The Sun.
London, England, 1870-11-22 00:00:00

THE EASTERN QUESTION.

The correspondent of the Daily News, writing from St.
Petersburg on November 16:thus describes the state of
public feeling iu Russia :—lt would be difficult to imagine
a greater contrast than that between the conduct of the

Russian Government towards New Germany and the
attitude assumed by the press of this country, and
supported by public opinion ; for whilst the
Emperor showers down orders and honorary titles

the German leaders of the war, the . news-

papers that represent the intelligent and respectable
classes of society can scakely find expressions strong
enough to condemn the conqueror of Sedan. Herr Cap-
pelmans,the editor of the Journal de St. Petersbourg, lately
undertook to defend Marshal Bazaine against the foul
attacks made on him by the press, who stated openly
that the capitulation of Metz was an act of treachery
in which Prussia was an accomplice. This
courageous conduct brought a nest of hornets
about his ears, for the Moscow Casette, the Golos,
the Borsen Zeitung, and others whose tendency is to
diminish as much as possible iu the eyes of the world the
great successes of the Germans, which they cannot pre-
tend to ignore or deny, publicly denounced him as a dis-
honour to the Russian press, and summoned him to quit
the country. This was, of course, declined by Herr Cap-
pelma.nns, who, however, .offered to submit his conduct to
the decision of any impartial arbitrators; but this the
journalists indignantly refused. stating they could.
never make peace with a partisan of Prussia. In the
face of the impending complications that are now begin-
ning to obscure the political horizon it will be of import-
mice to understand the public) feeling of this country with
regard to Germany, as it will explain much that would
otherwise remain dark. It shews plainly that the Cabi-
net policy, which was supposed to have given place
long ago to the dictates of public opinion, is still
flourishing in full force. Russia's demand for a
revision of the Paris Treaty of 1856 is, no doubt, made
with the knowledge and consent of Prussia, and shew
that the "benevolent neutrality" observed by this
country was not so much dictated by a Platonic sym-
pathy for the wrongs put upon Germany by au unjust war
waged against her, as from a carefully-considered plan
for the greater consolidation and support of their
mutual interests. The relations between Government
policy and public opinion are just the same in Russia as
in Germany. The educated classes and more intelligent
of the Russians have all along openly expressed their
sympathy with France, whilst Prince Gortschakoff
decided in favour of morally supporting the cause of Ger-
many, where the people would much rather have preferred
an alliance with Austria to supporting the Oriental
policy of Russia, as hitherto foreshadowed. That
in both cases the decision has been made

in opposition to the instincts of the people is
not to be ascribed so much to the inseparability of the
interests of Russia and Prussia as to the clumsy and
incapable manner in which the leader of affairs at Vienna
drove Russia and Prussia into each other's arms, and de-
prived Austria of the natural support she would have
found in Germany. Ever since the commencement of
the war England's policy of non-intervention and Aus-
tria's equivocal conduct have tended to change the
position of Germany's centre of gravity, the effects of
which it is at present impossible to foretell, but which
may be of paramount importance in the history of
the world. The decision lies in the hands of
Count Bismarck, and is probably finished by
this time ; but, if not, it could scarcely alter
the position of Russia. As long as the moral and
physical power of Austria is wielded by the weak and
vaciPating policy of Count Beust, he will never be able
in the hour of danger to clear away the difficulties and
prejudices that separate Berlin from Vienna, and bring
about a durable and honourable alliance between Germany
and Austria.