Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-01-16
Threatened Grapple between DesPot-
isna and Republication i'm Europe.

isEM and Republication i'm Europe.
The world is about to witness sublime
spectacle, in the resistance of Switzerland
to the threatened encroachments of Prus-
STA, unless the latter power pauses and
thinks better of it. Of the momentous
movements now being chronicled in Europe,
none are so interesting to the people of the
United States as this approaching conflict
The King of Prussia has already threaten
ed to draw the sword against Neufchatel, a
little Swiss canton, of about go, 600 inhabit-
ants, and the brave Switzers have said to
him, "come on" The French Emperor, in
termeddling in favor of Prussia, has asked
Switzerland to yield; but the heroic Repub-
lie sternly refuses to yield an inch. The
latest advices represent a conflict as almost
certain. Prussia is rapidly preparing
heavy military movement, and the Swiss
are flying to arms. The trained soldiers o.
the great military despotism are renowned
for tactics and valor, but we predict that
the defenders of the land Of William TELL
though small in numbers, will drive back
from their borders every legion that crown
ed heads send upon them. The courage
and iron firmness Of the Swiss soldier are
truly sublime. For centuries they have
proudly sustained their little Republic, amid
the most powerful monarchies, and when
they have no fighting to DO at home, they
60 abroad and enlist in other armies, and
fight, if need be, as has often been illustra-
ted, till the last man in their ranks is cut
down. But word in calculation of this
quarrel.
There was time, in the lapse Of past
ages, when Neufchatel acknowledged lord
and master; and the succession dying out,
Prussian King claimed to be the nearest
of kin, and entitled, by descent, to the ru-
lership of the people But the latter re-
pudiated his right, and framed for them
selves republican institutions, and united
with the other cantons in the formation OF
the Swiss Confederacy. This claim of Prus-
STA was afterwards abandoned, and in 1907
the King formally coded Neufchatel to Ma
poleon. 1t has since been an acknowledged
Swiss canton, and for half a century has
stood an undisturbed component part Of
Switzerland, until recently. All will re
member the feuds in the cantons, between
the Catholics and Protestants, which led to
civil war a few years ago, and the putting
down or expulsion of the Catholics. Soon
after, it was discovered that the King OF
Prussia had in pay royalist party in
Neufchatel, favorable to his pretensionS
In 1852, he managed to have a protocol
signed (at London by the leading pow
ers of Europe, recognizing his claim. To
this Switzerland paid no respect; and in
September last, the royalist party in Neuf-
chatel attempted by revolution to place the
government in the hands of Prussia. The
movement was promptly crushed, and
number of the leading revolutionists were
arrested and imprisoned, to await their
trial for treason against Switzerland. The
King of Prussia has steadily demand
ed their release, but Switzerland refuses to
listen to the demand, and he threatens
force, to set up his claim to sovereignty.
He has appealed to the other powers Of
Europe to assist him. The French Empe-
ror has interposed and asked Switzerland
to release the prisoners. Louis Napoleon
owes his crown to Catholic intrigue and
backing, and he appears to be seriously
offended by the persistent refusal of Switz-
erland to permit her neighbors to interfere
in her internal affairs The official organ
of the French Emperor, the Moniteur, has
leader directly menacing Switzerland, which
has caused quite sensation among the
French people, and given rise to some
pointed replies in the Siccls, and other
leading journals, which sympathize with
the gallant little Republic. Great Britain
is understood to be adverse to the PruS-
sian claim. Some anticipate that French
army will soon occupy the Swiss territory,
and enforce the Prussian claim. The next
steamer may bring the news of the clash
of arms between Prussia and Switzerland
If so, the world will witness display of
intrepid daring such as has always been the
true glory of the Swiss soldier. In defence
of his mountains and dells, and the graves
of his sires, he has ever been sternly and
proudly invincible.