New-York tribune., 1867-05-17
THE UNIVERSiL PEACE QUESTION IN
TRANCE.

TRANCE.
| The late London Conference on the Luxem-
burg difficulty has done more than merely settle
! question which at one time threatened to in
voye two of the great military Powers of Eu-
! rope i'm q bloody war; 1t has shown what may
be effected by moderation, and good sense, and
sincerely pacific spirit, in the arrangement OF
those international difficulties which in former
times were almost invariably referred to the ar
| bitrament of arms; and it has thus materially
served the cause of universal peace. 1t Is sug-
| gestiye, also. Nations are evidently growing
wiser as to the best mode of adjusting their dill
| ferences; and although we are not sangune
enough to believe that we have actually entered
upon that period of the worlds history when
swords shall be beaten into plow-shaIes, and
spears into pruning hooks, yet the signs OF the
! times Enthusiastically indicate that We arc fast ap-
preaching the era when peace shall reign SUI
preme all over the planet OF these signs per-
| hans the most noteworthy il the change
which is passing over tho spirit of the French ma
ton with regard to war OF all the nations oi
! Europe the French are the most remarkable Tor
| military ardOr, and the most renowned Tor their
military exploits. The idol of glory has had no
more ardent deyOtccs than the brave sons OF
! France. and there are no mcmorc, connected
| with the st ring history of their country Which
| they cherish with greater f0ndncSs and pride
! than those relating To The wonderful achieve
| mcuts of their soldiers in the numerous battles
which the national yalor has illustrated. But
| the French are different people now
! from Nhat they were under the first
| Empire. a long experience of t'e bleS-
sing, Of peace has broken the charm which
| glory won by the sword once had for them
| They are beginning to learn the folly and the
wickedncss of war for wars sake; and although
they are still as intensely Jealous rs ever of
the honor of their county. they are unwilling
now to rush to arms on the slightest pror0ca-
| tion. or To disturb the peace OF the world IN
order 10 crafty military ambition. Tho man
ner in which the EmpcIors late plan for the
reorganization of the army WAS received by the
people, especially by the rural population,
affords a striking illustration Of tho prevalence
and growing strength of this new spirit And
| il is remarkable that none were mcTe earnest
and emphatic in their protests against drafting
! the youth of tho country into the military
service on tho plan proposed. taking them away
| from their homes and diyore,ng them from in
dustria pursuits during some Of the best years
of their lives than the peasantry-the class
among whom the first Napoleon. Ia the wars OF
the first Empire. found his most enthusi-
astic supporters. The Luxcmburg difliCUlty has
lust given us another illustration. Ii seems
that even when that matter assumed IT'S most
| threatening aspect, the feeling in favor OF war
was by no means general III France. At hrst
| the national pride was touched oD its most
| sensitive spot but the moderate tone OF the
press in dealing with tho question at issue,
! and the opportunity which temperate discus
sion Afforded for reflection, soon produced
reaction, and tho popular voice virtually de-
clared against going TO war TO determine who
should have possession of petty district de-
irving its chief importance from military con-
| sidcratious Not only 80. but while the question
was pcndng, IN international Association was
| formed at Paris with u view 20 the ogganiza-
| ton of a general Peace League, The work
| ngmen of Berlin had put forth declaration
! in favor of the maintenance OF peace between
| Prussia and France, and tlle new Association,
! in responding TO that declaration, proposes that
| the workingmcn of both countries should com
bine their efforts, not merely for tho prevention
| of war in the particulars case OF LuXemburS,
| but in support of the cause ot equity rs OPP
i posed TO the settlement Oh lnVcIildblOltt uiS-
putes by the rifle and the bayonet Labor Is
"our duty and cur right" says their address; ;
| 1T il the law imposed on man War between
"peoples cannot he considered hut as II civil war
the retreat of civilization. WOrkingmen of
| France and Germany, wo have not too much
force and too much energy to organize our
| selves for labor and trade. but want peace
and libeIty-peace FOR production and the ex-
change of our produCts liberty to establish
"among us more pacific and closer relations
for according IA we know each other better
we shall esteem each other more" The sight
presented TO us in this Interchange OF senti-
| ments between the w0rkingmcn OF France and
Prussia is full OF encouragement to the friends
Of peace. Only let the working classes OF all
countries become fully alive to the fact that
war is a calamity that falls with most terrible
and crushing effect upon their heads-that
| dynastc wars, and wars for purely territorial
conquest, while they drain the peoples blood
and treasure, can never be waged in the peo-
ple's true interests, and kings and warriors
will soon discover that they can no longer
| safely play at the game of sacrificing human
life by Wholesale TO carry ont their own selfish
| purposes. The change taking place III the
| public opinion of the French on the subject ot
| war and glory is u hopeful auSury for Europe
| and tho world.
Two noteworthy decisions were lately made