The Sun.
London, England, 1867-08-27 00:00:00

LONDON, TUESDAY, AUG. 27, 1867

It is not likely that those who chronicle the
doings of the G rmanie States will have much
opportunity of :lumbering or sleeping until 2.)me
great crisis has taken place. We are constantly
hearing of one scheme after another, of one plan
arising as another disappears, and thus a state of
perpetual change and unrest prevails. Rumour has
been rite concerning the meaning of tl:c meeting of
the two Emperors at Salzburg, and scarcely have
they parted, and things in that place assumed their
wonted aspect, than expectation is again excited,
and that in a contrary direction. The Berlin
Gaerument, all felt assured, would not have tamely
submitted or regarded with equanimity any open

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plan or arrangement made between the Power thus
represented at the meeting last week, but it seems
that neither are they inclined to allow the execution of
the most moderate plan, and one determined to do
something from precaution. According to the
Temps of last night, it seems that a counter-
demonstration is to be effected to the meeting
which has taken place between the two Emperors
at Salzburg, and arrangements are on foot for an
interview between the Sovereigns of Prussia, Ba-
varia, Wurtembrirg, Baden, and Besse-Darmstadt,
to be held at Baden on the sixth of September, or
thereabouts. This is very likely to be true, for it
seems exactly to represent the course most akin to
Prussian policy. It is not likely that any result
favourable to her ends will be gained by this means,
however, for we all know how faithlessly she beeps
the promises that necessity has wrung from her,
or that expediency induces her to make at divers
times. Those who appear and are represented at
this meeting at Baden must be simple indeed if they
put any faith in the professions they may bear.
Who can believe a Power that will not keep to the
conditions that appear in signed treaties? What
is all this outcry now raised about but because it
is supposed or inferred that France and Austria are
desirous of enforcing the stipulations entered into
at Prague.? It was thought by many that this said
Treaty conferred only too much power and too
many advantages on Prussia, but it appears now
that she will be offended if any attempt is made to
keep her fixed to the regulations then and there
made.

With every desire for peace on the part of France,
and every horror for war on that of Austria, it is
not likely that those Powers can readily submit to
the direct violation of that treaty. It is now be-
lieved in Paris that the chief thing decided upon in
the recent conferences has been that Prussia should
not be allowed to extend her power and influence
beyond the river Maine, and if this be strictly true,
the union between the north and south provinces,
so earnestly desired by Prussia, will not take place.
It may doubtless be a dangerous game for Austria
to play to support France ; but, then, the risk is
not too much when we consider the consequences
of being left to the tender mercies of Prussia. It
would be a fatal mistake on the part of the Vienna
Government to give up the position of Austria as a
first-rate Power, and sink down among the crowd
of secondary States no more to rise into her former
significance. The policy of the French accords
just now with the interests of Austria,
and it has yet to be proved that all those States of
Germany not rlready subject to Prussian influence
will at once determine upon supporting King WIL-
LIAM and his Minister. The best and the safest
way will be for the EMPERORS who met the other
day to keep their counsel and watch events, so as
to be ready, when occasion calls, to resist undue
encroachments on the part of the crafty schemers of
Berlin, and to maintain, as far as possible, that
equilibrium of power which can alone secure the
peace of Europe and the welfare of the nations
collectively.

It would seem from the news brought by the
America from New York on the 15th inst. that the
admission of General Grant into the Cabinet is
likely to be favourable to the interests of the South
in more ways than one. The suspension of Mr.

SIANTON must naturally have been hailed with the
liveliest satisfaction by all who really desired the
pacification of the country, an end perfectly unat-

tainable under the STANTON regime. Now that
General GRANT has assumed the direction of the
military dep.artment there is hope of a change in
the political barometer. It is no longer the object
of the Secretary of War to foment discontent and
to stir up if possible a fresh rebellion. General
GRANT knows something of the character of the
Southern people, their wants, their sufferings,
their heroism. A brave and tried soldier him-
self, he knows them for " foemen worthy of
his steel," and can appreciate something of
the spirit which animated LEE and his
associates in maintaining their desperate struggle.
It is not surprising, remembering this, to find that
General GRANT has been advocating in the Cabinet
the adoption of a more liberal reconstruction policy,
and no doubt his words will have a weight which
would belong to no others. Although inclining
to the Republicans rather than to the Democrats
he has never been identified with the Radical party,
and, should he succeed in his can lidature for the
Presidency, it will be from the votes and influence
of the moderate men, not of the extreme and intole-
rant demagogues. His appointment to the vacant
office of Mr. STANTON has been thought by
some likely to prejudice his chanc.,s, but there
are yet many months to elapse before Mr. JOHN-
SON'S tenure of office is over, and many changes
may occur before that strong hand resigns the
reins. If Mr. JOHNSON can get a firm and unani-
mous support from his Cabinet, he will probably be
able, under the changed aspect of public feeling,
to organise a totally different policy. The rumours
of the probable removal and resignation in the Go-
vernment are denied, and the Cabinet is reported to
be harmonious. Already the effect of the change is
apparent. General StcKLEso,vho has been obstruct-
ing in every possible way the process of the civil
courts in North Carolina, has received a peremptory
order directing him not to oppose but to support
those courts. The other military commanders in the
South being no longer able to shelter themselves
under the well known wishes of the War Secretary
will be henceforth more scrupulous in invading the
civil liberties of the unhappy Southerners. For the
most part they have abused their power in this
respect, as was perhaps to have been expected.
They have endeavoured in every way to discredit
and subvert the civil authorities, and where they
have not absolutely overthrown them they
have assumed an imperious direction of their
conduct. Thus General POPE has ordered
the civil officers in his district to give
public advertisements to those journals which

favour the Reconstruction Act, a trifle in itself,
but indicative of the spirit which animates the
district commanders. General SHERIDAN'S career
as a Southern ruler has come to an end, and not too
soon. The reckless exercise of his power in remov-
ing the municipal officers throughout his dominions,
and the insubordination, not to say insolence,
which he has been guilty of towards the
PRESIDENr, rendered his removal imperative,
if anything like discipline was to be kept up.
Bcth parties continue to indulge in charges
and counter-charges of the most serious nature.
Puli:i al recrimination between opposing parties in
tim-s of great excitement is only to be expected,
but it speaks ill for the tone of American public
feeling that such charges as perjury, conspiracy,
and murder should be for a moment tolerated with-
out substantial proof against men holding high
positiins in the State and the Congress.
From Mexico the news we have is impor-
tant. According to advices received from
Vera Cruz to the 31st of July, JUAREZ had
entered the capital, where he had received an
enthusiastic welcome. It is said that MAnvEz has
been captured, and LorEz, the traitor and betrayer
of
_Queretaro, has been assas,inated. Whether this
be true or no, it is certain that even in Mexico his
crime has brought upon him indelible disgrace.