The Sun.
London, England, 1867-04-30 00:00:00

LONDOIV, TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 1867.

The King of PRUSSIA cannot resist the tempta-
tion of making a speech, and accordingly he has
opened the Prussian Chambers in person, and edi-
fied the Deputies with his words of wisdom and
counsels of prudence. According to his theory all
is progressing favourably towards the accomplish-
ment of the great purpose in view, the establish-
ment of German unity. This extraordinary session
did not excite the enthusiasm which some of its
predecessors have done, but that is not to be won-
dered at under the circumstances. It is on tilt
principle that one cannot have Contours perdrix
that the Prussians are getting rather tired of
thee, incessant public ceremonies and tbia constant

iteration of the same thing. The KING'S remarks
were addressed to the union of the North German
Confederation, which seems to be the one thing
needful according to his doctrine. To hear him
talk one might imagine that collective Germany had
just escaped from a great danger, instead of nothing
having happened to disturb its serenity but the plots
and plans of the KING and his advisers. Also it
might be thought that the Germans were far behind
their neighbours in point of progress ; but if they
are, whose fault is it but their own, and how can
" united and vigorous development" be secured by
the arbitrary interference of Prussia in all matters,
civil and military, of great and little import? We
hear that a constitution has issued from the delibe-
rations of Parliament, but nothing is said of the
drawbacks to the plans of Count BISMARCK which
took place in the course of deliberation in the said
Parliament, and however he may gloss it over the
KING has certainly no cause to plume himself upon
the success he has met with in this matter. National
unity sounds very grand, but it is after all but a
very vague term, and may mean a little or a great
deal as the case may be. In the present instance
no one need be ashamed to confess himself puzzled,
because there is not the ghost of unity to see. Had
the several States of Germany simultaneously re-
solved to join together it might have been different,
and had the majority been unanimous it might
have succeeded; but as it is, mere force of arms can
never create unity, nor can the assumption of power
by one kingdom to the exclusion of others allow of
the fulfilment of comprehensive designs.
Notwithstanding the flourish of trumpets with
which the speech opens, we soon come to some very
practical illustration of the name of freedom being
all that remains to the component parts of this
grand Constitution, and learn that the introduc-
tion of the Federal Constitution will subject the
individual States to " unavoidable restrictions" in
all departments which will have to be subordinate ,
to the general development. We doubt very much
if the people will find the promise true of their
rights noc being forfeited in consequence of their
being transferred to the representatives of the
extended commonwealth. As for the consent of the
Deputies being necessary for the laws of the North
German Confederation, that is a very sorry source
of comfort, because it is easy to pass over a great
deal of what is decided upon. It is worthy of no-
tice that the KING gives a very broad hint as to the
South German States shortly joining the others,
and he has also to refer to the indecent haste exhi-
bited by his Government so early as last autumn
in making offensive and defensive treaties with those
States, of course with the object of curtailing their
privileges and of increasing the ascendancy of Prussia.
In conclusion, the King expressed a hope that
he and his Government would find that the Deputies
would exhibit that patriotism which Prussia has
always displayed in serious times. The times would
have been serious just now had not the Berlin
authorities done their best, or rather their worst, to
make them so, but this must be passed over with
the other inconsistencies of the Prussians.

The Luxemburg question was referred to in the
House of Commons last night, and Lord STANLEY
said that he had every reason to hope that
France and Prussia would accept the pro-
posal to hold a Conference in London on
the subject, and the noble lord added his belief
that a peaceful arrangement might be come to in
consequence. The public will learn this with un-
mixed satisfaction, for there is no desire for war in
any quarters. The noble lord added a declaration,
which will also be most welcome to all, and which
was received with cheers by the house when he gave
it. " I may also say th;it from the first, and
throughout, the language I have held to all parties
concerned has been this—that if, unfortunately,
matters took a different turn from that which
they now seem likely to take, and if hosti-
lities were to break out, the position of Eng-
land in this quarrel would be one of strict and im-
partial neutrality." It is of the greatest consequence
that they should be clearly understood from the
first in the most decided manner and on the best
authority, and we think that the thanks of the
nation are due to the noble lord at the head of
Foreign Affairs for the admirable manner in
which he has conducted matters. The " meddle
and muddle " policy of Lord RUSSELL would have
been sure to complicate things, and per-
haps we might eventually have been mixed
up in the war ourselves, albeit it is one in
which this country has no concern. Her MAJESTY'S
Government has not expressed " decided views"
upon this question, we are told by Lord STANLEY,
but they did express a " very strong opinion" in
favour of peace, which is all that could be ex-
pected of them, and we have no doubt that if
happily this peaceful solution be arrived at the
noble lord and his colleagues will deserve a large
share of the credit of the affair by their firm
demeanour and their wise counsels. On the whole,
the explanation afforded to the Houselast night bfthe
noble lord, in answer to the question on the subject,
was as satisfactory as it could be under the circum-
stances ; and we can say, without exaggeration,
that it is the first time for years that an answer has
been given in Parliament on any topic of European
importance which has been so, thanks to the very
efficient way in which affairs have been conducted
in our Foreign Office. A policy that neither inspires
confidence nor excites fear, that neither commands
respect nor gains consideration, can never answer.

The Conservatives are apparently determined to
make the most of their opportunities, and some
members of the party are now bent upon organis-
ing a Conservative Union, whose ramifications are
to extend throughout the country, and to unite the
various provincial associations under one head.
Some years ago such an attempt might have been
looked upon with uneasiness as indicative of the
growth of a reactionary policy, but the time has
gone by when the term Conservative signified an
antagonist to all improvements. No doubt the
ranks include some members who prefer the
old ideas to the new, and who secretly
think stage coaches and three-deckers far
better than express trains and monitors, but we
are not to judge bodies by individuals. The Liberal
party is always more elastic than its great adver-
sary, and it numbers among its supporters advo-
ttes of manhood suffrage and admirers of the Re-
publican form of Government, as well as gentlemen
who, whatever their professions, are heartily glad
when any obstacle opposes itself to change and pro-
gress, and matters are left in statu quo. The acts
of men are fortunately sometimes wiser than words,
and if men du not often put their grandilo-
quent theories into practice, they often pause
iu fulfilling mischievous intentions. A large
party, if they are to keep together, must
be guided by the opinion of the few, and the leaders
are generally wise enough to see the weakness and
evanescence of extreme opinions. The heads of
the Conservative party have been wise enough to
abandon the untenable positions which some few of
their followers would gladly see them endeavour to
retain, and the term Conservative, if it has lost
something of the vigour and determination that
belonged to the Tory of the old school, is no longer
identical with civil and religious intolerance and re-
popular claims. The new
solute opposition to all