The Sun.
London, England, 1866-04-21 00:00:00

moderation.

The Reform Debate bids fair to continue for
some nights longer, and on Monday we are secure
of having a powerful oration in favour of the Go-
vernment measure from an orator who, as Mr. Dis-
RAELI last night observed, does not often speak
without adding fuel to the fire ! Mr. BRIGHT ad-
journed the debate amid cries of " go on," but the
member for Birmingham very wisely thought that
close upon midnight was not exactly a favour-
able opportunity for hearing or making an ora-
tion. The Government has need to make the
most of its friends, and therefore Mr. BRIGHT
would have been unwise to have " wasted his
his sweetness" on that air of midnight. On Monday,
therefore, we shall have a more animated debate
than wehave had theselast few evenings, for no doubt
Mr. BRIGHT will bring fire enough and to spare for
himself and two or three others, though the two
great leaders, of the Government and the. Opposition
respectively, will probably reserve themselves for
the last night of the debate, whenever that is to be.
Considerable amusement was created by Mr. Dis-
RAELI'S reminder to Mr. GLADSTONE that, having
himself made six speeches on this question, he ought
not to begrudge others the opportunity of
stating their views. That opportunity, in fact, is
one very eagerly sought after by members on
both sides, andno one can say that the question has
not, even now, been fully and ably argued. The
debate has throughout been deeply interesting, and
clearly illustrative of the mind and temper of the
present House of Commons. Last night the prin-
cipal speakers were Sir STAFFORD NORTHCOTE, Mr.
GREGORY, and Mr. HORSMAN, in support of the
amendment ; and Mr. YOUNG, Mr. COLERIDGE,
and Mr. LEVESON GOWER, in favour of the
bill. The hostility to the measure was
thus, as on previous occasions, more strongly
displayed on the Ministerial than on the
Opposition side of the House, and if the Go-
vernment framed the measure in the hope of adapt-
ing Reform to the very lukewarm temperature of
professing Liberals they have undoubtedly failed
in the attempt.

It seems as if we were to have: war after all,
ot,,vithstanding all that has been said and argued
in favour of peace. As we all along anticipated

_
Austria has not been so willing to give in as many
surmised. At a council at Schonbrunn, yesterday,
it was resolved by the EMPEROR and Count MENs-
DORFF to recall Count KAROLYI, the Austrian
Ambassador at Berlin, and it was expected M. DE
WERT/lER, the Prussian Ambassador at the Court
of Vienna, would immediately quit that capital, as
he was informed of the conclusion arrived at in
Council. As for the reasons that have led to this deci-
sive step they are alleged to be that the Austrian
Government felt very indignant at the persistent
course of the Prussians in refusing to agree to their
demands. Count MENSDORFF, upon receiving a re-

fusal, telegraphed a repetition of it ; and upon
receiving another refusal, the council referred to
was ended, and the bold course of recalling the
Ambassador resolved upon. Many will regret this

apparent certainty of war, but we cannot fairly
state that the Emperor and his Minister have been

either precipitate in their course or unjustified in
their acts. If Prussia would not agree during
the time that has been allowed her for
deliberation no one has a right to say
that she would ever have done so. The fact is
that the Austrians have conceded too much during
the last few years, and now they find it quite im-
-1 possible to make the Government of Berlin believe
that they are really in earnest. Neither can we
say that the EMPEROR and his advisers have been
exorbitant in their demands, because they did not
ask for any more concessions on the part of Prussia
than they had every right to expect and demand.
The perversity of Herr von BISMARK exceeds every-
thing, and many well informed have doubted if he
would yield to pressure, and consent to a modifica-
tion of his plans, rather than proceed to extremities.
Unless he be removed from the scene of his long-
continued power, we do not see what grounds Aus-
tria has for believing that Prussia will agree to her
proposals. We know what the end has been of all
the deliberations that have taken place upon the
• Continent of late. The two great German Powers
have vied with each other in making proposals and
uttering remonstrances, but the conclusion
has always been that the Prussians have
continued to have their way ; and although the
nations of Europe have been scandalised, and the
independent citizens of the country itself have
lamented, the effect has been that arbitrary pro-

ceedings have carried the day. No doubt Austria
fears to prolong the present discussion toO long for
fear that other matters may arise to divert public
attention from the question of the Duchies once
more, and then that her unscrupulous ally will
profit by the confusion to monopolise any advan-
tages. Several times already, since the commence-
ment of the discussions that resulted in the Dano-
German War, and the Gastein Convention,
has Europe looked on attentively to watch the
cause of the two great Powers of Germany ; but, of
course, after a time all have gone on in their own
way, and left the chief parties to settle the matter
for themselves. Austria sees very plainly that the
present crisis is an eventful one, and what with one
thing and another must be taken advantage of.
Besides withdrawing the Ambassadors, the Aus-
trian Government have resolved to send an order
to the General in command at Holstein, ordering
him to fall back and leave only a few companies
in the Duchy. No doubt this will be considered
by. many as a sure indication of approaching hosti-
lities. Of course all this looks very sinister as regards
the prospect of peace, but, at the same time, it can-
not be yet considered as certain that war will ensue.
It may be at the eleventh hour Herr BISMARCK may
see the folly of his ways, and agree to a timely con-
cession, or it may be that prudence will triumph
over prejudice, and King WILLIAM may consent to
the retirement of his most mischievous counsellor. It
often happens that the boldest measures are the
surest and the safest in the long run, and this may
yet prove a case in point. At any rate, whether
war ensue or not, we can safely declare that a great
part of the responsibility of the present disastrous
position of affairs rests with our Government. Ilad
Earl RUSSELL acted with the sense and spirit be-
comir g an English Minister no war would have oc-
curred respecting the Duchies; but his timorous
management has brought down innumerable evils
upon all concerned directly or indirectly in the
affair. In vain he was warned, counselled, and
encouraged to preserve the course which justice,
generosity, and humanity called for; , he was inexor-
able, and the consequences of such a misguided
policy are not fully developed. We may go on for
some time before we see the full effects of it ;

indeed the present generation may not witness it.
For many reasons there will be much to deplore in
the event of hostilities occurring, and of course it is
always a calamity that war should take place,
especially in the centre of Europe but still it may
in the long run turn out for the best.; too much