The Sun.
London, England, 1866-10-15 00:00:00

are of course plenty of candidates, including a large
proportion of military heroes. General GRANT
seems likely to have a good chance, though SHER-
MAN and SHERIDAN are also talked of. BUTLER is
eager for the White llouse, bnt we should be un-
willing to believe that any temporary excitement or
Radical vehemence could elect such a man to the
supreme office in a country like America. It would
unquestionably be the best thing for the Union if
ANDREW JOHNSON' were re-elected ; but, thanks to

the predominance of Radicalism, of this there seems
little chance. There is no knowing, however, what
turn events may take, and although he has at pre-
sent the worst of the game, and is openly threatened
with impeachment, neither Europe nor America
will forget his services to his country in a time of
unexampled difficulty and trial.
Mr. DAvis's trial is still talked of indefinitely.
It is believed that his counsel will demand a writ of
habeas corpus to bring him before the State Courts.
His health is currently reported to be failing, and it
will be a lasting reproach to the American people
should they suffer him to die in prisot3/4, Strange
news reaches us from Vancouver's Island. A meet-
ing has been held inVictoria, at which Mr. M'CLURE
announced the intention of the Government to peti-
tion for a responsible government and a reciprocity
treaty with the United States ; or, if this failed,
to solicit the QUEEN for the annexation of the
colony to the United States ! This is very cool,
and proves that Mr. Joux BRIGHT and Professor
GOLDWIN SMITH are not alone in their glory.

The text of the address delivered by Herr VON

PATOW, the Prussian Civil Governor, upon taking
formal possession of Frankfort, is a very Prussian
affair. It is quite characteristic of the Berlin Go-

vernment from beginning to end, and we are no

. _
surprised that it should have called forth a protest
from the citizens. We consider that this annexation
of Frankfort is one of the most unconscionable acts
of the war, and reveals in a most conspicuous man-
ner the state of political morality that exists in high
places in Prussia, and is eagerly approved of by the
people. It is really most irritating to peruse this
address, and it must have been regarded by those
whom it concerns as most insulting, which it cer-
tainly was. They were told in plain terms that the
moment when the change was effected must be for

them a moment of great "interest." Very interest

ing, certainly, for the inhabitants of a free city to
have their rights forfeited, and their liberties sup-

pressed, and then to be told that this sacrifice was
in the name of progress and liberty. Let us con-

sider for a moment what is said to these martyrs to

the ambition of Prussia. " You have now a father-
land in the highest sense of the word—a father-
land such as you never yet possessed, nor could
have possessed." The latter part of this sentence
is true, for the history of Frankfort would be very
different if it had belonged to Prussia. The mem-
bers of a free city are to consider themselves fortu-
nate in exchanging their dearly cherished liberties
in order to become the subjects of a King who
" directs the destinies of a great kingdom with jus-
tice and wisdom, with power and leniency." Per-

•••..
baps there could not be a better illustration of the
inaccuracy of this statement than the course pursued
by the Prussian Governor of Schleswig, who has
just prohibited the raising of subscriptions by the
Danish inhabitants for the purchase of a wedding

gift to the Princess DAGMAR. The fact is that those
who are unfortunate enough to be put under the
dominion of the Berlin Government mast bid a long
farewell to all their hopes of freedom, and forget

that they were ever free citizens of an independent
State. The worst part of the Berlin rule is that
there are such unnecessary restrictions enforced,
and so many arbitrary and irritating rules laid down
that can serve no other purpose than that of exhi-

biting the contempt felt for the opinion of others,
and the want of consideration entertained for those

under its control.
The protest issued by the citizens of Frankfort is a
very admirable one, and expresses in earnest and
eloquent terms the respect they entertain for their old
institutions, and the regret they experience at the
nature of the changes thus forced upon them. It
must be very mortifying to the self-sufficiency of the
Prussians to meet with this check, which it is mo-
rally, if not politically. Here have the official organs
of Berlin been declaiming about the strong desire
felt by all the States to be annexed to Prussia, and
now this protest appears, signed by the members of
the two Legislative Corps, and by fifteen thousand
of the citizens of the Free City. It is a contradic-
tion in terms to all that has been said by the Mi-
nisters to the Chambers, and eagerly reiterated by
the press and people of Prussia. All who respect
justice apd value independence must experience a
feeling of regret when they peruse this solemn pro-
test, and agree in the truth of its assertions, the
tone of its indignation, and the magnitude of the
wrongs it rehearses. The citizens feel that they
are giving up their privileges for no available equi-
valent, and this is indeed hard. They know too
much to put faith in the good intentions of Prussia,
and are too wise to think that the unity of Germany
will be effected notwithstanding all that has been
said about it actually taking place.
Indeed it is ably shown here that the ruin of
Frankfort is an injury to the cause professedly at
heart instead of a step in its furtherance. " The
strong hand of Prussia has undertaken to reconsti-
tute Germany, but its endeavours can only be
crowned with success when a complete reconcilia-
tion has taken place between Northern and Southern
Germany." This is quite true, as is also what fol-
lows, to the effect that " neutral ground between
their respective limits can hardly be spared, and thus
if Frankfort is reduced to be a Prussian provin-
cial town her power as mediator willbeover
whereas, had she remained " free" and ~ indepen-
dent," she might have done good service in the
work of national regeneration. Some remarkable
words of the historian lIEEREN are quoted, which
are very appropriate. " Four small jewels glisten
in the Federal chain ; they are the four free cities
which may not be eclipsed by the brilliancy of
larger ones." Prussia may yet find the prophecy
here uttered come true in her own case, and be like
the despotism here alluded to, which would establish
nothing but departments with prefects and mayors
in place of political constitutions. "It would
resemble the Roman empire, and terminate
in the sunset of all political progress, and crush
civilisation." We are glad that this protest should
have appeared, and that the historian who denounces
the unjust act of Prussia should also have to make
mention of the noble vindication of their rights thus
uttered by the vanquished. There is sometimes
more real honour in a defeat than in a success, and
the day may come sooner than some expect when
Prussia will have to give up her ill-gotten gains
L \
amidthaend fawnsneers
uponand her.contempt of those who now
flatter
,ble.

An interesting affair is that of the Volunteers
proceeding to Belgium, and at the present time it
is especially desirable that a good feeling should
exist between the English and the inhabitants of
that little kingdom. lhe greatest enthusiasm seems
to have prevailed hitherto, and will no doubt be
continued to the end. The appearance of the
Volunteers, who mustered a thousand strong, was
very good, and in all quarters there has been an