The Oxford intelligencer., 1860-08-01
The peace Of Europe secured again.

The Peace OF Europe secured again.
AocoRDnSe to the German and French pa
pers, the peace of Europe is once more Sc
cured. The interview between Napoleon and
a number of German princes at Baden on
10th June, settled the matter. Henceforth,
armies may be disbanded, ships of war dis
mantled, and swords converted into pruning
hooks; for the Aoniteur and the Prassian
Gazstte both aver that war is impossible, and
fraternal amity fixed fact
If all this be true-if, by dining with the
Prince Of Prussia, taking tea with the Grand
Duchess of Baden, and spending thou
sand francs in the carved woodwork, for
which the Baden mechanics are so Justly
famed, the Emperor Napoleon can preserve
Europe from the horrors of war, it is amazing
that the expedient has not been tried before,
and Napoleon's responsibility for having neg
lected it is enormous and appalling He
must be as great wretch as that Genii in
the Aarabic tale who, having the power to
stay the pestilence by raising his little finger,
refused to raise it from pure laziness and ma
leyolence.
1t may, however be fairly doubted wheth-
err the German and French politicians are not
expecting too much of the Baden meeting.
Civil speeches between rival sovereigns are
pleasant things to hear ON Change and to
read of in history; but have they ever aver
ted wars! No potentate was SO fond of royal
conferences as Napoleon the First; but the
most loving conversations between him and
his brother sovereigns availed but little to
stay his armies. Nor will it now be differ
ent. If cause of war arises between France
and Germany, all the tender assurances given
at Baden will float down the wind with other
idle words.
The problem of the peace of Europe in
wolves questions which no royal conferences
can determine. 1t is the fashion in England
and in Germany to regard Napoleon as the
natural disturber of the worlds peace, and to
assume that wars will last so long rs he is on
the throne of France. The same opinion
prevailed with regard to his uncle, and, sure
enough, there was no peace while he reigned !;
though whether he or his banded foes were
the real promoters of this strife is still an
open question. By-and-by, when the histo-
ry of the Napoeonc era comes to be written
phiIosophically, it will probably be discover
cd that the wars of the first, as the wars of
the second Napoleon, were undertaken more
from necessity than from choice; that uncle
and nephew were mere Proyidential instru-
ments in the great rebellion of democracy
against established thrones and divine-right
despotisms. SO long as the peace of Europe
can be maintained, it is the interest of Ma
poleon to maintain it; but when war be.
comes inevitable, it is vital to him to take a
part in it. If the people of Europe were one
and all satisfied with their governments if
no hidcous wrongs were being perpetrated
by cruel despots if revolutionary societies
were obsolete, and the art of raising barri-
cades lost, we may rest assured that Napoleon
would prevent national preiudices from bree-
ding wars. For peace will secure his dynas-
ty, strengthen his throne, enrich his people,
develop his country, and enpo9le his fame
But as the people of Europe are not satisfied
with their governments; as atrocious des-
potsms still flourish, and revolutionary clubs
still shoulder, it is contrary to Divine JUS
tIcc and human experience to believe that
wars will not break out, sooner or later, and
it would be fatal to Napoleon to remain a
passive spectator Of the broil
1t is quite probable that Napoleon may
have touched upon this point in his confer
ence with the German princes, as he did in
his communications with the Pope and the
King of Naples. If he did, and if these prin-
ces have sense enough to act upon his advice,
the final conflict may be postponed indcf-
nitely. But historical experience proves that
hereditary soverclgns are rarely willing TO re-
linquish peaccably that which they are edu-
Gated to consider their own by divine right;
it is at least, improbable that these German
kings and princes and grand-dukes will be
sclf-sacrifcing enough to avert the peril which
menaces. They are bred to consider revolu-
ton their natural enemy, which they are
bound to crush out; and in parts Of Ger
many revolution means freedom of speech
and the pless, informal gatherings of individ-
uals-anything, in fact, which the Prince
don't like
When the hour comes for an uprising in
Germany similar to that which we are now
witnessing in Italy, the Baden Conference
will no more save the German princes than
Napoleon's loving messages to the Emperor
Francis-Joseph at the time of the Crimean
war saved Austria in Northern Italy.-Hdr-
per's Weekly.
A Coop Mans WIsH.-I freely confess to- you
that would rather when am laid in the grave,
some one in his manhood should stand over me
and say-"There lies one who was real friend
to me, and privately warned me of the danger