The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1850-11-26
State and Prosnects of Europe.

The leading article of the London Times
of the 29th ult gives the following review of
the posture of affairs in Germany
"Our columns are literally filled by the
marches and countcrmarches of German ar
mics; and while the rest of Europe is en-
deavoring 10 turn to some advantage the in
terval of repose which the last few months
have bestowed upon the world, the Germans
are all on foot, every position is occupied in
full military force, and the Continent Is star
tied by the incessant tramp of war. Prus-
sia has silently but rapidly assumed militia
ry position Of vast extent, but of consideia-
bic strength her outlaying corps, connect
ed with her main body by her command Of
Rhinc,occupy Baden and llohenzolcrD rim
cipalities to the south whilst her chief ar
my, under Gen. Grocben, holds tie line of
Lahu, with the vast fortress of Coblcntz 10
cover its extreme right, and extends to the
northeast by Wczlar 20 Paderborn, and the
immediate vicinity Of Cassel. At any mo-
mcnt Il resolution OF the Cabinet Of Berlin
may cause, and has perhaps already caused,
portion Of t,is force to enter the Electoral
Territory Of lIesse. To the south the mill
tary preparations which have Immediately
followed the late conference at Bregcnz are
not less remarkable. The whole Bayarian
army,on the war-footing, has marched lc the
line of the Maine, leaving scarce sufficient
forces for the ordinary duties of the capital,
,ictualled for three months, The King of
Wurtemberg supports the Bavarian army on
its left and rear, while the large body Of
Austrian troops connected with this move
inent are already collected on the frontiers
of Bohemia, and are ready to pass Them.
Thus Germany is in fact arrayed III two hos
tile camps. The military positions, which
they are bound by every consideration Of
policy and by the most formal engagements
to defend against the common enemies Of
Germany are now disputed with the utmost
jealousy between the rival commanders
and even if this demonstration be moi intend
ed to lead to a civil contest, it cannot be
denied that a very slight accident may suf-
flee to cause general conhagration.
"When we thus see Germany bristling
with arms, and the whole country distracted
by this turmoil, we must be pardoned for in
quiring where is The enemy whom these Teu-
tonic hosts are prepared to quell, and against
what Power are these prodgious armies di-
rected ? The Germans are, in fact, striking
at their own shadow, like one of those appa-
ritions which are sometimes seen to loom a.
mong the mists CT the Brockcn and this ar
ray of foot and horse, this vast expenditure
of the resources of the nation, this excite
ment without an object, this rumor of war
without a cause, has originated in nothing
more than the conceit and ambition Of few
hair. Drained enthusiasts and declaimers who
have driven the nation to the verge Of sui
eide. The catastrophe, which was foreseen
and predicted by the rest of Europe when
the whole German people was ravng for IL
nifty and fraternity, is now impending so
closely over them that it is uncertain wheth-
er it can be prevented, and, like madmen in
the dark, they are rushing headlong on de-
struction.
"With reference to the affairs of the L,
lectorate of IIesse, which have brought this
dispute to the issue on which it seems likely
to burst, the rival parties are alike indiiler-
ent to the constitutional rights Of the people
of IIesse and the quarrel has assumed ter
rtofia character. We presume that OF
those persons who in this country and in Our
own Government clung most steadily to the
phantom of Prusian headship Of Germany
on purely liberal principles, there are few who
are not convinced by this lime that Prussia
had never any object in view but her own
aggrandizelnent. She dallied with the rev.
oution when it suited her purpose, and the
King himself was not ashamed TO salute its
bleeding victims and 10 assume its colors
but she abandoned the cause Of freedom
with equal or greater readiness she crushed
the constitutions OF her neighbors whenever