The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-06-19

our war.
The War In Europe-A Historical Par
alicl.
The latest news from Europe, which We pub
lIsh this morning, is very warlike. The scheme
Of . peace conference having been abandoned
Prussia has marched her troops into Holstein,
Austria has concentrated her forces, and Italy
ia ell ready for the struggle. It Is probable
that the next steamer will bring the announce
ment Of battle and soon al Europe will ring
with the clash Of resounding arms. When hos
tilities are actually commenced il will be ex-
ceedingly difficult to tell when and where they
will terminate. England, Franco and Russia,
now neutral, may at any time be brought into
the fray, and the European democracy, who
have long awaited their opportunity to strike,
may at some unexpected moment take sides in
the conflict and overturn the tottering thrones
Of imperial despots.
The curious repetitions or parallelisms Of
history have become proverbiaL Napoleon,
who has stirred up this war for certain motives
Of his own, Is playing the same game with Ger
many now that Richelieu played with Charles
the Fifth. The Reformation inaugurated by
Luther was political as we'll az religious.
Richelieu secretly took part in the troubles
which arose and aided the Protestants in
Germany while he WAS putting them
down in favor of the Catholics in France.
Charles tho Fifth, then Emperor of Germany
and King of Spain, sovereign who boosted
that the sun never set upon his doriinions, was
constantly harassed by attacks from all sides,
now from a powerful rival and now from
confederation of German princes, until at the
close of the thirty years. war he was glad to
abdicate and retire into a monastery. In many
respects his position resembled that Of the pre-
sent Emperor Of Austria, against whom similar
coalitions are forming, and whose object, like
that of Charles, is to establish and strengthen
the power of the Pope by depressing the en-
bilious advances of Italy. Prussia and Italy
now occupy the position held by the oppo-
nents of Charles. Napoleon, like Richelieu,
stands behind the scenes fomen,ing the various
intrigues England, thon neutral because Of
her own troubles with the Commonwealth, u
now In nearly the Same attitude. Finally, the
democratic element, then unknown in politics,
has taken the place of the religious element
once 80 potential.
After the battle Of Lutzen Richelieu secured
for France the prize for which no had been
scheming the left bank Of the Rhine-and 1t
is more than suspected that Napoleon Is
now anxious to acquire the same terri
tory. The singular tact that Richelieu as
sisted the Protestants ia paralleled by the
assistance which Napoleon VIGOROUSLY gives the
democrats wherever he thinks he can control
them and whenever he judges 1t to be TO his
advantage. A wise man uses his enemies ~
further his own plans; but after all il is dan-
gerons game and Que in which tho engineer is
often hoist with his own petard Richeiisu
succeeded In his immediate plots; but he gave
Professionalism IN impetus which nothing has
since been able to check. Napoleon may find
democracy tool equally dangerous to handle.
Should there be q revolutionary uprising in
Europe, bis crown wal be one Of the fret to
tremblo II not 10 fi,r To complete she his
torical parallel il is only necessary to consider
the aspect Of sfairs in England, where tho
Reform bill now being debated Will probably
be defeated or postponed, and tn, poopir,
tired of waiting for the recognition of their
rights by government which has many faults
and few recommendations other than thai Of
custom and tradition, may take affairs into
their own hands and establish another COM
monwealth or republic. We cannot anticipate
another thirty years war, since wars are shorter
in these days; but 1t l. possible that IN entire
reconstruction of the map of Europe and tho
overthrow Of several ancient dynasties may
prccedo that peace Of fatigue and exhaustion
which will close this contest az i. did the waIs
Of Charles the Fifth. Upon this or any other
result Americans may look with compIacency,
for our troubles are over and we emil Ger
tainly be benefited by those in Europe.
The YACHT REvEw.-To-day there will be
review and inspection Of the numerous vessels
of The New York Yacht Squadron at tho Horse
shoe, near Sandy Hook and IL the dsy IL favor.