Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1864-11-30
The Condition of EurOpe.

One year ago a large portion of Eu
| rope was actually at war, and the re
mainder was in a condition which seemed
liable at any moment to be changed
into one of bloody hostility. To-day il
all the length and breadth of Eu.
rope, there is not sword drawn il
| anger, not a nation whose attitude is war
like. But few months ago, the Dano-
German conflict was in fnll operation
Poland struggled fiercely in her death
grapple with Russia; Hungary became
inhamatory under the appeals of her rev.
olutionary leaders Italy writhed under
the coil of the French occupation, and its
patriots, inspirited by Garribaldi, dream
ed much of Italian integrity and re-
deemed Venitia ; England clustered fierce
ly over the attempts of the allied Ger
mans, while France quietly strengthened
herself for contest which seemed likely
at any moment to involve all Europe in
bloodshcd. Now From North Cape to
Gibraltar, and from Cape Clear to the
Caspian sea, Europe is as peaceful as the
sky of a summer morning.
During the last twelve months several
qIite Important events have been consul
mated. Among these the most promI-
nent are the ending of of the Dano- Ger
man war by the cession of the disputed
dutchies, Schieswig and Holstein, to the
German confederation; the very thorough
subjugation of Poland by Russia the
conclusion of the long rebellion i'll Circas
sia by the deportation of its inhabitants /;
and the ending of the French occupation
of Rome. With the exception of the
last-named, these occurrences are of
permanent character and it is not prob
able that any of the questions which have
been involved in them will, for many
years at least, require a new discussion or
different settlement The last is, how
ever, experimental. and it will require
time to know whether the temporal power
of the pontifical dominion can be made
sclf-sustaining.
Accompanying this pacific condition of
European politics, are evidences of the
most substantial character that this graft
fying state is likely to remain permanent.
Among these may be mentioned the visit
of the emperor of Russia to Eastern Eu-
rope; the many contemplated marriages
between various royal and hitherto an
tagonistic houses the further attempt of
NAPOLEON to bring about a congress of the
leading European powers; and last, but
by no means least important, the actual
disarmament which has already been COM
menced in two cases, and whose example
will doubtless be followed speedily by all
the others.
The two cases alluded to are the very
last that we should naturally expect to
take the innitiative in such a movement.
they arc Austria and Italy,-two states
which, from their geographical position,
their past of jealousies, feuds and blood
shed. and their present causes of differ
ence with reference to Venitia, have every
possibIe reason to regard each other with
suspicion and dislike, and, in consequence,
10 hold themselves in constant readiness
for hostiiltles,
1t is not at all probable that the reduc-
ton of the standing armies of these two
powers is in the least an indication of a
cordial feeling. There is to-day the same
reason for hatred, for ambitious designs,
for distrust, that there ever has been.
the cause springs not from a cessation OF
dislike. but from the lack of means to
sustain the forces which these powers
have. for some time, endeavored to keep
upon a war-footing In the case of both
states, the expenses of keeping up their
armament of the past few years have
| been SO great as to leave them no reserve
fund to cover the cost of a war, should
one occur.
The example of Austria and Italy,
whose reduction is little over one-quar-
ter, will undoubtedly by a similar reduc-
tor IN every other state in Europe This
will restore to pacific pursuits an I'M
mense number of men, and at the same
time will throw into the channels of COM
merce and of internal Improvement an
enormous sum of money which has
hitherto been wasted in sustaining useless
armies.
The present of Europe is as peaceful
and promising as that of this unhappy
country is bloody and portentious OF ulti-
innate ruin. Everything is reversed
What we have been pleased to term the
effete and rotten despotisms OF the ole
world are stripping themselves OF then
armor for a race in which commercial su'
periority is the goal; while we, OF the