itself to neutrality, finds itself, in fact, in
that condition, and ceedeams the country to poxerless-
ness. France awl Eesslanil cannot in the end recognise
Prussian neutrality. It will end by involving us in a
war with these two Powers, and, suaosing it to be a suc-
cessful one, it wily only turn to the a.lvantase of Russia,
which will, notwithstanding, never pardon the litt;e
sympathy that has been shown towards her by Prussia."