The Sun.
London, England, 1866-06-15 00:00:00

2utt,

LONDON, FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 1866.

-Ip.-------.-

The troubles of the Ministry with respect to their
Reform Bill are not over. They may indeed felici-
tate themselves upon having gained another victory
upon what Mr. GLADSTONE considers to be one of
the mean features of the bill, but the amount of the
majority was anything but satisfactory. When
Mr. iIitAND received the numbers after the division
of the evening, the Ministerialists promptly ex-
pressed their satisfaction, but when it turned out
that in a house of 553 members the Government had
only obtained a majority of 7, the cheers were,
not without reason, taken up by the other
side. In 'one view of the case the narrowness of
the majority is not wonderful, seeing that, although
Mr. GLADSTONE justly termed the £l4 county
franchiSe one of the vital points of the Measure, it
is regarded as one of its worst and most dangerous
features by the Conservatives. The borough
franchise has really little to do with the Tories; the
majority of the members returned by the towns
will naturally be most liberal and progressive, and
whether they are returned by 5,000 or by 20,000
constituents will not really affect their political ad-
versaries. But the Conservatives shrink from any
alteration which shall affect the nature of the- agri-
cultural and rural constituencies, and diminish that
territorial influence over their tenantry which many
landlords look upon as part of their natural right.
They are uncertain as to the consequences of
the. proposed reduction, and having failed to
reject the £l4 clause as it stands they have at-
tempted, byi Mr. iluxi's amendment, to preserve
themselves indirectly against the innovation
by, substituting the rating for the rental
a:.; a qualification for the voter. This was
a trial of strength between the parties, and after
the speeches of Colonel LINDSAY and Mr. Du CANE
in Support of Mr. BUNT'S amendment, and of Mr.
AYwroN and Mr. GOSEIIEN pointing out its fallacies,
the sense of the house was taken on the matter,
When there appeared, the respective numbers of 280
and 273. This result appears to have startled the
Ministry, or at least to have convinced them that
it was better not to provoke another struggle, for
on Mr. STANHOPE'S moving the omission of part of
clause 4, which provides that the qualifying premises
must consist of a house, and that where they con-
. sist of a house and land, the house must be of the
clear annual value of £(1, or else the dwelling-house
of the voter, Mr." GLADSTONE unexpectedly gaTe
way. lie was undoubtedly wise in so doing, for
the matter was of no great moment, and it would

be idle and contentious of the Government to insist
upon every word ; but the dissatisfaction,loudly ex-
pressed by his Radical supporters may give us some
idea of the difficulties against which the Govern-
ment has to contend. On the one hand, they have
to face the determined opposition of the whole Con-
servative party to any considerable constitutional
changes; on the other hand, they are pressed forward
by a party who have more regard to trifling politi-
cal triumphs than to any „pal settlement of those
vexed questions which harass the country. Again
they have to contend against the more insidious
danger of pretended friends, who talk loudly
about Reform, but who are really glad to
avail themselves of any pretext for de-
laying or remodelling the bill, which, icy their
hearts, they find so very unwelcome. That they
have not always acquitted themselves with pru-
dence, that they have failed to give complete satis-
faction to the genuine friends of Reform, or to con-
ciliate its open and disguised enemies, must be
frankly admitted ; but, at the same time, it must
be acknowledged that their task has been both
arduous and invidious. Mr. GLADSTONE'S conces-
sion was, as we have said, received with a very bad
grace by his supporters below the gangway, some
of whom had the bad taste to force the question to a
division, which did not much improve their position.
Still some progress was made last night, though it
must be admitted that the rate of progression is very
slow, and, what is more, the obstacles which threaten
the future are so numerous that there is not much
hope of getting on any faster. The next great
stumbling-block in the way is Lord DUNKELLIN'S
amendment respecting the borough registers, and
the Government will have to be well on their
guard against the probable division which
it will occasion. It now appears extremely
doubtful whether the bill can be carried
through this session, and shoeuld that prove impos-
sible we hope the Ministry will decide upon au
autumnal session. Under any circumstances the
grave aspect of continental affairs would justify
such a proceeding, for whatever may be thought
of their domestic policy the conduct of our foreign
affairs by Earl RUSSELL and his colleagues fails to
inspire public confidence. The public would learn
with satisfaction that their representatives were to
be called together during the autumn months, and
hon. gentlemen can very well be expected to sacri-
fice their usual rural recreations if their political
sentiments are half as strong as they maintain.

Prussia has certainly no cause to congratulate
herself upon the result of the discussion in the Fede-
ral Diet, for she was defeated on every point of
consequence, the proposal of Austria for the mobili-
sation of the Federal army being adopted by nine
to six votes. This was a serious blow to Prussia, she
having declared, through her representative, that
the proposition was contrary to the Federal Consti-
tution ; and yet, despite of this assertion, all the
most important Middle States voted against her.
After the motion the Prussian representative de-
clared that the Federal Pact was dissolving in the
opinion of Prussia, and submitted proposals for
constituting . a new Bund, and announced
that Prussia seceded from the present Confedera-
tion, and withdrew at once from the Assembly. It
is quite evident, from this comprehensive statement,
that the Berlin Government were pretty well pre-
pared for a defeat, which result must be all the
more mortifying since they have been striving with
all their might and main to win over so many of
these States to their side. It augurs ill for the
psospects of Prussia in the war so likely to ensue
that already so many adverse declarations should
have been made. At any rate the decision has had this
advantage, that it shows unmistakeably how little
influence Prussia now possesses, and how little effect
her voice produces in the councils of Germany. The
importance of the affair is heightened by the fact
that some .of the chief States were included in the
number of those who were in the majority.
Bavaria, Saxony, Wurtemberg, and Hanover, were
all against Prussia, and nothing can obliterate this

effect from the minds of men, whatever stirrin6
events may hereafter ensue. The Austrian Minister
was not behind his adversary in decision and
earnestness, for he insisted upon the indissolubility
of the Federal Pact, declaring, very truly, that
no member had a right to secede from the
Band, and maintained its right of continuance.
He concluded by inviting the Diet to join him in a
" solemn protest for the preservation of the rights
and competency of the Bund, and to declare that it
should continue in full force and binding upon its
members." This the Diet adopted, so that Prussia
sustained a second defeat in this important contest.
It was asserted yesterday in some quarters that
Austria had actually declared war, but Mr. LA YARD,
in answer to a question in the House, stated that he
had not received any communication to that effect
at the Foreign-office. It was not likely that the
Austrian Government would have compromised itself
to that legree at this stage of the proceedings, and
indeed they have shown greht discretion and re-
markable reticence in abstaining from fighting
under the provocation they have received. It is
quite evident that the object of Prussia was to
provoke. Austria to take the initiative in a war,
but having failed in this she then went on to enter
Holstein, which insulting step she made certain
would settle the point, and exhibit Austria to the
world in the light of the oppressor. She has again
met with no success, and very likely the declaration of
war may finally proceed from Berlin. The Austrian
Government very properly insisted upon Councillor
LESSER being released before the passports of
Baron WERTHER were given to him. We are glad
that they should have exhibited such firmness and
discretion, for they have to deal with most unscru-
pulous adversaries, and cannot be too wary and
circumspect in their arrangements. It was an
have
vg
ee o
seizedu s act
uponontthhee
toouthr
partu
noefilltohr ea fPt
enr itshsiisa nf a fsho
oc
ne
and it is very satisfactory
that they should have
been compelled to revoke their cati • t • ons. The
Common Council of Vienna has presented an ad-
dress to the EMPEROR which conveys loyal assur-
ances of support. The EMPEROR, in reply to the
Burgomaster, made some appropriate observa-
tions, in which he said that he had done
all in his power to preserve the peace and
liberty of Germany, but it had been quite impossible
for him to succeed. He further expressed his great
satisfaction at the course pursued by his subjects in
thus exhibiting so much unanimity, and presenting
him with such testimonials of confidence in the

emergency before them.
Herr HOFFMAN, the Austrian Civil Adlatito, has
tion to General
addressed a very proper communication
that he von MANTEUFFEL, in which he says
pro-
tests against the fresh act of violence
been committed in the order recently issued for all
has
functionaries to deliver up their docunleil whichts to Baron
SeUEET-P LASSER. The Prussian Government arc
overreaching themselves in their vehement efforts to
obtain the mastery in Holstein, and each succeeding
day brings fresh proofs of their intolerance and
harshness. No doubt the decision against Prussia
in the Diet was mainly brought about by her recent
conduct in Holstein, which is a conclusive proof of
her want of consideration and proper feeling.. In
many respects, indeed, this decision may be con-
sidered yery important &tea at "his juncture,