The Sun.
London, England, 1867-11-12 00:00:00

LONDON, TUESDAY, NO V. 12, 1867.

It has been the invariable custom of certain
speakers of late to extol and magnify the new system
which hid been obtained in Prussia, as if nothing
equal to it had ever been seen. Liberty had formed
a now home according to them, and progress had
made a visible start in the right direction. To these
enlightened exponents of affairs we would transmit
the last news from Berlin, which tells how, on the
demand of the public prosecutor, !Herr TWESTEN
has been sentenced to two years' imprisonment.
The reason for this arbitrary proceeding on the part
of the Stadtgericht of Berlin was the speech he
made in the Chamber of Deputies on the subject of
administration and justice in Prussia, and which has
already been the subject of prosecution. If any-
thing were needed to justify this Speech in question,
surely the course taken by these judges would vin-
dicate it, but to what depths of disgrace has Prussia
descended that such a violation of all right and
reason should take place in her midst. What be-
comes of the whole principle of representation if a
man cannot give utterance to his views and state his
opinions? It indeed resolves into sounding brass
and a tinkling cymbal. The bitter and relentless
manner in which BISMARCK and his coadjutors
persist in following out their policy of persecution
exhibits, indeed, a spirit worthy of a better cause.
But what can be said of the national feeling of a
people which can tolerate such abuses, and allow
their rulers to boast of progress, and declare that
they have established an united Germany on broad
and liberal principles? It is indeed most extraordi-
nary to see how people can deceive themselves and
make the worse appear the better cause ; but if
these and the men of action choose to do so let not
our countrymen be deceived also. What use is there
in Mr. BRIGHT haranguing a public meeting, and
in members of the Reform League felicitating Count
BISMARCK upon the groat services which he had ren-
dered to Prussia, when side by side with the appa-
rent gains can count such losses. Either there
must be a stoppage put to these prosecutions, or
else there will be a stoppage put to all progress
worthy of the name in the country, and the people
will soon find that they are called upon to bow down
to an image, and not a reality, in worshipping living
liberty. When it comes to imprisoning deputies it
is high time to examine the laws that permit such
an outrage to take place. If this comes of com-
pulsory education and of universal suffrage, it may
fairly be said that le jeu ne vaut pas la chandelle.
We deplore this state of things, for Prussia has
long been looked to by the energetic spirits of
this country, as a land where kindred spirits
of liberty might be found, and where progress and
freedom would march hand in hand. Of late years
there has been a marked decadence in these auspi-
cious promises, and the day-spring of regeneration
seems merged into sad fears of a reign of absolutism
and a system of repression and persecution. It is
significant that this case of Herr TWESTEN'S should
have been taken up at a time when it could so easily
have been dropped, and when so many inducements
were furnished to give it the go-bye ; but some
statesmen are so infatuated that nothing can per-
suade them to adopt any other policy but the one
they are addicted to, and so they can go on until a
stronger than they can assert a supremacy.

Quiet being restored in Italy, there is time for all
parties to reconsider their position a little, and to
look about them. The Pontifical troops are gra-
dually re-occupying their old positions which they
held before the incursion of the Garibaldians, and
have been received everywhere with a cordial wel-
come. The French have also come in for a share of
popular regard, and all this tends to show pretty
plainly that there is no general desire in the public
mind for that change in the state of affairs so ar-
dently hoped for by the revolutionary party.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs at Florence
has adopted the wise course of addressing
a circular to the diplomatic agents of Italy
abroad, to explain the " development and
present state of the Roman question." This memo-
randum is expected to enlighten the various Powers
as to the state of the affairs of Rome just now, and
also to enable them to decide if they can accept the
proposal of France for a Conference. No doubt
this will throw light on the complicated matter, and
put the question on a more direct footing. On
the whole, this new Ministry in Italy seem to
be doing their utmost to regain lost oppor-
tunities, and redeem some of the errors which their
predecessors committed, either from heedlessness
or want of consideration.

More fuss than enough seems made about the
question as to whether or not any French troops
did co-operate with the Pontificals in the battle of
Mentana. The last news is that some actually did,
and in some quarters this appears to give rise to
indignation and consternation. It seems, by details
given, that the French column was a sort of re-
serve, and did not have the honour of the
affair. The combat was a severe one, but
the brunt of the loss fell upon the Gari-
baldians, who had six hundred tiled, while the
Pontifical troops lost but 20, and the French only
two. The prisoners were in proportion, and one
thousand six hundred were brought to Rome, while
seven hundred more went to the. frontier. The
Moniteur gives the account which General DE
FAILLY sent to the Minister of War, and he says
that the presence of the French in Rome was abso-
lutely necessary. He gave an account of the re-
ception of the French at Viterbo, declaring that
they were received with " frantic acclamations."
Perhaps the best thing that can be done under
the circumstances will be to follow the
advice of the Emperor NaOLEoN, and meet in Con.