The Sun.
London, England, 1866-07-05 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, JULY 5, 1866

the discomfited leader of this once noble army, but
so far as we can judge at a distance, it would seem
to be the wisest course for the EMPEROR to pursue
to seek for peace. if he cannot long succeed even-
tually, -which his most sanguine supporters can
hardly expect now, there can be no use
whatever in prolonging hostilities. The sufferings
of the army and the losses of the people must be
taken into consideration, now that there is no
reasonable hope of attaining military renown by a
continuance of the struggle. In every sense of the
word it is a disappointment that this should be the
result of the war in Germany. Under the most
favourable circumstances it would have left many
a cause for regret, and many a bitter memory be-
hind it; and the only thing that could have rendered
it at all endurable would have been the curtailment
of Berlin power and influence. We have now too
much cause to dread that these will be signally in-
creased through the recent events, and thus progress
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ENVNEitIi EK are
dis-
posed of, the day of reckoning will come for those
who have offended the majesty of Prussia. A
semi-official paper of Berlin states that Frankfort
n
,‘ speedily recognise the dangers of an atti-
tudelust hostile to Prussia ;" and the Bavarians will
also, we are informed on the same authority, be
called to account very speedily, as Prussia will be
forced to turn her attention to the future position
of the Bavc.rian provinces, which were once closely
connected with Prussia. This is ominous intelli-
gence for these devoted States, and we are naturally
led to believe from it that there will be no end to
the monopolies of Prussia.
Our Government may take heed to these events
in Germany, and learn the great importance of
being prepared for all emergencies. The late
Government have been most faulty in this respect,
and we have the satisfaction now of knowing that
in case of war we are neither prepared by sea nor
land to cope with those who have availed themselves
of the appliances of modern science. The Prussians
have displayed a foresight and exercised a readiness
which in a better cause would do them honour.
Another still more sad reflection may be made by
Earl RUSSELL and his colleagues, that it is in
a great measure their fault that Germany
is in the midst of the horrors of war,
and Europe convulsed with strife. A firm
and vigorous policy respecting Denmark two
or three years ago would have kept the pretensions
of Prussia in check, and, in all probability, have
prevented the present catastrophe. As it is, we
must feel that the power and influence of England
have been used in the wrong direction, and that
we have been upholding the tyrant and oppressor
in his aggressive course, and are thus deeply im-
plicated in the spoliation of the liberties of Ger-
many. The only thing that can now check
Prussia will be if the French Government take up
active measures and prevent the consummation now
threatening.

The Lord Mayor was yesterday placed in a some-
what awkward position by the application of the
President and Secretary of the Working Men's As-
sociation for permission to hold a public meeting
in Guildhall. No man in a public position likes to
run counter to the general feeling in matters of
this kind, especially when there has been so much
excitement on a political question as there has been
about Parliamentary Reform. At the same time
there could be no certainty, judging from
certain disorderly proceedings which have taken
place under the name of Reform, that order
would be observed, and if there were any disturb-
ance of the peace the Lord Mayor would certainly
be blamed for having given his sanction to the
assembly. Mr. POTTER, indeed, was willing to
pledge himself that the meeting should be conducted
in a quiet and orderly manner, and that the princi-
pal part of those who attended it should be citizens.

E it was to be a bona fide public meeting, however,

it is difficult to see how it could be restricted to
citizens alone, neither would there be any need that
it should be. The working men of any part of
London can be safely trusted to hold a pub-
lic assembly, as they have done again and
again at fitting opportunities. The ques-
tion is whether we should have "a lawful
assembly" of steady, sensible men who want to dis-
cuss a matter of public interest, or a noisy crowd
who know nothing more of the subject than what
their agitators have told them, and who want the
excitement of a riot, and the amusement of de-
nouncing all opposed to them as " caitiffs" and

" traitors." It had been proposed that the meeting
should be held in front of the Royal Exchange, but
the leaders of the Association very wisely aban-
doned a scheme which would have occasioned
great public inconvenience, and must necessarily
have led to turbulence and confusion. The Lord
Mayor, who discharged his difficult office with tact
and good sense, expressed his satisfaction at hear •
ing that the meeting at the Exchange was aban-
doned. As for the arguments about working men,
they did not, he said, apply in the City, where they
were all working men, himself among the rest. lie
intimated that his political sympathies, so far as
they went were on the side of Reform, but his first
duty as a Lord Mayor was to preserve order. It was
only by constitutional means, he reminded them, that
they could get what they wanted, and wherever they
met he was sure they would remember that consti-
tutional liberty and order went together. So far
as the point at issue was concerned he was uncer-
tain about his own power to grant their request,
but said he would consult the Corporation. At the
same time he hoped they would reconsider the
matter, and he would evidently be well pleased if
he heard no more of the Guildhall Reform demon-
stration.

Before the Association press the matter further
they would do well to reflect a little Upon the
immediate object to be attained. It is impossible
for any Ministry to produce a Reform Bill this
year, and if Mr. BRIGHT himself were made Prime
Minister he could not introduce a measure of this
importance at the end of a session. The settlement
of the long-vexed question, then, must be left till
1867, and until then no efforts will further it. It
cannot certainly be delayed or passed over by any
party, for it blocks the path of political progress,
and must be removed. All parties agree as to the
necessity, though they differ as to the manner of
removal. There is then no cause for agitation or
uneasiness on the part of the association. The
most valuable service that its members can render
the cause is to show due respect for social order as
well as for the letter of the law, and thus to prove
to those who are apprehensive of considerable
changes how little reason there is for any mistrust
of the consequences of an extension of political
privileges.
rights and

The intelligence from India tells us that the
famine which has been for some time raging in
Orissa and other places has assumed a serious as-
pect, and that the Government has found itself
forced to take some steps for its relief. Ten thou-
sand reals have therefore been assigned to each of
the collectors of Pooree, Cuttack, and Balasore, to
meet the immediate pressure, and subscriptions