The Sun.
London, England, 1848-04-24 00:00:00

etTrng Atit.

LONDON, MONDAY, APRIL 23 1848.

Problematic as the Schleswig-Holstein question
may have hitherto appeared, it cannot but be com-
prehensible to every rational intellect, after the ap-
pearance of a publication * such as that jointly com-
posed by Chevalier BUNSEN, M. DE GRUNER, and
OTTO VON WENCKSTERN, and the utterance of an
oration such as the one delivered on Wednesday the
19th instant, in the House of Commons by the Hon.
Gentleman the representative of Buckinghamshire.
The doubts formerly experienced as to the line of
demarcation dividing the Danish and Germanic na-
tionalities are thoroughly resolved by the collisio❑
of argument resulting from the simultaneous appear-
ance cf those effusions. Viewed together, the speech
of Mr. DISRAELI, and the pamphlet of Chevalier BUN
SEN, constitute as positive an antithesis as the triumphal
Arc d'Etoile in the estimation of EXILE GIRARDIN.
By their common revelations they render the whole
of this territorial and constitutional enigma trans-
parent. After the special-pleading of the Prussian
Ambassador the supporters of the Duke of AuGus-
TENBURG have nothing whatever to add, even as a

supplemental argument. Every thread in the woof
of their specious theory is particularised, is followed
throughout its involutions, is magnified, is analysed,
is triturated, as it were, by the spurious and irritable
logic of the diplomatist. Not one of the sophisms upon

which the rebels of Schleswig-Holstein repose their
claim to independence is overlooked. All are spe-
cified, successively and collectively, and that, too,
with the emphasis dictated by a consciousness of
their inherent falsity. With the oratoric statement*

of Mr. DISRAELI, however, it was altogether different.
There the rise and progress of the internecine strug-
gle in Jutland were recounted with the simplicity of
candour and the energy of indignation. Prussian
ambition was in that brilliant oration pilloried before
the assembled Parliament of Great Britain. The
trickeries of the Provisional Government cf Scandi-
navia—the insolence of the mock Diet at Frankfort
—the selfish project which incited the Cabinet of
Berlin to its late unparalleled and unjustifiable en-
croachments—the ingratitude of the insurgent pro-
vinces—the treachery of the Duke of AUGUSTEN•
BURG—and the extravagant insufficiency of the pleas
adduced in favour of the incorporation of Schleswig-
liolstein with Germany—were one after another ex-
posed by the keen and uncompromising enunciations
of the orator.

Affairs are becoming altogether too serious in the
northern territories of the Continent, in consequence
of the aggressions of the Germanic Confederation, to
admit of any partial or indecisive settlement. Sup-
posing there were any attempt to slur over the dis-
pute at present embroiling so many of the princi-
palities of Europe, the struggle would only be
perpetuated and justice would remain unappeased.
Some definitive conclusion must be arrived at among
the diplomatists at present involved in the negotiation of
a compromise. Otherwise torrents of blood will
pollute the soil of Scandinavia, and an interminable
contest will be commenced of a sanguinary and
miserably internecine character. Already there are
collected in tha vicinity of Rendsburg (the head-

quarters of the invading army) many of the most
prominent representatives of the Federative So-
vereignties. The Duke of BRUNSWICK had been
received with acclamation, the Prince of PRUSSIA
was expected, Prince RADZIWIL had assumed tt:e
command of one brigade, the Duke of AUGUSTENBURG
had been appointed to another, an I the whole of the
federal forces were martialled under the banners of
General HALKETT, the Hanoverian C,mmander-in-
Chief. Such at least were the principal arrangements
mentioned in the last intelligence received from Ham-
burgh. Beyond this preparations of a defensive kind
were making in the islands of Sylt and Fehmarn, and
notwithstanding the disinclination of the Danish
SOVEREIGN to advance beyond Schleswig, and the
equally powerful objection of the federal army to
proceed beyord the northern suburbs of Rendsburg,
there is every probability of a furious strife between
the present and prospective belligerents.
That the intended junction of Schleswig and Huh
stein with the Germanic Confederation is contrary to
the precedents of European history is undeniable
—it is as undeniable as the cowardice of the applica-
tion of the principal plea of the aggressors to the
southern appanagea of Denmark. According to the
Duke of AUGUSTENBURG and his supporters, the war
has been undertaken in vindication of German na-
tionality. Of that ideal nationality at least, which is
founded upon the " dreamy visions of German pro-
fessors"—a nationality based, in fact, upon the poetic
aphorism that wherever the German tongue is spoken
there the German flag should wave ! Nobly did Mr.
DISRAELI fling this grandiloquent plea back in the
teeth of the insurgents and their co-operators. Scorn-
fully did he brand them on the forehead with the
double brand of cupidity and cowardice, by saying
—" If so, if wherever the German language is
spoken the German flag should wave, why
do not the Germans invade Alsace, and thus
meet at once the high-spirited people of
France ? Why do they not attempt to
occupy Podolia, and thus measure themselves against
the colossal power of Russia ?" Why they restrict
their claims of incorporation to Schleswig, and de-
mand the extension of their nationality in Southern
Jutland, is obvious. It is because Denmark is not in
their estimation so formidable an antagonist as to
render the perils of the conflict superior to the pros-
pects
tit
ve
oAsec
unuppaeotrinmo
na
Germanic
fe
sße
ha
et iscwi
Confederationgas
of success. The acquisition of so many ports
a fromaendab fiord
elevate
t
1 I would
IStteoin
itself among the maritime powers of Christendom.
And therefore the chances of an international war-
tare must be preferred to an apathetic maintenance
territorial and dynastic rights. No matter if, even
of
ven
according to the express acknowledgment of the pam-
phlet of Chevalier BUNSEN (p. 9) the Scandinavian
duchy of Schleswig and the German duchy of Holstein
" have ever been and are dependencies of the Olden-
burg dynasty"—no matter what may be the decision
of the representatives of that dynasty, the reigning
Monarch of Denmark, the cause of German nation-
ality ritust be advanced by an act of ignominious but
safe spoliation. Such are at once the arguments of
the braggart, the poltroon, and the brigand, and such
are at present the arguments employed by the Chiefs
the Germanic Confederation.

The resignation by Mr. MILNER GIBSON, of his
tepub
Vice-Presidentlic in g
of the,l3n
eoraarid
wofi
tl:rdaedepe,
will4PP °ibnet receivedmita
sby the
irleyg r
thatet. Thes i
setffie
ncti e natt
da n dhi
tovhnaeil
ssut:hiplt eho
isrteai
fsrworendered
too
fully appreciated to permit
So long as he
to
sharedbe riengatrhdeedd
uwtiietsh nandd
1.1 ffe
Feproenn
otfnaitilliteairAieldi-,
an additional
of
free guaranteetrade Isvvoausidaffl)erded that the
doctrinesglorious
anti that no r, trogresion would take place
with regard thereto. In him every
b
measure found a zealous and able supporter.rral
y
and he was the uncompromising opponent O
species of monopoly, of everything in any degree
calculated to infringe upon, or uniuly interfere with
leivee%
the popular liberties. He is gifted with consider-
able eloquence, which enables him to give full ex-
pression to the clear and comprehensive views he en-

" Memoir on the Constitutional Rights of the
Duchies of Schlvswig and Holstein. Presented to Vis-
count Palmerston by Chevalier .Butts.Ptl=',. rp, 165'
Longman. 1848. London.