St. Mary's gazette., 1866-05-03

question. which may trace its origin
back to the days when the Waldcmars
filed the throne Of Denmark, and which,
for the present. has been practically de-
ciie.i BY the strong hand of power
We would oHly state that, under the
circumstances OF the ease, the public
sontimeut Of Europe and America point
elly condemned the action of the Ger
man powers and Of the German body
Since the close of tha, brief war. the
.luchius have been governed, und r a
tenn orary arrangement, conjolnly by
Austria and Prussia. Now Prussia,
openly snd with uhblushing c:fron.e- Y,
avows that her object in the war was to
attach the duchies to her own territory,
aud proposes a pccuniary consideration
TO Austria for the surrender of the rights
held therein BY the latter power
Austria declines the offer. Prussia III
Inmates her intention to effect her
purpose at all hazards; both are pre-
pairing for war, and both appeal to the
minor German States, and profess the
most pacific Intentions. AS far as there
is any justice involved in the case. there
can be no doubt whatever. even to- the
most prejuliccd mind. as to the side on
which il lies
Though the affair of the duchies is
the immediate AMI oStensible cause of
difficulty, it is recognized that there are
other considerations underlying the quar-
rel. Both nations have been struggling
Nycars to obtain the supremacy of
Germany Austria relying upon its right
of possession, the ancient prestige of the
house of Hapsburg. and its long prima-
cy; Prussia being simply a new candi-
date for power. The House of Hohen-
zolern has been the most persistent IN
Europe in extending its dominions and
augmcnting its influence. In 11Ol, the
Emperor Leopold |. committed the fatal
mistake of bestowing on its representa-
tive at the time, Frederic, elector of
Branlenburg, the title of King of Prus-
-sia, and thus raised a rival to his own
house in Germany. Frederic IL, un
scrupulous and unpriucip.ed, by the force
of his genius, made Prussia hrst-class
Power The Congress of Vienna gave
her half Of Saxony She accomplished
much by the institution of the Zollvere-
in. or Cus'oms' Union, at the head of
which she stands She now aims to
turn the desire of the Germans for un-
itcd nationality to her own advantage,
and raise up a great North German En-
pire by the absorption of all the lesser
States
Herr Won Bismarck, the arbitrary and
impious prime minister of that country,
has another reason for p',nging Prussia
into war For two years be has bravcd
and deied the r,pr >sontatives of tie p"o-
pie, has dissolved two succ IS We chomb Rs,
and treats the constitutional rights of the
nation with contempt He knows that
the people viii easily overlook his despot
ic conduct, if he only increases the power
aud influence of Prussia abroad. Few
ministers at the present day are daring
enough to emulate Won Bismarck
Speculation is rife in Europe as to the
probable influence of the war on the na-
tons. 1t IS thought that Italy will seize
the opportunity to wrest Nenetla from
Austria and that France also must be-
come engaged, it does not plainly sppear
on which side of the quarrel. y pamph-
let, supposed to cmanate from the Prus-
sian government, has appeared IN Paris,
which sets forth the advantages TO France of
an alliance with Prussia. In consldera-
ton of permission being accorded to Prus-
sa to absorb all he lesser States IN the
neighborhood, slight ''rectifcation" OF
the French territory towards the Rhine is
offered to Napoleon. That polite prince,
if he engages in the struggle at all, will
undoubtedly make it rebound TO the ad-
vantage of France 1t is difficult to an
ticipate how many complications through
out the world may arise from this German
contention.