The Sun.
London, England, 1869-02-02 00:00:00

LONDON, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1869.

-- --d

We must all be pretty certain by this time that
magnanimity is not a Prussian virtue, but still we
read with mingled feelings of regret and indignation
the more striking details of acts of oppression. It
must be admitted by all who study the politics of
PruEsia that there is nothing now to impede the
course or restrict the acts of the Berlin Government.
They have gained more than they ever aspired to or
professed to want. Why cannot they then rest satis-
fied with their achievements instead of keeping up a
constant system of petty tyranny and incessant per-
secution? The latest accounts that have reached us
from the Prussian Diet are of a most unsatisfactory
nature, and disappoint the expectations of those who
bad hoped that better times were at hand. On Fri-
day the Chamber of Deputies de'iberated upon the
ordinance for the confiscation of the private property
of the ex-King of HaxovEß. The committee of
the House brought forward a resolution approving
the ordinanc(-, wi'h the additional remark that the
"degree of confiscation cannot be annulled except by
means of legislation." A protest was made by Herr
VON WIND:IORST, the former Hanoverian Miniiter ;
he advocated the rejection of the Committee's pro-
posal, and demanded protection for the private pro-
perty of King GEORGR. He denied that the pro-
jected confiscation was justifiable or constitutional,
and wound up his argument by the assertion that
only independent judges and not legislative assem-
blies were competent to decide such a question.

Count BISJIARCE made one of his characteristic

speeches in reply, and declared that they had re-
ceived information from the Prussian Ambassador
in Paris, that a Hanoverian Legion was actually in
existence, and that its maintenance cost a large
sum. Thereupon he launched into explanations
which must have possessed the charm of novelty to
his hearers, declaring that the Prussian Governmentin
concluding the arrangements with King GEORGE,
had exhibited due regard for the States related to the
King of HANOVER, or friendly with him, and had
not overlooked that a large subsidy was made to his
MAJESTY by the English Government. Further on
the Count stated that the Prussian Government only
acted in accordance with the laws of war, because
King GEORGE considered himself in the light of a
belligerent, and conspired with foreigners to injure
the Fatherland. It might have been supposed that
respect to our SOVEREIGN, and considera-
tion for this country would have influenced the
Berlin Government in the settlement of this question,
but all other ideas seemed merged in the paltry one
of revenge. There is one thing very certain, and
that is, no on,-, be he king or commoner, can expect to
meet with any moderation from Prussia, if once he
has thwarted her or threatened her policy. The
doom is pronounced against him, even as effectively
as if he had offended the secret tribunal of the terrible
Inquisition. Not content with the act of spoliation
which it effected in adopting the proposals of the
Committee the Diet, followed it up by another
deed of oppression. The next day it passed a similar
Act for the confiscation of the property of the
Elector of Hesse-Cassel. Of course Count BISMARCK
declared that the step must be taken for many rea-
sons, the chief one being that of " political neces-
sity."

It is of no use to expect that a bettor policy will
prevail in Prussia for some time to come, for the rul-
ing spirit there is that of oppression. The Chamber
of Deputies disappoints one over and over again, and
sets at defiance the wishes of the more honest mino-
rity. The large majorities that passed both the mea-
' sures of sequestration are proofs of the evil genius
that now prevails in the councils of the em-
pire. It is a reign of oppression that has
been extended to the many annexed provinces, and
not a beneficent Government that has taken them
under its protection. Had the dominant idea been
that of union, and the desire been genuine to consoli-
date the many small States into one strong kingdom,
we should have seen very different events take place.
Let us look at Frankfort, the "Free City," now, alas,
no more, and consider how the new regime works
within the walls that once enclosed a population
proud of its privileges. Only the other day there
was a trial in consequence of an alleged affront to the
Prussian officers, but the offence, though proved,
was lightly dealt with on account of the great provo-
cation which was given by the Prussian authorities
in general, and it was sail that the new rulers, in-
stead of seeking to soften the asperities of their situa-
tion, only aggravated the evils which the conquered
citizens had to endure. This was a well-merited re-
proach, but surely it conveyed a bitter satire, and
the representatives of a chivalrous people would
have been overwhelmed with shame and reproach
had it been pronounced against them. This,
is, however, the failing in Prussia. We can-
not discern the existence of any generosity.
There is always a reason to be given for the act of
tyranny that grinds down the liberties of the state or
province affected by it, but when were tyrants and
oppressors ever without an excuse, their fertility of
invention is unbounded, their remembrance of great
injuries and fears of future evils alike amazing ; but,
unfortunately, everything ends in the same way,
and the decrees of the so-called justice are n_ver
tempered by the affectation of mercy. It is an ap-
propriate conclusion to the whole aff.tir that the
small minority which voted against the cinfiscati on of
1:.;416 vt 1,,100b, 1 to .k
party of progres4. Wcll might they be scandalised
at the proposal made to them to.c3mproadse, the Diet
by a paltry exhibition of revenge, when all notion of
revolt was over, and when any one won? 1 b., laughed
at who suggested the possibility of Kin,; GEORGE re-
gaining
his lost possessions. The last thing that a
great country can afford is to act with littleness, and
we venture to say that while Prussia has over and
over again assured the world that she has come out of
recent contests with her power most marvellously in-
creased, she has forgotten the judgment that is passed
upon those who having a giant's strength use it in a
similar fashion.

THE Volunteers are on their trial. They have
kept together for nine years, but they threaten to
dissolve before the decade is out if they do not
receive assistance from the Government. It is con-
siderably to their credit that the enthusiasm which
first led them to enrol themselves should have lasted
so long. It is not at all surprising if it should be
subsiding now, and if those who undertook this
service without . any deep-seated principle of
patriotism should now be weary of well-doing. In
fact, it is by no means certain if the present reflux in
the movement is at all due to the Volunteers them-
selves, if it is not rather due to the diminished interest
of those persons who at the onset supported volun-
teering by their purses rather than by their
persons. It is unfortunate for them that
this diminished enthusiasm or diminished aid, which-
ever it' be, should have taken place just
as politicians have become enthusiastic about
economy. The Government, which is so resolved
to reduce the expenditure that it has determined to
recall our regular troops from the colonies, and
diminish the number of that most useful body, the
Marines, is scarcely likely to spend much money
Upon a force which old soldiers declare to be a mere
show army, absolutely useless in time of war.
And yet, if money be not forthcoming, it
is probable that a large number of Volunteer
corps will be disbanded, and the country deprived of
so much defensive power as there is in our amateur
army.

In deciding upon the course to be taken, Govern-
ment will no doubt be greatly influenced by public
opinion. It is well, therefore, that public opinion
should have full materials for arriving at a right
judgment on a matter of so much importance. If we
really wish.to know the value of the Volunteers as a
drilled force, we have on the one hand the sarcasm of
" Hippophylax," who considers Volunteer Reviews
as picnics of men in grey and green, and, on the
other hand, the compliments of innumerable officers
of the Line who have reviewed the Volunteers. If
" llippophylax" is correct, the officers must be either
hypocrites or ignoramuses. Either they praised the
Volunteers insincerely and with conscious untruthful-
ness, or they were so ignorant of theirduty as to over-
look the shortcomings and defects of the Volunteers. We
prefer to think that it is " Hippophylax" who is wrong;
that he, moved by that professional jealousy which
has been too often manifested by the Line, has been
unjust. There seems the more reason for coming
to this conclusion when we find men like Colonel
LOYD-LINDSAY, no carpet knight, but a V.C.,
controverting the arguments of " liippophylax."
The main argument is something more than unsound,
it is disingenuous. Lord Er.c. Ho has answered it
by pointing out that if the capitation grant
were increased, the Volunteers would no more
be paid soldiers than they are at present•
They would still, in fact, be out of pocket, and
therefore the idea that they will come into com-
petition with recruits for the Line is altogether
chimerical. The " necessary expenses "of Volunteers,
as defined by the Government, include uniforms,
ranges, conveyance to drill and practice, expenses of
arms, and the support of armouries and orderly
rooms, To meet these expenses a capitation grant