The Sun.
London, England, 1870-11-15 00:00:00

LONDON, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1870.

TROUBLES seem thickening on the political horizon.
As if it were not enough to have one European war
of disastrous extent and indefinite consequences
raging without any immediate prospect of con-
clusion, we are threatened with at least
the possibilities of two more. Russia, there
appears little room to doubt,lis seizing the favour-
able opportunity for reviving the Eastern question,
and agitating for a revocation of the Treaty of 1856.
In Spain the candidature of the young Duke d'AosTA
is encountering strong opposition in more than one
quarter, and it is even hinted that PRIM himself;
while openly supporting the candidature, is secretly
conniving at the opposition, being desirous of retaining
his present influence and authority. It may be indeed
a comparatively unimportant question who fills the
throne of Spain, but we cannot forget that the mere
question of the candidature has already flung open
the gates of JANus, and it is impossible to see into
what fresh imbroglio new diplomatic negotiations
may lead us. Lord GRANVILLE has shewn consi-
derable caution in recognising the candidature, if we

are to judge from the Protocol given by the
Madrid Gazette. "If the candidateship of the
Duke," says the English Foreign Minister, "is
agreeable to the Spanish nation, her MAJESTY'S
Government will see with the greatest pleasure that
his Highness is accepted as King of SPAIN, and a
communication in this sense has been sent to her
MAJESTY'S Minister at Florence." Meanwhile, in the
Cortes, CASTELAU, the Liberal orator, has made one of
his most eloquent and powerful speeches against the
unlucky Duke, whom he declares to have less
raison d'etre than any of the: other candidates,
representing neither traditionary monarchy, popular
freedom, the rights of the people, or the prejudices of
the clergy. Whether the applause which greeted his
fervent declamation in the .Chamber will find a
response in the country at large, or whether it was
merely a tribute to the impassioned eloquence of the
speaker, remains to be seen, but in any case there are
sufficiently discordant elements in Spain to give or-
lookers very serious uneasiness.

THOSE who wish to appreciate `.the horrors of war
to the full extent, should visit. the scenes which have
been most noted in the struggle, some little time after
the affair, is decided ono way or the other. It
seems already an age since Strasburg surrendered, so
quickly have the events of this exciting
time followed one upon the other, and
the picture of desolation' which the city and
its environs present is one of extreme desolation.
The contrast that is presented between the smiling
villages of Baden and the burned up , country of
Alsace is well described by a French journalist who
passed two days in travelling in the vicinity of the
recent strife. Strange as it may appear, however, this
melancholy scene is not altogether
.produotive of
sad reflection, and we hoar that the road from Kehl
to Strasburg is crowded with Germans of all ranks
and ages who rush there en masse to dwell on the
spectacle of ruin and victory which Strasburg affords
them. The influx of visitors is so great that the
railways have put on extra trains to accommodate
the passengers. All the Duchy of Baden appears
to flock there on. a Sunday, and whole villages
press forward to join in the excitement. The route
from Strasburg to the Rhine is fr.ll Of the brilliant
equipages of Baden-Baden, and the travellers who
are returning home are unwilling to depart until they
have witnessed the effect of the bombardment of the
famous city. Some of the Germans display the
greatest satisfaction at the scene befoi‘e. them, and in
the exultation of their own great triumph, have
forgotten the respect that was due to misfortune
and the natural feelings of sorrow which the eight
of so much suffering and desolation should call forth.
Apart from the horrors of the scene, which reveal
the past days of endurance and hardships,
ending in (Lath and devastatiOn;• the present
attributes of the place are extraordinary, and 1
seem to speak of a new leaf turned in the book of
history. The German ?flag waves over the old
cathedral, and soldiers of the Landvfehr guard 'the
entrance to. the town. The most awful change
which has been wrought by the war is in the
cemetery, where the repose of the dead has not been