The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-01-14
CHARL ES TON.
MONDAY MORNING, JANUARY IA, 1s6
GERMANY IN 1866.

MONDAY MORNING, JANUARY IA, 1867.
GERMANY IN 1866.
The year just past has been one oil the most
important for Europe in modern times. Great
events have iranspired, and will lead to others
greater still, perhaps. Kingdoms and States
have been overthrown, and others have risen'
upon the ruins Of these, to a greatness and I'M
nortanco not dreamed of twelve months since
Although a war between Austria and Prussia
NAV rot Lave been altogether unthought OF at
that time, in consequence of the many olm-
culties that arose in the course of the attempt
ed settlement of the affairs relating to the TWO
conquered Elbe Duchies,-and although Tar
seeing statesmen, perhaps, may have seen
settlement Of the German question, as pos
sible consequence of such war,-yeti it is hard
ly to be thoug' that even Count B1sMARK
! himself could have expected to see the entire
situation of European politics changed by 1t
within such brief period; that Austria should
have been expelled at the same time, both from
Germany and from Italy, and that Prussia
should be elevated to the pinnacle of mllltary
power in Europe.
Certainly NApoLEoS anticipated no such re-
suit. He, in who's, hand, it was said, lay war
or peace for Europe and without whose con-
sent not a gun could be fired from the Bay OF
Biscay to the Caspian, suddenly finds himself
degraded to the position of second rate
monarch It is generally reported, and not
without reason, we believe, that the quarrel
between the two German powers was fomented
by the Emperor of the French, who hoped, by
successful arbitration, armed or diplomatic,
to regain the prestige lost by the failure Of his
Mexican expedition. This intrigue, however,
was very unfortunate, for it at once reused
universal opposition in Germany to any pos
sible French influence and the threatened war
Of Prussia, unpopular before, now had the
good wishes of every German, irrespective OF
religious or political creed. NAPOLEON un-
consciously became the strongest ally Of
Prussia.
The war certainly proved Prussia he first
military power in EUROPE but it likewise has
aroused the jealousy of the other nowers.
Russia is not pleased at this dangerous
ACKNOWLEDGMENT of her Western neirLbor;
Austria is rapidly recruiting her strength;
France is endeavoring to organize an army Of
200, 900 men, This unprecedented army can
not be designed merely to amuse the Partisan
bellies by their brilliant maneuyres in the
Champ de Mars. There is but one explanation
to the labors of the Military Commission, Of
which His Majesty is Chairman, viz: q read
justment of the French boundary in the east.
Fierce combats are in store for Germany and
Prussia, before the great dream Of national
unity shall be realized. 1t is unfortunate,
therefore, that the Prussian Government should
continue it's reactionary policy as regards in-
ternal affairs, and pursue anything but con-
ciliatory course towards the recently conquered
dependencies The great glory reflected upon
the nation by the brilliant military achieve
ments has exercised potent influence upon
the most radical of deputies even,-and this in
spite of themselves. They have generally
yielded, therefore, in their controversies of
late with the ministry; but this will not long
continue to be the case.
Prussia, however, is dependent upon the
entire German people for successful and
satisfactory solution Of the problem Of national
unity, but this cooperation she cannot count
upon, as long as she repels, by an anti-liberal
policy, the sympathy to be found everywhere,
even among the people in the South German
States. A different course might have been
expected from the known energy, wisdom and
prescience Of B1sMARK; but the exciting events
Of the past summer have proved too great
tax on his nervous system and although he is
noulinally at the head Of the Government, he
appears no longer to hava sufficient energy to
repress the augmcnting influences of the Court
and Juakerthum the feudal party
Some there be who expect great and i'm
portant changes from the German Parliament;
but such is not our opinion. From the nature
Of its constitution, this body will bs without
influence, as it lacks Il. necessary authority
and power to have its DEGREES executed. The
only real purpose of this Parliament, thus far
apparent, seems to be to enable the King Of
Prussia to obtain absolute control of the mill
tary power of Nortl Germany. This he has
already as one of the results of the war but
the DEGREES of the Parliament, it is thought,
will tendto reconcile the adverse populations,
and legalize what now seems an act of I'm
authorized tyranny.
Prussia isnot alone engaged in increasing
her army; every ether European power is
doing the same, and on scale heretofore un-
paralleed. Austria will not cease to plot, in
order to recover what she has lost. France
and Russia must ever remain powerful and
dangerous neighbors. Coalitions may, there
fore, reasonably be looked for at any time,
which would prove too strong for Prussia, not
withstanding her splendid army NApoLEos IS
the most dangerous Of sll these. lie has to
avenge moral defeat which has injured his
position both in France and in Europe. If his
rule is to- continue, lie must gain great VIC
tory, and this victory must be obtained on the
battlefield. French diplomacy is at work, to
take advantage of any false step on the part of
Prussia; and the malcontent courts of South
Germany furnish point d'appai.
The Staat, Zeituny closes a long and interest
ing article on this subject with the following
remark: Although war has wrought great
change in Europe during the past year, Prus-
sia has become aggrandzed, and Italy enlarg-
ed in her borders to the utmost extent almost
of the national boundary,-and this, too,
although she was defeated both by land and
by sea,-Austria has lost province, great
and important, both from commercial and
strategic point OF view; and, by her exclusion
from Germany, she has been weakened both