The Sun.
London, England, 1869-06-03 00:00:00

RELIGIOUS LIBERTY ni naniaLL

A letter published in one of the Berlin papers ahem
that the doctrine of religious liberty is somewhat oddly
interpreted in Prussia. The writer states that about the
month of September last he had the happiness of becoming
a parent. Objecting to baptism, he resolved that his
infant should not be baptised. His objections were so
strong that he quitted the Church of which he was
a member; for the Prussian law prescribes that
Christian parents cannot deprive their infants
of baptism. But the Church Consistory interfered,
objecting that the father was a Christian at the time that
his chili was born, and that, therefore, the law applied to
his case. A law court decided the question in favour of
the Consistory. It was ordained that the child should be
baptised as. soon-as the court had appointed a guardian.
-Shortly afterwards a peifect stranger presented himself at
the house of the parent, stating-that he'had been appointed
guardian, and that he was come to exercise the rights
which the law conferred upon him. The father refused to
admit him, and he now writes to the Berlin paper, stating
that he will preserve the inviolability of his -home against
all comers,

CRETAN REFUGEES.

The work of conveying back to their native land the
Cretans who sought refuge in Greece is completely
finished. The Turkish Government has discharged the
ships which it had engaged for the purpose. No Cretans
remain in Greece except a certain number who have
resolved to settle in the country, and these. it is said,
amount to not fewer than four thousand.

RUSSIA, ENGLAND, AND AMERICA.

(From the Anglo-American Times.)

If the Baltimore American is to be relied on, the
conduct of the American Minister at Constantinople
does not meet the approval of the Washington Go-
vernment, and this indicates a change in the policy
of that Cabinet. In the last number of the Diplo-
matic ReView a mysterious letter appears without
address or signature, but evidently from the United
States to Constantinople. The writer alludes to
the thanks the person he addresses has earned from
the Emperor of RUSSIA. Granting everything that
can be said against the Turks and everything that
can be said in favour of the Greeks, he asks, " Is it
your business to meddle therein ?" Allowing that
it is, he continues, " In whose interest are you work-
ing, in that of the United States or of Russia ?" which
he answers by showing that there is nothing Russia
designs against the Ottoman empire that she does
not design againA the United States—adding if the
commercial statistics be consulted it would be
found that it was the Muscovite who made the pro-
fits, while the Americans were cutting each other's
throats—hence his reward should come from the En-
PERM In an article in the March number of the
Diplomatic Review on " Russia, England, and the
United States," the relations of these countries are
viewed from a point widely differing from that
taken in America. The writer briefly, and truth-
fully reviews the complications, in whiCh England
has become entangled through the folly of her
statesmen, from the Declaration of •Paris,regarding
privateers down to the rejection of the Alabama
Convention by the United States Senate. At
the bottom of these difficulties was the late Lord
PALMERSTON, and the Review asserts that it was by
the secret influence of Russian diplomacy that he was
Originally placed in power. An investigation into
the perfidies and crimes of the last thirty-eight
years would prove that whatever has been done
in that period was due to Lord PALMERSTON alone,
and the key to any passing event must even yet
be looked for in what he had prepared. After
&bowing that " nothing was wanting which human
ingenuity, if free to act, could have devised to
render flagrant the discomfiture, the dishonour
and the powerlessness of England," the writer turns
to " an infatuation" in the United States scarcely
less. The ground of American confidence, if
stripped of phrases and of passion, is merely the
bond England gave to Russia, in the Declaration
of Paris not to attAck her enemy's trade. Atneri-
cans believe Russia to be their zealous friend and
England's foe; but the writer asserts them therein
to be entirely mistaken, and his reasons for this we
desire to lay before our readers :
" The emotions of Russia's mind have reference to her
interests, and, judged by these, Russia loves Ehgland and
hates the United States. Sho loves the one with all the
afGction which preient well-being and future hopes can
prompt, and hates the other with all the virulence that the
fear of ruin can suggest.
"In England Russia sees a customer ; in the United
States she sees a rival. In the first she sees a docile in-
strument; in the last a hard and grasping freebooter from
the moment her turn is served.
Without the wealth of. England and her prosperity
Russia would have little to sell, and uo revenue to support
her array or carry on her system.
"In the growth of the exports from the United States
Russia sees utter and irredeemable ruin—a ruin that would
have already overtaken her but for the fortunate internal
convulsion (inexplicable to all but herself) of 1811, when
already not only the grain, but the vary tallow, of the
Western States were driving her's from the markets of
Europe.

" Russia must therefore have at heart the prosperity of
England as the objct of desire second only to that of the
destruction of the United States.

" This is a position which is fundamental. No gilestions
of passion agitate her mind, no matters of passing policy
can interfere with a course dictated by the nature of cir-
cumstances, which to her are a necessity of existence.
“.1. et them not be deceived by what appears on th 3 sur-
-1 face in their intercourse with St. Petersburg, and the op-
ponent- action of Russia as directed :against England.:
Rtissia, of course, desires to bind England dowo, so'thif,
the shall be secured against the: possibility 'of-Iter ever
employing her maritime pooer.against her; bitt tlris point
attained to, and attained te throligh the inefurneettility of
the United States, then will she desire to son England
flourishing; aslave, it is true, but prosperous in trade and
abounding in bank-notes, whilVt: by the very means
through which the United States will have muzzled Eng-
land, namely, the ambition and the passions that will haVe
been aroused, that country will become the theatre of in-
ternal convulsions. Thus will she preserve in England
her commercial friend, and destroy in the United States
her dangerous competitor.",
Nor is it Possible to disguise the strength of the.
Reriele.q. position. .There never were tWO countries„
between whom' a sentimental friendship was giit
up, more at variance in principles and institutions
and having interests eventually, if not at present,
more diverse, than Russia and the United States.
That most despotic of Governments has a " Mani-
fest Destiny" as well as the Republic —a supersti-
tion, even a religion, rather than a sentiment, with
Russians. Her " manifest destiny" is to rule by the
force of battalions and guns ; by trampling out free
"thought and free action, dominating the world by
vdicts. The. United States wuceiVe .1.41 e the
r6c-t-Oe, of this; and limit it only to"the Nolftlaern
Continent, oi What AmeiicariE• tOp9sq,
•
when their power bOctitteiroyeryilatiltiiig, iii to cut f