The Sun.
London, England, 1871-01-05 00:00:00

TAE RUMOURS OF CAPITULATION.

The Telegraph says: The air is full of rumours about tl.`
impending capitulation of Paris. Events of such magnt
tude cast their shadows before ; and whenever the crisi
does occur, we shall, of course, have warning of it before
hand in the form of those anticipatory rumours which
have been so rife within the last forty-eight hours. But
it by no means follows, from the general impression
abroad, that the end must necessarily be very close
at hand. We have, with the utmost confidence,
often been assured that the supplies of the besieged city
were exhausted; that the population was weary of a use-
less struggle, and that the gates were about to be thrown
open to the besieging army. Nor have we ever disputed
the obvious truth that the surrender of Paris was a mere
question of time. The resistance has been prolonged
beyond the limit we all thought possible; and
every day which passes increases the probability
of an early capitulation. So far as the outer world
is aware, however, nothing has occurred materially
to modify the .position of the beleaguered capital.
Still, while we fail to see any ground for concluding that
the further prosecution of the defence of Paris is abso-
lutely impossible, we cannol: dispute the assumption that
the end must be drawing near. The prospect of any im-
mediate relief from without is darker than ever. No
contradiction has yet been published of the state-
ment that M. Thiers has entered Paris with
the avowed object of treating for an armistice. Even
supposing this rumour to be correct, however, it would be
premature to assume that the city would at once throw
open its portals to the Prussians. Neither General
Trochu nor M. Thiers can give an assurance that any
terms npon which they may agree with the Prussian
Government for the cessation of hostilities will
he recognised at Bordeaux. Indeed, if Gambetta
and Chanzy were to act up to the spirit of their
proclamations, their first act, on learning that General
Trochu was negotiating with Versailles would be to de-
nounce him as a traitor and to repudiate his authority .
trnder these circumstances we fear that the Prussians
will not now listen to any proposal for an armistice un-'
accompanied by the surrender of Paris.
PUBLIC, OPINION ON THE WAR.

The Germans, the Daily News remarks, are bringing up
their reserves. Not only are the armed hosts pouring
over the frontier to protect the threatened rear of the
force which is besieging Paris, but the literary men, even
the political exiles, are pressed into Count Bismarck's
service. When the German armies were vic-
torious their troubles began. As they have
gone on inflicting heavier and heavier wounds on
unhappy France, they have found a general rally,
of public opinion in Europe to the French side.
Quite apart from our sympathy with the sufferings of a
groat neighbour and ally, the very love of freedom which
is so deeply rooted in the English people prevents them
from continuing their sympathy to the German side. We
no longer see a great people rising to repel an aggression,
but an Empire, in which constitutional government is
in its infancy and feudalism is strong even in its
dotage, invading and dragooning a great people, who,
whatever be their faults, have been and still are among
the foremost of nations in their love of liberty. It is
feudal Germany under a Monarch who pretends to rule
by right Divine, crushing down a French Republic in
which the voice of the people is recognised as the only
divine call to power. We sympathised heartily with the
Germans in their desire to repel an Imperial aggres-
sion ; we saw with delight the usurper of December
tumbled into the mud ; but we have been alto-
gether
ssuncabbalnegedtosidecsoann?Fuerancoeurstoodsymonphatehr!,.since
a defence.
We hope more for Europe from a French Republic than
from a German Empire ' • the one may perplex despotic
monarchs with fear of change, the other may sit like a
nightmare on the Liberal aspirations of the world. Ger-
man unity is desirable, but French unity is as desirable ;
and necessary as it is that Germany should be safe, it is
needful too that France should be great and free.

THE PARLIAMENTARY RUFF BOWL—The ((Par
liamentary Buff Book," for 1870, which is, as our readers
probably know, a record of all the votes given by the
various M. P.'s during the last session, affords a curious
test of the activity of party organisation on the two sides
of the House in the number of divisions, in which the
Head Whips respectively took part, and in which they
were tellers. There were in all 244 divisions during the
session of 1870, and out of this number Mr. Glyn was
present at 239 and teller in 178. These figures prove both
the general attention bestowed by the Government on all
that passes in Parliament, shown by the sum total of
the attendances, and the high pressure at which they
worked their powers, both of initiation shewn in
the cases where their whip told the ayes (84), and of re-
sistance, shown in those where he told the noes (94). On
the other hand, Mr. Noel, who took part in 183 divisions
(a very sufficient number for the Opposition whip) only
told the ayes on two occasions and the noes on seven, nine
in all. As the whip is by rule the mouthpiece of divisions
provoked by the direct action of the party leaders, these
figures prove that while there is much vigilance and acti-
vity among the general body of Conservatives their
leaders have all but abandoned the task of directing the
counsels of their followers. The honour of Parliamentary
Senior Wrangler falls to Mr. Candlish, who performed
the untianalleled feat of being present at all the 244
divisions.— Guardian.