The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-07-29

tor had not gone forth, and there was
strong disincination to believe that
he would proceed to the very extre-
mites of IN earned mediation"
The London Post says:
It is easy to speculate after the
event, but there is nothing to warrant
the assumption that Austria would
have yielded any of her German
rights in o conference. AS Lord
Stanley put it, the problem in cases
of this kind is how, without taking
action in the quarrel, to mediate
effectively. Practically, armed me-
diation," properly so-called, is barely
possible, inasmuch as one of the bel
ligerents would take advantage of it;
and mediation in anticipation of war
that is, mediation which is positive
and to be enforced-must also in the
result come to the same end. That,
therefore, which was pressed upon
France in tho first instance might
have brought about the very ''armed
mediation which is actually depre-
Gated.
At the least, this is exceedingly un-
fair. It is not Judging our neigh
bors as we would wish to be ourselves
judged. Neither in word nor il deed
is there, SO far as we know, any JUS
tifcation for the supposition that
France is shaping her course without
regard to public interests. She is as
entitled to pay primary attention to
her own interests rs we are, and as
all countries are; but as to the ac-
Quirement Of territory, if that had
been the object Of the French Go
vernment, there was q nearer road to
its attainment. Prussia and Italy
will eventually, it may be assumed,
rectlfy their frontiers, and, as mat
ter of right, they have no claim what
ever on the provinces to be annexed.
They have not as yet even the title
which success in war gives. But the
answer to misgivings with
respect to territorial arrangements
is, that, be they what they may, to
all and each of them the great powers
of Europe must be consenting par
ties. 1t is not as if France had, as
was equivocally recommended, taken
it upon herself to restrain the three
belligerent powers, which, if success
full, would have amounted to arbitra-
ton, and if unsuccessful, to an ex-
tension of the war. Lord Clarendon,
it will be recollected, expressly guard
ed England against being committed
to that policy, and Lord Clarendon
has been rightly commended for his
discretion. It is o step that, if taken
at all, should be taken in form to
constrain immediate acquiescence; it
Is, in fact, q measure of coercion,
and must be considered in that light.
The theory may be excellent, but it
is difficult to realize its intention.
Why, remains to be discovered; but
it is not through selfshness; for, as
Lord Stanley remarked, ''mere self
ishness does not pay;" nor is it be-
cause ''the pomp and circumstance of
glorious war" have lost their power
over the nations. Only by searching
the hearts Of Governments can the
reason be accurately assigned. It is
enough, however, to know that, be it
what it may, there is no alternative
between periodical contention-con-
dicts like that which, ten days ago,
ragged over the broad field Of Sadowa
and the confidence and good under
standing that are frequently, if i'm
perceptibly, impeded in the way Lord
Stanley indicated.
The London Ne,os has the follow
ing:
1t would be oasy to collect from
the telegrams of this morning signs
which, taken by themselves, might
we'll seem to Indicate most serious
extension Of the present war. All
the materials of confagration are
there-Prussia and Italy united and
resolute, Frauce bent on armed me.
diation, Cialdini in the heart of We.
netia, the King of Prussia before
Brunn, and the first ships of the
French iron-clad feet on their way tc
Venice. It would be idle to extenu.
ate the gravity of these symptoms.
Nevertheless, taking broad view oi
all the facts, we are disposed to think
that, on the whole, there is more
hope of containing the war within its
present limits, and of bringing about
peace-not perhaps, Immediately
but before very long-than there has
been any day since the Moniteur an
nounced the cession of Venetia under
circumstances which have greatly
complicated the original strife. W.
seem to have surmoun+ed one diff
ficulty which was present to every
4 L