The Sun.
London, England, 1866-05-12 00:00:00

poli'cical crisis, and that the destinies of the nation
ce,mmitted to his charge demand of him that he
-he should engage in war. What a disadvantage for
those who had been credulous enough to put faith
in his integrity, and to think that he meant what he
said ! The journal referred to states, however, that
' they know it is not the wish of the KING to involve
Germany in war. If they told us the meaning of
Herr BISMARCK'S policy and the secret of his wishes
it would be a little more to the mark. Have we not
been told over and over again during the last few
weeks that the KING has sacrificed his wishes in
compliance with the earnest solicitations of his
Ministers. Was it not against his better judgment
that he agreed to order the mobilisation of the
entire Prussian army, so that it is rather a broken
reed to lean upon to bid us trust to the pacific
inclination of the KING. No doubt the Neue
Prussiche declares the KING may have used
every endeavour for the maintenance of peace,
end during the last few days openly expressed his
wishes in this respect ; but still this does not afford
any sure indication of peace. In fact it may now
be out of the power of Prussia to prevent the out-
break of a war ; and at any moment a mischance
may occur which will convulse Europe and cause a
general war.
It is, of course, impossible to foretell the future
policy of France ; but nowhere do we find it stated
that she will be perfectly inactive. The Patrie of
last night says that, in the event of war, the
duty of the French Government will be plainly be-
fore them. They must form two corps of observation,
one stationed on the Southern frontier, and one on
the Rhine. The latter is rather a significant inti-
mation, and we wonder how long the troops in
question will be confined to the special purpose for
which they were sent out. At such times many things
are of daily occurrence which give rise to alterca-
tion, and cause angry feelings, and no doubt some
offence committed by the haughty and irascible
BISMARCK will soon after the outbreak of war
afford very good grounds for the hostility of France.
If affairs remain in the indefinite state in which
they now are until after the fresh elections take
place, it may yet be that Prussia will give in at the
eleventh hour, and consent to make reasonable
terms. The opinion of the Prussian people has
already been given pretty plainly respecting the war
now in question, and we have no doubt that the
result of the appeal made to the nation will be that
a complete negative will be put upon the war. The
more we dwell upon the present lamentable state of
things on the Continent, the more we have cause to
deplore the conduct of affairs two years ago. The
very unequal course pursued by our Government has
been the chief cause of the present disastrous state
of affairs, and mainly contributed to all that has
since occurred of an unpropitious nature in Ger-
many. The forty millions of Germans, whose mere
mention caused so much disquietude in certain
quarters some time ago, will now find plenty of
occupation in keeping each other in order, and in
proceeding to extremities, and having recourse to
war, all the more to be dreaded, because it will be
entered upon with no definite aim or object, and
may be prolonged while the mutual feelings which
gave it rise are indulged in.

The arrival of the Persia from New York on the
2d brings us intelligence of some importance. We
have at length the substance of the Report of the
Reconstruction Committee, and it fully confirms the
worst anticipations. So thoroughly does it carry
out the views of the extreme Radicals that we
should hope it must defeat itself, since the common
sense of the country can hardly endorse its provi-
sions. It is currently reported, and the rumour
bears every appearance of probability, that the
Cabinet held a special meeting on the Ist of May to
consider the Report, and that all the members, with
the solitary exception of Mr. HARLAN, strongly dis-
approved of it, and declared themselves in favour
of the PRESIDENT'S plan of reconstruction. Cer-
tainly the two methods are very different, and could
scarcely fail to produce the most opposite results.
The PRESIDENT, as we know, insists upon the un-
conditional abolition of slavery and the declaration
of loyalty to the Union, and when these principal
points are granted, and proper protection provided
for the freedmen, he is ready at once to restore the
supremacy of civil laws, to admit the States to repre-
sentation on the sole condition of their returning
loyal members, and to assist by every constitutional
means in his power the restoration of public con-
, fidence and commercial enterprise. The Radicals,
on the other hand, establish a voting population as
the basis of representation, disfranchise as Federal
electors until 1870 all who voluntarily engaged is
the rebellion, and declare that all civil officers
and foreign officers of the Confederacy, all mili-
tary officers above the rank of colonel, all naval
officers above the rank of master; and persons
educated at the national academies who favoured
the rebellion, are henceforward ineligible to
hold any Federal office. Such provisions
are very ill calculated to reconcile the
1 Southern people to the failure of their struggle for
independence, and can only result in prolonging
disaffection and a sense of irritation which does no
good to the country at large. A further specimen
of the benevolent intentions of the Radicals has
been given in a resolution calling for the immediate
trial of Mr. DAVLS for treason and other crimes,
and his execution, if convicted. The American
people are not very likely to allow such a national
disgrace to be inflicted on them by any party, but
we hope that the PRESIDENT may soon see his way
to release Mr. DAVIS from his long captivity since
it is reported that his health is rapidly failing. The
prolonged confinement and anxiety, added to the
cares and excitement of the preceding four or five
years, and the sudden shock of the collapse of the
Confederacy, would be indeed sufficient to break
down the strongest constitution ; but we have little
doubt that if Mr. JOHNSON feels secure enough to
give renewed offence to the Radicals, he will not
long delay the much-wished-for relief to the weary
prisoner. An instance of the impartiality and justice
of parties in the North has been given in the
refusal of the Senate to listen to the reiterated
charge against Gen. SHERMAN of having wilfully
burned Columbia. Perhaps it is better, under the
circumstances, to leave the bygones of the war
alone; but if so, why is not the same allowance
made for the South?

The friends of American progress and constitu-
tional liberty must watch with impatience for some
considerable change in the position of parties. So
long as the Radicals, led on by Messrs. STEVENS,
SUMNER, and Co., retain their present numerical
superiority in the Congress, so long will the condi-
tion of the country be unsettled and precarious.
It is not only the fate of the Southern States which
trembles in the balance, but it is the whole future of
Republicanism in America. If the North seriously
attempts to keep the Southern States in military
subjection, the story of the Union will be a short
one. When Republicanism passes from demo-
cracy into despotism, it is inevitably doomed ;
and before long the tyranny of the clique,
the party, or the tribune, passes into the
sudden supremacy of some military or political chief.
The abuse of martial power will lead to armed re-
sistance, and the vast confederation of the West
will break up into two or three monarchies or em-