The Sun.
London, England, 1866-08-13 00:00:00

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LONDON, 110NDAY, AUGUST 13, 1866.

Public attention, when directed to the Continent,
is now pretty well engrossed by the discussions re-
lative to Prussia and France. Of course it is quite
impossible, at this early stage of the proceedings,
to decide what will take place, but what with one
thing and another affairs seem ominous. Indeed, in
no case do we believe that it will turn out the easy
matter some profess to believe it, for there is too
much real earnest on both sides for indifference
to supervene, and for ready compliance to be
met with. To judge by the tone of the jour-
nals of Berlin, official, semi-official, and other-
wise, it does not look very much as if this
demand on the part of France had been ex-
pected, or, if it had, that it was likely to be regarded
with complacency. The Nord Deutsche Allegemeine
Zeilnng, in commenting upon this demand for ter-
ritorial compensation, declares that by this many
hopes have been raised in France, which must be
designated as impossible of fulfilment in Germany."
It would be amusing if the question were not so im-
portant to notice the extreme inconsistency which
characterises these German politicians. Why, we
may well ask, in the name of common sense, is
Prussia the only country of Europe who has a
right to acquire territories, and is also justified
in enforcing that right? Nor is it more lawful for
Prussia to take possession of the Duchies of Schles-
wig and Holstein, and to annex a considerable por-
tion of Northern Germany, than far France to re-
ceive the Rhine provinces which formerly belonged
to the French Empire. No doubt if this sophistry
will go down in Paris, and at any rate it will not
pass muster with the French Government. The
Nord Deutsche Zeitung goes on in its virtuously in-
dignant strain to say that it is difficult to ex-
plain the motives for this absurd demand, unless
it be understood thereby that a complete
revolution has taken place in French policy ; and
thereupon we are treated to a repetition of the ridi-
culous argument that changes in Germany are
merely national, and do not partake of the inter-
national character and carry no menace to France.
This is quite untenable, because if Prussia becomes
so strong she will naturally assume a formidable
aspect to the other Powers, and we may presume
that the very admirers of this nation feel its impor-
tance from the manner in which they carry on
their remarks. Thus the article proceeds to say
that France will be in reality the gainer by this
change, because, as Austria has withdrawn from
the Confederation, the dimensions of Germany will
be thereby considerably narrowed. It is, indeed,
extraordinary to notice the lengths to which people
will go in contradicting facts, and in making the
worse appear the better cause.
The French are far too sharp to be taken in by
this idea, and it is now too late in the day for the
tactics of Prussia to find favour with the politicians
of France. The fact is, that Prussia is just become
obnoxious to the French, and no doubt there
would have been great satisfaction expressed in
Paris had the Austrians come out of the recent war
We see no cause to designate the un-
easiness now experienced in France as groundless,
and we think, on the contrary, that there is only too
much cause for it. It is said that the negotiations
going on between France and Prussia are being
conducted in the most cordial manner, but that is
no proof of a good understanding lasting, for at the
commencement of an affair like this it seldom occurs
that angry feelings prevail, the danger looms in the

victorious.

distance, and who shall say that it will be averted ?
Great curiosity will prevail to hear what the
Emperor NAPOLEON will say on the 15th, it being
generally believed that on that occasion he will
further expound his views concerning the rectifica-
tion of the frontier ; and, indeed, in a great measure
announce his future policy, thus completing the
celebrated speech he made at the commencement of
the German War. We all know that the EMPEROR
could have contrived to keep out of this affair
altogether if he had so desired it, and made
it appear as if France did not seek any gain
from the hostilities that had lately occurred.
It is true that some disappointment had been
manifested' by the French people at the apparently
tame figure they were cutting before the rest of
Europe ; but this sentiment had pretty well sub-
sided before the news of this demand for the rectifi-
cation of frontiers had taken us by surprise, and
spread consternation among the capitals of Europe.
We know now that there can be no drawing back on
the part of the French Government, and that coute
qui coute they must go on and carry their venture
to a successful issue whether by the negotiations of
peace or the accessories of war.
It may yet be that we are to witness a renewal of
hostilities, which, carried on in a different direction,
will be far more portentous than the one which has
shaken the German Empire to its foundation, and in
a short space of time made such havoc among the
population of the fatherland.
A war with France would be very different from a
war with Austria and the minor States, but we
question whether BISMARCK will not forget all these
prudential notions in the wild idea of remaining
master of the situation, and of keeping Prussia in
the ascendant. If it was intended that the French
request should meet with acquiescence it would have
been far wiser to have intimated to the Cham-
bers that some such intention was entertained,
instead of making a vain boast that could not be
substantiated by time and experience.
It is not likely, if we are to judge from appear-
ances, that a very ready acquiescence will be ac-
corded to the French demands. Even if the Ber-
lin Government were sitting, however, to let pru-
dence rule the day, they would have a hard task to
withstand the opposition that they would meet with
at home, and this would be a bad time to
make the dangerous experiment of handing
over German territory to a stranger. The
Prussians are elated with victory, and wild at
the thoughts of the immense territory that their
SOVEREIGN rules over, and they will not tamely
endure to see a part of it wrenched from their grasp,
with no apparent reason for such a sacrifice that
they can at all appreciate or understand. We may
then with reason expect a war to take place between
France and Prussia. This will be, in many respects,
a European calamity, and for all that will ensue
there is only one Power to blame, and that is
Prussia. The cause' of spoliation on which she
started a few years ago has been pursued by her
with a zeal worthy of a better cause,
and it has led her on to success, but that success
may hereafter prove to be as rotten as the fruit on
the shores of the Dead Sea. Before this year is
out there may be mourning and lamentation in
Berlin, and many may bitterly regret the want of
faith that has characterised the KING and his ad-
visers. France has been in a manner forced to in-
terpose and insist on these places being given to
her in order to maintain the balance of power, but
such a necessity could not have arisen had Prussia
allowed things to remain as they were a
few years ago. No one can safely predict the
consequences of beginning a struggle of this sort
or rightly define the responsibilites of that nation
Iwhich goes out of its way to make a disturbance in
tho cal-19111)g order of for the onollator Of
t'ee evil eivnie.o 1.... „ clieclt. its course.

It will be a great relief to the public to learn from
the return of the deaths in the metropolis, which
the Registrar-General is wisely issuing daily, that
the cholera has shown a perceptible diminution
during the last week. The daily average of the
week before last was 150, whereas, on Wednesday,
Thursday, and Friday last the deaths were respec-
tively 109, 114, and 85. This is encouraging,
though it should induce us rather to increase than
to lessen our efforts to relieve the sufferers and to
mitigate the extremity of that poverty which is the
most dangerous predisposer to infection. The impor-
tance of sanitary regulations cannot be too often
insisted upon, and although a deficient or unwhole-
some water supply may be an evil difficult to deal
with there are many other sources of danger, such
as dirt, bad ventilation, unwholesome or ill-cooked
food, which persons in tolerable circumstances can
avoid for themselves and others. Among the chil-
dren of the poor the sickness is fatally prevalent,
and the want of proper food, the eating unripe or
bad fruit and vegetables, is a common source of its
origin in a milder form, which of ten leads to serious
illness. Much can be done in checking the spread
of the disease by fortifying the poor against
its attacks. The scenes described by the clergymen,
officials, and visitors at the east end of London are
harrowing in the extreme. The hospitals are full,
and active measures are being taken to provide
temporary accommodation for the sick elsewhere.
As usual the ministers of religion of every deno-
mination are foremost in the field, toiling unre-
mittingly for the relief of the destitute, the assist-
ance of the sick, the comfort of the dying,
and the burial of the dead. Archbishop MAN-
NING has addressed a seasonable circular to the
Catholic clergy of the poorer parts of Lon-
don, wisely advising them to discourage all
" waking" or unnecessary attendance at burials,
and recommending them to join any committee or
board formed for the relief of the cholera patients.
A letter from a Catholic clergyman in one of the
eastern parishes was read the other day at the Man:
sion-house, giving a terrible picture of the distress
among his population. Many such letters were re-
ceived on Saturday at the .Mansion-house, from the
rectors of the different parishes, giving appalling
details of the sufferings of their people from actual
want. A deputation from Bromley by Bow attended
to ask for a grant, statin.thatthewafneltt.of nlnoursomishe-
ment and stimulants was a
grievously
fno vr, i nweagnatr ,
og if
some-
thing e n to
poor creatures dying o
cases they had seen watefr,
cholera
more suitable. Mr.
, ande ve
• t of St. Mary, St.
George-in-the-East, states that the bulk of the
ARMSTRONG, the regis-
trar of deaths for the district
* trict were very poor.
people in that populous district
The wages of dockmen in full work are only from
15s. to 18s. per week, which certainly provide
nothing for emergencies. The Society of
Friends have been busying themselves most
assiduously in the relief of the poor of
Spitalfields, where help is greatly needed. In fact
there has been no lack of heroism, fortitude, and
generosity, and the public have responded nobly to
the appeals for peeunairy aid. The subscriptions at
the Mansion-house during five days are roughly
estimated at £5,000, while the Bishop of LONDON'S
Relief Fund received £lO,OOO in the fortnight. The
Princess of WALES has testified her sympathy as a
mother with the friendless little ones whom Mrs.
GLADSTONE has so charitably assisted by sending
£5O for the Orphans' Home, accompanied with
graceful and suitable prefientfs And kindly words of