Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-04-19
European Troubles,

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European Troubles,
/ The broils and disputes which have from
! time irrnen2orial been corvulsipg Europe
/ seem almost iuterminablc. Hardly has one
/ question been set at rest, by an appeal to
arms, ere another springs mp, md for a
! time threatens to royolutioniZe tho whole
continent. Al present the aspect OF affairs
/ is very threatening, and the close Of the
| present year may TitnoE7 n terrible war be-
| tween Prussia and france. The present
object Of DISPUTE between tnoso two great
! powers is the possession OF tie Fortress OF
| Luxembourg. The Grand Duchy or pro
vince OF the same name is part Of HOl-
/ land, and the Fortress is now garrisoned
| by prusgian troops. THIS post is CONSUL
cred as an open gate to the frontiers of
! France, and Napoleon naturally desires to
gain possession Of It, To this end nego-
tiations were opened with Holland, and
that power, wishing 10 preserve the most
amicable relations with France, and proba-
bly, from q desire TO check, ,s much as
might be, the growing usurpations Of Prus-
sia agreed to the transfer. Matters were
at this state, when the King OF Holland
was formally notified that one little article
was yet wanting to complete the compact,
and that was the approval of the Prussian
Government and rather than Holland
should part with Luxembourg, arms would
be resorted to to force her to retain it
Upon this Ill negotiations for the transfer
Of the disputed province have ceased
Holland, intimidated by the threatening
aspect Of Prussia, has refused to fulfill her
part of the agreement.
AS consequence much excitement now
exists in France, and an antl-Prusslan feel
ing is said to prevail throughout the en-
tire empire. The public pride OF France
has been deeply wounded, and, Judging by
the present state, both Of the governmental
and the private mind, either Bismarck
must recede from the position which he
has assumed, and allow the transfer OF the
! Duchy 10 Franco, or else War will be the
result. To this end vast preparations arc
menso quantities Of arms and ammunitions
are under manufacture.
Yet, mt the present time, France can
hardly be considered rs upon sufficient
war footing to cope successfully with Prus-
sin. The late military operations of the
latter power have not only raised it again
10 the former proud position attained by
Frederic William, but the success Of those
operations has established for ii prestige
founded upon tho actual reality, that is
one Of the greatest clements OF success IL q
campaign. Prussia is now feared as we'll
rs hated by the second great Napoleon, and
that astuto leader will hardly venture upon
war, even backed as he is by the fuIl tide
| Of the public opinion in France, until he is
| fully prepared to meet Bismarck in the field.
The former power Is, ut this time, most
certainly the stronger Of the two. The vast
resources of men and material developed
by the lato war, were not only not allowed
to dwindle away, but they have been in
creased and improved, and Prussia stands,
st this day, in position second to that of
10 power on the continent of Europe.
On tho contrary, the great question Of
Mlltary Reorganization IL rance sui re-
mains unsettled, and vast efforts must be
made before the first standard can be
reached. That these efforts will be made,
and that complete and thorough organi-
cation OF the French army will be the re-
suit, the known character and energy Of
Napoleon give us every reason to believe.
Yet there is much to be done, and al inn
mense armament to be provided. In the
event of O war, the initiatory step must be
taken by France, and the possession of the
fortress of Luxembourg will probably bo the
first object for contention. France, there
fore. acting rs the aggressive power, will
most undoubtedly need every energy which
she can bring into tho field.
At all events, war will hardly occur this
summer. The vast preparations needed
cannot be completed before the close of
this, or the commencement of the ensuing
year, and in the meantime all good men
should hope that an amicable adjustment
may be arrived at.
Baltimore Election.
An election was held in Baltimore on