The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1867-05-11
THE PACIFIC
Commercial Advertiser.
SATTRDA Y. MAY II.
Dark Clouds OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
rope.

game of political ches which j. now being play
ed there. The sky looks dark and the mex
arrival may announce Il storm as having burs
over Europe.
From the time of the fail of Sebastopol unit
the Austro-Prus>ian war, eliminating in tn,
victory of Sadowa, France was. without doubt
the leading European power. Napoleon wa.
conceded by all To be the great master of diplo-
macy of the age. When he spoke, nations list
ened in awe, and under his skillful guidance
France came 10 be considered the arbitcr of Eu-
rope. While he was undeniably great in war.
he was still greater in peace and commerce
agriculture and the arts have hourished under
his sway As never before. His place in history
bid fair to be a far higher one than that of his
great uncle. Wishing 10 form an alliance with
England he fastened across the channel. and
embraced Victoria with a kiss. John Bull was
soon flattered into a close alliance, and drawn
into a war with Russia. He humbled Austria.
and ut Villa France dictated terms of peace 70
both her Emperor and Victor Emanuel. Prussia,
Spain, Turkey, the Danubian Princifalitics.-alI
courtcd his favor and felt his influence. In fact.
lac seemed to have made Paris the political CAPT
tai of Europe. a proud position, which it cost
Napoleon the First, long and bloody wars 70
achieve. 50 secure did he feel in his position
in Europe, that he turned his attention To the
American continent, and sent an army to Mexico,
in defiance of American feeling and of the :. Mon
roe doctrine"
But now, what a change has been brought
about, and all in less than Il year. United Ger
many is established as Il powerful empire on the
borders of France, and Napolcon's dictatorship
seems to be on the wane. The man whose voice
is most potent and whose words have most weight
in the affairs of Europe to-day, is not the occu-
pant of the Tuillcrics, but Bismarck, the fore
most diplomatist of the age. Germany. backed
by Russia, overshadOws France. The demand
for the coveted Rhine Provinces, was met by a
stern refusal, cOuched in terms which Prussia
would not have had the temerity to make use of
Immediately after the battle of SolGcrino, and
which France would not have accepted. But
Sadowa has been fought and won since then, and
needle guns declared Omnipotcnt. Napoleon now
has another scheme Of annexation on the tapis.
The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, on the Dor
dcrs of France, constituted Il part of the Empire,
under the First Napoleon, and from its position
and military Importance, has always been covet-
ed by the French people. 1t is situated on the
right bank of the Rhine, and belongs to the Ger
man Confederation, although acknowledging the
sovereignty of the King Of Holland. 1t con-
tains 10000 inhabitants, with about 1900
square miles of territory. The principal town,
which If also called Luxembourg, is very strongly
fortified, and is considered by military men, al
most impregnablc.
1t appears that Napoleon has for some time
been negotiating with the Holland Government
for the ccSsion of Luxembourg to France, for Il
consideration, and that the matter was consid-
cred as arranged, when the inevitable Bismarck
steps in and fOrbids the transfer. All Northern
Germany, including Bavaria and Baden, are de-
tcrmincd to back the Prussian Minister, and even
Austria, yet sinarting under the defeat of Sa-
dowa, has signiied that she is one with Germany
on this question.
Meantime Napoleon, as if anticipating a COM
ing war, has been h%urrying preparations, and
the armies of France have been increased to Il
war footing by CONSUMPTION and concentrated in
bodies, while stores and munitions of war have
been accumulated in immense quantities. These
preparations have been rightly construed by
Prussia az n menace to the peace of Europe, and
Bismarck has written to Napoleon a very curt
note, demanding of him his reasons for arming,
and insisting on an immediate cessation of war
like preparations. So far, the Empcror's an
swcr las not transpired, but the high-spiritcd,
brave and proud French people can hardly con-
strue this naughty Prussian interference into
anything less than an insult, and it was thought
in Europe that war was imminent. At Paris,
the Luxembourg annexation scheme was very
popular, and there was strong talk of persistence.
But plainly, if it is persisted in, Bismarck means
war, and France will hesitate to war with United
Germany, led by Prussia and backed by Austria.
and perhaps Russia for the blow when struck
viii prove like a lightning stroke and she will
be made to bleed ut every pore. Napoleon has
before him the alternative of either rctreating
from the annexation scheme, thereby losing pres
tige with the French people, or of going into a
doubtful and expensive war. The next advices
from Europe will be looked for with deep interest,
and may bring the report of actual War.
From England, we hear that trouble is brew
ing between that country and Spain. Two
British merchant steamers, the Iornado and
Victory, were seized by the Spanish authorities
off Madeira, on suspicion of their having contra
band of war ON board for the South American
Republics, which turned out not To be the case.
The British Government promptly took the mat
ter in hand, and in the second week in April
dispatched a powerful fleet to Cadiz, with a per-
cmptory demand for immediate redress. The
Spanish Government appears to have made an
cyasivc reply to the demand, but there is little
room for doubt but that the Dons VIII eventually
back down, in as graceful Il manner rs possible,
before the imperative necessity which stares them
in the face of making the amende honorable to
:. Senior lnSleSe." 1t is utterly out Of the ques-
ton for Spain to undertake to cope with Great
Britain, either on sea or land, and in her case.
after indulging in 4 little harmless gaseonade and
display of dignity, a meaningless diplomatic
apology will be made, and n few millions of reals
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