The Sun.
London, England, 1871-02-01 00:00:00

Bo 'MB A Kl' S ARMY.

The reverses of the army lately commanded by
General Bourbaki are sufficiently attested by the
attempt of that leader to commit suicide. But though
the position is desperate, it may be hoped that
this force has not met with such overwhelming ruin
as is indicated by a march of the whole number into
Swiss territory. A portion of the army has cer-
tainly crossed the frontier, but it is not
clear that the whole has done so. On
the 28th the headquarters were reported at
Roulans, whilst the 24th Corps was at Pontarlier.
Both these places are forty miles from Pruntrut, the
place on the Swiss frontier at which the army is said
to have crossed. It is scarcely likely that toe whole
force could traverse this distance and march into
Switzerland in time for the announcement to reach
Carlsruhe by the 30th. This is a point, however,
which ought to be speedily cleared up. If the whole
army is not lost, it may not improbably soon be so,
either by entering neutral territory or repeating the
catastrophe of Sedan.

•
TII.E GERMAN LIBERALS AND THE WAR.
The chief of the German Liberals, Dr. Jacoby, has
written to a friend in Brussels on the prospects cf
Germany and the effects of the war. He says that
they are fully edified with respect to the policy of
Bismarck. " The Lieutenant-General of the Hea-
venly Sovereign" has recognised the favour the
Most High has accorded to an army greatly supe-
rior in number by delivering places crushed by a
formidable artillery. King William overlooks the fact,
however, that Germany will be plunged " in greater
misery thauFrance itself." Thousands of German Re-
, publicans are convinced that the dismemberment of
France will be a crime that will react on themselves,
and tend to destroy liberty in every country of Europe.
The German Liberals complain of the hard treat-
ment they have received at the hands of the Govern-
ment. The political prisoners at Leipzig are only
permitted to see their wives once a week, and then
in the presence of a magistrate. Several
prisoners, including two members of the North
German Parliament and the sub-editor of a paper,
have been kept in prison for weeks without being
brought before a public tribunal of any kind.

AMERICA AND ENGLAND.

The New York Times has a somewhat remarkable
article in answer to the Pall Mall Gazette's observa-
tions on American feeling towards England. The
Pall Mall, says the American organ, departs
from its usually rational course, and repre-
sents us as in a perpetually truculent state,
threatening the quiet and peaceful citizen
John Bull, who will scarcely even turn against the
foot that spurns him. Such representations cannot
fail to have a bad effect on the average Englishman,
who is peculiarly ignorant of foreign peoples, and
very sensitive on the question of his honour. We '
need not say, adds the New York Times, that
they have not the smallest foundation. The
truth i% that in a free country, like
England or the United States, a thousand things
are said which mean very little. Mr. Sumner would
speak in a very different tone if he were Secretary of
State from that which he uses as Chairman of the
Foreign Relations Committee, as Mr. Gladstone
while addressing his constituents, or writing for the
Edinburgh Review, is quite another person from Mr.
Gladstone as Premier. Five words from President
Grant would have been worth a volume of
Mr. Sumner's speeches, and if the writer
in the Pall Mall will look over the Fish and Motley
correspondence he will see that at the very time of
Sumner's speech, the President was di-satisfied with
the violent views of Mr. Sumner's friend, whom he
finally recalled for fear that his tone was not quiet
or considerate enough towards Great Britain.
Nor were the concessions made by Lord
Clarendon hurtful to the national dig-
nity. The reference of a dispute to
arbitration can never be humiliating to any reason-
able being. In conclusion, the Times urges that all
questions in dispute should be referred to arbitration,
and if they are decided against England, let her pay
an indemnity, and declare the principles of inter-
national law as affecting the sending forth of cruisers
from neutral ports. President Grant desires an
apology, but a payment of money and a declaration
of war principles for the future would seem to be all
the apology America could reasonably claim from a
great nation.