The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1859-04-09
lFrom the st. Petersburg Gazette, Feb. IL.
Russian Opinion of the Position of France

1t Is evident from the '~anguage Of the En-
peror of the French that France will not have
recourse to war until he very last extremity.
II all means OF Cancellation should prove of NJ,
avail, III that case it would be better to enter
on hostlilties than leare Europe III her present
situation. War must consequently be CON
si'!ered possible, aud all that remains is 70 pre-
pare for hat sad eyentuaIity. If the efforts of
diplomatlsis leads TO al arrangement. 50 much
the better ; but if they fail. tie existing silla-
ton must then be accepted, however disaaresa.
Die 1t may be. But is there mot some mems
OF avoiding that disastrous necessity? The
present territorial division OF Earope is founded
on the treaties ct 1915. 1t is in yirtne oF
Them that Austria possesses the northeastern
part OF lia'y. the inhabitants of which are not
llehaiy 10 her. HE statesmen aud orators of
Li9!a'!d constantly appeal to those treaties,
.ou' Is u not already TOO late? Treaties NAV
DC compared to the vestaI virgins, who could
on!y faftlil their sacred functions as long a.
they remained intact. Does not a treaty which
mas been lnfrlnged prove that it does not DER.
teclp respond to The spirit which dictated 1t ?
AS 10 tnose OF 1873, they have been so often
v~io'aiea tinl 1t is strange they should be pow
invoked. 1t Europe had desired that they
should be lnyioiabiy observed, she would have
opposed with all her force the revolution Of
800, when overthrow one Of the dypastiss
winch Sighed those treaties. The same ma ba.
SAID OF the revolution of 1913, SO cour.eously
acceFred by England ard lastly, of the rryo-
iation OF December 9, 1851, which re.estah.
iished The empire IN France, aud placed the
Feins Of government in the hands If a member
Of that very Bonaparte family which had been
deposed by the same treaties. Ii, therefore,, =
war is necessary in order to impart new life ia
those treaties, which have become uowerless
because the principles which served as thrir
uaSes no longer exist, we regard it as q measure
Indispensable to secure the tranouili,y If I'm.
rope. it has been said that treaties are inter
patioha' avs Which govern nations. No doubt
the!E afs aud II ae affairs Of tie warid were
incnaiseao!e, treaties would be so likewise
but Ii nose documents, which ought to secure
,fahqfnlliiy IN Europe, on the contrary place
her IN a false and perilous position, is i not
ah evident proof that they have ceased 10 an.
sWefthc purpose Tor which they were concInd II
1t may readily be conceived that those elias.
nc conventions, resembling as they do The nets
Whieh stop only small fish, while the large ones
can iorce a passage through, may please some
persons, but public opinion condemns
tnen., nus tue pamphlet OF 7" Napoleon i'll.
ct lItal!e = says with reasons THAT
pewer which will not consent to the changes
which are generally considered 10 be necessarr
may invoke treaties, aud have written law IN
rs side, but public opinion will be again,, II
may become the fate of the @treaI;es
loio, It IS not lrss certain that Italy cn,&
not remain in the state in which she now i IfI
does not decide to make some incyi.a
bic changes, there will be an armed e]oll;sinn
and on the day after a decisive battle fbese
mast be revised and remodeled. We
most sincerely wish that Europe may escane
hose terrible trials, bai we repeat ibat in or
'n'nlon the. present situation of Enrone ie
scarcely preferable to n war. 1t is time hat
be nations Of Europe should form onlv one
lody' Aud if il be so, how can We saw, wSsn
NE member suffers, What is that Ia ~. -
sat that does concern us very mnch. becansa
N our organization suffers with that mrn,hor
We shall quietly await events. and if tbe
'ao,aets succeed IN preventing the struo~Ie
Sh'ch seems imminent, we shall thank Prov.
ence' but il it breaks out. we at least bone
1t will remove once for all The ranses
'hich gave birth 10 it,