The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-05-05
The Impending European war.

Paris to the New York NerS, writes:
Italy, it was for some time said, was
about to ally herself with Prussia,
and to strike Austria from the South
as Prussia strikes from the North
thus accomplishing the unification of
Venetia. It has been even stated
that the King of Italy was concen-
tratlng two armies near the Austrian
frontier, amounting in the whole to
100, 600 men; but this statement is
officially denied by the Government
organ of Florence. The rule appears
to be, on all sides, to deny everything
until the last moment. But that the
actual preparations for all European
war are now in progress, and On q
vast scale, nobody doubts. Italy,
however, will at first hold a position
OF neutrality; as will also France. ut
first. But if war be once engaged in.
both these powers will assuredly be
involved in it, and Russia, too. Not
England. England will ''deeply de-
plore," (that is the phrase and will
sell ships and arms to all parties
all round. She will not send u man
to the continent; for, in fact, she can
not spare them from Ireland: and the
continent knows it.
But, on the whole, as ut present
advised, l can see no escape from an
European war; and if it break out, it
will be tremendous. 1t is probable.
too, that America would profit by it.
both III commerce and in population.
Besides, there must be several large
hOnSaS fhn 1vANIn,, 1o<-
at Boston. Also. the eminent crutch
and spllnt manufacturers of Connec-
tlcnt, whose business was unreason-
ably cut short by the too sudden ter
mlnatlon of the American war, Just
when they had laid in large stocks of
seasoned hickory, and had their ma
chinery brought to a high state of
perfection, for turning out their wares
with the utmost punctuality, neatness
anG despatch. 1t is to be hoped they
have not taken down their machinery,
nor chopped up into fire. wood all
that hickory; for now, as [ seriously
believe. they are going to have fine
foreign market opened to their enter
prise Legs will be lively, and splints
aud crutches in brisk demand.
Now, as this war seems really i'm
minent, and the first shot NAV be
fired on any day, it is worth while to
understand its merits; and, in nv
opinion, Austria, this time, is wholly
in the right. Austria and Prussia
combined their forces to wrest from
Denmark the Elbe Duchies, inhabit-
ed not by Danes, but by Germans.
They did this ostensibly on the prin-
clple of asserting Germanic nation
allty, "f libcrating those Teutonic
populations from Scandinavian rule,
and restoring them to the Germanic
Confederation. After the complete
success of that war against Denmark,
a temporary arrangement was made
between the two victorious powers for
Il JOINT occupation of the Duchies.
awaiting the final settlement of their
political status. But scarely has this
been concluded, when
Prussia, through her most imperious
Prime Minister, Bismark, announces
the intention of totally disregarding
it. and anneXing the two Duchies to
the Prussian dominions, without the
slightest regard to their wishes, and
IN utter contempt of the principle of
nationality which she and her ally
had gone to war to maintain. On the
other hand, Austria steadily opposes
to this pretension the treaty Of Gas
teln, the principles of the Germanic
Confederation, and the legal rights of
the Duke of Augustcnberg, which
must be determined upon by the
General Diet. AS for the priority in
armaments, upon which
such great stress has been laid, even
if it be true that Austria has been
concentrating forces on the Prussian
frontier, it is highly natural, aud even
necessary, that she should do so; for
the Duchies, about which the imme-
date difficulty has arisen, and where
Prussia threatens to take military
possession, are at Prussia's door, and
are far from Austria. In fact, the
whole mass of the Prussian dominions
lies between those Duchies and Aus
tria Therefore, if the latter means
to maintain her pretensions at all, she
must be ready, and in force, and
within n days march of Prussian ter
ritory.
CHIEF JUSTICE CHASE. The COM
paratively insignificant position oc-
cupied by Chief Justice Chase, on the
Bench Of the Supreme Court, is the
subject Of general remark. Marshall