The Sun.
London, England, 1870-10-01 00:00:00

L SUN, LONDON, U RDA y, OCTOBER 1,187 G.

of MAc.MAiroN's movement for the relief of BAZAIRS ?
Unhappily there seems not the " least doubt
that this most momentous intelligence was furnished,
not by the Uhlans or other legitimate source, but
' either by the Independence Beige, a journal which
deeply sympathises with the French in their disaster,
or by the Siecle, a Paris Republican paper. Worse
still, the evidence is in favour of the conclusion that
it was the latter publication which committed this
unintentional but tremendous fault. The Nord
Deutsche Allgenzeine Zeitung, of Berlin, accuses the
Independence. It- says the German leaders were
entirely in the dark as to the destination of MAC-
MAIIoN's army after it broke up before Chalons,
until the Belgian journal publishes from
Mazieres information respecting the movements of
French troops, which left no doubt as to the
Marshal's intentions. This news was telegraphed
to Berlin, and from Berlin to the German head-
quarters. The advance of the Third Army upon Paris
was at once arrested, the CROWN PRINCE turned his
columns northwards, and thus commenced the flank
march which led to the catastrophe of Sedan. The
Neue IreiePresse of Vienna gives, however, a different
and more plausible account. The first movement of
MAcMAHort from Chalons undoubtedly did baffle the
German leaders. The French Marshal retreated first
to Rheims, a city which lies, in a north-westerly
direction, nearer to Paris than Chalons. The natural
inference from such a semi-backward march was that
MACMAIION had decided to fall back-upon Paris and
operate upon the flank of the army which migh t besiege
the capital. M. EDMOND TExiErt, of the Siecle, was
kind enough to dispel the illusion. This gentleman
was the only correspondent who managed to send
important news from Rheims, and very fatal to his
country did his " enterprise" prove. On the 24th
of August he wrote that on the preceding evening
Rheims had been evacuated. "An advance is taking
place !" An advance could be only in one direction.
To retreat further on Paris was not to advanceat all;
the Germans knew that the French were not coming
southwards; they must, therefore, have turned to
the north. Whether MA cMAHoN meant to
steal, upon Metz, or to attack the newly
formed Fourth Army which, under the command
of the Crown Prince of SAXONY, was advancing
towards him, the duty of the Crown Prince of
PRUSSIA was the same—to turn round and fall upon
the MARSHAL. It would be invidious to decide positively
which of the two papers gave the Germans the light
they needed. The balance of evidence, as we have
said, is against the Siecle. It is at any rate certain
that the Germans learned the state of affairs
from no other source save one of those two
papers, and this fact suffices for the impres-
sive lesson which such an indiscretion ought
to teach. The rule that descriptions of events ac-
tually accomplished may be freely given, but that
intimations respecting movements yet in progress
should be rigorously repressed, is one from which no
journalist can honourably depart. If he be a mem-
ber of a contending nation he serves the enemy, if
be be a neutral be casts away his neutrality in de-
viating from this great principle. This melancholy case
is not the sole, though it is the most striking, instance
of evil wrought by heedless publication. There can be
no doubt that beyond certain limits the intelligence
given by the press may be made the engine of
unqualified evil. To exceed those limits is one of
the gravest offences a journalist can commit.

To-monnow the Italians, in the dominions lately

held by the POPE, will be called upon to answer
" Yes" or "No " to the question, shall Italy
be one and indivisible ? Within a few hours the
Papal States will add themselves to Italy, and thus
another edifice will be formally " crowned." It is
satisfactory to be informed that the completion
of so great a work will be accompanied
by an amnesty, in which MAZZINI " will be
necessarily included." The occasion is a fitting one
for political mercy, and it is, moreover, highly de-
sirable that the issue between the regular Govern-
ment and the agitators should be fairly
tried without the interposition of violence. The
Italian Reds have not deserved well of
their country, but it is certain that whatever
power they may wield when at liberty is all the off-
spring of the vices of the existing regime. It is
within the capacity of the King and his advisers to
disarm their enemies without imprisoning them. There
is no reason to doubt that adequate reform will secure
the attachment cf the Italian people; but withoutreform
no extent of repression will answer the purpose.
Arbitrary government, corrupt government, wasteful
government, are the causes of Italy's difficulties.
Italy has attained unity, but she lacks every other
condition of happiness. The maladministration of
affairs lately rose to a climax, and there
is, unfortunately, no great reason to think that
much improvement has since been effected. To apply
themselves earnestly to the redress of grievances is
the great duty that remains to the Government. It
is one for the neglect of which there can be no
excuse, and the performance of which must secure its
own reward, for the Italians will wisely consider,
not so much the form of rule under which
they live, as its results. If, therefore, the
good disposition which leads the Italian Government
to grant an amnesty lead them also to reflect on
their own conduct, and turn over a new leaf, there
may be a glorious future still in store for the reunited
fragments of a great people.

TOPICS OP THE DAY.