, 1865-01-06

moved with rapidity, fed with ease, brought in
to the field without any of those deficiencies apt
to arise in The course Of half a century of peace.
1t also proves that the Prussians possessed toll
cradle leaders, q most efficient artillery, and
the best and most rapid weapon for rank and
file yet in use upon the Continent. The
army grew proud of itself, became convinced
that its organization was on a level with the
age, learned to look down on the Austrian
sloWness. and imagine itself quite able to meet
the French on equal terms. This new conf
denco may be unreal, or i'll founded, or even
dangerous, but it exists, and existing immensely
strengthens the hands Of the Prussian Cabinet.
That vague sense Of the danger of war, of the
infinite possibilities it may include, which usual
ly restraints all governments, is apt under such
circumstances to disappear, and it has for
the moment disappeared in Berlin. Above
all. Austria and Prussia are no longer On a foot
ing of substantial equality. Up to IS4>, the
Prussian Government never dared press the
Princes beyond a certain point, because it had
no security that it might not be faced by Aus
trian bayOnetS more numerous that its own.
That-danger has not vanished, but it has mate
rally decreased If the game to be PLAYED is
one Of brag, Prussia can sail nearest the wind,
for nothing except attack could tempt Austria
to encounter North Germany, Italy, and Hun
gary all at once, With no substantial aid except
the Bayarian army. If it is, on the other hand,
to be one OF fighting, it is by no means certain
that Austria, hampered by the necessity of
maintaining huge garriSons in Venice, Galicia,
and Hungary, would be secure of victory, and
once defeated by Prussia in a pitched battle
she would be as a German State extinct. There
is no Hungarian nation now to make up for all
Austrian losses by a raising en- n2asse on behalf
of a Queen, no possibility of a triple alliance
for the partition Of the dominions of the descen-
dmt Of Frederih the Great. There is but one
Power which could help her, and while France
would demand in return the freedom of Venetia.
the Sovereign who invited the French beyond
the Rhine would never be Emperor of Germany.
The chances are lin favour of Prussia, and Herr
Won Bismark is not the man to let his opportu-
mites slip. If his master can be induced 10
agree, he will, we suspect, strive for a real adj
diion to the strength and resources Of Prussia,
if not for a definite acknowledgment, that in
diplomacy and in war she represents and is
Germany from the Elder to the Herzgebirge.
The NeU FL p, ess of Vicnna, a paper often
we'll iafo med, ser that Herr Won Bismark
has informed Count KaroIyi of the extent of his
maste s cl2im. The Pfussian King states that
he will support Gn "indep4ndent' SchlesWig-
HolSten only W on the following terms "A
military CONVENTION, a 'mhritime union" The
ri me inac. p'ol , be 1t PrusSian disposal,
tie cessiol Of K'e., the Soyereignty Of the
Eide" Ctn !, and the .oreirn\r ppreSentatiCn Of
{ e Du@lies. In o.her words, RruSSia claims
sove e ,lty in all matte essential to the for
nation of a German fleet, and Suzprainty in all
others, a statement which, repeated ash is f.om
all manner of capitals, must have some founda-
ton in truth. The Auat1iam Gazette adds that
the Austrian Government was not even inform
ed of the order commanding the P~russian troops
to halt in HolStein, and that Herr Won Bismark
evidently waited till the white coats had been
withdrawn.