The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-02-16
The Struggle for Eastern Dominion and
German ~Ascendancy.

The Struggle for Eastern OomtniOn and
German ~Ascendancy.
Prussia, after playing a cautious and wary
game which has puzzled and embarrassed the
guild nuncs Of the political world, is just now
beginning to show her cards. All her hesitation
and indecision are resolving themselves into a
clear and positive course Of action. Whilst the
English and French journals have been growing
over the apparent triumph gained over her by
the treaty OF the I'd OF December, she has been
turning that check, if check it can be called, TO
good account. She never had, and has not
now any serious intentions Of joining the coali-
ton. It suited her purpose to play fast and
loose with the allies, until the ends which she
had in view were accomplished. Her moves
are now 80 far assured that che can afford to
stake boldly and confidently. We accordingly
find her throwing aside the mask she has so long
worn, and preparing to take a leading part in
the struggle in which all Europe will shortly
be involved.
The ties of consequently which exist be-
tween the royal families of Berlin and st.
Petersburg have been generally regarded as
the springs that have governed Prussian po-
Icy since the commencement Of the war.
This is q narrow view Of the subject. Al
though those relations necessarily exercise
some influence over the inclinations and con.
duct Of Frederick William, they would be in.
sufficient to account for his obstinate perse-
verance in q course said to be opposed to the
feelings and the wishes Of the great majority Of
his people. 1t seems to us that this dissonance
of views is greatly exaggerated by foreign
journals, and that the Prussian people and
their king, whilst differing in the motives
that lead to the conclusion, concur in regard
ing a junction with the allies as inc Compatible
with their interests. The truth is, that whilst
ostensibly resisting the influences that have
been exercised to drag them into the contest,
both Austria and Prussia have been using the
new agencies that have been evoked by the
present exceptional state Of things, to advance
their separate interests in Germany, and to
secure a preponderance in the confederation.
Prussia has seen clearly. from the commence
ment, that il she suffered herself to be dragged
into the coalition by Austria, the latter would
gain all the political advantages likely to
accrue from 1t, whilst she would reap only the
barren fruits Of a p~roftless war. Hence the
difficulty of both Powers coming to any common
agreement-hence the sudden and independent
signature Of the treaty Of the I'd December by
Austria, and the attempt Of Prussia to negotiate
q separate treaty with the allies for herself
Failing in this object, and rendered, by
the new treaty, incapable of influencing any
longer by her diplomatic interference the deci-
sion Of the questions submitted to the confer
ences at Vienna, Prussia has resolved to re-
gain, by an imposing physical attitude, the
moral force she has lost. She has begun by
advancing troops into Saxony and SILICA; and
she has succeeded besides in defeating the pro-
position Of Austria in the Germanic Diet 10
mobilise the Federal army. This latter fact
shows that the influence Of Austria is not as
all-powerful in that assembly as was sup
posed, and that in the event Of her en-
barking in active hostilities against Rus
STA, she is likely still further to dimi-
nish that influence and throw the prepon
derance into the hands of her political rival
These considerations will have the effect Of
greatly embarrassing and hamperiug Austria
by exposing her to dangers from which she
hoped to have secured herself, and will in all
probability also effectually neatralize any ad-
vantage which the allies expect to gain from
her adhesion. Should she, however, persist in
carrying out the engagements she has entered
into, the federation viii be split into two dis
tinct camps, the majority Of its members siding
with Prussia. Thus fortified, the latter power
will not long hesitate 70 join her forces to those
Of Russia, for she must feel that in her success
lies her only chance Of federal ascendancy. We
have here clearly defined before us the unmis-
taxable elements Of q general war. From
present appearances it Is In Germany and not
in the Esr tia. the Turiish question viii be
settled.