The Sun.
London, England, 1848-10-05 00:00:00

FRANCE.

The following, which may be considered as a proof
that M. de Lamartine has now completely separated
himself from the party and policy of M. Ledru
Rollin, appears in the Bien Public:--
" What are the dangers which have appeared all at
once on our frontiers, that France should secure some
advantages against the ancient monarchies by some
great battles ? To all appearance there are none.
All the artificial structure of the treaties of 1815 so
laboriously built up is completely destroyed.
Austria is in a complete break-up. Hungary,
Croatia, Bohemia, and Lombardy are falling off
from the empire. Prussia, which had reserved
to itself the suzerainty of Germany, sees Germany
escape from her, and hold its sittings at Frankfort.
The work of the whole diplomacy is carried away
by the breath of revolurions. Europe is decomposed;
the map of the Holy Alliance is half-torn up ; no
earthly power can connect together the pieces. Could
England do so? But England has never weighed
against France, except when taking its point d'appui
in Germany. That point d'appui is now broken.
The King of Prussia only thinks of saving the crown,
and the Emperor of Austria of saving his states
from the rush of the democracy. Could Russia
do so ? But Russia cannot enter on a campaign
against France, but on condition of having Prussia
for its right wing and Austria for its left. And
now what would that power find, if it attempted to
cross the Vistula? A Germany compact and heaving
with the spirit of liberty, which would oppose
to it
the recruits of her revolutions. Who besides is ig-
norant that in the question of Schleswig, Germany
and Russia have clashed together in a struggle of
influence. United before by a common sympathy
against revolutions, they are about to become
hostile
by their realities of territory. France gains the in-
fluence which Russia has lost. The quarrel of Schles-
wig, by compromising Russia against all Germany,
has therefore been eminently_ advantageous to our
policy, and we have a right to be thank-
till to the providence of the Republic for
it. If M. Bastide has lent a hand to the armistice,
we can only congratulate him on his sentiments
of good Christian. But, whatever may be the state
of the relations of Russia and Denmark, Russia is
for ever in an impossibility to raise up by cannon-
shots the, pretensions of the Holy Alliance. Thus,
therefore, in no quarter does a shadow of danger float
in the air. The Republic may proceed in all security
to the internal labour of voting its constitution, for it
will not be disturbed by the sound of musket-shots
on its frontier. And yet it is at this moment of utter
dislocation for Europe, of the falling back of all the
monarchies in themselves, for they feel their au-
thority melting away under the sun of liberty—it
is at this moment of concentration for all nations,
since ell nations have need to reorganize their insti-
tutions, that M. Ledru-Rollin thinks fit to advise to
beat the drum, and throw fourteen armies on our
frontiers. And why ? To guard oneself by war
against wars to come. Up to the present time there
has been no example, except that of Louis XIV., of a
person taking remedies in full health to keep off by an-
, ticipation maladies that might possibly come. We
cannot comprehend the error of U. Ledru-Rollin.