Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1860-11-14
VOL. 7.--NO. 12.
THE WARSAW coNrERENcE

The Warsaw conference is among the things
OF the past. 1t has been held, and has termi-
mated. But what was its object7 The world
cannot be persuaded that the Gar, the Kaiser,
and the Prince Regent, with their respective
ministers, travelled hundreds of miles to mere
ly renew interrupted or failing friendships,
hunt the wild urus of the Polish forests, and
enjoy the delights of conyivial intercourse.
Something of more Importance must have led
to this meeting of the three soyereigns of the
great northern powers, at SO critical juno
ture. 1t is hardly probable that three such
champions Of law and order Alexander,
Francis Joseph, and Frederick William-that
three auch veteran diplomatists as Gortscba-
kof, Rechberg, and Schleinitz, came together
and separated without having talk about Eu-
ropcan politics. True. the autocrat of all the
Russias assured his French brother, in an au-
tograph letter. that the conference had nothing
in view adverse to France; but, in certain
seS, even autocratic assurances not entitled
to implicit credit. Beside, though the Gear
could answer tor his own views, he could not,
when said cpistle was written, answer for those
of others. Could he say that the Prince Re-
gents principal object had nothing in its ma
ture hostile to the Emperor Napoleon-no re-
lation to soliciting aid against hs designing
neighbor, should he think proper TO assail
Prussia on the Rhine? Could his Czsrship af-
firm that the Kaiser did not mean to impor-
tune him for succor, should Austria be attack
should Hungary rise again in rebellion?
We may well indeed believe that no attempt
was made at Warsaw to form an offensive alli-
ance against the French emperor; for that
should be the best way 10 raise the tempest
which the potentates in question are so anxious
to avert; but that the hope of eliciting pledge
of assistance from Alexander, in the contin-
gencies supposed, was the chief inducements
that led Frederick William and Francis Jo-
seph to become parties TO the conference, IS
as certain that they actually brought for
ward thereat the proposition indicated. What
entertainment was given by his Russian ma
jesty to these Royal and imperial sHitors, who
thus sought to bind him by most dangerous
pledge, is a secret which only time and events
will fully divulge, yet it is not very difficult
to surmise its nature.
In despite of his pacific disposition, and
that autograph letter to Napoleon, the czar
would scarcely remain neutral and see Prus-
sia stripped of her Rhenish provinces. Hence
it may be safely assumed that the regents
application has not been altogether in vain,
and that he has received an assurance of aid
should France attempt to extend her north
eastern frontier to the Rhine. But as compii-
'aaceiwith the petition of the kaiser would be
attended with more hazardous consequences,
and as his defeat the Mincio or the Danube
need not alarm Alexander tor the ingincibil-
ty of the Fistula or the Nieman, it is probable
that the Hapsburgh has not much reason to
congratulate himself on the result of his trip
to Warsaw as his Prussian rival. Howsoever
desiroHs of reconciliation with Austria, the
Russian Emperor was far too prudent and SEN
sible man to consent to become partner in
the desperate fortunes of Francis Joseph, and
already we have remarkable, though indirect,
evidence of the kaiser's failure. While the
tyrant entertained hopes of inveiglin the
tocIat in alliance with him, all thoughts of
conceding free institutions to his subjects
were laid aside, and the empire resounded
with The clang of preparations for war; but
now there suddenly appears in the Wiener lei
fung, the official gazette, his long promised
manifesto of reform, which restores indepen-
valuable privileges to the people. This unex-
pected change of policy on the part of the
Hapsburgh proclams more loudly than could
the most explicit admission that the devices of
the despot bad failed him, and that he has
no longer any resource from utter ruin, save
in ablect submission TO the popular will.
But the Warsaw conference has done more
than illustrate the expectations of Austria II
has also demonstrated thai, however we'll incln-
ed the northern powers TO form an alliance
"a second coalition against liberty-they are
totally unable to do So The gentle Alexander
is not the man to lead the forlorn hope Of
absolutiSm. He called his brothrr dsepots to-
gether, indeed, TO take measures against rev.
olution, but becoming dismayed at the start
ling prospect before him. he shrunk from car
rying out what he had contemplated and end
ed with breaking up the reunion after chaunt-
ing jeremiad over the evil times they have
fallen on Let the friends and votaries or
freedom the world over sing 10 triOmphe.
nrip fba nfo Cnu-f fpT