, 1859-02-18
PRESS; and i''l't'l.B 'TKIBUNE. iii M,
A European War and its EHaets upon
The NHdhwekt.

the Naa1hwett. ::
The prosl~cttof I new European ;tumult,
whether; hetRcen Franoe and Austria merely,
or Que likely to Involve England and all the
considerable powers Of the continent, sug-
2rsts IN inquiry -as to its. probable effects on
the Northwestern States Of America. We do
not deem such a war al all probable at this
juncture. :, The only nation which can afford
to 60 to fighting now is France, and she only
by reason OF her home necessities for occu-
patton and excitement Louis Napoleon
recognizes In its fullest truth the maxim
which tells how idle hands are provided with
something to do. Yet it is not likely the
other powers Of Europe will see their peace
jcoparded without striking unanimously
at the author Of the mischief. It has
already been indicated by the Lon
don 7ames that Great Britain, however
little she mny sympathize with the
house Of Hapsburg or the oppressors Of Italy,
will unite With them in beating back the le-
gions Of Franco and binding their master
over to Keep the peace. II seems barely pos
aiL'e and no more, TINT the nephew Of his un-
Gle may rush into conflict against odds
which not even The uncle cossd stand against.
The preparations, nevertheless, Of which we
had report by the last steamer, rresagcd q
speedy opening Of hostilitics, and whether
they shall result In actual campaigning or
not, q portion Of the effects which might at
tend war will undoubtedly he felt in this
portion Of the world.
The chief Of these il emigration. The
middle and poorer classes Of lie Gcrmanio
States, or many Of them, are in continual fear
Of conscriptiou. Whenever there is fighting
to be done on the continent they are tile raw
1naterlal-the food for powdcr-to be used up
in it. Their muscles, and not unftequcntly
their muncy aud their homes, are swept ruth
1essly into quasrels in which they have no
interest. Hence, they watch With exceeding
anxiety all pol tical movements which may
possibly bring The crowned beads in collision.
Their ears are acutely open to warlike ru-
znors, and thousands have put themselves in
readiness for flight to the new world on the
first clear indication Of hostflites. Many III
deed have gone 20 far as to select their loca-
tions in the West, having ascertained through
their friends already here, to a dollar, tbe
cost Of their journey and the expense Of an
advantageous settlement whcu they shall have
reached their new homes
To all these the belligcrent movements Of
France and Austria have had peculiar rig
ni6cance. Many who have been doubling
the cxpedicncy OF emigration must have had
their doubts decided By the near prospect Of
war, aud the probability Of conscripIon TO
ill the armies demanded by its inception mil
the gaps created by its continuance, A very
lew words frem the war making powers Of
Europe are sufficient 10 start caravan,
with all their possessions, in the direction Of
eountry where a]aruma are unfrequcnt and
CONSUMPTION unknown. Whether actual fight
ing follows the Late Lnslile preparations or
not, We may expect 10 feel the beneficial ef
fecisof this influx Of wealth aud population,
the coming season-to lie augmented in
proportion to the inlmlnence of the conflict
or tie fierceness Of thr actual strife.
Undoubtedly war would Increase the de-
maud and raise The prices Of our brcalslutIs,
though We would not begin to realize thosc
advantages in any considerable degree until
1850. This is q result wholly contingent on
The breaking out Of hostilitics-wLicl the
other is not. 1t depends npon the uneqnivo-
cal firing Of guns, and hence we may not
make any definite calculations Of prosperity
from that source. It's an i'll wind that blows
nobody any good. While We cannot wish 10
zee any people in tlle brotherhood Of nations
Involved in that direst Of dire calanities-
~ar-yct if il should send US hundred thou
sand or more Of industrious citizens and o
few millions Of dollars, and end in a sound
cudgeling of the peIjurcr and murderer who
governs France, NC should try and submit to
tue d;spensatfeu.