The Sun.
London, England, 1870-08-30 00:00:00

THE THRONE OR THE COUNTRY.

It is impossible for a nation to properly put forth
its power whilst its leaders are disputing respecting
the control of that power. The result inevitably is
that great part of the national resources are wasted
and lost. In France it is no secret that
if the Republicans got the people armed
they would take care to tolerate no disarming so
long as the Imperial throne stood erect. The
Government, on its side, is not willing to sacri-
fice the throne to save the country. It does not ankl
will not arm the people: The defensive measures
hitherto adopted are not nearly equal to the occa-
sion or the means at command. It is notorious that
at the outbreak of the war the Garde Mobile were
found imperfectly drilled, and not armed at all, be-
cause the Imperial Government had reason to distrust
these fervid and revolutionary young men, and even
now the Mobile force under arms is comparatively
small. It is not possible that the best available
defence can be made under such conditions. At the
same time this unhappy system of despotic Govern-
ment holds out little hope of any more effective dis-
play of ptitriotism. It is all very well for the Standard
to hector the Republicans and tell them that they are
playing into the hands of the invader, sacrificing
France for the purpose of promoting their selfish
ends. But they may not unreasonably ask how, with
every wish to defend ,their country, they can keep
silent at a time when the Imperial Government has

brought the nation into terrible adventures, and
when, through fear of ultimate consequences, the same
Government refuses to avail itself of all the means of
defence in its power. If they were to be quiet, and
help the Government at the present crisis, they.
would gain nothing if the danger were tided over.
There would be another lease of the Imperialism
they hate so much—that is all. It is scarcely
in human nature that men of strong feeling
should bury all their - animosities and act like
lambs when they know that not one atom of Libe-
ralism will they get as their
„reward from a man who

has ever played the cause of Liberty false, and who,
obviously, is not tc be trusted. Ifthe Imperial Govern-
ment were meeting the Republicans and Constitu-

tionalists half way, leas excuse could he pleaded for these
parties. But we have it on the high authority of
the French correspondent of the Times that all the
old practices, the shameful system of deluding the
populace, is again in full swing amongst the Imperial
officials. Everywhere the French peasant is being
told that the whole Opposition—Republicans,
Legitimists, and Orleanists—are conspiring together
to sell France. They hare aunt money to the
Prussians, and their only ears ie to overturn the
dynasty. With a foe that stoops to such devices
' there can obviously be no terms. It is difficult to
entertain the slightest hope of a cause which is
ruined by such influences; it is equally difficult for the
outside observer to pronounce judgment on such
Quarrels. But he may with safety form one conclu-
sion—that if the arming of the people will do aught
to drive away the Germans, the arms ought to be
served out. Let the future take care of itself.—
Western Morning News.

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

THE EMPEROR NAPOLEON AND VICTOR EMMANUEL.

When Prince Napoleon visited Florence the other
day, he was closeted for a considerable time with
King Victor Emmanuel and his Minister. The
object of his mission was to urge the King to send
a large contingent to France to take part in the war.

When Napoleon made the request to the King a
short time ago, his Majesty replied, " I will never go
back from my promise, and I will cross the Cenis
with 100,000 men if the Emperor desires it, but
warn him that I shall never return to Florence if
do." The Emperor upon that•occasion did not press

the point, but is said to have renewed his efforts. It
is also said that England and Italy have been asked to
propose a mediation between the belligerents, but
in the present state of affairs such a step could not
succeed.