Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-02-05

There is logic Of events by which ma
tions are set drifting toward results which
they scarcely anticipate. Cabinets and
Parliaments, Congresses and Secretaries,
assume high moral ground, and being un-
able to retreat from their positions without
dishonOr to themselves, the inevitable conse-
quence is they are precipitatsd into fear
ful struggle.
This moral drifting or logic Of eTentsis
illustrated in our own times by the au'-
cessive grounds that have been occupied
by the President and his advisers.
1t is precisely this slow but morally GER
tain progress which is dragging the con-
tinent Of Europe into what may be a war
Of fearful pOrtent and as fundamental in
its ultimate consequences as will be cur
own revolution.
The small spark of difficulty, which
few months ago was not visible in the
glare of the Polish revolution, has already
reached the proportions of an immense
OonhsgratiOn.
Beginning in dimpling eddies Of sgiia-
ton on the surface of European affairs, it
has rapidly gained the whirlpool sWiftness
Of that fierce mael-storm which engulphs
the unwary mariner into its gurgling
depths.
It may almost be impossible for Ameri-
cans to understand the wild enthusiasm
which charscterize both the Danish and
German people. Undoubtedly, at the basis
Of il, is that intense love of liberty and
hatred Of oppression which have for SO
many years agiteted the German heart.
lis enough for the masses of the Ger
mans to know that their brothers in
schleswis and Holstein are refused their
rights by King Christian, of Denmark.
But with the leaders of the German Con-
federstious, the possession of sea port
upon the German ocean, is at the fcuuCa-
ton Of this wild tumultuous enthusiasm
Of the Germans for the two Duchies and
against Denmark.
The most interested parties, however,
are not those most directly concerned, but
the Great Powers, whose constant object
1t 10 - ad@anea thamsalzes and maintain
the balance of power. England is com
mitied to the defense of Denmark. Lord
Russell has for some time been endeavor-
ing by diplomatic maneuvering to avert
the impending appeal to arms. England
is not SO morally sensible TO the evils Of
war as to be unwilling to engage in q great
European struggle, but she has constant
eye to her material advancement.
England advised Denmark to give up
Holstein. She did SO. Even yielding,
without shot, the great fortress of Rends-
burg. The latest foreign ad7ices repre-
sent her as demanding Congress TO ad-
judicste the question, and stthss same time
as warning the Diet against too hard a
pressure upon Denmark. The whole ques-
fion is narrowed down to the problem
whether England viii 60 to war with the
Germans. For her, certainly this would
prove great calamity. Though with her
fleets and armies she might support Den
mark for a while, she would ultimately
suffer all the disastrous results Of her own
peculiar policy toward this country. Eng
lish neutrality would be paralelled by
American neutrality. The sea would soon
be covered with fast sailing privateers,
armed and equipped by German sailors,
but secretly setting from American ports.
A continental war in which the great
powers, England aEd France, should take
an sotive plrt although oaismi5cus 10
themselves, would not necessarily be 50
to US. On the contrary, 1t might compel
them to Withdraw bslligerent rights from
TIE South. It might afford the so ution to
the French Intervention in Mexico, OBJ.
liging Louis Napoleon to withdraw his
forces from that quarter. A European
war must largely interfere with the traffic
in bresdstuffs drawn from the continent,
50 that she would be required 10 look to
this country for her supplies. The i'm
nsnss supplies drawn from southern Rus
sia by the way of the Black sea would be
cut of, and hence her dependence upon the
markets Of the New World.
1t seems to be general opinion that
war may yet be averted, and that March
will open with the whole question adjust
ed. For the interests Of humanity we
trust 1t may be 60; bnt still we cannot
cherish such confidence.
Louis Napoleon has something to gain
in q European war. He csn feast the
French people, already tired of his re-
strictions and drifting rapidly to LIBERAL
ism, with military glOry-advsnce mis-
boundaries to the Rhine, punish England
FIR snubbing his proprOs,d CoDgres;'
withdraw gracefully from Mexico snd
make more secure his own uncertain sea-.
We hope TO be disappointed, but it
s,sreely seems possible now for the cal-
anity Of European war to be averted.
Ths nations are sll silently drifting tc-
ward the dreaded result
Our Letter from BrowHviile, Texas,