The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-08-10
Situation Of Affairs in Enrope--The Speech o
the King Of Prussia.

the King Of Prussia.
The news received from Europe and pub
lished yesterday in the HERALD up to the 7th,
through our special dispatches by the Atlantic
cable, is Of the highest importance. The strik-
ing features of this news are the addresses Of
the King of Prussia to the Legislative Cham
bers and to the municipality Of Berlin, the con-
ferences for the establishment Of peace and
the attitude Of the other Powers Of Europe
with regard to Prussia, and the general ques-
ton Of the distribution or balance Of power.
II Is impossible to foresee precisely what
will be the end Of the extraordinary events
occurring in the Old World. One phase is
presented to our view to-day and another to-
morrow, SO rapidly and so surprising are the
changes and developments. Still we have ar
rived at point, through the present wonderful
facility Of communication, where We may
safely draw conclusions as to the actual state
of affairs and the probable future.
Prussia Is the central point TO which all eyes
are directed. By her superior craftsmanship
and military power she has broken up the old
Europe, and evidently the character and des-
tiny Of the new Europe will depend greatly on
the course she may pursue hereafter. This
little kingdom, not as large the British Isles,
half as large as France or Austria, having not
a fifth Of the area of Russia in Europe, without
colonies, with very limited commerce and
navy, with o population not exceeding twenty
millions, and htmmed in on oil sides by an
tagonis ic States, has suddenly become one Of
the flrs. II not the first, European nation. She
has made the old empire Of the Caesars sue for
mercy and reduced it to o second rate Power,
she has dared to reject the mediatorial offers Of
colossal Russia, she has outwitted the sphinx
of the Tuileries and effectually destroyed the
ovcrshadowing prestigs of France under the
restored Napoleon dynasty. Wonderful achieve
ments And all within few weeks. What a
history is this for the study of the statesman or
philosopher
We have not the space here nor is IL neces-
sary, to 60 into detail OF the progressive
events which have led to these results. No
doubt Prussia had been long preparing for them
by outstanding her resources, by cultivating the
ambition Of her people for national expansion
and German unity, by system Of secret and
able diplomacy, and by giving extraordinary
efficiency to her army. The world at large,
| and even the other States OF Europe prob
ably did not know what ambitious views
the government and people Of Prussia
entertained, nor were they aware of the
preparation that was made to carry them out.
| That famous and historical interview between
| the Prussian Minister Bismarck and Napoleon
was evidently master stroke Of policy on the
| part OF the former to deceive the latter Doubt
less Napoleon, having confidence in his sup
pose d superior sagacity, thought he could In
crease bis own power and aggrandixe France
by using Bismarck to break up the then exist
ing order OF things In Europe. wenow SC the
superior sagaciy Of the Prussian to that of the
Frenchman. The events which followed In the
Schleswig- Holsten affair, in IN adroit manage
ment Of Austria in that business and in the sub
scquent alliance between Prussia and Italy, as
well as the war with Austria, show how skill
fully Bismarck accomplished his purpose. With
all this history every reader Of the HERALD must
be familiar.
Let us look Of the actual situation Of affairs
The substance Of this may be found In the
shrcwd address OF the King OF Prussia 10 the
municipality Of Berlin. I" Prussia, he said, chad
drawn her sword, not only for her Independence
but for the reorganization OF Germany. The
first has been secured the second may, with
the help Of God, also be obtained" II Il
not meant by this that the independence Of
Prussia In its actual autonomy was threatened
No Power or Powers threatened 70 cx'inguisi
that kingdom or TO destroy is independents
The King mean, by this diplomatic phrase TIA,
Prussia claimed to be the great German Power
and TO represent the views and interests Of the
Germanic people neutrality-suspicious. Of Prus
sia meant the consolidation Of the German
| no N 49,. ~. y Il. II rrr-l -, -tr