The Sun.
London, England, 1866-12-07 00:00:00

c 5-.)
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LONDON, FRID,II, DEC. 7, 1866.

The debate on the Dotation Bill was resumed in
the C I r't znbor of Deputies yesterday, and an animated
discussion on its merits took place. The motion of
I-lerr ITAERBECK was rejected ; which is to be re-
gretted, for it really was a good one in its way, and
proposed to limit the names on the fund, but the
proposition of the committee on the bill was even-
tually adopted by 219 against 80 votes. General
STAvENJIOGEN, in his speech, said—" May the act
which the Chamber is about to perform in recog-
nition of the services of our brave army redound to
the honour and prosperity of the Fatherland."
We do not see that anything which has lately taken
place is calculated to be hereafter conducive to the

glory of Prussia, and they who think that it will
may find themselves very much mistaken. The
Grand Duchy of Hesse Darmstadt has at last con-
sented to send representatives to the Berlin con-
ferences, which will take place on the 15th, and it
has also said that it will give directions for the
carrying out of the elections for members to the
North German Parliament at once. It is, how-
ever, supposed that this will be very difficult to
accomplish on account of the delay which has taken
place.
Although this consent of the Duchy will doubt-
less be regarded by the Prussians as a fresh
triumph, it is not really one, if we look at the thing
in the right light, because one of several small
States, or even all combined, cannot do anything
now to oppose the force of Prussia, but for all that

we believe that the time is not far distant when

they will have another change. All these shiftings
of the scene cannot but affect materially the pro-
gress and prosperity of the places so affected, but it
is quite useless to expect that any consideration for
the welfare of others will arrest the progress of
Count BismaucK, or stop him in his mischievous
designs. The North German Parliament must have
its day, but it is not very venturesome to say that
it will not be a very glorious one, or be hereafter
associated with the vital interests of the com-
munity amid which it is to have its being.
As for unity and such like arguments, they
are completely beside the chief thing* in view
—the real welfare of Germany. How can there
be anything like universality of feeling when
all the interests of the different States are sacrificed
in the most ruthless manner to the inordinate am-
bition of Prussia. The Berlin Government has
trampled down the freedom of all the minor States,
and effectually prevented Austria, for the time
being at any rate, from taking part in the affairs of
the nation. All this has virtually destroyed the
safeguards and greatly militated against the pro-
gress of the various places.
We all know that it was considered highly requi-
site that something should be done to improve the
condition of Germany, and all well-wishers to
the nation were anxious that a change should
be made in a speedy and satisfactory manner ; but
then, of course, it was not expected that any one
Power should take the lead in such an extensive
manner, or appropriate so much to itself. As it is
we must regard the great change that has just
taken place in Germany as a failure, and it would
be far better if things had remained as they were
until the great work could have been effected in a
proper manner. It was not in the nature of things
that the very arbitrary measures dealt out by the
Prussian Government to the newly annexed States
should be very successful, and already there are not
wanting signs and tokens of the and dissatis-
faction that prevail in many directions. It is even
supposed by some that the extreme popularity of
Count BISMARCK is on the wane, and that his nu-
merous enemies have taken advantage of his en-
forced absence through ill health to direct the tide
of affairs in another direction, and to undermine a
great deal of content he thought so firmly fixed and
so well established. This may be altogether or
partly true; but, at any rate, there is ample evi-
dence before us to justify our conclusion that there
is something rotten in the condition of affairs in
high places at Berlin. Indeed we do not see
how it can well be otherwise, when we
take into account all the facts of the case, and see
how conflicting aro the interests at work in the
Berlin Cabinet, and notice how jealousy prevails
to the hindrance of the accomplishment of wllat
they call their common object, German unity.

It is not difficult to imagine the mischief that
the news of these dissensions and differences at
headquarters works in the States which Prussian
power seeks to rule with uncontrolled force and
with illimitable sway. Already many symptoms
are apparent which tell us of the great dissatis-
faction and dissension which are met with in
many directions. Perhaps it would be the wiser
course for the KING and his Ministers to keep
on terms with Count BISMARCK for the time being ;
but then we do not know how difficult if not im-
possible it may be to agree to all that this arrogant
statesman may wish them to do. Taking all things
into consideration, we may fairly come to the con-
clusion that the foul deeds of last summer are already
more barren in their fruits than any one could have
believed possible in so short a time ; and we shall be
very much surprised if we do not see before long that
the extreme greediness and grasping of the Berlin
Government has wrought a great deal of harm to
themselves as well as others.

We are glad to see that the address has been ,
carried by a majority of twenty, at any rate,
that the proposals of M. DEAK have been
agreed to. This is, fortunate . in every
respect, because any further delay might
be fatal to the cause of order and peace in
Hungary. M. DEAR has a very arduous task before
him just now, and one that calls down upon him a
great deal of odium, but we trust that he will per-
severe and go on as he has so well begun, for the
extreme obstinacy of the Opposition party requires
him to be vigilant and decided. M. TISZA has a
great deal to answer for in thus sowing the seeds of
dissension, and adding so greatly to the confusion
that already prevails in the councils of the unfor-
tunate kingdom. This sitccess of M. DEAR'S party
is, at any rate, one of happy augury just now.

The position and prospects of the South American
Republics have of late attracted a good deal of
attention in this country. Since the achievement of
their independence, some half century ago, they
have been almost forgotten in the political world,
though gradually rising in importance commercially,
but several reasons have 4Combined to bring them
more prominently forward. The struggle between
Chili and the mother country, the unwarrantable
aggression of Spain on the Republic, and the reso-
lute manner in which Chili at least resented the
attack, were all matters of deep concern to English-
men. English interests were involved in the trade
of Chili and Peru, and the spirited manner in which
the little Republics stood up for their rights called
forth the hearty approval of England. But another
and a greater war in the same hemisphere has
tended
to bring the South American States into prominence.
The sudden stoppage of the supplies of cotton from
the United States to the European markets pro-
duced such a complete stagnation of an important '
trade that every effort was made to discover fresh
sources of supply. If this had been done before the
American War, instead of after, Lancashire
would have been spared some years of suffer-
ing, but it is seldom the fashion in any rank
of life to be wise iu time, and great praise is due to
the gentlemen, who, on the first shock of the dis-
aster, immediately formed an organisation to pro-
vide a remedy. At first their task resembled the
hopeful advice of the old saying, "Live horse and
thou shalt have grass," for they had not only to
begin sowing cotton, but to ascertain what soils and
climates were best adapted to favour its growth.
However, hopeless as their endeavours seemed there
is no doubt that they did effectual service, both by
encouraging the cultivation where it already existed,
and in discovering many new localities where it
was likely to flourish. The distribution of seed
of the best quality, the provision of the requisite