The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-04-19
The Austro-Prussian Imbrogho.

Even i'm this country no one eau WV" -
The probability of general E"'op.S"
without pain and regret. an" nv" =,
firm attitude of both austr'a """
relation to Sch,cswtg- Hois'ei' ''
..sao, 80 continued peace extremely uncer'
tain and vague, IL is highly imT'r'a"' ~ ~
.,,;n The exact nature Of the differences
which may plunge two grea, ana powerful
.',,s inf, The sorrow and desolation of war,
The Duchy OF Holstein passed by marriage
,,nacr The rule Of Denmark, and upon tn"
sna,h OF the late King. by whom II was ac
.uired. its restoration was demanded 10y TN"
Germanir Confederation. Denmark refused
~ restore the nuchy, and this refusal caused
The prussc. Danish war, which ended IN fr">'
=, obtaining possession Of lolsten, the Duchy
in dispute, and. i'll addition, the pu'hS ''
Schleswis which had not before been elaine"
AS belonging in any way 10 Germany
The two puchies are extremely iih''ea 1"
their area. their greatest length being aoo"'
fftv miles and greatest breadth not more 'hai'
thirty. five miles. SchleswiS, the more ho'' vi
erly of the two is bounded on the horth pH
Denmark, and on the south by Hoisteih, whi!'
Holstcin i divided on the south from 'h'
Kingdom OF Hanover 10y the river Eide
There is little doubt that IN the irus>ian'
Danish war the former country was sustained
by the opinion Of the whole Germanlc Ton
federation but il was understood that me
Duchies when wre>ted from Denmark, would
be- allowed 10 remain Independent III name
and fact Power and dominion are, however
rs sweet 10 the great nations ot the Woria IL
To those petty SovereignS who can survey tue
whole extent of their domains from the ter
race of their one royal chateau, and the srea'
Protestant Kingdom determined to make the
DucheS of Schleswig- Holsten an integral por-
ton of her territory. The whole of Germany
is dotted over with miniatur" duchleS ana
municipalities, where everything Is small ana
insignificant but prodigality and prlde-and
their rulers became naturally alarmed ~ the
establishment of Il precedent OF annexation
which might ere long be practiced upon them
selves King Loo was better, in their Judg-
mcnt, than King SroRK: and Austria, who Is
now apparently supported by the great West
crn Powers, rs We'll as by tae general feeling
of Germany, has announced distinctly and EN-
phaticaliy that the proposed annexation shall
never be contaminated with her consent.
Determined 10 conciiiate, if possible hel
acgrieyed neic hbor, Prussia has offered Austria
pecuniary indemnity to compensate for the
increase of territory and power which she her
selfwould gain but 10 this proposition Austria
has declined most positively TO accede Aus
lria does not apparently desire any advantage
10 herself, and i'll advocating the claims OF
DIXIE FRIrpRIcH CHRISTIAN 10 the sovereignty
of the Duchies she is but contending for the
best interests of the petty Powers OF Germany
In the course of a few years the Duchy of
Brunswick will merge into the Kingdom of
Hanover by the death of the present Duke.
who is childltSs, and so long rs amalSamatlon>
result from the natural laws of inheritance,
no one has any right 10 complain but against
the principle that Il great Power may at plea
sure swallow up her weaker neighbors, Aus
tria is evidently determined 10 contend, even
though the assertion and maintenance OF her
position should involve her i'll II protraclcd
and ruinous war.
All the resources Of diplomacy and media
ton will of course be eXcrtcd to avoid an APP
peal 10 arms but IL neither Power shows amy
inclination 10 give way, it is quite posSibl"
that al All early day We may receive adVlceS OF
the severance OF diplomatic relations between
the two countries. The area of the DuchcS
whose possession i III dispute i, rs has already
been stated, comparatively insignificant; yet
the SchleSwig and iolst"in of modern days
was the home of the fi0sbTi, and ia9ieS, ana
S,lonts, those hardy Mortimer who oHer-ran
Europe, planting their banners III the heart OF!
Paris, and laying i'll .i"3le-h'l the foundation
of that great Anglo Saxon race which, how
ever changed by traditions III the Old World,
are modified by circumstances i'll the New,
now holds prcdominance ~ being first III ply
steal force rs well first i'll civilization and i'm
proyement. Schleswig Holstein cannot there
fore be- altogether forgotten, whatever her
form of government; and we can only hope
that the requirements OF justice and modera-
ton may be satisfied by some other means
than that of war for surely if European eX-
perience i in any way like ours i'll the last
four or five years, the arhitram'nt of battle
will, if consistent with honor, always b"
avoided.