Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1866-05-29
The European Troubles.

Dispatch, leaves little hope that hostilities On
the Continent will be prevented. More than
million of men are now armed and prepared for
the conflict The leading Powers are either
neutral or somewhat inclined towards general
melee England is positively neutral, whilethe
Emperor of France declares, after his senten-
tous and oracular manner, in effect, that the
settlements of Treaty of Paris Of 1885, and the
boundaries under it, are profoundly detested by
him. His words are: II detested, Ike At, 1.-THE
French natfon) those treaties Of 1915, achsch
some parties Of tbs dag aoish to nu,ke the sole
basis Of oar foreign policy" This was in his
speech to the Mayor of the town of Auxerre
1t carried conviction everywhere that Napoleon
was agging on the war to accomplish his own
Interior objects of territorial extension 1t
startled Europe more than anything that had
occurred. Credit was staggered, panic seized
the stock exchanges, and failures of mercantile
houses began. L2salia
The whole Of Europe seems to apprehend a
war more costly and gigantic than probably even
the wars of Napoleon. The London Times,
contemplating this catastrophe, remarks that it
viii show that the world has not improved
In spite of philanthropists ard philosophers
who considered ornaments as gratuitous and
looked upon pacific affiliations as the substi-
tute for havoc and carnage, the world is no bet
ter, since, if the threatened war now occurs, it
viii be as UNJUST as unnecessary, and as wanton
as any war of past times. IfPrussia fights, she
viii fight simply for the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of her
dominions. If Italy fights, she will fight solely
for the conquest Of a province, which, though
Italian by nationality, is Austrian by European
law and long possession. IF Austria fights, she
has the better cause of fighting i'll selfdefcnce !;
for Vcnetia, which is coveted by Italy, is her
own property, and Holstcin, which is coveted
by Prussia, is in her occupation. The mutual
recTiminatiofrs about ornaments of these ma
tons; except Austria, are all hollow and disin-
genuous.
Napoleon s proclamation at Auxcrre means
war. 1t means probably revolution Of boun-
daries and governments unexampled for long
time. 1t is predicted by some that it means
the reduction Of Austria by the excission from
her possessions of Nenetia and Hungary at
least. The former to be annexed to Italy, the
latter to become independent. Furthermore,
it is conjectured with reason that the smaller
States of Germany will be- in the grand conflict,
oyerrun and divided amongst the conquerors -
France is looking for at least lions share -
She will stretch out to the Rhine, which Ma
poleon regards her proper boundary.
I If the war takes place, we shall likely see all
/ this. France will leave it to progress until the
fitting time, when she may throw her sword in
I the SCALE The allies, Italy and Prussia and
some say Belgium will set upon Austria; and
after an ocean of blood, France interyenes and
puts her stake down to the Rhine; Hungary is
free, Ecnetia joined to Italy, the Duchies swal-
lowed up, the wrongs all achieved, and the
world once more at peace!