The Sun.
London, England, 1866-10-31 00:00:00

that Prussia achieved those late successes by the
high-sounding report of which the slumbers of some
Frenchmen are still disturbed. In an aggressive
war it seems to haVe struck the Emperor Napoleon
that the heroic army even of France could scarcely
be more than a match for the armed nation of
Prussia. Let, therefore, France be, like Prussia,
organised into an armed nation, and when that task
is accomplished the occasions for and the incentives
to aggressive wars will be found to diminish, together
with the numbers of the standing armies.
PosT.—Although the telegram from Vienna which
we published yesterday left blanks to be filled up,
the reading between its lines was plainly portentous.
In this country the first thought which it inspired
could only be one of thankfulness. The circum-
stance that an Englishman had probably saved the
life of the Austrian Kaiser intensified the sympathy
and the indignation which the incident excited.
But it would be idle to attempt to conceal the fact
that Austria is rocking under the shock of a politi-
cal earthquake. As far as the situation can be ap-
preciated, there are difficulties in the way of recon-
structing the system that was shattered at Sadowa
which seem to be insurmountable. Apparently a
gallant ship is settling fast. The events which have
agitated Europe have unhinged the Austrian empire.
Its frame is quivering, as it were, in the struggle
for life— life on almost any conditions. The prin-
ciple of nationality has penetrated to its heart and
paralysed its strong arm. Austria depended on her
army,and that army, formidable as it was accounted,
has been broken like a reed. But it is worse than
vain to look back on the irrevocable past in such a
conjuncture. The question now is, whether or not
there be yet time for the Government of Vienna to
turn over a new leaf-and shape its coarse to circum-
stances ' • and from that point of view the appoint-
ment of Baron von Beust becomes a matter of some
moment. It is an act which may admit of explana-
tion, and its significance may be easily magnified ;
but, if it be a mistake, the infatuation which it re-
veals is very much to be deplored. Francis Joseph
cannot but be aware that in this emergency he has
duties to perform which it is impossible to delegate
to any minister, and, indeed, he has so far addressed
himself to the task with a proper and dignified ap-
prehension of its import. But while the good feel-
ing
govern as well
a
debts to be discharged and obligations to be ful-
filled • there is hard work to be done, and it is
Austrian consideration
worthy
w kaiser icsahe lr l have
commendation,
must been
sraeni gd displayedn. a
Ir en Hungary and in Bohemia there are
manifest that whatever can be done should be done
quickly. The claims are urgent, exacting, and
possibly extortionate ; but, be that as it may, they
must be met. Unreasonable as the terms may ap-
pear to be, it only remains to accept them.
Nothing can be gained, and much may be lost, by
delay. It is, in truth, a cause in which the parties
must plead personally, face to face, as Maria The-
resa pleaded her cause. What might have come to
pass if Francis Joseph had ridden to the front at
Sadowa is irrelevant at present ; but if Austria can
be preserved, if Hungary and Bohemia can be re-
conciled, the means to be employed to that end are
abundantly
now,
if ever, the
obvious. The foundation of the Austrian edifice is
lost. When Austria ceased to be a German Power 1
her weight in the European scale• was sensibly
diminished, and consequently her independence and
integrity are not considered as they formerly were.
It was understood that she was competent to vin-
dicate her German rights, and inasmuch as she
failed to do so her interests are appraised accord-
ingly. Austria may think that this is not a fair
construction of public engagements, but the answer
is, that she has herself omitted to observe those en-
gagements, and, therefore, that she is precluded
from appealing to them. That, however, is in
reality entirely beside the problem which has to be
resolved, and in regard to which Austria can only
trust to her own resources. In so far as foreign
Powers may be concerned, the principle of nation-
ality, as interpreted by the Magyar and the Czech,
can be contemplated with composure. If Poland
was in a position to deal with Russia as Hungary is !
dealing with Austria, it would be precisely the
same. It is only exceptionally that nationalities
are supported as the Italians and the Germans in
the Elbe Duchies were, and it must not be forgot-
ten that in the latter instance Austria co-operated
with Prussia. There is no reason to suppose that
the Hungaxians wish to sever their connection with
the House of Hapsburg, but the misfortune is that
other nationalities have to be conciliated. In fact, I
the Treaty of Prague may be said to have pro-
vided for the disintegration of the Austrian Etn-
ctpiciirtelee,‘,ll,aaanrudidtitccoufoltilclaloiliv7iasey,da,esvthetralyiteuitliiiiiinlegriii\clvaohifisceltrlheesol:iohliu„silt(ioinriyai•anvoye,f
wise divide the strength he possessed, and also that
Prussia is more indebted to Italy than she may care ,
to own.

Gerard Ralston's 111i:sion from Liberia to

Europe.

Mankind owes much to.the energy of the Anglo-
: Saxon race, but their virtues have been marred by
some great crimes. Races have been blotted out to
make way for the grasping intruder. Races have
been subjugated to gratify his lust of greed ; but
of all his crimes that of negro slavery is written
blackest in the black list. For every sin re-
corded we have paid a heavy penalty, and
for the deepest crime has been exacted the
most fearful retribution. If an account could
be drawn up showing the profits resulting from the
employment of the African as the Anglo-Saxon's
slave, and the cost at which his labour was ob-
tained, we believe that even in the sordid point of
material gains the balance would show that both
England and America were heavy losers by the
iniquitous system. If we and our forefathers have
perpetrated great crimes, we have a satisfaction not
accorded to every nation, that philanthropists
and regenerators have arisen from among us to
redeem our transgressions. In us the negro has
found his heaviest taskmaster, but in us also he has
found his warmest and most enlightened friend.
Probably no people have ever excited such wide-
spread sympathy and compassion among the friends
of liberty as the negro race. With certain per-
sons, both in Great Britain and in the United States,
the wrongs of the black man have become so ab-
sorbing as almost to have grown into a mono-
mania. Every effort of their lives has been
directed to obliterate the blot with which our
forefathers have stained this page of our his-
tory. To that number belongs Mr. GERARD
RALSTON, Consul-General for Liberia, whose
diplomatic mission to Europe is in reality a
a mission of philanthropy. " Before this distin-
guished Philadelphian had a hair on his face he had
enlisted in the negro's cause. Now his hairs' are
grey, but his cause is the same and his energy un-
abated. He may be said to be the father of the
Liberian Republic—the " land of the free ;" and his
name is associated in the minds of the whole people,
who have confided to him their interests in Europe,
with all that is noble, generous, and good. Mr.i
RALSTON'S task in England is aided by
sympathy of the English Government. andopleettas
the woarine.
To suppress the islave trade on the A.fricafn
for many years been the settled policy of
treasure
tanic MAJESTY. Many lives
.and hercc Brit-
have been sacrificed for this object.
dineFlodrl
yitclsettle-
ments have been established on thte
of cruisers have
of the Western coast for it a
fleet
employed. As the
for a lengthened period
bili.eeteenblic aids materially
establishment of the.negro
policy of the English
in effecting this object,
tosupport Mr. RALSTON'S
Government is clearly
been freely given.
mission, and that suppo.r •
This mission, however, is. twofold. Not onlyb does.
Ir. RALSTON aim at attaining a recognised.. position
:A
the nations of the earth for. his little Republic
of freed negroes, but he aims in. a still 'greater
degree at constituting that Republic an emigration
ground for negroes wherever they feel their energies
trammelled and the blight of colour withering the
aspirations of their minds. Liberia is in every re-
spect suited to the African race. Though deadly to
the white,- the climate to him is healthy and plea-
sant. The soil is fertile and adapted for those pro-
ducts the negroes have been accustomed to raise.
The rivers give, him ample water carriage, and the
sea-board, well situated for a trade with Europe,
offers a cheap means of transport to the
chief marts of the world. There are spirits
in the United States, though enshrined under
black skins, that rebel against the social de-
gradation to which they are there subjected,
and pine for the equal rights, not alone recognised
by law, but recognised in truth by their fellow-man.