The Sun.
London, England, 1866-09-12 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

TIMES.—Are the recent Treaty of Prague, and
the one soon to be signed at Vienna between Austria
and Italy, to usher in peace, or something worse than
war.? Are we to have a continuance of that ruinous
armed peace which for the last score of years ban
been the great drag on the wheel of European pro-
gress ? A cheering answer to these questions came
yesterday from Vienna An immediate reduction
of the army in all its departments, and its restora-
tion ton to a normal peace footing." This news IS t
the more welcome as it follows close upon the repOr"
of a " re-organisation of the Austrian forces,
in-
tended to double their efficiency." Reforms of the
same nature, aiming at the " increase of the efficient
strength" of their national armaments, are said
be contemplated in France, in Sweden, and in Swit-
zerland itself. We cannot help hoping that these
improvements in the means of destruction may be
found compatible with the interests of production.
The first step taken by Austria to double the effi"
ciency of her army is to disband half of it. We hell
her example will find many followers. Let us trust
that the maxim, " Make ready for war that you maY
have peace," may begin to be 'better understood.
That maxim, properly interpreted, implies no neces-
sity for vast standing armies. Nations are not war'
like simply because they are military, nor is their
power always commensurate with the number of their
battalions. The population of Bavaria is just double
that of Switzerland ; the people areof kindred races/
equally stout and brave, yet Prussia would at elny.
time rather meet the former than the latter in n
field, for in the one case she would have only to d'
with an army, in the other she would have to con'
tend with an armed nation. The armament of the
whole nation on the Swiss system is not very burden,:
some even in countries where better military sehenim
for officers were needed, and where a higher degree
of training and discipline might be deemed desirable.
The first draught of the regular army intended for
service in time of peace, as it ought to be supPeu
by strictly free enlistment, might be kept within
moderate limits, and, being intended as a nucleus for
a larger force, ought to be brought to the highest
possible degree of drill and discipline, without caus-
ing too great a strain on the public finance, so that
the heavy demand on the budget wouldonly be made/
and the forced tribute of blood only be levied upon
the citizens, when, on the declaration of War, it
might become necessary to call forth the second or
third categories, and meet the exigencies of the State
with all its resources. The system prevalent in
Prussia at the present day, on which, it is said, the
French Government partly contemplates remodelling
its own armament, is not very far from the plan we
venture to recommend. Only, by adopting our sug-
gestion, the Continental States would virtually
f
abolish conscription, except for the necessities 01
open war, and would curtail their powers for too
vast a military establishment in time of peace.

COUNTRY MARKETS.

-4.
LIVERPOOL-TUESDAY.

- -
'At this day's market there was a good attendance of the
town'and country trade. Wheat and flour met With an
improved demand, and may be quoted 4d to 6d per cent",
and 2s per sack dearer on the week. Oats ld per bush"
dearer, and oatmeal fairly sought after at 6d per load ad-
vance. India corn firm.