Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1866-07-18
From the South Carolinisn.
The Cause of the European War.

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The progress ofciyilization makes war and
| its results more terrible with each recurrence
|. of the dire event, and embittered as Prussia,
T; Italy and Austria now are, We can expect
nothing but a succession of battles that will
deluge the land with gore.
The cause of contention cannot be briefly
and fully stated. But the gist OF it is this
By an old law the Duchies of Schleswig and
Holstein cannot be ruled by woman. In
1850, they were inherited by the King OF
Denmark, and in the hands Of his descend
ants they have remained until 1869, VIXEN by
the death of Frederick VII, the last OF the
male line terminated. Legally, the Duchies
then reverted to the young German Duke Of
Augnstenburg, but in 1852, it was resolved
for various considerations affecting the peace
of Europe that the Duchies should not pass
in the legal order of succession, but remain
| annexed to the Danish Crown. Thepopular
party in Germany did not acquiesce in these
| arrangements. Holstein is German, and the
clamor was for the removal from that Duchy
of the. King. he refused, and troops were
ordered to turn him out. Denmark then
yielded Holstein to the Federal army, or army
OF the Confederation: Prussia now came in
and demanded Schleswig also. Austria then
sent troops to the scene of action. After
some fighting in 1864, Denmark ceded Schles.
wig, Holstein and Lauenburg to Prussia and
Austria jointly, but Prussia bought out Aus.
trials interest in Lauenburg for 100000
thalers.
Much diplomatic ink and gold has been
wasted between these two nations, but Bis
mark, the Prussian Prime Minister, has never
been satisfied. He hates Austria and makes
no secret Of it.; and in February Of the pres
ent year, brusquely gave her Emperor notice
that he wished him. to evacuate Holstein.
The Emperor declined. Abont this time
some disturbances broke out amorg the Jews
in Bohemia. Austria moved trooIs up to re-
stofe order, and Bismark at once cried out
that she was arning. She denied it; he in
sisted that she was, and at once began to put
the Prussian army on g war footing. and sent
agents into Italy to stir up the Italians, and,
it is strongly suspected, entered into secret
Convention with Victor Emanuel.
By the Convention of 1875, Venetia was
taken from Italy and given to Austria, and
Victor Emanuel seeing the hour ripening for
the relief of former Italian subjects, may be
excused for having formed an alliance with
the Prussians, and preparing for war.
On perceiving the movement in Italy, Aus
tria began to strengthen her forces in Venetia.
Bismark affected to regard this as another
threat and pushed on his preparations with
greater Yigor than ever. The "notes" which
nave been since interchanged are mere form
alities. Prussia is clearly determined on try
ing conclusions with Austria. Tie confident
manner in which the Italians arc moving to
the attack leaves very little doubt that the
whole programme is already made out.
The New York Nation says at is, OF
course, impossible to predict with confidence
the course everts will take. But it is reason
able to expect that Austria will be driven
from Venice and out of the duchies; that at
q later stage of the conflict, France will in.
tervene and claim the left bank Of the Rhine,
permitting Prussia to compensate herself by
the absorption Of the smaller German States,
and Offering Austria the Danubian Principal.
ties to make up for her losses in Western and
Southern Europe. This would make the
latter less of q German and more of Slavo-
mic and Rounan power than ever, and would
virtually convert Prussia into German en-
pire. But Russia may prove disturbing
element in this calculation, aad, unless her
domestic troubles are serious enough to tie
her hands, would probably lay strong hsnd
on the Principalities."