The national Republican., 1867-08-03
EUROPEAN AFFAIRS.

ulate upon European affairs, and the con-
dition of the different nationalities Of the
Old World. The American writer, or jour
nalist, has only to take his standpoint, and
then, with sort Of abandon, he can draw
his picture with outlines and colorings to
suit his most exuberant fancy, with the
certainty that but few critics can gainsay
the life-like accuracy and truthfulness OF
his portraiture. 1t is easy enough to con-
lecture what this or that crowned head
will do in certain emergency, and to
point out the chicanery and tinesseinJ
which the statesmen and diplomats Of
these Governments will resort to, provided
this or that shall occur. Particular events
may occur, and then inevitable results will
follow. Thus many Of our writers and
journalists reason, and when therefore
there appears to be the least chatting or
disagreement between two Powers, they
precipitate war, and we are called TO
notice the march Of armies long before any
well-advised man in Europe has seen
ripple.
For many months past we have been as
sured almost daily that war was about
to commence between France and Prussia.
Nothing could prevent this immediate out
break. 1t was inevitable and certain, and
we were so instructed in respect to the i'm
minency of this conflict that we caught at
our morning papers in the firm conviction
that the cable dispatches would announce,
in flaming capitals, war between France
and Prussia commenced. But when this
did not come off, according to the adver-
tised programme of the Snowman, certain
reasons have been given which have chiefly
amounted to this postponement on account
of the failure Of some prominent actor to
be present! 1t is not very difficult
matter to find q reason for not meeting an
engagement when the certainty Of our
doing so depends largely upon the conduct
and course other parties may choose to
pursue. If France and Prussia will moi
fight American journalists cannot make
them do so, and no possible romancing o
the cable agents can bring about this con
aict.
w luuJ vi bCNtEul OCCuolOub, ]
we had looked no deeper than the troubled
surface of affairs, VIC should have sold wa
is inevitable. The struggles Of two grea
Powers for the supremacy, for the leadin
and most potential position in Continents
Europe, does not, in itself, insure wal
The struggle for this mastery through nj
gotiatiols and diplomacy, is one thing; th
conflict Of arms to secure it and the lii
bilities to fail Of its attainment, is quit
another thing. Here is just where th
struggle is at this moment between Franc
and Prussia. 1t is which shall be the leat
ing Power in Europe. Now, will the
fight for it We do not think IL, at leas
for the present. Though the nephew
my uncle" might be willing to risk muc
to achieve this high vantage ground, sti
he must have q reasonable chance OF vii
ming success, before he ventures to cast b
all upon the hazard of this die. We ar
willing, of course, to admit that the peac
conference at London did not-though
appeared to-settle the Luxembourg que
ton, nor make these two Powers any be-
ter friends. The old quarrel still ramklei
There may exist between individuals
cordial hatred of each other; still they ma
not fight for obvious reasons What i
true Of individuals is true of nations.
There are several important considers
tions which it is necessary to take into tn
account in the consideration Of this stat
of things existing between France an
Prussia, and the writer who ignores thes
considerations will be very likely to stun
bic to his conclusions. Ideas and theori
are very pretty things, and speculation
may nlnuse; but facts are stubborn thing
And in Europe, and also in this countr
We are fast coming to dlstrust the spec
lative and ideal, as applied to policies, al
are coming down to what is, and what
not, the actual and the practical in Il
domain OF politics and government.
The writer's in this country who assun
that war between these two Powers is il
minent reason from certain wellknoy
conditions of European complications.
is asserted that the treaty Of Prague mea
that Prussia shall surrender to Denma
portion of the territory Of North Schl
wig; and that NAPOLEON has the right, o
it is his duty, to insist upon the fulflme
of this agreement. Upon this indefensit
right, it is said, NAPOLEON predicates
demand upon King WILLIAM, which
foreshadowed in his recent note to Il
prince.
1t is claimed that if France is involV
in war with Prussia, Austria must 81
with France, and that Russia cannot j
with Prussia in this contest, because 8
is the friend and ally Of Denmark. Pr
sia, therefore, it is concluded, must be !,
to do the best she can with her own forct