The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1857-02-11
Switzerland and Prussia-The
Status of Europe.

Switzerland and Prussia The
Status of Europe.
The tap of the drum on the green
slopes of the Mountain Republic says
the New York Daily Netcs, again re-
minds US that Monarchy, in her old ha-
tired of Republican vitality, is about to
attempt the Oft projected, the oft-defeat-
ed plan of its complete subjugation.-
Whatever be the ostensible purpose of
Prussia, her history informs US of a
policy burdened with antagonism to lib
erty, and in its character aud operations,
daring and unprincipled. Of ignoble
lineage, her path is strewn with national
crimes. and dark with the miseries of
her people. To her the violation of
solemn obligations was but the result of
physical aud political ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.
When Charles VI. transferred his crown
to the brow of the Archduchess Theresa,
defining and protecting her realm by the
celebrated Pragmatic Sanction to which
civilized Europe gave its unqualified as
sent, it was reserved to Prussia in the
ordinary pursuit of power to break down
every barrier of honor and treaty, to
march in midwinser a reckless army up
on the territory of its unsuspectiDg
neighbor, aud hurl Europe from a tenn
porary quiet into the wild commissions of
a %sauguinary war. And for what? That
the uubounded ambition of one man
might achieve its desires i'll the very
teeth of justice.
Silesia, after q severe struggle, fell a
prey to The merciless ~avarice of her foe;
but the moral influence of the conquest
has anticipated the ultimate consequent
ces of SO terrible a policy, and taught
the nations of Europe a lesson in negotia-
ting treaties to which the House Of
Hohenzollern was a party.
From the Inauguration of the first
Grand Elector, Frederick William, to
the present moment, the Government of
Prussia gives us a kaleidoscope repie-
sentation Of vice and tyranny most
natural combination. Her progress in
territorial expansion has been by the
musket and the sabre, and it is but fair
to suppose that the impending conflict
with Switzerland is the hereditary fruit
of such a course, Jean, Friedland, Ligny,
aud Eylau have been forgotten. but the
memory of Chotusitz, Rosbach, and
Prague, still continues.
1t is with such a court and the dangers
of such a policy that the Federal Coun-
ell have to contend. We cannot regard
The position of these two nations with
Indifference. A land e%minently blessed
with republican institutions, drawing its
1850 6 lie Co. L. -@
ourselves; enjoying like franchises aud
in its national peculiarities e~mbodyiDg
the same spirit of lofty Independence
which distinguishes a free people from
the subjects of absolute monarchy-sucl
a land must ever be to US a study oil
singular interest and delight. To the
civic g@lories of Switzerland history has
added her imperishahle laurels. We
read the story of her birth and instruc-
tion with profound sympathy. There i:
much in it to recall the earlier period:
of our own national existence, and though
ofteutimes stained by the exhibition o.
a mercenary spirit among the people, il
is quite pardonable when we consider
the character of those times and com
pare the advancement she has made with
the progress of her despotic neighbors
Her schools take rank with those o
Padua, Florence, Bologna, Seville, anc
conspicuously in the august assemblies
of philosophers and statesmen. He
soldiers have successfully resisted som'
of the finest armies of christendom, ant
as an observer of the bloody dram,
which followed the overthrow Of Loui
XVI and the succession of Robespierre
she stands out in bold relief. The stal
wart little nation buffetted the fury o
that tempest like the rock that spurn
from its base the angry onslaught of tn
sea.
Can the American heart fail to symp
athize with a people, so nearly allied t
US by nature and experience Can
reject all Interests in the struggle of tn
posterity of Tell? Far from it. Thi
:. war, which seems imminent from ih
2 very circumstance that the parties to
represent the distinct ideas Of Govern
ment which are destined to perpetus
conflict, and whose existence can only b
j. determined by the extinction of the ott
t er, has a fearful significance to the pei
s pic of this country.
e Napoleon has remarked. with prophet
II vanity not incompatible with the genir
of that most wonderful man, "that tt
time was not far off when the worl
IT should be either Cossack or republican.
We can accept the prophecy wi:hol
q much credulity. The recent war b,
d unraveled the complicated skein of b.
,e man events with astonishing c%slerit
and the rejecting mind can plunge a
IT most from a dark ignorance of the futul
b iuto it's real light and character.
r. It has come simply to this, bringir
ID the issue to its distinct bearing: Wi
monarchy cling to monarchy in oppos
h ton to a union of republican interests
f. 1t is a question to which every day r
r. turns a partial answe Since the Co
" ference at Paris, France has revealed
e. disposition to renew her former frien
s. ship with the Gear. The Emperor b
1t declared that Waterloo should
is avenged. Every sign indicates the d
e. soluble nature of the present allianc
n. and the position which these natio