The Sun.
London, England, 1866-11-08 00:00:00

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
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-SUM

LONDON, THURSDA Y, N(. V. 8, 1866.

The EMPEROR of the FRENcit has his work before
him in re-organising the army, and the Special
Commission appointed for the purpose has various
plans submitted to it, which receive due notice,
although it is thought in some quarters that the
EMPEROR has a scheme of his own, which will ere
long be acted upon. It is not so much with the
peculiar character of the plans that the public
have to deal as with the motives that induce
those in authority to take up the re-organisa-
tion at all. No doubt several reasons might be
given for these decided steps being taken, and
with more or less truth in them, but the chief cause
of all is the conduct of BISMARCK during this last
summer. That crafty politician has entirely mis-
taken the wise course of policy for the shuffling and
tricking one, and he will, sooner or later, find out
the egregious blunder he has made. It is not so
much to be wondered at that the French EMPEROR
should have been deceived, because few could have

surmised the extraordinary manner in which the
Berlin Government has acted. It may truly be
said that greater insincerity, and more significant
want of faith, have never been displayed by any
Power than Prussia has shown to France
during the last year. It is true that it

has been of a piece all along with the former
manceuvring ; but then we had every reason to sup-
pose that more restraint would be put upon the
ambitious desires and crafty designs of the German
powers. It cannot be denied that, with one thing
and the other, Prussia has now become a very
dangerous neighbour to France ; and whatever may
be said of the little consequence that the recent
changes will be to us, the same cannot be affirmed
of our continental neighbours. No one can there-
, fore feel surprised that the pleasurable excitement
appertaining to the forthcoming Exhibition in
Paris should be mingled with grave rumours, and
even sinister reflections. The shadow of the past,
with its treachery and cunning, hangs over the
present, and seems ominous for the future.
It is said, and no doubt with a fair share
of truth, that the French EMPEROR has been
deeply offended at the behaviour of BISMARCK ;
it was indeed a dangerous game which that subtle
statesman played, and it was a chance if he suc-
ceeded in his venture. For the moment we confess
the success has been all on his side, but the end has
not yet been seen; and we question very much if he
will have so much cause for rejoicing when time has
consolidated his work a little, and he begins to count
the cost. It is one thing to push on his schemes,
and pursue his projects when the French leave him
alone, and quite another thing to carry out his policy
when they are opposed to it. We have heard a
great deal of the grandeur of the Prussian
policy, and the prowess of their armies rivalling the
magnificent campaigns of the First NAPOLEON, but
in reality there was no such great wonder in their
success, because they met with no opposition that
was worthy of the name. Either from indifference or
want of skill the places were badly defended, and
on the field there was no spirit exhibited by their
enemies. Personal bravery was not wanting, but
there was none of that determination not to give in
which makes it so hard for the best soldier to win a
battle, when they met with it in their opponents.
All this will be changed in a striking manner when
once the patience of France has become exhausted,
and we do not see how the EMPEROR can much
longer endure the provocation he is so constantly re-
ceiving ; nor do we see how, in a political sense, he
will be wise in letting Prussia assume so vast an
ascendancy in Europe. At any rate it is no secret
that there is a great deal of preparation going on in
France, and though some may think or choose to
declare that it means nothing, they will now find
out their mistake. Whatever course he may deem
iit expedient to adopt, there is no doubt that
the Emperor NAPOLEON can ill be spared from the
important post he now fills ; and beyond this it
would be a great drawback if he were not able to
preside over his councils with vigour and energy.
It is, therefore, satisfactory to hear that his MA-
JESTY was able to hold a review on Monday, and
that he seemed as well as usual. It has added greatly
to the very unsettled state of feeling in Paris of late
that the health of the EMPEROR should have been at
best so doubtful ; but there seems every reason to think
now that he has recovered, or at least is in a fair way
of being perfectly restored to health before long.
So far as we can see at present he seems the only
man living who can be any check upon BISMARCK,
and withstand in a great measure the rapid en-
croachments of Prusssia. Ile may err in judgment
in his mode of carrying out his difficult mission, but
we are convinced that he will act with skill and
with spirit, and conduct the policy of France on
very different principles to those which now obtain
favour in Berlin.

King VI CTOREM3IANIJEL has entered Venice atlast,
and thus we have seen realised a hope that for a long
time seemed to be most illusory, and far too poetical
for our practical age. It is needless to say that he
was everywhere received with the greatest enthu•
siasm, and the assemblage was a very magnificent
one which welcomed him. We may well reflect,
however, since we are at a distance from the excite-
ment of the scene, whether those most immediately
concerned will show judgment and make their
triumph conducive to lasting good as well as to
present glory. Italy must be governed in a very
different manner from that in which it has hitherto
been if its inhabitants would really regenerate
the land as well as people, filling their long-
cherished scheme of setting it free from a foreign
yoke. Perhaps King VICTOR EMMANUEL may find
that his most difficult work has yet to begin, and
that he must concentrate his energies, and do his
uttermost to succeed in his arduous endeavour.
Apart from these forebodings there is much to at-
tract and interest in the spectacle that was yester-
dywitnessed in the fair City of St. Mark. It is
ina many respects one of the most striking incidents
in history of our time, and we may well hope that the
change thenmade will be one of benefits and blessings
to those most concerned, and be of happy augury
to the nations of Europe in general. It teaches
us one lesson at any rate, that it is idle to de-
spair, and to say that this or that event will not take
place because we do not think it likely that it will.
Few tasks seemed more difficult of accomplishment
at one time than that of a free Italy, and yet we
now see the idea carried out in a manner which
the most scornful and sceptical cannot deny or
doubt. It now remains for the Italian
people' to
show themselves worthy of the success hich
NN has
become theirs, and to let their progress keep pace
with their prosperity, so that they may not be
accused of missing their destiny through their own
neglect.

It is very much to be lamented that while irri-
gation is universally admitted to be the sovereign
remedy for the wants of India there have been so
always the many difficulties and obstacles, real or apparent, in
the way of applying it.
It
theresalmost are rivala schemes he case
in a matter of this sort tha
ys
•
think their own method the best
and theories, whose advocates naturally enough each ,
but it would seem
to impartial observers that the multiplicity of such
suggestions does not afford any excuse for the total
neglect of the matter. It would rather, one
might suppose, indicate the existence of a
pressing necessity, since so many
persons
find a
perceived the want and attempted to
remedy. The Government of India does not un-
fortunately share this opinion, and is glad to make
the excuse of "doctor's disagreements" to let the
whole thing rest. Sir ARTHUR COTTON, whose
name is so well known in connection with this ques-
tion, complains that the Government of India has
not given his plans a fair hearing, and maintains
that the failure of the Ganges Canal to yield the
expected returns is entirely owing to radical mis-
takes in its projection. Whether this be the case
well deserves a full and
or no, the whole subject is
certainly onein
which .
quiry and thorough practical investigation.
'By the appointment of a sufficient number
of competent and unbiassed commissioners it would
not surely be very difficult to arrive at some definite
conclusion as to which method of construction pro-
duced the most profitable results. Sir ARTHUR
COTTON contends that his views respecting the