The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-07-22

justiaable Eruption into Piedmont, they would be
able TO hold their own and keep the frontiers Of
the empire intact against all invaders. The rev0-
lution that broke out almost simultaneously
isy by rsvving tie recosctions Of is4s, which
The Prince has never quite forgotten; and when
the battle of Magenta was followed by the capture
Of Milan and the rapid advance Of the French into
the heart Of L0mbardy, he imagined the time was
come for him to throw his shield over Austria
and stop the progress of the common enemy.
In this resolution he was confirmed by the idea
that war against France would be exceed
ingly popular in Germany, and that, as was
represented to him by certain parties, II would
serve to draw closer the bonds that connect the
princes with their people by engaging them uicilas
ttnitis in just and national cause, and drowning
their petty Engagements and misunderstanding in
the excitement Of mutual danger and mutual vic
tory. Such an impression was justified in some
measure by the dislike and suspicion with which the
proceedings OF Louis Napoleon have always been
regarded in Germany; but the manner in which the
order for modifying the army was received by the
public must have convinced the Prince that there
va. vas wide difference between such feelings and
that OF unrefecting enthusiasm. If Prussia were
attacked, or even threatened, by the French
aut0crat, the whole country would rise like one
man; but to rush into war for the sake of bolster
ing up the rotten treaties of 1915 and the detested
rule Of Austria prospect that filed all classes
OF the population with Indignation and dismay. The
entire liberal press Of Prussia and the North of
Germany with the exception of the Notional, which
such madness, and in language so energetic that
government was completely COMPOUNDED at their
.audacity and NJ Flottwen the Minister of the Inte
rior, could think of no better method to correct
public opinion than to follow in the footsteps Of
his illustrious predecessor, M. de Westphalia and
commence furious razzo against the press-con-
hscating some journals, and "cautioning' others,
among which were the Cologne Gazette, the prin-
cipal liberal organ Of the Rhensh provinces; the
VOlkS Zeitung, the most popular democratic print;
and Verische Zsitung, the oracle of the Berlin
bourgeoise OF course, these arbitrary steps, to
which we had not been accustomed under the pre-.
sent administration, did not produce q very tran.
QUILTING effect upon the public mind 1t was evil
dent that II Prussia was determined to ally herself
the Austrian regime at home, and ministers began
to be seriously alarmed at finding themselves in
opposition to the whole liberal opinions of the
country, which had hitherto proved their frmest
The intelligence of the battle of Solferno contri-
buted still further towards shaking their resolution
by showing them how formidable an antagonist
they were about to encounter, and from that mo-
than ever. M. Flottwell, whose retirement had
been long expected, was finally dismissed from of.
dce, and his portefeule entrusted to Count Schwe.
tional, which had just been talking very big about
the mission of Prussia, and her readiness to enter
the lists singlehanded to maintain the faith of
treaties and the balance of power, was instructed
to assure its readers that nothing would be under.
taken by government without its having obtained
the consent and appreciation of Russia and
England and the march of troops to the
Rhine, which had been fixed for the LIST of this
month, was suddenly countermanded. It may
be as well to add that the leading members of the
Cabinet, Baron Schlenitz, General BONN and M. de
Patow, have all along been averse to the departure
OF Prussia from the attitude of neutrality which
she had adopted at the commencement of the war;
but unfortunately the Prince Regent has gone so
far that he will find it difficult to recede without
loss of reputation. Prince ,Windischgratz, too,
whom the newspapers have been whisking about
from one end of Europe to the other, has actu-
ally arrived at Berlin, either to remind the Regent
OF his engagements, or to confirm his wavering
resolution; in short Prussia has involved herself in
such maze of intrigue, and got into so thoroughly
Dens er machine to rescue her from the dilemma,
see no possible way of her emerging from it ex-
cept by the ultima ratio.
Meanwhile, although we have not yet declared
war; and are still fattering ourselves with the hope
of keeping clear of it, we are already in the full
is overrun with soldiers, who are quartered upon
the inhabitants, the war tax on provisions COM
mences from the beginning of this month, grogshops
and distilleries are thriving, and legitimate bust
ness is at standstill At the wool fair, which came
of week or two ago, prices were 10 to Is thalers
had not been for the English, French and American
buyers the greater part of the stock hand would
have remained unsold. To relieve the general dis
tress, committee has been formed, under the patro
mage Of the Queen, to afford assistance to those who
require it, and the Berners, who though rather eco
gladly contribute their mite to this benevolent OBJ
Ject but these are only temporary expedients, and
if the confagration now raging in the South should
ultimately extend to this country, it is appalling to
contemplate the misery to which the orer classes
Of the population must be reduced.