The Portland daily press., 1866-06-29
The European War.

The European war.
The German Confederation at this moment
presents an instructive spectacle for American
contemplation. In that Confederation tie
doctrine of State Rights, including the right
of secession, is fully illustrated and pushed
indeed somewhat further than its warmest
supporters on this continent have openly dsr-
ed to do. The Reserved Rights of the Ger
man States include the right to choose their |
several forms of government, while we at |
least pretend to admit only republics to ouI |
Union. That the Southern advocates OF |
American State Rights were willing and would |
have been glad to substitute some more con-
genial form Of government, admits Of no rea-
sonable doubt. That pleasing vision vanished
with the Confederacy.
The news by the Java, and the reception of
our foreign files Ella Quebec, enable us to pie
sent intelligibly the series of TRANSACTIONS
which has eliminated inia declaration OF war,
and to that duty we proceed, merely invitii 6
our readers to look at this German Confedela-
ton, to think of New York, for instance, d.
claring war against Pennsylvania, and see
whittier the extreme doctrine of State Rights
tends. By the convention of Gastein, Prus-
s.a was to hold Schleswig and Austria Ho,-
stein. Early in the present year Count Bis
mark gave notice to Austria to evacuate Hol-
stein, claiming joint powers in that province
also. So much is well known, and it is also
well understood that the policy of Prussia
looks to the re-establishment Of German
Empire with Prussia for its centre, and that
the forcible seizure Of Schleswig and Holstein
are but steps in that direction. While there
is a powerful or at least an influential party
in Germany, looking to and hoping for Ger
man Parliament and National Union in
some form, the ambitious views of the Prus
sian government have naturally alarmed the
smaller States, and it was in very uncertain
mood that the Federal Diet assembled at
Frankfort.
The young Duke of Augustenburg is legal
ly the sovereign of the two provinces in di
pute. OF that fact there is no reasonable
doubt, and Austria has been disposed to ur-
hold his claim. Prussia, having determined
to secure one or both provinces for herself.
disputed the claim, and complained of the
proceedings of Austria as breach of the
Gastein treaty. The first duty Of the Diet,
accordingly, was to decide between these con-
hicting claims. The question was formally
raised by the Duke of Oldenburg, and 1t was
hoped that Austria would furnish Prussia with
no excuse to appeal from the Diet Tie
Kaiser, however, chose to lodge complaint
against Prussia. This appeal to the Diet
Prussia treated as new violation of the Gas
tein treaty. demanded the immediate reorgan-
ization OF the common government of Schles-
wig and Holstein which had existed before
the treaty. and On ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS aceede
k6e asa,slzd, declared her rights IN HOIStein
jeopardized and proceeded to retalate in
most offensive manner. On the 1th June,
the PIussian General Manteuffel issued D: O.
clamation declaring that as the Kaiser won
not let Prussia rule Holstein with him, she
would rule it alone. The Parliament which
had been convened by the Kaiser was forbid
den to meet, and civil governor on the part
OF Prussia, the Baron Scheel Plessen, was
put over both duchies
The march of Prussian troops into Hol-
stein and the withdrawal of the Austrians to
Altoona, were circumstances very unsatisfac
tory for Diet DESTROYS of peace. The Kai-
ser at once declared that he would obey the
orders of the Confederation, and asked that |
the Federal armies might be modified in his |
support On the the 18th June, the Prussians |
entered Altoona, and the Austrians retiring be-
fore superior force abandoned their last foot /
hold in Holstein. On the same day the Prus-
sian ambassador at Vienna received his pass
ports and the Austrian minister was recalled
from Berlin. On the 18th, the Diet, by vote !
OF y to 9, agreed to the Austrian proposal for
the mobilization of the Federal army, and the
Prussian plenipotentiary, according to previ-
Gus notice, Withdrew from the Assembly. The
next day the Prussian troops were in motion,
and declaration of war from Berlin justifies
the action of the King, alleging that the Con-
federation is broken up by the proceedings of
the Diet and he is compelled to protect him
self against the open or concealed hostility or
his neighbors
At the latest dates then, war had been Se-
clared. The Austrian General Denedek Law
along the northern frontier of Bohemia, threat
ening equally the Prussian province of Silesia
and Saxony. On the other side of Saxony
lies Prussia and Berlin, and from the PrlIssian
side two weeks ago the Prussian army was ad-
zancing under the Prince Frederick Charles.
The long wedge of Saxony, thrust between
Inc contending powers, has probably furnished
battle ground before this time. The politi-
,al advantage IN the Diet and indeed before
The world has been plainly with Austria. Her
Eautlessly disciplined army is eager for a
blow at the Prussians before whom they have
been falling back so tamely of late. The Prus-
sian army rs less enthusiastic but will doubt
ess warm to its work. The Italian alliance
OF incalculable advantage to Prussia, and :
behind Italy is France
The French Emperor has astonisbed tbe :
world, by letter to M. Drown de Lbuvs
Which that officer was instructed to read be-
ore the Legislative Body. The letter was
written on Monday, 18th June, the very dav
when Gen. Manteuffel was distributing his c
printed proc.amations in Holstein. The EN- !
'eror repudiates the idea of territorial aggran- t
Element $50 long as the equilibrium OF Eu-
'ope is not disturbed" and will IN no case
PERMIT the annexation ofthe Rhine provinces.
lniess they demand it "by votes freely ex- I
'ressed" These curious statements, which {
We print in full elsewhere, amount timpiy to a 9
'romise that unless there is war, Napoleon a
will not seek to profit by it, if there is, be will
'e elected imperial master of the coveted prov- ]
noes as he was elected Emperor of the French e
'eople in 1852. The foreign policy indicated c
~ his Maiestys communication proved never
heless SO satisfactory to the Deputies, that all e
lebate was postponed in spite of an earnest t
opposition led by M. Theirs, by the decisive t
vote of POP to "a. c
Finally, Russia is mastering troops in Po- ]
an and is believed to have friendly rnser. I