, 1866-09-04

CUuplCCcuCSS WUulu U0 SCdICCly more
presumptuous than to demand "a cession
of territory. The public law Of Europe
has never sanctioned the principle which
the Emperor acted on in the case of
Nice and Savoy-that whenever any
neighbour of France gains an accession of
power France obtains a right to indemni-
hcation at the expense of The successful
State. Such q doctrine tends to make
every change in the internal affairs of a
nation a pretext for further change, and
builds on domestic revolutions claims
almost sure 10 produce foreign wars.
The notion, so often proclaimed by M.
Theirs from the Tribune, and unfortu-
nately adopted by the Emperor, that the
safety of France consists in the weak
ness and disunion of her neighbours,
instead of in their reliance on her mode
ration and justice and their conviction of
her strength, is one which no other ma
ton on the Continent p~retends TO apply
TO its own case, and which thinly wells
the desire for territorial extension under
the pretence of an over-anxlous solicltude
for a safety which is not really menaced.
If war is intended, never was a moment
worse chosen. The French nation is
going through the course we seemed 10
have accomplished. 1t is weaned from
the aspirations of barren glory, and seeks
in the arts of peace that happiness which
it has not found on so many glorious fields
of battle In every quarter of the globe.
It desires peace, moderate liberty, and,
above all things, sound finance and
equitable taxation, and peace would be
endangered for objects so paltry that
they would be dearly bought by the loss
that the very apprehension Of war will
create. AS regards Prussia, a demand
for the frontiers of 1914 is both ungen-
erous and unwise. II Prussia were ever
so anxious 10 meet the wishes of France,
such a concession is at this moment
most difficult. She owes her splendid
success mainly to the fact that she is not
only the impersonation of force, but the
embodiment of a principle. That princi-
pie is the Unity of the German race IN
der one political organization, the ANAL
gamation Of the small States into which
the Fatherland is parcelled out, and The
making all Germany one land and ore
people. How can it be expected that a
Minister devoted to this single idea, can
at the very moment of its accomplish
ment, in the face of all Germany and all
Europe, cede to a foreign Power a por-
ton of German territory7 Such an act
would in itself half undo all that has
been done, and convince the German
nation that its destiny were in unworthy
hands.
1t is not impossible, indeed, that the
proposal of the Emperor of the French
to appropriate to himself a portion of
German territory is so far acceptable 10 a
statesman of the fearless and aspiring
temper of Count Bismark that it strength
ems his position. Without the pale of
the great State. which he is forming
there are many States,-Baden, Bavaria,
Neutrality-suspicious. people, whatever
may be the sympathy with Prussia if
involved in a war not of her own seeking
for the sake of preserving the unity and
integrity of the German territory. Nay,
we doubt whether the eight million
Germans comprised III in the heterogeneous
Austrian Empire would not find them
selves drawn by an irresistible sympathy
TO the side Of their recent conquerors,
and whether it would be possible for the
Emperor of Austria, if he were so minded,