Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1859-04-21
The War Question.

JAMES A. WILLIAMSON.
Chm Dem state Xxx Com.
The War Question.
The latest ad7ices from, Errope indicate
more pacific state Of feeling on the con-
sinent.. The prospect Of
ssThose big wars
That make ambition virtue"
seems to have resolved itself into q few
contingencies that are not at all likely to
happen. A Peace Congress Of the prin-
cipal powers has been assented to, which
in all probability will straugle the pent up
wrath Of beligerents. It is not very COM
pimcntary to the moral tone Of the Amer
lean people to say tina. an amicable adjust
ment Of the pending difficulties will in
some quarters cause disappointment. if
not regret. Yet such is the fact. No,
that we a. nation delight in scenes Of
carnage and revolution, or desire forced
marches and offensive movements on the
part Of the friends Of liberal governments
in the Old World. Tie feeling has more
selfish origin. A general commotion in
Europe would necessarily create unusual
industrial activity among ourselves. De-
mand for produce-foreign capital seeking
safe Investments new tide Of emigration
would set in in our favor in the event of
war.
LouIs NAPOLEON is regarded As the
master spirit IN the present emergency
His rapid rise in power and infuence-his
we'll ordered and consolidated empire-his
adroi,ness in extricating himself from the
meshes Of treaty-his prurient desire to
avenge the humiliation of his Uncle, and
restore the privileges of his line, and his
strong hold on the love Of the French ma
t;nn RYE 10 all his movements an -uiesss.
suspicion and vigilance Of rival powers.
The balance of power was fully estab.
lished and the leading European govern
ments committed to its defence at the
Vienna Congress in 1915. By the terms
OF the treaty then made the Bonaparte
family was degraded from the position of
rulers, the boundaries of the various ma
sious which had been unsettled BY Napo-
leon we're fixed, and important principali-
ties in Italy, that had been forced from
Austria by the French Directory, were re
stored. The present Emperor of France
grows restless under the blistering recol.
iections OF these things. The stain may
not DO ndellible-another contest nigh.
sfface It. So he casts about for pretext.
Many provinces in Italy indicate spirit
Of revolt. They have long suffered the
degrading effects Of Austrian nisrule and
Papal dictation. Napoleon processes to
conmisserate their condition, and this
clothes the old jealousies of France and
Austria with all "the pomp and circum.
stance Of war. Their dispute assumes
serious character, and both prepare TO
settle it BY the sword. Extensive war
like preparations are set on foot, and a
general uneasinelA is felt throughout Eu-
rope. The fame 0hce kindled, and Eng.
land, Prussia and Germany would have to
add fuel. England foresaw this; all her
material interests demanded peace, and
she sent Lord CONVEY on . mission to
Vienna which has resulted IL the conyo.
cation Of Congress, Of the nations inter
ested in the dispute. No doubt the con-
dition Of Europe would be vastly improved,
could the pretensions Of Austria in the
ssnth Be hunbled. Yet it is very ques.
tionabls whether Napoleon's motives for
bsfriending the unfortunate Italians was
not to make this iuitiatory movement to-
wards other and greater schemes Of his
ambition.
It 10 difficult now to re.enact the bloody
scenes Of other days. The spirit Of con.
quest and revolution has been greatly
subdued by the birth Of new and CONTROL.
ing interests which incline to peace. There
il rarely occasion to appeal from diploma.
cy to arms. The mutually Of interests
among nations that - sprung up with
the increase Of commerce. md the diffusion
Of better principles Of government, and
higher notions OF national honor and char
actor, has produced pacific state which
no nation will undertake 10 disturb with
out weighty proyocation. II is hardly
probable that either France or Austria
will q. present assume the responsibility
OF involving the Continent il general
war.