Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-06-07
The State of Europe---war Inevitable and
Imminent.

Our European news by the Persia
sounds like the rumbling of coming
earthquake. The next intelligence from
the continent may bring to our ears the
clash of. resounding arms. War and a
general shaking up of empires, Kingdoms
and principalities, from the Rhine to the
Black Sea, are apparently inevitable and
imminent 1t is true that Louis Napo-
leon is professedly laboring in the cause
of peace but it is manifest that his pur-
pose is war and that his game is to re-
sumo his work of European reconstruc.
ton at the point where it was suspended
by the peace of Nillafranca. Austria so
understands it, MS we see from the con-
centraton of her two hundred thousand
troops in Venetia, all upon war footing,
and from her energetic preparations 9TH
erwise for the defense Of her famous
quadrilateral.
With all the arming, the musterings OF
men, the threatenings and blusterlngs ~
Austria and Prussia, as against each
other, there is still a mutual shrinking
and reluctance on both sides in view of
the utimatum of the bayonet Between
German and German, though of differ
ent creeds and nationalities, there is
family weakness in favor of peace which
would still prevail but for the interven-
tion of a third party, in regard to which
the arming for war is in earnest and can
not be mistaken. This third party is
Italy; but Austria, in that stronghold Of
her quadrilateral might, with less than
two hundred thousand men,. defy the
regular armies of Victor Emanuel and
the free corps of Garibaldi combined,
but for the palpable yet invisible presence
Of q fourth party, the master spirit Of the
whole imbroglio. This fourth party is
Louis Napoleon, and Italy is but his ap-
pointed insirumeatfor the opening of the
ball - F
This accounts for the heavy military
force, in full war feather, which Austria
has marched into Venetia, while her
preparations as against Prussia are OF
that character which admit of delay. In
Prussia. it appears, peace meetings are
the order OF the day; that /" the wish for
peace predominaies over every other
feeling and that I'VE shall soon hear
that the people will not allow themselves
to become the helpless instruments OF a
despotic annexation policy. But this
popular reaction comes too late. Blsmark,
in pursuance of his arrangements with
Napoleon at Biarriiz last summer, has et-
fected an understanding with Italy, and
Italy, raAied TO the lighting point under
the promptings of Napoleon. Is not dis
posed to halt for a reconsideration
Prince Napoleon had returned from Italy
to Paris with the opinion that =" in the
actual state Of affairs Italy cannot avoid
going to war, even should she be left
alone 10 confront the enemy the Prince
knowing very well that she will not be
left alone. From an intelligent source
at Florence we are told that the gene
raj impression throughout Italy is that
war has now become absolutely necessary
to the national existence and that the
alternative IS foreign war or civil war,
which means that Italy is about to move
upou Venetia by land and sea. Eas
Italy, then, will be the first TO open
fire. and as Napoleon is the bscker of
Victor Emanuel, whether there Is 10 be
peace or war between Prussia and Aus
tria becomes a secondary question. The
DyoRuRcidmeHfO of Napoleon from Aux
ere, with his deiestation OF the treaties
of 1915. was a formal notice that they are
to be overthrow aud set aside-that
Austria is to be expelled from NenitiA'
aud that Imperial France Is 10 be res
tored to the left bank Of the Rhine. The
expression Of sincere desire tor peace,
with certain plausible propositions Tor
an accommodation, on the threshold OF
a Vfemediiated war, Is an old Napoleonie
device. Hence the movements OF the
French Emperor towards peace COME
renee at this crisis we regard as signify
ing nothing There Is no remedy for his
Mexican fdsco but some employment TO
the armies of France nearer home and
through the creduhty Of Bismark the
quarrel between Prussia and Austria
over their robbery from Denmark viii
meet the end desired As Russia is indif-