The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1864-03-26
The New Phase % the German
StFugglo.

struggle
The two great German Powers have
consented to pause in their career Of con
,oest. After invading and taking pos
,assion Of the Duchies, and just on the
,.orders Of Jutland, they are now reported
- have listened to the suggestions OF
England and to have consented to another
Convention of the Great Powers, to be
assembled again in London. Very few
Intelligent Germans have ever believed
that Austria and Prussia we're in earnest
in this war. The popular impression has
been that their extraordinary energy and
activity we're due quite as much to fear Of |
the National party at home, as to hostility |
to Denmark. They were forced to
vigorous campaign in order to retain the
leadership of Germany and to keep down
the Federalists.
They have, without doubt, quite won
the game into their own hands from the
much dreaded popular party of Germany.
The numerous small States, and the slow
moving Constituencies, were no match
for these well-equipped military powers,
who perfectly understood their own OBJ
jects. With an energy which certainly
Austria never displayed before, the two
separated from the Diet, and decided the
Schleswig question with their own bayo-
nets. But, for this very reason, all that
they have accomplished for Germany will
probably be but mere sham They
have no interest in retaining the Duchies
within the Confederation. They care
nothing about the desires or hopes of the
inhabitants of those provinces. They will
be perfectly ready to yield up everything
they have gained, if any plausible prctext
be afforded. They have got the National
party under foot, and now they will be
equally ready to trampe on the rights of
the puches
1t is not improbable that England will
propose some compromise in the approach
ing convention, such as the personal union
of the Duchies under the Danish King
and their real under the Confederacy,
with the removal Of the offensive Consti-
tuition. and the free use of the German
language. The two German Powers
would perhaps accept this, and Denmark
would be forced to submit. and so a Euro
pean war be avoided.
Still the position of Austria and Prussia
is ful of danger to themselves. The pub
lie feeling OF Germany is aroused to the
intensest point 10 favor Of incorporating
the Duches within the German Union.
ANY treachcry Of the Great Powers, or
disappointment of these popular aspirs
tons, might produce fearful explosion
among their own subjects.
The revolution is always boiling be-
meath the surface Of Germany. There is a
point beyond which even German auto
Gratis dare not 90. The Prussian King is
carrying on war now for his private credit
and purse a betrayal of the German
national cause might make the gap be.
tween him and his people too wide eve,
to be closed
eernsny vii pass through, this Spring
another OF its old crisis-a struggle be
tween the popular aspirations for unity
and the selfish and dynastic ambition o
the princey powers. On the one sid,
will be popular passion, enthusiasm, love
Of liberty aad national glory. bnt no or
ganlzatipn or experience; on the other
cold and selfish organized military power
which perfectly knows it's objects aud vii
hesitate at nohing to secure them w
cannot, unfortunately, doubt the issue.