The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-08-18
The European Observation-Disclosures DIFF
fculty and the PeTils OF Austria.
From the Herald.

The European QuestiOn-Napoleon's Diff
fculty and the PeTils OF Austria.
From the Herald.
We have a report from Paris of the 18th, by
the Atlantic cable, that the French Government
had abandoned the idea of extending the from
tier of France by the annexation of certain
German provinces on the Rhine. Napoleon may
have caused certain hints to be thrown out in
this direction in order to gain time or to sound
the public opinion of France in reference to the
back-down suggested; but his detestation of
those treaties Of 1915 no doubt remains the
same as when he made that audacious little
speech at Auxerre. He there proclaimed him
self the champion OF the imperial programme
of his uncle; he intended France to understand
MN, and his speech was SO understood and ac-
cepted by the French people. They have accord
ingly been expecting great things either from
the diplomacy of the Emperor or his splendid
army-trom European Congress ora campaign
on the Rhine.
On the other hand, it may be said, that when
Napoleon finds himself in an untenable or
dangerous position he does not hesitate to
withdraw from 1t; and his peace with Austria
in 1859 of Villa Franco, and his retirement
from Mexico, may be cited as examples of his
prevailing prudence under the strongest temp
tations for rashness. But the abandonment of
the idea of the extension of France to the
Rhine under the present situation OF things in
Europe, involves such a loss of prestige and
popularity to Napoleon and the empire as to
make bis surrender quite as dangerous to him.
self as declaration OF war; 1t is a question
which will probably take as much time for q
settlement by negotiation as by the sword.
We appTehend, indeed, that the sword will at
last be required to cut the gordian knot, what
ever adjustment may be attempted by diplo
macy; for in this matter the question is
whether France shall maintain her sscendancy
on the continent, or quietly consent TO be
neutIalized, overshadowed, and held at bay
by the new Germanie Confederation embraced
in the fr11lv pnwnrful lYinodOu, of
We can hardly believe therefore, that the
French Government, upon twenty-four hours
consideration of the Prussian ultimatum, has
abandoned the idea of the Rhine frontier. On
the contrary, we are still inclined 20 the opinion
that this business will not be settled short of a
continental war or another French revolution.
In view of a revolution there is an active agta-
ton going on among ''the peoples" of the Aus
trian empire, which may spread like the conta-
gion of the cholera or the rindsrpest into
France. Revolutions, like epidemics, when
once started are apt to travel in every dire ion
where the combustibes upon which they feed
are to be found. Poor Austria now, in the midst
other degradation and helplessness, appears to
be on the verge of general breakup through a
revolutionary uprising of her various peoples, y
especially the heroic and republican people OF
Hungary, who in 1S49 were only checked IN
their victorious march towards independence by
the intervention of Russia with an army OF
nearly two hundred thousand men.
That Hungarian revolution was set in motion
by the French republican revolution of l84S,
resulting in the expulsion of Louis Philippe,
and in the setting up of that experimental
poetical republic OF Lamartine, which was first
secured and then superseded by the present
Napoleon with his coup Getdt and the empire
But why may not the revolutionary con
taeion spread from Hungary to France
as well as from France to Hungary Wher
the loyal Austrians proper Of Vienna. NEE
their hitherto venerated Kaiser with the CRY
OF "Abdicate !" abdicate !"--when tLou
sands of brave Hungarians taken as prisoners
OF war by Prussia, in his service, accept with
gratitude their release on the condition o
undertaking the independence of Hungary, VT
! may well pause to require:-Is Austria to go Il
! pieces from this disastrous conflict, or will she
! still survive, even as a second-rate power
! through the helping hand again of Russia
| This too, is an interesting question, and on
which will depend as much for its settemen
upon the movements of the revolutionary ele
ments upon the continent as upon the managn
statesmen OF the great powers. We still hold t
the impression that peace Is not secured i
Europe; that war outside OF France has becom
| a necessity tn Louis Napoleon to avoid a
4 internal revolution, and that while courts an
! cabinets are discussing the rectifcatlon of thei
boundaries, 'the peoples" as in 1889, and wit
4 more system and force, may rise and change tn
whole programme from France to Hungary, c
| from Hungary to France,