The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1866-07-14
Something About the European,
~nr.


War.
Perhaps some OF orr READERS woulc
like to know what the people of TIT
Old World are going to fight about
question that is much easier asked
than answered--particularly by us, rs
we do not very well understand the
complicated politics Of the German
confederation but for their satisfaction
we will give them the best solution OF
the matter we can. il viii he rcmcm-
lercd that, some three Or four years
ago, Prussia and Austria wrestcd, by
force of arms, the States, or rather the
Duchies of Schlcswig, liolstcin and
Laucnburg, from Denmark. For u
time those two powers held ajo'm &C.
cupatioA Of the Duchies, but in about Il
year they had q Conference, called the
Convention ofCastcin, at which Aus
tria sold her interest in Lauenburg, and
The Joint occupation Of the two other
Duchics was abandoned, and Prussia
then became the posscssor of Schics-
wig, and Austria Of IIo.stcin, and each
of the powers took possession Of its
Duchy. But the Duchy ofHolstein lies
contiguous to Prussia, and is coveted
by that power especially on account Of
its sea port, Kcil; and consequently
the Prussian Government has been try
ing to negotiate with Austria for the
transfer Of that Duchy. The ncgOtia-
tons assumed an angry tone, and Aus
tria handed the question over to the
Federal Congress, or German Diet.
The Federation Of Germany, as most
persons know, is composed Of quite q
number Of small German States, and
the German parts Of Austria and Prus'
ria. The Diet is composed of repre-
sentativcs from those German parts Of
Austria and Prussia, and all the other
German States, and it takes cognizance
solely ofGcrmm questions. Although
Holstein recently belonged to Den
mark, it was originally German, which
is the plea OF Austria for submitting
the question to the German Dict. But
Prussia took the ground that it was
not a German question, and that the
Diet had no control oft; and further,
that the act Of Austria in handing the
case over to the Diet amnulIed the act
of the Convention Of Gastcin, by which
slc Prussia had yielded up the joint
occupancy Of the Duchy Of nolstein,
and therefore she Immediately marched
troops into the Duchy, which is the cau
Sus bcW. Atthis juncturc a European
Congress was proposed by France, we
believe, to settle the questions in dis
pute, and preserve the peace of Eu- r.,
But Austria refused to go into
the Congress on any other terms than
IN assurance before hand that she
should, in no event, be despoiled of any :
Of her territory. The Congress was
abandoned. Since the abandonment ,
Of the Congress, Prussia has assumed ,
the offensive, and thrown her armies in
10 some Of the smaller German States i,
IN the Austrian frontier. j.
The smaller German States will be :,
compelled to take part in the struggle \
IN tie one side or the other, nOlenS 10 ,
much for the German Contcd- .
But it may he asked, why is i
italy taking so active a part in the war. a
The answer is, for the recovery of =,
Vcnecia," u State that once belonged to J.
italy, but which, for n long white, has .
been held by Austria. Italy has moth ,
iiS w w WIFI tic IIolStcln VI btIiiluIl :,
question, but as Austria is engaged in a ,
great war, She has seized the opportu-
nifty, To cover her ancient territory.
italy and Prussia have formed an |
alliance. oar {
Russia is promising Austria assis- {
lance under certain circumstances, and !
France is sympathizing with Prussia
and Italy. If all these powers become {
actually engaged in the struggle, it will
present the grandest conflict ever before t
Witnessed on the face Of the earth. v
England processes a great desire to
neutral, but will probably find it
very difficult to do 80.
There are already more than two 4,
men ready for the fight. =
Active hostilities have commenced on ,
both the German and Italian frontiers >
IF Austria. ..p. =,
School Celebration and v
"'l... Pic Mic. .
,rl,o Sund,y School of tbp Maiholist y