The Sun.
London, England, 1857-01-03 00:00:00

LONDON, SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 1867.

FREDERICK WILLIAM is at length beginning to
perceive the grave mistake into which he has
fallen in attempting to bully the Swiss Confede-
ration. His courage, like that of the immortal
ACRES, is already " oozing out at his fingers'
ends." Had he known they were so cunning of
fence, so firmly determined on preserving their
independence, he would have thought twice before
he interfered. As it is, he must endure the
shame and vexation which inevitably attends an
abortive attempt. The Swiss Government and
people have displayed the calm resolution befitting
brave men. They do not desire war. They earnestly
deprecate it as a serious calamity. But while willing
to adopt any reasonable course by which it may
be averted, they will not sacrifice their highly-
cherished independence. They have carefully
counted the cost, and are prepared to " stand the
hazard of the die." They will not be the ag-
gressors, but they will defend themselves to the
last man and the last shilling ; and theii moun-
tain fastnesses are not favourable for the move-
ments of foreign invaders. They have no desire
to punish the miserable tools of CLICQUOT'S
ambition. They are quite prepared to let them
escape with impunity from the consequences of a
crime which, in any nation of the world,
is considered the most serious that can
be committed, and deserving of the extreme
penalty of the law. But they will not admit
that they were justified in their reckless proceed-
ings, that they were authorised to rise in rebel-
lion against the existing and de facto Government.
The discharge of the prisoners before trial, and
before the future relations of Prussia and Neu-
chatel had been placed on a satisfactory founda-
tion, would be tantamount to such an admission,
and that they very judiciously refused to make.
England feels that they have correctly, and, not-
withstanding the prevalence of Germanism in her
Councils, will certainly abstain from joining the
Imperial triumvirate that are striving to humiliate
the only European Republic.

It is more than hinted that the other " Great
Powers" are indignant at the conduct of the
English Government. Be it so. Their censure
will not disturb the tranquillity of Lord PAL.
MERSTON, who must feel that it is " praise indeed,"
a tribute that will entitle him to the thanks and
gratitude of his country. If the Premier had
been betrayed into any complicity with the con-
templated crime, he would have won the praises
of the banded despots, but for ever have
forfeited the good name befitting a truly English
Minister. His steadiness has defeated the
schemes of CLICQUOT and his Imperial coadjutors,
in whose nostrils the very name of free institu-
tions stinks. They, or at least Austria and
France, already perceive the consequences that
may follow the commencement of a war of freedom
and of independence, and FREDERICK WILLIAM
trembles in the presence of the demon ho has
himself evoked. Russia looks on with grim satis-
faction, thinking of the possibility of another par-
tition, if possible more iniquitous than that of
Poland. It is true that she may be unable to
obtain a slice of Swiss territory, but she gloats
over an imaginary equivalent that will more than
compensate for the Bessarabian concessions. Like
BYRON'S Attorney, she—
" So there are quarrel 3, cares not for the cause '
knowing that she will fish a handsome booty out
of the troubled waters.

The parties, however, who regard the matter
with the greatest consternation are the petty
patentates of Germany. They feel " the glory
departing from their houses." The handwriting
on the wall traces " Mediatifation" in unmistake-
able characters. They know that their independence
is far moreseriously compromised than that of the
Swiss—that the permission to march troops
through their territories, which they dare not refuse,