The Sun.
London, England, 1870-07-18 00:00:00

THE WAIL

The Telegraph considers the declaration of war a debdcle
of the European system—a breaking up, in an awful
crash, of the barriers which have hitherto held to their form
the leading nations of civilisation—and no interests are
guaranteed, no policy is secure, against the influence of
the events which are approaching. At such a time what
ought to be the one desire—the earnest hope of England ?
Surely, so long as honour and right permit, to hold aloof
from the lamentable contest. This must be the aim of
our policy, and it is not too much to say that the
chance by limiting the struggle, and of restoring peace at
some point short of general catastrophe, depends upon our
firm persistence in that course. If, then, we claim the
function of a neutral Power, we must be scrupulously
careful to observe the obligations of neutrality— obli-
gations which are too palpably violated by hasty
judgments. It is not proper or justifiable to mix
condemnation of war with absolute decisions upoi
the steps which hare led to it. Very little is yet
known of the secret history of those transactions
which have terminated in the deplorable declara-
tion of the 15th. If that history should prove the war to
have been sought all along by the Emperor, as a diversion

from his domestic difficulties, there need be, in that evil

case, no impatience ; the truth will manifest itself, and
the justice of Heaven is strong enough to vindicate huma-
nity upon such a crime. If, on the other hand, the guilt
should lie on the side of Prussia, condemnation
can be uttered soon enough. But while we elect
to be neutrals and spectators, it is not becoming to be
judges too. The passions of the time ought to be warn-
ings to us, not incitements. Still more strongly must we
disallow all expressions 'which appear to cover a menace.
Our national policy is well known—we detest war, love
peace, and shall remain at peace so long as duty and
honour permit. We have, therefore, no right to denounce
and no basis for threatening anybody. A pacific attitude
is noble only while it is silent.
The Standard thinks it quite clear from the text of the
declaration made on Friday afternoon—a text which the
telegraphic summary very imperfectly rendered—that the
whole blame cannot be thrown on France, even if we
leave out of consideration the circumstance which the
attitude of the French Government naturally
suggests that it was morally convinced that the Hohenzol-
lern candidature was but the continuation of a policy
directed to the weakening and humiliation of France. The
declaration of the French Government is of course an ex
Porte statement, but it would be very indefensible
to suppose that any Government presenting to
the national representation a statement, professing to
describe the stages of a negotiation broken off by war,
would grossly misrepresent the facts, although it pos-
sibly enough might colour them, and draw from them
unjust inferences. If the King of Prussia did inform the
French Ambassador through an aide-de-camp that he
would not receive him ; if he gave emphasis and offen-
siveness to this refusal—in itself almost a casus belli—by
pronouncing that in order to prevent any doubt as to the
meaning of the step he had officially communicated it to
the Courts of Europe, it must be allowed that, techni-
cally, Prussia offered war. The provocation may have
been sufficient. That is a question upon which no
°Pinion can yet be fairly offered, but from any view of
the case that step on the part of the King of Prussia
made war inevitable, and the fact that it was taken shows
that the Prussian Government was quite as willing as the
French for the conflict.
The Times takes it for granted that the South German
States will join Prussia, since whatever bitterness they
'nay cherish on account of the policy of Berlin in 1866
will be removed when that 'power stands forth as
the champion of the national independence. Bava-
ria has already cast in her lot with Prussia, though
the Bavarian Rhine province will probably have to bear
the first shock of the war. Wurtemberg has mobilised
her army and convoked her estates. The first shot fired
on the Rhine may unite Germany, possibly for ever ; and,
should this be accomplished, the French would have to
face a great nation of forty millions, united by a spirit of
the strongest patriotism, stung by a sense of insult and
injury, and knowing that what they may lose in this
war can never be recovered. On the other hand, the
French are nearly forty millions also, and-they have the
advantage of more concentrated national power. Although
the leadership of Prussia is now established, a large por-
tion of the German army will enter on the campaign in the
character of allies rather than of soldiers of King
William. This gives a certain superiority to France,
which the Germans will have to compensate by
the energy and devotion of their service. So far for the
two main combatants ; but there is a real danger that
war may overpass the limits of the now hostile Empires.
Rolland and Switzerland are taking measures to
Preserve their neutrality. The latter need not
be much troubled; but Holland lies unpleasantly
near the chief field of operations, the Rhine the
object of this aggression, meets the sea within her
limits, and the House of Bonaparte has not ceased to
remember that the Netherlands were once departments
of the Empire. The position of Belgium is even more
a cause for regret. Austria has eight millions of Ger-
man subjects; and though they are now politically sepa-
rated from the fatherland they cannot forget their real
identity with the nation which France is attacking.
Then the Hungarian Liberals, though no admirers of
Berlin, are likely to sympathise with the German people
to a war of national defence. Considering these
two important facts, it would seem impossible
for the Viennese to follow its ianti-Prussian instincts so
far as [to join ; indeed there may be a strong pressure
exerted in the contrary direction. If the war lasts A us-
tria may move, but for the present Germany must bear
the shock alone. Behind all these is the vast and dim
figure of Russia, which may at any time emerge with a
clearer light, and show an unsuspected strength.
The Daily News, speaking of the comparative merits of
French and Prussian soldiers, says the former, as all the
world knows,
are famous for elan, or dash, and they are
supposed to have such a natural sagacity that it is prac-
ticable and advantageous to send them to the attack in a
formation—the open order—which would be fatal
to ordinary troops. During the Italian war we
used to read of a battalion of Zouaves being let
loose upon the unfortunate Austrians " like a pack of
hounds." As a pendant to this picture we are presented
with a representation of the Prussians, and indeed of all
soldiers of Teutonic blood, as patient and pipeclayed, and
too stupid either to wiri or run away. This view is not
borne out by English observation of the Prus-
sian soldier. Those of our military men who saw him in
Bohemia or South Germany in 1866 describe him as calm,
firm, and quick; and those who have since studied the
training and discipline of the Prussian army tell us that
the serious modifications it has undergone during the last
ten years have been made with a view to augment the
faculty of independent action. If, on a comparison
of the armies of France and -Prussia, we must admit
that secrecy and a fixed purpose give a momentary
advantage to the former Power—one, however, which
every week will diminish—a comparison of the naval
V9wer of the two countries is less unfavourable to Prussia.
of that she can boast anything like the number of
ironclads possessed by France, but she has none ex-
cept powerful, heavily-armed, and most effective ves-
sels, while many of those of France, from incom-
plete plating, are scarcely better than wooden ships.
Prussia will probably not attempt to do more than de
fend the ports of the North German Confederation, and
to this task her force is believed to be equal.

USPENSION of THE NORWICH CROWN BANK.—It
has been already announced in our columns that Sir R. J.
y• Harvey was found shot through the chest on Fri-
"ay afternoon at Crown Point, near Norwich. The result
of the occurrence was that on Saturday morning the fol-
lowing notice was affixed to the doors of the Norwich
Crown Bani_
" In consequence of the lamentable catas-
the which has happened" to Sir Robert Harvey, it has
b determined by the other partners to suspend the
business of the bank for the present.—July 16." Last
?light Sir Robert Harvey was still alive, but his condition
is considered to be very critical.
CRYSTAL PALACE AQUARIUM COMPANY (LIMITED).
--The capital of this company has been fully subscribed,
and the first deposit of £2 per share paid up. The con-
tracts for the building and hydraulic machinery required
have been let to responsible parties, and the works will be
eoixtmenced immediately. The company have retained
the exclusive services of Mr. W. A. Lloyd, well known
for his experience in this department of natural history,
,11d director of the aquarium of the Zoological Garden at
araburg. The aquariums will be opened without fail on
the first Saturday of April, 1871. The number of visitors
Present on Saturday (as. day) was as follows :—By season
tickets, 9,668 ; on payment, 4,468 ; total, 14,136.