The Express.
London, England, 1866-05-10 00:00:00

TAR EXPECTED WAR.

Germany, observes the Times, which was a
great and well known nation when this island and its
inhabitants were is sailor's tale, has been beaten in all
those material affairs which admit of easie:it measurement
through that national temper and those institutions that
periodically culminate in causeless, unprofitable, and
ruinous wars. War is mitten on the face of Germany as
legibly as incessant droughts or rains, scorching suns or
everlasting frosts, are written on other regions.
The suicidal work in which she is now engaged seems
rather the operation of some dire spell, or the fulfilment
of some old curse, than the work of reasonable men. It
is impossible but that eveif neighbouring power, be it
empire or petty state, will be drawn in, and never were
combatants in closer quarters, never were there more
elements of bitterness, never were there more revolutions
impending, or worse disasters possible. It is simply a
wild, riotous scramble for sovereignty, territory, and
ascendancy, interesting to a few reigning families,
utterly unimportant to the mass. The greatest victory
can bring no substantial gain, except by the merest chance,
to a single family in the ranks of the people. Even
in ordinary times, all the drudgery that savages exact
from the women is done by the females of Germany,
while the men are soldiering, and now while the fiery
torrent of war will sweep over the cquntry far and wide,
he must he an inspired prophet who shall name the cities
or villages to be spared.
Saxony is threatened with invasion by Prussia, and the
effect of the resolution of the Frankfort Diet yesterday,
the Dail ..s News says, will be to call out a Federal army for
her protection. This is s irtually an alliance of Bavaria,
Wurtemberg, Saxony, and Hesse with Austria. The
measure has been delayed as long as possible, to give time
to the statesmen of Prussia to reconsider their policy, but
the action of the latter power is such as would
make further postponement dangerous. On what
alliances, active or passive, the King of Prussia
is relying, and how far he is wise in trusting to
them, only events can disclose. Diplomacy of a very bold
order is at work to disappoint him, and although, no
doubt, the first cannon-shot that should be fired before
its point had been actually gained might scatter the ele-
ments of its combinations to the whole, yet, until the
actual discharge, it is just possible that even Count Bis-
marck may be surprised. The misfortune is, that in crises
like these the wisest schemes and the most patriotic men
are so muoh at the mercy of blind events. The Daily
News trusts as to ourselves that the government
having resolved to remain neutral will prove so
as well in spirit and language as in act. The judgment
passed by Lord Clarendon on Tuesday may be true enough,
but as we are not going to make it the basis of action it
seems undignified to give it solemn expression by the
mouth of the Secretary of State.
The Post thinks that if danger threatens it is not
France that is to blame. The Emperor is as powerless to
preserve peace as we are. The armies of Austria, and
Italy, and Prussia, besides those of some of the winos

States, are prepared for the conflict, and it only needs
some one to give the signal to fire the first shot. What
the treaties of 1815 are to-day we all know ; what they
will be to-morrow no one can say. This much, however,
is certain—if the war which now seems imminent takes
place, the treaties of 1815 will, at its conclusion, undergo'
modifications so great that their original framers would
fail to recognise them.
The Tdeftraph does not wish to be considered the
apologist of imperialism, but it protests against the
assumption by Lord Cadogsn, Lord Grey, and Lord Derby,
that should war break out the Emperor Napoleon must be
considered responsible. This is an unfoundcd representa-
tion and one derogatory to our national honour. We are
asking France to do exactly what we most wisely decline to
do ourselves ; that is, we wish her to employ pacific
counsels, and to enforce them, if necessary, by the argu-
ment of the sword. We could hardly assume a less dignified
position.