, 1866-04-20
From tie Spectator, March 24.J
THE COMING STORM IN EUROPE.

the British people, the wisdom which,
like the swallows flight southwark in
stead Of northward, does not depend on
intellect, was never more clearly shown
than in their view of this German quar-
rel. There never perhaps was a great
Continental danger which excited so lit
tie interest. If we may Judge from outside
symptoms, or indeed from the anxiety
with which some doctors of eninence
speculate on The character of the puS-
tules, Central Europe is very sick indeed,
is in the most imminent danger. 1t is
not only possible, but probable, that be-
fore our next issue appears the German
people, perhaps of all existing races the
one best able to appreciate and enjoy
sensuOus and the spiritual-the race least
moved by illusions, yet most tenacious of
ideas, the human family which of all
others luxuriates in the simplest plea
sures and the deepest refinements of
thought-wlIl have commenced a civil
war. Nearly a million of Germans may
be in movement intent on killing each
other scientifically, to secure an object
which at that price is not worth Secur-
ing, which could be secured quietly by
arrangement, and which if not secured
now, nevertheless is as sure 10 be secured
as corn is to grow in an ordinary season.
Englishmen do not care. The majority
of EngliShmen are infinitely more inter-
ested in the question whether Earl Gros-
venor is wise or foolish in his motion on
Reform, is giving expression to ii thought,
or simply obeying an order passed by
the English substitute for a .c0nSeiI de
tamiAe. We will not do our countrymen
The injustice to suppose they are really
Indifferent, really careless whether man
kind suffers a calamity or not, so self
absorbed that they cannot look for a mo-
ment beyond questions about which they
are at heart profoundly Indifferent, but
the truth is they do not believe IN the
hubbub. They have been SO accustomed
for fifty years to hear German poteutatcs
express great purposes, and discuss wide
plans, and make a resonant fuss about
resources without doing anything, that
they cannot believe anything is going to
be done now. During the lifetime Of
this generation Prussia has a always been
announcing her intention of taking some
thing or other, which Austria has always
refused her permission to take, and after
an immense hntamGrre neither party has
obtained what it professed so strongly
to desire. Twice the Powers have APP
peared TO be on the brink of war, once
their armies have been drawn out in bat
tie array, once both have seemed within
a hairsbreadth Of being absorbed in an
organization which would have changed
the face Of Europe. Nothing has come
. of it all, and nothing, says the English
ten-pounder, the most sensible and the
most stupid human being now breathing,
will come of this fantaron, any more than
of those which have preceded it. Some
loophole will be found, some more or
less absurd formula of words, and Ger
many will go on, and Lippe DetmoId will
think his estate a nation, and great
princes will make speeches like Ameri-
can o%rations from the stump, and Ger
mans, will write matches monographs
and demand official permission to travel
ten. miles, as of old.
For once we agree to the bottom OF
our hearts with the ten-pounder. An