Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1857-01-15
EUROPEAN POLITICS.

After the close of the Russian war, it was no
tural to suppose that for few years at least,
Peace would be maintained in Europe.
But anon. Nationalities whose interests are
eterna,ly conflicting, causes of hostility are of al
most daily occurrence. And besides, the revolu-
tonary element which underlies European absol-
utsm is forever fermenting.
The surface may be quiet, but beneath 1t, there
is volcanic fervor, and motion. There are certain
! liberal I,leas which tyranny cannot crush These
possess a vitality Of growth and assertion, which
is itself the prcsage of their final supremacy
The position is illustrated hy the difficulty be-
tween Prussia and Switzerland in regard to the
, sovereignty of Neuschatcl. 1t was the design of
the French Anarchists Of 1889 to reduce Switzer-
land to the subservicncy of n conquered province
They very nearly succeeded. The independent
nationality of that country has ever since been
doubtful, ard not until the present time has she
attracted any political consideration in the dplo-
matte conferences Of the world. Now, however,
there is little doubt that Switzerland is destined to
play an important part in continental affairs The
cause of existing difficulties is briefly explained
Nenfchatel is Canton holding the twcny.frst
place in the Swiss Confederation, which up to the
year 1913 acknowledged the legitimacy Of Prns-
sian rule.
At that period revolution occurred, and the
people of the Canton declared their freedom, and
assumed the position which they now hold among
the States of Switzerland.
Recently, the Prussan claim has been resusci-
tatcd. The proximity of free province is found
to be inconvenient. Moreover, periodical re-
proof of Revolutionary principles by the mild log
ic of cannon and bayonets, is policy which des-
potism might find it dangerous to abandon.-
But in the case before US ore involved the mighty
questions of the balance of power, and the usages
! of established international law. England pro-
perly maintains that both will be endangered by
the Prussian movement, and Lord Palmerston
| has been admonished in various ways that it is
the duty of the English ministry to express them
selves to this effect.
France, upon the other hand, sides with Prussia.
Although iu the day of his darkest fortunes, Louis
Napoleon owed to Switzerland everything for
which an Exile should be most grateful-protec-
tion, sympathy, an asylum-it is not difficult to
divine that the French Emperor, pursuing his
usual Machiavellian policy, has decided to sustain
the kindred tyranny of Prussia, at the expense Of
personal honor, integrity, and good feeling State
considerations are omnipotent Tyrants must
back tyrants, or horrible consummation! y the
world may become free. From present indications
the Neufchatel quarrel promises to embroil the
leading governments of Europe. Any prophecy
as to the issue would of course be presumptuous,
but there is reason for gloomy anticipation.
Nor is this the only cloud which now hangs
over Transatlantic Politics The integrity of Eng
lands East India possessions has been threatened
bv q disturbance between Persia and Dost Moham-
med The power of the latter in Afghanistan
Great Britain pledged herself, under the provi-
sions of treaty signed in 1853, to sustain. The
late capture of the town and fortress of Herat by
the Persian forces-it must be remembered that
Herat is the gate from the Caspian to the Indus
has made it incumbent upon England to fulfil the
terms of the treaty referred to. She will not be
backward in doing so.
OF her East India sovereignty she is especially
jealous, and consequently we find that an English
armament has already been dispatched to the
Persian Gulf, with the view, it is said of seizing
upon the ports of Mohamera, and Benace Bashire
We learn that this feet consists of stwenty-six
transports, three of the Oriental Company's lar
gest steamers, and three of the Bombay Steam
Company's vessels, together with feet of forty
sail, carrying 5000 troops" Besides these, eight
bregmsnts, iye Of infantry and three Of artillery