The Sun.
London, England, 1867-10-16 00:00:00

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, OCT. 16, 1867.

The Emperor NAPOLEON'S brief holiday is over,
and no doubt he has had but small enjoyment of
it with one thing and another. At any rate it
is a relief that he should have returned, because
the present state of uncertainty is bad for every
one concerned, and cannot fail to exercise a bane-
ful influence upon the trade of France. According
to the latest accounts it would seem that war is
by no means so imminent as had been imagined
by some, but really these reports are so strangely
at variance one with the other that it is not
likely any experienced person will attach much
importance to them. The thing will be to find
out the EMPEROR'S meaning, and that is by no
means an easy task, but it must be possible to come
to some conclusion or other when we hear his
account of the state of things. A meeting of the
Privy Council is expected to take place to- day, at
which the EMPEROR will, in all probability, give his
opinion upon some of the most noticeable points
now under discussion in the political world, fore-
most among which will be France and Prussia. The
decision which he may come to about the
latter will be of the greatest interest just now to
his own people, and also to those of Prussia. It
is quite possible that the EMPEROR may say much
less than he means, but still it must occasion at
least a temporary lull in public excitement. Con-
siderable importance has been given to the meeting
at Salzburg, a great deal more than it deserved, and
because the affair passed over with little or no stir it
was immediately thought that all danger had blown
over. This is exaggeration on one side, and
jumping at conclusions on the other. Because the
two Emperors did not succeed in forming an
alliance offensive and defensive against Prussia,
which no doubt they well wished to do, it by no
means follows that the French Government will
consent to put up with all the impertinence of the
Berlin authorities, or to allow the gradual but sure
encroachment of Prussia.

The state of things that prevails at present in
France is by no means a satisfactory one,
and we shall be glad to hear that some-
thing definite has been arranged, at all
events for a time ; but we should put no faith
in a lasting peace between France and Prussia,
while the policy of Berlin is so oppressive and arbi-
trary. As for the idea that France is no match for
Prussia, that is an opinion which no one will endorse
who knows anything of the respective characters of
the two countries. It would be a sad day for many
when war was declared between these two great
Powers, and in the interests of civilisation we should
deeply regret it, but we see no alternative if,
within a comparatively short space of time, the
policy of Count BISMARCK does not change very
greatly for the better. His Circular Note was a
direct defiance to France, and as such it was accepted
by the French press at once. One thing is very
certain, that it will not do for the Emperor NAPO-
LEON to accept the poSition forced upon him by
Prussia, and let the world believe that come what
may his forces cannot cope with the forces of King
WILLIAM. We all heard enough, and a great deal
too much, about the impregnability of the 40 mil-
lions of Germans at the time of the Dani3ll War,
and 110 W it would seem as if the same game was to
be tried with France. It is one thing for _NAPO-
LEON and FRANCIS JOSEPH to build up fortifica-
tions, and the complete restoration of Austrian and
the virtual shipwreck of Prussian suprema3y, and
another thing for the French EMPEROR to bold his
own and take care that his power is not affected,
and that his people are not insulted by an over-
bearing and deceitful ally.

No one need envy crowned heads just now on the
Continent, for theirs is an anxious and often
a painful task. Why, with the responsibilities on
one hand and on the other, it is almost impossible
to say where prudence ends and where temerity
begins. One evil ambition pursued to the uttermost
brings peril to many, and can count its wrecks far
and wide. Had Prussia and Austria not pursued
the fatal war against Denmark, and had Prussia
not undermined the prosperity of Austria and
compromised the existence of the German
States, France would now be spared the
uncertainties and annoyances which the prospect
of war always brings about with it. The importance
of the matter does not rest only upon the offence
given to the French by the Prussians, but because,
through one thing and another, France seems to be
regarded as the representative of Europe in the face
of an almost unparalleled aggression on the part of
a military Power. The part which England should
have taken at the outset of affairs was unhappily
not taken, and hence the opportunity was lost,
not to be recalled. It has been, no doubt,
very difficult for the French EMPEROR to
carry on his communications with Prussia of late,
and a few mistakes he has unwittingly made may
readily be excused to him. We mistake the whole
course and character of his policy, however, if we
believe that he can consent to fold his arms, and
give up the game as an idle and useless attempt in
the face of the direct insults and great encroach-
ments of Prussia. He may for reasons best known
to himself consent for a time to a readjustment of
things, but it will be only for a time, unless a very
different tone is adopted by Prussia. As nothing
has occurred to make us think that the councils of
Berlin are changed for the better, we must conclude
that whatever calm takes place it is only a momen-
tary one ; and while we hope it may tend to the
prosperity of those most concerned, it cannot in the
nature of things produce very striking and lasting
changes. It seems useless to expect that the views
of Prussia will moderate, and therefore if the
French Government virtually acquiesce in the
policy of Berlin the next thing will be
that some new demands will be made and some
fresh claims put forward. It is a source of deep
regret that so much anxiety should bo occasioned
and so much loss incurred through the uncalled-for
extension of a Power that so little required it, for
there was enough in all conscience for Prussia to do
at home without seeking to intrude upon others,
and to compromise the welfare of other nations by
persisting in a policy that set reason at defiance,
and ignored the idea of justice.

The contrast between the difficulties of a new
country and au old one is forcibly exhibited by a
comparison of the home and Australian news. The
prices of food among ourselves have long given
ground for complaint and lamentation among all
classes. The poor, to whom meat for the last few
years has been almost a forbidden luxury, are
alarmed at the prospect of a further increase in
the price of bread. The richer classes have felt in
a lesser degree the pressure of the times, and
the inevitable expenses of a large and
well -to- do household have been wellnigh
doubled. In contrast to this we read that
in Australia a fat sheep is worth airteen