Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1866-06-27
rae RAFrsMAn's JOURNAL,
The War in Europe.
From the London Times, June 9 ]

from the London Times, June
In one quarter any delays of the German
powers are likely to excite impatience and
Indignation Italy has given herself up so
completely to warlike policy that 1t would
be impossible for the Government TO stop
the people, and difficult for the people to
stop themselves. We know not what Sc
cret understanding there may be between
Prussia and Italy, whether anything like a
convention has been arranged, and, if so,
what form it has assumed But virtually
an alliance has been concluded, and Italy
will not fail to urge upon the Prussian Gov
ernment the expediency of immediate war.
Italy can now only see safety in such n
course. Her levies are so large, her ex-
penses so enormous In proportion to her
means, the enthusiasm of the people has
been so reused, such multitudes of men have
focked into the army, that to return to
state OF political quiet, and expectation
would, in the opinion OF Italian politicians
be equivalent to national ruin. With her,
to draw back would be fatal, while to stand
still and allow the country to be crushed by
olution, to use the Continental phrase. has
been called to the aid of the Italian Gov
ernment; and this same revolution is spir-
it which is not easily laid when it has once
been summoned. We may then expect to
find the Prussian Government exposed to
the strongest solicitations of its ally, and
Italy, perhaps, committed to a struggle by
some rash act of those whom she has sum
moned to her banner. 1t is announced that
the King was immediately to arrive in Flor
ence, and that Gen. Cialdini was also to be
there. Councils of war will no doubt fol-
low, and Italy will take her chances in at
tacking her enemy with or without the help
of an ally. But if Austria remains on the
defensive, those who attack the Quadrilat-
eral will have no easy task Something more
than zeal and patriotism is requisite to turn
strong army out of such a position.
1t any gleam appears on the dark horizon
1t is to be found in the temper and behavior
of the Prussian and other German popula-
tions. The King of Prussia and his minis
ters may well hesitate when they see what
misery they have caused and what a spirit
ses with tremendous severity on the Prus
sian people. The country, though richer
and more industrious than formerly, has not
increased in population to a degree which
will admit OF such enormous gatherings Of
men. The army which is actually in the
field Is said to amount to two hundred and
eighty thousand fighting men, with fifty-fve
thousand accessories There are one hun
dred and ten thousand of the first ban of
the Landwehr in garrisons. In times of
enthusiasm like 1913 these calls for flesh
and blood may be answered without unwil-
lngness: but war to please minister, or
even to gain seacoast and a fine harbor,
must not make too great demands. The re-
quirements of the State have now been be-
yond all bounds. A population of less than
nineteen millions is expected to support an
army of more than half million ct men
on active service. To make up the number,
the clerk is taken from the counting house,
the tradesman from his shop, and the peas
ant from the field. Women are everywhere
performing more than their usual share of
the hard and coarse work of the world An
act of hostility on the part of Austria, such
as the entrance of Marshal Benedeck into
Prussian Territory, might make the people
forget these hardships in hatred of the en-
emy, but at present the discomfort is chiefly
with their own government Not until the
enemy has struck blow will the King have
a really jealous and warlike army As lotg
as peace is preserved there is the possibility
that this disposition of the Prussian people
may have some influence upon the ministe-
rial policy. The middle States, which have
not yet given up hopes of reconciliation,
are, no doubt, encouraged by this disinclina-
ton tor war to persevere in their efforts
Their own limited power, however and the
cumbrous machinery of the Confederation,
are likely to interpose great obstacles to eff
fective action.
With the abandonment of the Conference
the efforts of the neutral powers have natu-
rally come to an end though, if there were
to appear any chance of resuming profta-
BILE negotiations, 1t would doubtless, not be
neglected. Every power is interested in
war which may spread over the
greater part Of the continent Even dis |
-ant Spain and Portugal think it necessary
to take measures for insuring their neutral |
ty. As regards central and southeastern
Europe the prospect is gloomy enough. Nor
ire the outlying portions of the Turkish |
empire yet so secure that we can afford to !
dispense with the supervision and guardian |
ship that the great powers have exercised |
Ii those powers are engaged in war an am |
bilious empire like Russia may attempt |
'eturn to a policy that has only been tempo- |
'arlly abandoned. Though we cannot think |
t right that the neutral States should fur |
her interfere with the beligerents. thew |
night take counsel together for the benefit |
IF the rest of Europe, and use their inau- |
ence to prevent any ambitious power from |
,urnlng the general confusion to account,
HORRIBLE RETRIBUTIoN. The Knox |
7ile Commercial says: eve have lust |
oeen shown,a private letter from Floyd coun |
), Georgia, to one of our citizens, in which |
me OF the most dastardly crimes is made |
Known we ever chroncled Three ladies
we're returning home from visit to a neigh |
,or. when negro came upon them in a Sc
uded out of the-way place, and attempted
o detain them all. Two of them succeeded
n getting away from him the other one he
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