Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1866-04-22
THE POSITION OF FRANCE.
opinion of Her Press.


The Temps gives a denial to the report
that Count G0itz, the Prussian Ambas-
sador. suddenly left the city for Berlin
after having an audielce Of the Emperor
Napoleon.
The Dc50ts, in referring 10 the PrUs-
sian circular, saws it is evidentnO that in
undertaking the war against Denmark,
Prussia had no other idea than that Of
absorbing the Elbe Duchies, and 70 the
last moment everything went wei with
her. Her soldiers gained easy laurels at
Nissunde and Duppel, she forced Den
mark into a disastrous peace, aud through
out the campaign she appeared 70 lead
Austria. complaisant and resigned, at her
heels. She did no. then know, or rather
she forgot in the ardor Of conquest, what
a drag an ally becomes when, at the mo-
meut OF sharing the spoils, that ally stops,
and begins to have sCruples, and % in
woke right and iustice. Referring to the
views EXPRESSED bv Count Bismark with
respect 10 the present state Of the confed-
arafioD. the De5QtS SAYS: HecOnSiders the
confederation has been very badly form
ed that il is based upon a false prinCi-
NE. that of the cordial and perpetual
alliance Of the two great German pow
ers. Its military organization is not
correct: in one word, which includes
everything. Prussia is not suill-
GENTLY mistress Of the confederation.
That is what n. De Bismark wishes 70
make obvious he very mgeniOusly de-
clares that If Prussia is not sure Of Ger
many she is exposed by the mere fact Of
her geographical position 70 disagreeable
risks NJ. de Bismark does not deceive
himself; be knows the map Of Europe
he knows that Prussia has no safe from
tier either toward France or Russia, and
that its Sileeian frontier could easily be
turned by GaliciS ana bohemia. But II
seems that the consideration Oi these de-
feetive frontiers and of this elopgated
and tortu0us body called the Kingdom
Of Prussia, instead Of filling him with
IDEAS OF annexation, ought % render
him more measured and more cireum-
spect. II is, therefore, in the name OF
the interest OF Prussia, and that alone,
that Count Bismark claims from the
German courts a revision Of the federal
compact and new military regulations
that is 10 say, the annexation, doubtless,
of the contingents Of the small States 10
the Prussian army. But the small States
turn a deaf ear and, though the future
may destine them 10 disappear and blend
with the Prussian monarchy, they think,
reasonably enough, that the moment has
not perhaps vet come for them TO con-
sunmate this suicide. We need not be
astonished, therefore, az the reply which
certain States have already made 10 the
third part Of the dispatch, in which
count Bismark calls upon them to de
clare TO what extent they intended to
give their assistance 10 Prussia. The
cabinets Of Munich, Dresden and Wei
mar have declared that they should be
guided bv articles II and 10 Of the federal
pact, which regulate the course to be
adopted iu ease Of a conflict between two
conaederate States. The Vienna jour
mas assert that the majority Of the Ger
man governments viii make the same
repIy. We know what value is attached
az Berlin to these antiquated pretenslons
but the federal pact Is Of use u may 81
All events serve 10 retrench the force OF
inertia OF the small States. VIII NJ. dc
Bismar< advance 70 the attack OF this
fantastic redoubt Under any circum-
stanees III Prussia had any lurking desire
10 withdraw from the path sho has en-
tered upon, the dispatch We have jusl
analvzed might serve as starting point
for negotiations, in which she Wonid
have more 70 gain than 10 lose, even
though she merely gained time 10 collect
herself