The Sun.
London, England, 1870-10-05 00:00:00

COUNT BISMARCK AND M. FAVRE.

The Times remarks that had the moral elements of
Count Bismarck's character been of equal strength with
his iron will, or had the range of his intellectual vision
been as remarkable as the energy of his resolution, he
would have understood and answered M. Favre's
apparently irrelevant appeal to the popular en-
thusiasm aroused in France. Had M. Favre's passionate
patriotism been qualified by an equally faithful confession
of external facts,. he would have been able to reason with
Count Bismarck. A third person, endowed with the
qualities in which each was deficient, might have supplied
the links bringing the two together, and although the inter-
view might in that case have been as ineffectual asit really
was, it would not have ended without a sharp definition of
the line dividing the negotiators. Count Bismarck suggests
to the foreign representatives of Germany that the French
Government declined the Armistice because they were afraid
the Representative Assembly would have consented to peace.
The fact that it.is held by him is but another instance of
the inability apparent throughout of each negotiator to
understand the attitude of the other. Here were two
men, both eminent and both able, but whose
minds are cast in such different moulds that,
after two days spent in close consultation,
they remained strangers to each other's sentiments.
Both, for very different reasons, desire that an Assembly
should be convoked, and each thinks the other
has resolved to prevent it. It is very difficult for
lookers-on who are capable of seeing both sides of a
dispute to believe that it is impossible to - bring to-
gether negotiators whose primary aims are thus identical ;
and when the Ministers of Germany communicate, as
Count Bismarck directs them, his last Circular to the
Governments to which they are accredited, this thought
will arise in the minds of many casting about for a settle-
men of the great issues in dispute.

THE EMPRESS OF THE FRENCH

The Daily News, commenting on the remarks made with
reference to the non-reception of the Empress by the
Queen, says :—We doubt, in the first place, whether the
social sympathisers with the Empress are quite sincere
in their sentimental moods. We hesitate to give
them credit for an honesty of disposition which
implies a singular lack of thought or discretion.
It is possible, however, that they may be imposed upon
by their permitting their fancies to indulge in romantic
comparisons and memories which are not much to the
point. The Queen was splendidly entertained in Paris;
her gratitude for the superb reception is exhibited in
the most chilling reserve to her former hostess.
The gushing ladies and gentlemen who go through the
process known by them familiarly as thinking, in this
fashion, entirely forget that the conditions which regulate
the conduct of the Queen in connection with the ex-
Empress now are completely different from those
in which they both met so many years ago. Although
the gossipmongers are in all probability more diligent
students of the etiquette that surrounds Royalty than we
are, they seem to be ignortant of the restrain placed upon
.he personal sympathies and wishes of persons in the
highest rank through the inevitable necessities of their
position. A little reflection might have suggested, to
them the awkward consequences of her Majesty meeting
the ex-Empress in such a manner as would admit of
misconstruction. Supposing the Queen to entertain for
the lady whose misfortunes are so deplorables the most
cordial personal affection and regard, we believe
she could not show her concern in a more sensible
or more delicate fashion than by remaining aloof
while the sufferer was enduring the first pangs of
her great trial. The reproach of indulging ourselves
in that stealthy pleasure which the amiable Frenchman
described as proceeding from a contemplation of the
miseries of a dear friend, is one to which we are less liable
when we do not-mortify him with compassion during his
throes of anguish.

IS PARIS FRANCE?

The Telegraph asks the question—Does the siege of
Paris mark the beginning or the end of the war between
France and Germany ? On this side the Channel
6wo assumptions are almost universal, evert
Among those whose sympathies are strongly in
avour of France. The first is that the fall of
Paris is a mere question of time ; the second,
that, whenever the capital is taken, France must
A necessity make peace. In France, on the con-
trary, entirely opposite views are held. The sur-
render of Paris is regarded by Frenchmen as a
very doubtful contingency, and the utmost con-
fide.ce is expressed that even should the contin-
gency come to pass, the resistance of France would be
aontinued "to the bitter end." Such a conviction is
)bviously not confined to mob orators and sensational
journalists, but is shared by the rulers of France
—past as well as present. Just as the French
Deliexed firmly, until a few weeks ago, that the enemy
whom two generations ago they had routed at Jena could
lever defeat their armies in the field—so does France seem
to be led astray by the experience of 1792. For
ong years France has been governed entirely from
Paris ; end the system of centralisation which com-
menced under the Bourbons has been carried to the
highest perfection under the Empire. Already we
see how the whole energies of France are paralysed by the
mere investment of . her capital ; and were Paris once in

the possession of the invaders, we believe, says the Tele-
paph, that peace must follow. How long the peace may
endure, is a different consideration ; but, for the moment,
..he resistance of France depends on the resistance of her
metropolis.

THE EMPEROR'S MANIFESTO.

The Manchester Examiner, discussing the Emperor's
manifesto, says he has evidently not lost hope nor abated
one jot of his self-confidence. He offers himself to
France and Germany as the indispensable peace maker.
As he cannot rule the Continent alone, he is
ready to divide the supremacy with the King
of Prussia, and promises great results from
such a working partnership. It is hardly worth
while to speculate on the possibilities of such an arrange-
ment. But it is clear the Emperor will remain a visionary
to the last.

The Manchester Courier says the Emperor appeals
to a peace which he is wholly incompetent to effect.
There was a time when a word spoken
by him might have averted the tempest. It has corn
now, and no number of words he may si)eak will cause i
to cease. The Emperor, in his retirement, must hav
many reflections which are melancholy enough, but non
more melancholy than this. He issued his mandate
in matter in obedience to what or whose dictates, and i
was war. War has brought revolution to France, nor i
there much ground to hope that the pacific utterances in
the Imperial manifesto will find an echo in the hurrica.n
to which they are cast.

A new comedy, by Mr. T. W. Robertson, called
" Birth," will be produced at Bristol this week. Mr.
Sothern plays the principal character.

A NOTABLE BANKRUPT.-At the Court of Bankruptcy
a petition for adjudication came on for hearing against the
Right Hon. Edward Mostyn Lloyd Mostyn, Baron
Mostyn, described as of 33, Lower Seymour-street,
Portman-square. The petitioning creditor was Mr.
William Edwards, of 4, Coleman-street Buildings, Moor-
gate-street, who claims £2,488 7s. 4d., by virtue
of a judgment dated May 22, 1868, recovered by him
against the defendant upon a bond for £2,400,
dated May 27, 1848, the consideration for which was
money lent. On the case being mentioned :to Mr.
Registrar Haslitt, an objection was raised to the. pro-
ceedings by Mr. Bagley, upon the ground that the peti-
tioning creditor had not proved his debt in support of
the petition, as required by the rules. Mr. Mackreet,
solicitor, appeared for the petitioning creditor. The
Registrar granted a short adjournment, in order that 4
furthei affidavit of debt might be filed,