The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-01-26
ATTITUDE OF PRUSSIA.
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We have yet to attach credit to tho state
ment, which of coem poraries have borrowed
neson to the treaty. Of the "a Of pscembsr and
without further difficulty her former relations with the
other great Powers No authentic Intelligence TO this e.
feet has yet reached London and the report to oAich
alude probably proceeded from Russian source. If
Prussia joined the alliance of the three Powers it
would be TO defeat the object of that agreement and
her voice were again admitted to the European confer
ence she would figure there only the acc0mplce of
Russia. The events Of the last few DAYS have on the
contrary rendered the position of Prussia perpex
ing and anf malous than and must convince
the Court Of Berlin OF the results Of the policy 1t has
hitherto pursued After having sacrificed everything to
the hope of setting foot fresh negotiation for peace
the King Of Prussia finds only that negotiation has
sa has nec her assent to ~hsh Prussia
has not yet adopted russia having declined TO join the
treaty Of the % December L NO party to s conditions
to the verbal note Of the three other by
which the application of the 9th article determined
Prussia having refused to place herself in position Of
sitlOn Of Austria to array hundred Thousand men
upon Der eastern frontier, in obedea to the military
convention OF the goth Of April is entitled to be
sidered party TO these transactions She has thus
entirely forfeited her locus tdndi for the purposes of
diplomacy or Of war; and IT, in the event Of these nego
tatons assuming more serious character, she should
attempt to take part in Them such offer would be
very codly received by the allied Powers nasmuch
the voice Of Prussia In tho conference would obviously
be altogether at the disposal of the enemy and only
used to couneract the of the other courts
excluded herself from these deliberations since We know
that whatever ipuence she might possessed would
have been used aeain,t the Congress- OF Vienna
in 1915 II was mainly by the detection Prussia that
the Emperor Alexander succeeded in carrying his point
against the wishes OF France Austria and Great Bril-
tain and not surprised 70 learn that Russia
tached much importance this that she
proposed to the King to make his admission the con
ference preliminary condition. The King had, hswev
er, still sufficient ndepen ence of character decline
to bold the nominee Of Russia that position which he
once filed a. great European Power The result is,
that Russia is dealing single handed with the allied
Courts and that Prussia altogether left cut Of the
game She has, In fact entirely lost the confidence Of
ansss;oa. so, ner N me great
can take refuge in sesh neutrality, she has claim
to be heard in cause for which she has not made the
Such might be the result IL the future condition Of the
Turkish empire and the definition OF maritime rights in
the Black Sea the only under
But the present affairs has already given rise to
results upon the continent Of Europe which affect the
Tnoe condition Of Germany and %: produce the most
especially the intimate alliance Of Austria and
france-an event entirely in the political combine
the most important political combinations Of the first
Napoleon and realizes under favorable auspices scheme
statesmen Of both these countries For the last forty
years Austria and Prussia have belonged to one and
the ,s same politics. system they acted tossths,
steadily to the compact which had been sealed
BY the battle Of Leipsic and, though differ.
have been settled by the tutelary arbitration OF
their great Northern ally The Of 1916 and Isls
gave rude shock to this near Connection for the policy
Of Prussia in Germany was hostile TO the rights Of Aus
ria, and her interference in the Danish quarrel called
forth the Ieprobation OF all Europe. But this deviation
lutionary movement Of the time, and II severely
plated by the check applied TO 1t both by Austria and
Russia. The Eastern question Of 1854 has proved still
fatal TO the Northern alliance. Russia which had
hitherto been the moderating power becomes the
.gressor the interests OF Germany are not only severed
the principles for which the Western Powers take
up arms against Russia command and obtain the
entire concurrence Of Austria; and before the end
Of the year the Cabinet Of Vienna forms an alliance
win Frsnce, In which neither Prussia any other
portion Of Germany is at present included. The
consequence Of this important change In the general rs
ations ri Europe is that the two leading States Of
many are directing their policy In opposite directions;
that the efforts which have been made with less
sincerity in the Of the last year 10 the
union Of Germany have failed and that while the
over the South, including Austria, Bavaria and Baden
the North Of Germany viii be reduced TO the alternative
Of that alternative that the domn papy IN
Berlin hope eventually 10 reduce the country TO submit
to III. a.crndancy Of Russia, and by rehindns the old
thiy against France. From the aspect which affairs
have recently assumed, shall not be surprised
End that advantage is taken OF the present
,opjuDcture by the men who surround the King.
20 bind him more closely to Russian interests
although At this very moment al eminent Prus'
sian dpomatst has been sent TO London Paris to-
explain the Kings intentions IN very different manner
We have recently read with considerable surprise an Az
dress delivered by the Prince Prussia to the ocers of
the garrison Of Cobenr in which that parsonage whose
own sympathies and opinions known 70 be favorable
TO the Western Powers stated that he did not anticipate
that the present year would pass without compelling
Prussisn army TO enter upon active SERVICE but that 10
depended solely the win OF the King vhethsr these
aant troops TO face 10 the East 10 the wes
whether they TO be employed in lighting the battles
81 Rnssa by plugging all Europe into war, TO join the
coneceracy Of the other Powers obtaining solid gua
rsntses Of peace. We do not dispute that the army
blind Instrument and that 1t must obey the command
Of the government 1t serves; but Il is mpossit.ae.
not 20 comment with great pain such speech tho
which 70 denote that the heir presuptve Of the
Is himself ignorant Of the OF policy In
which his country L. engaged; and that though he
thinks war win snsue he knows not against what
mies or with what allies Such is unhappy the real
which Prussia has been reduced by the unstable
character OF the King and by the systematic ntgues
carried On around him. While Frederick william has
been Hatterrg himself that he destined 70 play the
part Of the great pacifcator Of Europe and nterposs
his military power his diplomatic influence TO arrest
the shedding Of blood and the strife OF nations he has
not only lost all claim 70 that respect which
could alone have invested him with the char
acte r q n hut ha fxnda alm0at