The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-08-17
The Serious Complications or Europe-A
Mnrnlng Ls ssOn 10 the United States.

Warning LIZ ssOn To the United States.
The situation of Europe at the present mo.
meut is one Of serious complications, and the
accounts from every capital On that Continent
come to us filled with anxious forebodings.
In the midst of peace. for the maintenance of
which all profess the most ardent desire pre-
parations on an immense scale for war are
everywhere seen. England arms her middle
classes and her coasts; France endeayors to
remedy the defects and perfect the organization
of her army and navy; the arsenals of Spain
exhibit an unwonted activity, and an exhausted
treasury is strained to its utmost for the con-
struction of steamers abroad; Austria Is pour
ing immense quantities Of arms and equipments
into her remaining Italian possessions; the Ger
man Confederation is 10 fever Of war supply
Russia loses not sir gle moment to garner war
material, and Piedmont is calling out
her conseripts, and putting her army
on the footing OF hundreds Of thousands,
as though she anticipated some com
ing event far more important than a
fct with the worn out temporalities Of the
Papacy. These movements are accompanied
with the most strenuous and exhausting fiscal
exertions, and an admitted uneasy sentiment
regarding the future which any untoward
event may convert into one general disaster.
The cause Of this precarious condition Ct
things is the simple fact that France maintains
today her armies on the same footing as when
she carried On the giant. war Of last summer;
and the public uneasiness is not at all allayed
by the excuse given by Louis Napoleon, that
he is only enaeavoring to remedy the defects
in his military organization which he encoun-
tered during his recent Italian campaign. This
excuse is even calculated to heighten the pub
lie alarm, and every Power feels itself com-
PEELED to arm still further, az a precautionary
measure OF self-defence. No one nation can
or should rely on the forbearance Of Others for
its own safety. and each attributes to its neigh.
bors, and particularly to France, perhaps
with truth designs inimical to the pre-
sent state of things. Therefore it is that
three million of men in arms are not considered
sufficient to maintain the peace Of Europe, and
new burthens are imposed. new debts created,
and the resources Of the future are anticipated
In every possible way to augment their number
and increase their efficiency. Such condition
Of existence cannot be indefinitely prolonged.
A failure OF o crop, q revulsion 10 the indus
trial occupations, slight dispute between two
Of the Powers, an exhibition OF territorial
greed or dynastic ambition, or any one Of q
thousand possible contingencies, may produce
If ctala
of afrairs-a general war or separate political
revolutions
This picture which Europe presents to day is
pregnant warning to this country at this criti-
cal period Of its existence. There are hun
dreds Of small minds among cur public men
North and South and thousands of inconside
rate people who contemplate with indife-
renee and some even with pleasure, the
possibility of dissolution Of our compact Of
Union, which is the only thing that saves lis
from the fratricidal strifes and orerous bur
thens which now weigh like nightmare upon
the energies OF Europe. The man who believes
that dissolution Of this confederation once be-
gun would cease with Its severance into =
Northern and Southern confederacy, Is blind
TO the chain of events which must follow such
q step. Observance would not cease sntll
every State had parted from all its fellows,
constant preparation for selfdefence, as Is now
seen among the nations Of Europe. were in-
augurated In each and civil war initiated in
many Of them. The Pacific States could 60
with neither the North nor the South, but would
be compelled to establish third confederation.
Then we should have disputes about the navi-
salion Of our running waters, hostile tariffs for
purposes Of revenue and home protection,
chickering's fer border troubles and the refuge
Of criminals, conflicting laws regarding the col
lection Of debts and trantmission Of inheri-
tances, local prejudices elevated TO the rank OF
national hatreds, antagonistic interests between
the agricultural the manufacturing, tie mining
and The commercial States, and thousands Of
irritating interstate questions, which today are
overshadowed and subdued by the majestic
bond which makes us great, powerful, q
happy and prosperous nation.
Let the people Of the United States contem.
plate the picture which Europe presents 10
them a, this moment, with her bitter interna.
lonsl striics, her peoples oppressed with bur-
ihcns that weigh them down TO the very ground;
hcr kings and ,yran's, who thrive by stimula.
ing animosities which here are hushed, and
above oil The effort which, with oil these disad
san;ases, The people are making to establish
larger unitcs. Italy striving to form united
Kingdom, and Germany painting to be rid Of her
thirty seven crowned beads and to establish
German nation. From this lesson which the
older Continent is nov reading to us We may
Learn to appreciate the blessings We enjoy, and
10 reject, With the indignation they richly merit
&c Insane councils 70 division which petty
nhds, ambitious deuegogucs, zcaicua fanatics
and insane politicians are pouring into our
carr.