The Sun.
London, England, 1868-02-24 00:00:00

LONDON, MONDAY, FEB. 24, 1868.

The North German Press are always on the look
out for some fresh subject of criticism and animad-
version, and the late banquet of the King of
ii.a.NovEß has just furnished them with an excellent

opportunity which they will not willingly let drop.
We may depend upon it that we shall hear plenty
more of this before long, and the sins and short-
comings of " perfidious Austria" will be duly set
forth in all their iniquity. The " Hanoverian
Legion" was bad enough in all conscience, but
worse remained behind in the shape of the
entertainment given at Hielzig, where fifteen
hundred subjects were willing to testify
their devotion to their fallen monarch with
a zeal and devotion his better and brighter
days could not have surpassed. It is suggested
that the KING provided the means for their long
journey, but that most probably is only a malicious
insinuation. At all events the fuss that is made
about the affair shows that the Prussian authorities
and the exponents of their opinions in the Press
have very little of moment to think about, or else
that their spite passes the limits of ordinary corn-
prehension,
and seeks expression in ways and means
of the most unworthy sort. The tone which the
Government have assumed in the matter
in the Prussian Chambers is not at all a
becoming one, and the Minister of Finance went so
far as to say that if the ex-King did not
speedily change his tactics he would find himself
in a very awkward position, for they would se-
quester his property. This may be mere bounce on
the part of these dignitaries, but they are quite
capable of putting their threat into execution if
the fancy takes them that way. It is not going too
far to remind them that the sums that have been
agreed upon for the ex-King's portion are no gift
of the Court of Berlin ; but that, on the contrary,
the spoilers of his State contrived to possess themselves
of a large share of his belongings, as they did in
fact with most other people, and in most other
places they favoured with their benignant sway and
enlightened government. Prussia has made herself
very busy in the matter of the Hanoverian Legion,
and now seeks partially to clear herself from some
imputations which have been made in consequence.
The Swiss Government, it is averred, now declare
that they did not receive any communication from the
Berlin Cabinet on the subject of driving the members
of the Legion from Switzerland. Their " sudden
and instantaneous" departure was not the result of
any steps taken by them. The Prussian com-
mentators argue from theta that it was King
GEORGE who was the prime mover in the affair, and,
of course their virtuous indignation knows no
bounds. It is extremely improbable that he should
have done this; but one thing is very plain—namely,
that wherever these unfortunate wanderers went
some cause of offence was given to the irate Prus-
sians. The idea of their going to France was in itself
quite astounding, and all concerned in the matter
must have been perfectly well aware that great um-
brage would be given to King WlLLtam and his
Ministers by such an act. There are some
people who cannot be satisfied whatever is done,
and the Prussian rulers arc pre-eminently of this
class and character. If they have any lingering
respect left for their own reputation they will do
wisely to refrain from putting any of their re-
vengeful schemes into execution, and content them-
selves with the remonstrances they have made. If
they will, however, proceed to extremities they must
take the consequences, for a day of reckoning will
most assuredly come. It would be more politic as
well as more generous on the part of the Prussians
not to make this much ado but nothing, but to seek
to conciliate their rule as far as possible. The
secret of the annoyance so plainly evinced lies
in their unpopularity in Hanover, not un-
natural, considering the course they have pursued
since their forced entrance 'there. All this excite-
! ment shows that they are conscious of their being
disliked and distrusted in the annexed provinie.
Perhaps this may prove a nine-days' wonder, and
if so it will be all for the best; but when we look
back at the manner in which Prussia has acted
when she has picked a quarrel, it gives rise to grave
suspicions. In any case King GEORGE has
done nothing which calls for these cen -
sures, and it is going too far for the
King of PRUSSIA and his advisers to expect that
those whom they have sacrificed as impediments in
their path shall virtually cease to exist. " Even
in our ashes live their wonted fires ;" but Count
BISMARCK seeks to constitute a new state of things,
and those who are his enemies cannot hope for
much peace so long as they show any sign of
vitality.

The contention which has long threatened the
unity of the American Government has now
assumed a - new and startling phase. The PRESI-
DENT, MR. STANTON, General GRANT, and the Con-
gress have all been playing their parts with more
vigour than courtesy, and have not spared each
other in words or actions. Still matters had not,
until the last few days, come to an open and re-
cognised breach. The PRESIDENT, indeed, sus-
pended his refractory subordinate and put another
man in his place, and the Senate, refusing to ac-
knowledge his right to remove or appoint mem-
bers of his own Cabinet, forcibly re-instated
the Secretary of War in his office ; but
General GRANT'S tenure of office, nomi-
nally temporary, and his own sudden surren-
der of the troublesome post greatly facilitated the
progress of the Radicals. Mr. JOHNSON appa-
rently agreed to the restoration of his old antagonist,
although it was understood that he held no official
communication with him. No one, however, be-
lieved that the calm was more than temporary, and
the crisis which was looked for has arrived. We
learn by the Telegraph that the PRESIDENT has
issued an order, not suspending, but removing, Mr.
STANTON from the post of Secretary for War. Mr.
STANTON, however, confident in the support of Con-
gress, still holds the office, and has referred the
order to the Senate. The Senate, as might be
supposed, has declared the removal of the Secretary
to be illegal. Congress has referred the matter to
the Reconstruction Committee, who are, of course,
diametrically opposed to the PRESIDENT, who dared
to dispute the justice and legality of their schemes.
Congress has evidently been roused to action by
this movement of Mr. JOHNSON'S, and the old
question of impeachment has been again brought
up. The übiquitous Reconstruction Committee
have to deal with that, too, and have reported the
resolution for impeachment to the House of Repre-
sentatives. The House was to vote upon it
to-day, so that the Radicals aro determined
to lose no time. Possibly they feel that
their opportunities are diminishing, and that
they are daily losing ground in public estimation.
Their former experiment against the PRESIDENT
was not, we might have thought, sufficiently en-
couraging to make them venture on a re- etition of
the attack ; but they
citing influence of
to make itself felt in American
TiiOMAS is the -appointednewly the ar e n
coming o v desperate,strSecretary,upgoglilteic i
politics.
beginning
but General
e Aei ex-
citing
STANTON refuses to surrender the office to him. It
is quite impossible that such a condition of things
should be allowed to continue, whether with regard
to the public interests or to the dignity of the Ame-
rican Government, and it is worth while to examine
the foundations on which the matter rests.
The Congress, and, indeed, the whole Radical party,
have seemingly accepted a DM doctrine—one for