The Sun.
London, England, 1866-05-21 00:00:00

as they have often been before, that Prussia will
the best of it, and such a result can hardly.d
to the interests of Europe and the conduce
get
n
dignity of theuee
that the efforts
it is mentioned
parties concerned. Among other rumours in cir-
culationare being directed to
of certain royal
promote the establishment of peace ; the Queen ladies
Dowager of PRUSSIA, the mother of the Emperor
of AUSTRIA, and the Queen Dowager of SAXONY,
are making efforts to bring about the retirement of
Count BISMARCK, Count MENSDORFF, and Barbn
BEUST, in order-to facilitate the interests of peace.
No doubt the accomplishment of such designs
would be very conducive to the end in view, but we
do not think that they stand much chance of suc-
cess in their undertaking, for the parties in question
are too firmly fixed in their places for the present.
We should have more hope of any satisfactory re-
sult from the Congress if Prussia did not seem
so anxious about it. The fact is that Herr Von
BISMARCK has gone too far in his ventures of late,
and therefore he thinks he can retrieve his position
' by skilful diplomacy. Surely, however, the assem-
bled representatives will not again be taken in by
the shallow schemes and insincere professions of
this wily statesman, nor allow themselves to be
again so deluded as to let the Prussian Government
carry on its designing plans unchecked. In order
to show that the Congress is accepted by Prussia,
1 the departure of the PRINCE ROYAL and Prince
FREDERICK CHARLES for the army has been post-
poned. The Federal Diet have put off until next
Wednesday their proposals respecting the armaments
of Austria, Prussia, and Saxony. No doubt by that
time, it is supposed that something definite will have
been decided one way or the other. It is of the
less importance that the matter should have been
postponed, because Prussia is not at all likely topay
much attention to anything that is said or done at
the meeting, and will either shuffle out of the in_
quiry, or else return a scornful answer to the ques-
tions put by the representatives at the Diet. It is
almost ludicrous to notice the efforts made in so
many different directions to promote the cause of
peace, but they will be of no avail unless the chief
offender be brought to book. The French Am-
bassador at Munich is using his earnest endea-
vours, to persuade the Bavarian Government
to maintain a " strict neutrality" in the impending
war. It is quite impossible to, depend upon any of
these efforts, however ably they are made, and how-
. ever cleverly they are planned, because in the event
of hostilities commencing the course of events may
urge things on in an unforeseen direction, and force
those to commit themselves and join in the conflict
who really did not intend to do so at the outset.
The Opinione of Florence states that Austria has
declined to entertain any proposal for the cession
of Venetia. This is not at all surprising intelli-
gence, because many difficulties lie in the way of
the accomplishment of such a scheme, but not-
withstanding it is very much to be re-
gretted that the Imperial Government do
not better understand their position, and
consult their true interests ; not only must their
' perversity and prejudice be deplored for the sake
of Venetia itseif, and for the injuries they inflicted
on the interests of Austria, but also because by this
union a most decided check would be interposed to
Prussian diplomacy, and a counter stratagem
employed to circumvent the deep design of Berlin
Statesmen planning their late treaty with Italy.
Another strong argument which induces Prussia to
agree to the proposed Congress is that she cannot
succeed in raising a loan. This is a proper reward
for the dark doings of the Government
in offending the Parliament, and setting at
defiance the wishes of the representatives.
This outrageous conduct is now coming home to
discomfiture affords a salutary lesson to the other
continental governments, of which it is to be hoped
they will take warning, and not, in their turn, go
beyond the limits defined by the Constitution in
their struggles to obtain supremacy.
It is said that England and Russia have declared
to Austria that, if she refuse to take part in the
Congress, the responsibility of all that afterwards
occurs will rest with her. No one is justified in
putting faith in any undertaking that is begun in
such a contrary spirit. The fact is that
too much time was lost before any men-
tion was made of this Congress, and hence
it is now extremely doubtful if it can take plaee at
all. A rumour was prevalent in the Bourse on
Saturday to the effect that a misunderstanding had
arisen between England and France on the Vene-
tian question, but it is without foundation. In all
this fracas and confusion we have only to remember
that it is the fault of our Government for their
conduct respecting Denmark two years ago. A
little firmness would have prevented the Prus-
sians from crossing the Eider, and preserved the
Duchies to Denmark, but the incertitude that pre-
vailed has been the cause of all the subsequent
evils in Germany.

The arrival of the Africa from New York, on
May 10th, does not give us very important intelli-
gence, though it is evident that the Radicals at least
have not relaxed their efforts to obtain political
supremacy. A resolution has been passed in Con-
gress instructing the Judiciary Committee to report
a bill prohibiting the admission as a State of any
Territory wherein the franchise is denied on account
of colour, declaring such denial to be unconstitu-
tional. Now, it is manifest that no such prohibition
forms part of the ConstitutiOn of the States, seeing
that even now the suffrage is restricted to the
whites. The Abolitionists, having gained so
so unexpected an advantage, are not satisfied
with it, but are arguing on behalf of the
political equality of the negroes as if it were eman-
cipation itself they were fighting for. It is one
thing to put the black man on civil equality with the
white, to admit his evidence in a court of law, to
protect his property, and guarantee his liberty of
action, and quite another to put the power of legis-
lating for others in the hands of excitable, ignorant,
and untrained men. Because a very large portion
of the community who are willing to remove the
stigma of slavery from their country are doubtful
as to the propriety of admitting the negro to
an absolute equality denied to intelligent and
educated foreigners the abolitionists are fad-
.—g if the grievances of which
ous, and act
were as real and onerous in
theirtheyai
naturecompl ans the evils attendant on slavery.
Part of this feeling, no doubt, originates in a kind
nbylyeamsoesr.e
Ipeco tliatinedalinftanereastticeidsmiL motives itn
ah gafjo opdr ombaa
personal
the leaders of the Radical party with
The PRESIDENT, indeed, did not scruple to charge
aims, and has boldly asserted more than once
that the proposed friends of the negro are in reality
seeking their own ends by their philanthropic
labours.
the • •The black man has in fact been one of
principal subjects of the division which has
taken place between the PRESIDENT and his
quondam supporters, their fervent affection
towards the negro being in exact proportion to
their vehement animosity towards the Southern
whites. Mr. JOHNSON thinks it well to be guided
by experience rather than by theory in his poli-
tical treatment of the negro, altll;ubh
fully