Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-05-29

will of the French ruler and his people.
The antagonists have almost lost the
ability to check themselves; but If Napo-
leon were to bid them pause, If he we're
TO utter a warning which should be a
menace TO whoever struck the first blow,
peace might yet be preserved Unfortu-
nately the arbiter of the continent speaks
only to spread dismay on every exchange
by some doubtful utterance. What he
may do none can tell what he is doing
is plain to every beholder. His is case
where inaction is interference The
whole world is beginning to think that
some great scheme of European change
has been formed, which is to be effected
by war and Austria is TO be the first
victim. If they are wrong, they may be
set right in day. Napoleon has only
to disclaim completely with the designs
of his neighbors, and Europe will be once
more tranquil; public waste and>private
ruin will be checked, at least for time.
This happy announcement is, we fear,
not to be expected. We must be content
to look on the saddest spectacle that the
world has seen in our time. II the ac-
counts we receive be correct, Lord Clar-
endon's estimate of million men in
arms falls very far short of the truth
Prussia has placed FIVE army corps in
her central and southeastern provinces
on war footing, and fonr more in other
parts of her territory, the whole amount
ing to 365, 900 men. Reserves, which
may be called out at any moment, would
add 100000 TO this force, or that the
Prussan army, in case of war, may be
made to reach the enormous number of
$4,000 men. On the morning of the I'd
instant an order to place all the Austrian
armies on war footing was issued, and
$50, 900 men will soon be under arms
The lev es of Italy will probably amount
to 100000 men. The minor German
powers have considerable armies. Such
are the forces about to be marshaled in
this strife. The wars of former times
hardly bear comparison with that which
threatens us. Germany had not half
this number of men in the field when she
fought for her national existence in 1873
We can only hope that at the last mo-
ment France will interpose to prevent
this fatal war
ENGLAND TO BE NEUTRAL
From London Times Editorial.l
At this momentous crisis in the affairs
of Europe, it is well that the position of
the British Government should be strict
ly defined. Though the sympathies Of
abis country are with Italy, not one voice
has been heard in favor of an aggressive
war on her part, and certainly no British
statesmen has suggested or would encour-
age an attack on the Quadrilateral So
far the lesson Of 1864 has been we'll
learnt. We have lectured nobody, we
have given less advice than usual there
has been no appeal to treaties which We
do not intend to support, no hints OF as
sistance which are afterward TO be re-
tracted or explained away. Lord Clar-
endon could, therefore, last evening meet
the questions of an Opposition Peer with
entire equanimity His answer was sim
pie. and as far as British interests and
credit are concerned, satisfactory. Lord
Cadogan, after some PREDATORY remarks,
asked whether her Majesty S Government
had made an offer of mediation, either
alone or in concert with the Emperor of
the French and the Emperor Of Rus
sia, to the Court of Austria, Prussia or
Italy, with a view of assisting the Gov
ernments of those countries in arriving
at pacific settlement Of the questions
at issue between them. The answer OF
Lord Clarendon was in the negative. lie
said that if there had been the least rea-
son to suppose that the good offices of
the Government would have been ac-
cepted they would have been freely and
conscientiously employed But my
lords, said the foreign Secretary, signif-
canty, I'VE have stood alone, and alone
we could do nothing against the determi-
nation that war is the most effective
meaus-the only effective means-of ac-
complishing an ambitious policy. Lord
Clarendon went on to say that war is not
actually declared, but more than a mil
lion of men are now armed and prepared
for the conflict Europe is menaced with
q war for which there is no cdsus betH,
and for which there is no justification.
Berlin Telegram May u London Times.
ATTEMPT TO AssAssIgATE COUNT BIsMARK.
This afternoon, about six o'clock,
we'll dressed man fired several shots from
a revolver at Count Bsmark in the Inter
den Linden street. The would-be-assas-
sin was Immediately arrested, having
been seized by Count Bismark himself,
who was not wounded by any of the
shots.
ELEVEN P.M-The attempt upon the
life of Count Bismark was made as the
Count was returning on foot along the
Unter den Linden. after having had an
audience of the King Upon reaching
the Schadow-strasse he was fired at from
behind by man, who discharged at him
two barrels of revolver Both shots,
however, missed the Count, who imme-
iiately turned aud seized the man. la
he struggle, which ensued between
hem. the assassin fired three more shots
from his revolver Count Bismark re-
NAMED unhurt, with the exception of a
slight confusion. His clothes we're also |
burnt by the nearness Of the three last |
discharges. The perpetraior of the at |
empied assassination, who was imme-
lately arrested by the police, is man
hirty-two years of age, a son Of the re-
publican refugee Carl Blind 1t appears
hat he came from Hohenhen, in Wurt-
,mburg, with the deliberate intention of
lssassinating Count Bismark.
A Darkey on stonewall Jackson.
Walking M Main street yesterday, our |