The Sun.
London, England, 1867-09-10 00:00:00

LONDON, TUESDAY, SEPT. 10, 1867.

By this time people are beginning to open their
eyes to the consequences of Prussian interference,
and can understand how much misrepresentation
has been made by those who have been declaring
that all sorts of advantages would be received by
those who were put under the rule of the Berlin
Government. Frankfort has been marked out as a
special victim by Herr BISMARCK from the time of
the change of last year, and he has carried out his
vengeful scheme, and pursued his devastating:policy
with a vigour and perseverance worthy of a better
cause. Slow and sure has been his motion, and
while the world at large, weary of the subject of his
encroachments, and perhaps thinking he had
amended his ways, have gone on their way, his
mischievous plans have been maturing, and the re-
sult will soon be visible. The prosperity of the
famous city of the middle ages has been undermined,
and time, that general restorer, has not effected any
compunction in its fate since the changes which oc-
curred so suddenly in its midst. The last news is that
the Prussian policy has caused such general dissatis-
faction and disquietude that some of the leading
houses in the city intend to leave shortly, feeling
convinced that the object of the new rulers is to
" ruin" Frankfort and its business. It is unfortu-
nately true that this is not unlikely to be the case,
for the experience of the past attests only too fully
to the cruel character and deep-laid designs of Prus-
sian schemes. They fix their course, and nothing
can make them deviate from carrying it out to the
uttermost. No considerations of the claims of
honour or of justice, no compunction far the inju-
ries which they are inflicting, can ever induce them
to pause and reflect, and finally come to a more
moderate decision. By order of the Prussian Civil
Commission the telegraph office of Reuter was
closed on the 6th instant, and this notwithstanding
that the authorities of the city had previously
a warded their permission for a telegraph office to be
established there. Such conduct condemns itself,
and shows how little we can expect from a policy
that is so obstructive and oppressive. To let a year
pass before adopting such stringent measures is a
part of that cunning calculation so characteristic of
the wily, statesman who sways the councils of
Berlin, but surely by this time all but the most
infatuated must be convinced of the meaning hidden
under all this scheming and by-play. It is, indeed,
to be regretted that a better defence was not made
for the famous old city, long styled the " free," but
now, alas, the slave of caprice and the victim of

tyranny.
The French press are not yet weary of
discussing the subject of the chances of
peace or of war, and of course divers
opinions prevail in the matter. The speech of
the Grand Duke of Baden has occupied a good
deal of attention in some quarters, and his resolve
to make every sacrifice for the maintenance of Ger-
man unity is much commented upon. The remarks
in the Liberti on the subject are rather singular. It
is said that the choice lies between a renewal of
friendship with Prussia and Italy, or a war against
a " Germany which has voluntarily placed itself

under the command of King WILLIAM." This is
strange, to say the least of it, and we
fancy that this undefined exponent of the situation
would be puzzled to define his meaning in an accu-

rate manner. Nor can he account for the war
which disturbed the prosperity of Europe last year,
and which was declared by some to rival the
campaigns of the First NAPOLEON. Above all,
how can he account for the reign of force which
is being celebrated in all places where the
new regime holds good. " War," continues
this caviller, "for the fifth article of the
Treaty of Prague ; that is to say, for a
handful of Danes, and for one of the banks of

the Maine : two purely German questions, two
questions utterly alien to us." It may be remarked
that this style of argument is exactly like that which
was so much in vogue at the time of the Dano-
German war some three years back. Then all the
talk was of the folly and inconsistency of making
so much ado about a question which was not of
money, and had no claim on the attention of
Europe generally. We were furthermore told
that the intention of Prussia was not to
intimidate, and that her feeling was not that
of aggrandisement. Unfortunately this was received
as true by the majority of the world, ever ready to
follow the winning side, and what has been the
result of that culpable credulity ?

The war of last summer would never have taken
place in our generation had a more decided stand
been made for the Elbe Duchies, and, at least, for
the integrity and independence of Denmark. The
partial ruin of that gallant little kingdom has

not been accomplished without leaving many
memorable tears behind to tell of its injuries and
its afflictions. It has fared ill with many of those
States of Germany who so ungenerously urged for-

ward the war against Denmark: they have fallen

into the snare that they rejoiced to see laid for

others, and have had more practical than pleasan

illustrations of the welcome which Prussia accords

to her newly-acquired subjects, and of the sway

which she exercises in so professedly a benignant

manner over her additional subjects.

is no exaggeration to say that no ques-

ion of this sort can be considered

strictly to appertain to the country it immediately
concerns. More or les3, it affects the whole of
Europe, and the act of establishing a precedent like

hat, of disregarding treaties in the Danish war was

a most fatal one. It was an error of judgment on

the part of Lord RUSSELL, and of the Cabinet of
which he was a member, which can never be for-

gotten nor forgiven. As time goes on we see more

and more how deeply they were deceived by the pro-
fessions of BISMARCK, and how far they were led
astray. We do not for a moment anticipate that
the present Government will follow the example
of putting too much faith in the Berlin Govern-

_ -----•---
ment. Indeed, on the contrary,—we think that
they fully comprehend the case, and before long
it may turn out that Prussia has a very difficult
part to play; and in the time of danger she can-
not possibly be served by willing troops in those
places where the iron heel of conquest has trampled
upon the rights and liberties of the people.

The Atlantic Telegraph brings the important
news that President JOHNSON has proclaimed a
general amnesty, excluding only high rebel officials
and persons implicated in the assassination of Pre-
sident LINCOLN, or in the maltreatment of Federal
prisoners. This is very different from the plan of
action favoured by the Radicals, and it is difficult
to see how they can keep up their distinctions of
registered and non-registered, of loyal and disloyal,
in the face of a wholesale pardon, which restores
the most active members of the CouLderacy to full
equality with the Northerners. The " high officials"
who are excepted have for the most part received