The Sun.
London, England, 1866-09-10 00:00:00

LONDON, MONDAY, SEPT. 10, 1866.

Things are not going so smoothly in the Prussian
Chambers as Herr BIS3fARCK no doubt anticipated
they would after the signal successes of the Prus-
sian arms. Now that the first excitement of the
affair is over, it would seem that the members in
both houses arc beginning to think a little of con-
sequences, and that they very naturally hesitate to
confer too much power upon the Government. Thus
we find that the Committee on the Loan Bill have re-
jected the Government proposal to issue sixty mil-
lion treasury notes, and instead have adopted an
amendment to the effect that the amount to be
issued should be only thirty millions, repayable in one
year. This is a very wise proceeding on their part,
and they will certainly find the advantage of it
at a subsequent period. In the Upper House the
Indemnity Bill was passed unanimously. Herr
RETZOW made a speech, in which he regretted that
the Government had adopted such a mode of put-
ting a stop to the conflict wth the Chamber of
Deputies. This is very true, and we do not doubt
that the course will hereafter be regretted, when
the effects of it are more fully seen and compre-
hended. It is establishing a very dangerous pre-
cedent, and we wonder that the deputies were not
sharp-witted enough to see this for themselves. The
conduct of the Government has been so outrageous
that it is most unwise to mention it, no matter how
expedient it may seem to do so. The Berlin journals
have enough to do in contradicting all that is said
and written about foreign affairs, and their last
effort is to deny the truth of the report that the
French EMPEROR has thanked the King of PRUSSIA
for preserving the integrity of Saxony. According
to all we have heard on the subject, it would seem
as if such a proceeding was very like saying "Thank
you for nothing," for there will not be much to re-
joice at when the various arrangements are com-
pleted. The semi-official North German Gazette
declares that many petitions have arrived
in Berlin, protesting against the cession
of any part of Schleswig to Denmark.
The Hanoverian deputation have, however, let us
into the secret of all these petitions in a great mea-
sure ; and henceforth we know that all possible aid
is lent to the makinc, up of those which coincide
with the wishes of the Prussian authorities, while no
oppression is wanting to prevent the further awe of
those which militate against their schemes. No
doubt such a course is a very ingenious one to pur-
sue, only it may be carried out too far, and thus de-
feat its own purpose in the end. Those who are
uninitiated may well be surprised to hear of all this
clamour in favour of annexation to a Power which
is so arbitrary iu its demands and so unscrupulous
in its exercise of authority, but a little investigation
will soon show them their mistake.

The article in the North German Gazette con-
cerning the Belgian press has naturally excited a
great deal of indignation in Paris, and many of
the journals comment upon it in strong terms. It
is, indeed, a very scandalous thing that a free
kingdom should thus be insulted, and the language
is the more reprehensible because it is supposed to
emanate from the Government, although not offi-
cially
so. Very likely the next news will be that
Count BISMARCK has contrived to pick a quarrel
with the Belgians in order to possess himself of their
territory, or at least of a considerable portion of it. It
is averred by those overpowering scrutinisers that in
future the Belgians must mind what they are about,
and not presume to pass any opinion upon what is
done in Prussia, unless they can speak in terms of
approval. It has really come to something when
the press of a foreign country is to be lectured after
this fashion, and its Government told to understand

that they will be reckoned among the " enemies of
Prussia unless they mend their ways." The miss
taken and mischievous course adopted by the
late Ministry respecting the Schleswig-Holstein
question is still exemplified in the bear-
ing of Prussia. She now thinks that she
can do as she pleases without let or hindrance, and
scruple not to enforce her claims and carry out her
plans, no matter how unjust or unequal these may
be. We regard this attack on the Belgian press as
a most unwarrantable thing, and also as a very signi- '
ficant sign of the times. It is very convenient to have
a dispute all ready made, and one that is ready for
any emergency that may arise. The EMPEROR'S
departure for Biarritz, which is announced
as likely soon to take place, seems to promise
a certainty of peace for the present at
any rate, but the_ dissatisfied tone of the
French press and people has not yet abated. No
doubt they are better able to judge of things than
we are, and to comprehend more fully what will be
the consequences of events now occurring. If so,
who can wonder that they should be annoyed and
irritated at the prospect before them, or give vent to
their indignation in no measured terms. Affairs
seem to have taken an unexpected turn in respect
to the changes in Germany, and thus the plans
of the French Government have been so far
deranged, but we do not doubt that in
a short time Prussia will find out that
they have yet more before them if they would
completely insure their conquest, and maintain
their supremacy in Germany. The preparations
that the French are making look ominous enough ;
and of one thing we may be certain, namely, that
the Prussians will find it very different to engage
the French forces to what they did when they en-
countered the' Austjians. The latter fought with-
out heart or spirit; and, indeed, their army was
composed of so many mixed races that it was not
likely to act with the same force or efficiency as a
more compact ones
Those who think that the Prussians displayed
moderation during the recent campaign will find
out their mistake when all the details of the affair
come before them. It will then be seen that they
have acted with their usual greed and exhibited
their customary want of consideration when quar-
tered in other countries. The Memorial Diplo-
matique contains some striking comments upon tho
manner in which affairs were conducted by
the Prussians. The Cologne Gazette animad-
verted upon the course pursued by some
Austrian soldiers who took some linen from the
Prussian hospitals, which, of course, was only alluded
to in order to turn all attention from the depreda-
tions of others. The King of PRUSSIA was so much
struck with the beauty of some merino sheep of
good breed on an estate in Bohemia that he con-
fiscated them for his own farms without offering
any indemnity. It must be added that, in conse-
quence of their rarity, these sheep are now of
priceless value. This is certainly a very ignomi-
nous act for a king, and one that may well
give rise, to comment on the part of strangers, while
his own people may blush to hear of it. It is mean
and paltry in the extreme, and indeed this makes it
the worse, for there is not the excuse of any political
advantage and military point being gained. The
Royal example was followed by a General in
the Prussian army, who carried off from the stables
of the chateau of Nikolsburg two very fine horses,
without asking any one's permission. No wonder,
adds this journal, that the soldiers in the Prussian
army should have misconducted themselves when
they had such examples before them in high places.

In the intoxication of victory they conducted

themselves in Bohemia and Moravia in such a
manner as to recall to mind the invasion of bar-
barians at the commencement of the Middle
Ages." It is, indeed, deplorable that the army of
a civilised country should thus forfeit all claim to
respect and regard by their cruel and selfish pro-
ceedings, but it seems as if there was something
innately wrong in the mode in which the Prussians
carry on their affairs either at home or abroad.

The Democratic party in America has had a heavy
loss in the death of DEAN RICHMOND, one of those
singular and self-reliant characters which the New
World brings into rapid development. He rose
from the ranks of the people without any adventitious
aid, without even the solid advantages of education
to be a man of property and influence, whose voice
influenced the election of senators, governors, and
Presidents, whose assistance was eagerly sought by
politicians and statesmen, and who kept up an active
correspondence with Ministers of State, even though
he could not write a sentence grammatically. So
much for native strength of character and natural
ability. His death will be a blow to the Democratic
party throughout the States and will be a great loss
to the PRESIDENT, to whom he was a powerful ally.
It was mainly owing to his exertions that the great
Philadelphia Convention was set on foot, and his
place as a political leader will not be easily filled.
His loss at the present juncture is much to be de-
plored, as the struggle is still pending between
the PRESIDENT and the Radicals. Mr. JOHN-
SON during his journey from Washington to
New York has met with continual ovations from
the Democratic party, but party feeling ran so high
that in Philadelphia the Mayor (a Radical) con-
trived to be out of the way at the time of the PRE-
SIDENT'S visit in order to avoid having to receive
him A fine specimen of municipal politeness
truly !
General GRANGER, who was appointed special
commissioner to visit the Southern States, to mingle
with the people and test the public sentiment, has
now made his report, after a six months' residence
in the South. He reports that in no Southern State
has he found any symptom of organised disloyalty.
The people accept the issue of the war in
good faith and are anxious for the presence of
Northern industry and Northern capital amongst
them. He heard rumours of secret societies, but
on investigation they all proved to be charitable
institutions. The remnants of the idlers left by the
war, who depend on gambling and stealing for their
livelihood, are said to be the cause of nearly all the
present trouble in the South, and the Freedmen's
Bureau and its agents account for the rest of the
mischief. As both these evils are temporary in their
nature, we may hope for a better state of things.

The great experiment in submarine telegraphy has
at length been brought to a triumphant conclusion.
However lively was the satisfaction felt when
the first telegram reached Valentia from Heart's
Content, recording the successful establishment of
a direct line of communication between the two
hemispheres, it must have been surpassed by the
extreme gratification of receiving a message through
the long silent cable of 1865. The perseverance
and constancy of the managers of the company
have been at last rewarded, for on Saturday at
9.20 p.m. came the long-looked for signals.
"It is with the greatest pleasure," so runs
the magic message from the other side of
the Atlantic, " I have now to report to you the suc-
cessful completion of the Atlantic cable of 1865."
When the news was received that the vessels had suc-
ceeded in grappling the cable, of course the ultimate
completion of the line was only a matter of time, but
it is most satisfactory to find that so far from being