The Sun.
London, England, 1866-04-13 00:00:00

THE SON, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, APRIL 13, 186 g.

even a pie cemeal legislation. Wrightly or wrongly
the public impression will be that the upper classes?
of this country are unwilling to trust the lower; and
that conviction, however unjust or mistaken, will
tend to encourage a bitterness, a resentment, a
class animosity more hurtful and more dangerous
than a thousand anomalies. Englishmen of all
ranks possess much the same characteristics, among
which common sense and love of fair play are very
strongly marked, and these qualities may be trusted
when the first excitement is over to bring our
political system into harmonious working order.
Only let the people feel that they are trusted and
respected as they deserve to be, not treated like
children soothed and silenced by promises never
meant to be fulfilled, and pledges which the first
temporary inconvenience has power enough to
break.

At the present juncture anything that relates to
the public opinion of Germany is of interest, and
hence particular attention will be given to the de-
claration recently made at a meeting of the Com-
mittee of Thirty-Six at Frankfort. In the first
Article it is stated that the dangers of a civil war
menace Germany, and threaten to ruin liberty and
prosperity. The second Article in which the most
momentous passage occurs was only carried by a
majority, whereas the others were unanimously
adopted. The reason was that some objected that the
expressions used would offend the " public senti-

merit in Prussia." Some members very wisely re-

quested that, in blaming Austria, they should give the

Chief blame to the Prussian Government, which has
caused so much confusion by its aggressive policy

and inordinate ambition. In this debated Article

it is said that trouble and catastrophes are coming
on Germany in consequence of the unlawful man-
ner in which the two great German Powers have

disposed of the Duchies as the booty of war, and
the " open plans of violent annexation formed by
the Prussian Government," together with other

causes. The remedy for these evils proposed by
the Committee is, that an " enegetic protestation

be made which condemns all enterprises that dis

;urb the peace." Stronger language could

hardly be employed in a temperate manner
than we find in these declamations, and we

are glad to meet with so forcible a protest made
against tyranny and aggression as that exhibited
by Prussia. The German people, it is said, must

needs show in all places so " clearly and so vigor.

ously its opinion and its wishes, that those who

counsel the Crown, and those who wear them

may have no chance of misunderstanding." In the

Fourth Article it is stated that a complete transfor-
mation of the German Constitution is necessary, in

order to prevent future violence and dangers. But
an important passage occurs which affirms that
every Government " which, not respecting the rights

of its own country, may present projects of
Federal Reform, with the intention, perhaps,
of acquiring allies in a civil war, would take
for want of the confidence of its own and the Ger-
man people the necessary guarantees for the suc-
cess of the great work of national union." This is
pretty plain speaking, and adroitly alludes to the
recent steps taken by Count BISMARCK under pre-
tence of being liberal and manifesting an indepen-
dent spirit. An animated discussion took place on
these declarations, which was only what might
have been expected from the excitement that pre-
vailed on the question. On the whole, we may
consider that this declaration was worthy of those
who adopted it, and that it will be good service to
the cause of nationality in Germany at this im-
portant crisis.

It is of consequence to notice that the 21Iorgenpos
of Vienna publishes a telegram which says that the
French Ambassador at Berlin has been told to state
that "France considers a radical reconstruction of the
Confederation, not as a question of German home
policy, but as one which would admit of the inter-
vention of the signataries of the Vienna Congress."
Thii; is very significant, and becomes still more sig-
nificant when we find that the EMPEROR has been
reported to have told the colonels of two regiments
of Cuirassiers, which were to have been disbanded,
that for the present the disbanding would not take
place. In Paris the excitement on the subject of the
German.question is considerable : itbanishes all other
topics, and is the prevailing object of interest and
importance. If we should supervene, Prussia will
have ample cause to regret having ever succumbed
to the fatal policy of BISMARCK, and she will lose
far more than she has gained, and sought to gain,
by the late affair of the Duchies. It was not likely
indeed that such a course of wanton spoliation and
continued aggression could long continue uninter-
rupted, but the end seems now nearer than might
have been expected, and the retribution threatens to
be more complete in its form and character.
The Vienna journals still continue their accounts
of the armaments of Prussia, which have
not be stopped, as it was at one time supposed that
they were, in consequence of the explanations fur-
nished by the Austrian Government. At Carlsruhe
a preliminary meeting of Deputies took place to
consider the Prussian proposal for a German Par-
liament, and all shades of opinion were represented.
Resolutions in favour of the Prussian proposal
were passed. It is not likely, however, that this
will lead to much, and even if the several States
agree, we find that France will gladly seize upon
this attempt as a pretext for interference, and it
will be quite a different thing for Prussia to
deal with the Emperor Louis NAPOLEON to
what it will be to conduct negotiations
with the Emperor FRANCIS JOSEPH. If the one
does not hastily come forward, neither is he likely
to draw back without having effected his purpose.
Of course his policy will be guided in a great mea-
sure by the force of circumstances and the tone of
the public feeling of Germany ; but at the same time
we would not give much for the claims of Prussia
against him if he can come forth in a decided
manner and demand his share of the spoils, in the
event of a re-adjustment of affairs. The allusion
,o the Vienna Congress is most inimical to the in-
4rests of Prussia.

MADEMOISELLE TITIENS.—This gifted artiste has
just arrived at Hamburgh from Hanover and Cologne,
where sho has been reaping a golden harvest. She was
received on her arrival by the Civic Guard and the excel-
lent band of their regiment. She had an address presented
her by M. Shinckel, the princip/1 merchant (and one of the
leading senators). She made her appearance at the Ham-
burgh Opera in Fidelio, for which performance the whole
of the tickets were sold at fabulous prices four weeks
before, so that lidlle. Titiens (whose terms are half the
total receipts) received something like £3OO for her
night's performance. She performed again on Saturday
last, as Valentine in Les Huguenots, when a grand demon-
stration was made by the city in honour of their eminent
townswoman ; who has rendered herself as popular by her
extraordinary private acts of charity as by her public bene-
factions, having sung, on different occasions, fourteen
times gratuitously, for raising the funds to build the
splendid church of St. Nicholas, which is now in course of
construction by the celebrated English architect, Mr.
Gilbert Scott. Notwithstanding most munificent offers to
remain she took her departure direct for London on Sun-
day last. She is engaged to appear at Her Majesty's
Theatre on the 14th inst.
THE PAROCHIAL OFFICERS SUPERANNUATION
BlLL—This bill, which passed the second reading on Tues-
day evening, for giving power to superannuate officers of
vestries and district boards, is to be committed to-day
(Friday) evening, and Mr. Butler has given notice to move
an amendment to extend the powers of superannuation of
officers to trustees and other parochial boards, which will
include burial boards, baths and washbouse commissions,
&c. The officers of boards of guardians are already gua-
ranteed superannuation, and it is only fair that the same
principle should apply to all officers.