The Sun.
London, England, 1870-07-15 00:00:00

PRANCE AND PRUSSIA.

The Times holds that no dispassionate person will now
doubt that France has carried her fancied advantage tco
far, and she will find it extremely difficult to screen her-
self from the suspicion that the aim of her policy has all
along been to force a quarrel upon Prussia, with a settled
purpose either to fight or to humble her, if she perseveres
in making demands upon her after the resignation
of the Hohenzollern Prince has removed the last
shadow of a pretext for hostility. The part
assigned to M. Benedetti at Ems is only too much in
keeping with the violent language in which the Duc de
Gramont first introduced the subject to the Legislative
Body. By going so far out of her way to seek one quarrel,
France can scarcely anticipate how many more she may
bring upon herself ; for in our days the manifold rela-
tions which bind States in a community of interests can-
not be partially deranged without giving rise to un-
foreseen complications. It is evident the Ministers
shrink from the responsibility of uttering the ugly word
" war," and hesitate to announce that they have only
obtained by their menaces a concession which would
have been willingly made to a friendly remonstrance.
It is not, indeed, easy to see what course is
open to them. Prussia has evidently arrived at the
end of her concessions, and France finds it difficult to
recede from her exactions. In the meanwhile the only
points established beyond doubt are the popular excite-
ment, which has been raging at fever heat among the too
susceptible French, but which begins at last to seize the
more sedate Germans, and the preparations that are being
made in hot haste as if for immediate hostilities. Unless
the neutral Powers can contrive to step between the con-
tending parties, and persuade or compel them to hear
reason, the prospects of peace were never less favourable
than at the preseut moment.

The Telegraph says the darkest prospects have all at
once taken the place of the brighter hopei encouraged by
Continental events during the past two days. The signi-
ficance of yesterday's tidings is broadly marked by the
fact that on the Exchanges of London, of Paris, gnd Ber-
lin a contagious panic prevailed—less exciting than that
of Monday, only because there were but few fluc-
tuations, and a steady downward movement took
place, to the extent'of two, three, and even four per cent.
in Foreign Stocks. The cause of the untoward change is
twofold. The temper displayed by both of the French
Chambers on Wednesday has been understood to show
that the strong pro tests and haughty threats of the Duke
de Gramont a week before really manifested the purpose
of the Government to force on a war ; and the demands
presented by France to the King of Prussia
are understood to be inadmissible. It is, the
Telegragh, fears, almost hoping against hope to expect that
war will not now spring out of this Spanish succession
quarrel. Yet it is somewhat too soon to portion out the
allies, and to reckon in cold blood the chances of the
conflict. Until the sword shall have been actually drawn
belief in political justice, and in the influences of
modern civilisation, must forbid us to hold the contest
inevitable.

The Strndard is sorry to say all the intelligence received
tends to strengthen the impression that the French Go-
vernment will not be satisfied with the withdrawal of the
Prince of Hohenzollern unless it is effected in a fashion
which Prussia would consider dishonourable, and that hold-
ing Prussia to have been privy to that candidature, and to
have supported it as part of a policy hostile to France, it is
determined to measure swords and settle the question of
their respective pretensions—a conclusion from which it
has only seemed to swerve in consequence of some Cabinet
intrigue. We shall have to wait but a few hours at the
most for the decision of the question whether the Rhine
shall this autumn be abandoned to contending armies, and
the hosts who live, not to say prey, upon the travellers,
be starved out. Let us hope, although it is difficult to do
so, that the Emperor's message to the Chambers will be
one of peace. It will give us breathing time. It will re-
inforce the great cause of peace by the powerful aid of the
chapter. of accidents. Trust in the continuance of the
peace so preserved will, however, be but feeble. A spirit
has been aroused in France and Prussia which must, un-
less we assume a good judgment on the part of the rulers
of both countries and a good luck hardly to be hoped for,
result erelong in war.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE

FRANCE, PRUSSIA, AND SPAIN
REFUSAL OF THE KING Or' PRUSSIA T(.
RECEIVE THE FRENCH AMBASSADOR.

A. telegram, dated Ems, July 14, says : --Subsequent
to the reception by the French Government of the
official communication that Prince Leopold of Hohenzoll era
had withdrawn his candidature, the French Ambassador
addressed a demand to the King of Prussia to authorise
him to telegraph to Paris that he ( e King) engages,
at all future times to refuse his consent could the Prince
of Hohenzollern resume his candida ire. The King
refused to receive the Ambassador agai and sent word to
him by his aide-de-camp that his Majesty had no further
communication to make to him.

The Times Berlin correspondent says King William was
walking with Count Lehndorff, his adjutant, in the Kur-
garten at Ems, when M. Benedetti accosted him and pro-
ferred his last, extravagant demand. The King turned
round and ordered Count Lehndorff to tell M. Benedetti
that trthere was no reply, and that he would not re-
ceive him again. Berlin is excited by this intelligence,
and crowds are in front of the palace crying " To the
Rhine !"