The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-05-10
THE NEW YORK PRESS.
EDITORIAL OPINIONS OF THE LEADING JOURNALS
uPoN CURRENT ToP1cs-ooMPLED EVERY
DAY FOR THE EVENING TELEGRAPH.
The GalIO-Prus,isn Complication.

in spite OF the marCh OF mlnu, the spirit OF
The age and other formulas by which we of
the nineteenth century sometimes try to per-
suade ourselves that we are much ahead of
our ancestors. Captain Lemuel Gulliver, that
only authentic traveller, told his four-footed
master in the land of the Houghnhms, more
than century ago, that one of the justifable
causes of war between two Princes is 'to
decide which of them shall dispossess third
of his dominions, where neither of them pre-
tend any right" This is precisely the case at
7,resent between France and Prussia. Lux
embourg about which they seemed like to 90
to loggerheads the other day, belongs to
neither of them. If it do not belong to the
inhabitants-a theory which would be secuted
Inv politcians of every stripe-it belongs to
tie King of Holland. But the King of Hol-
land would be but mouthful to either of his
Brobdignagian neighbors; and therefore his
rights are nothing to the purpose. For here
comes in another maxim of the sage Gulliver
that war may be entered upon because our
neiphbor has the thing we want, and because
he Is too weak to help himself. And again, it
is iustifable to enter into war against our
nearest ally, when one of his towns lies con-
venient to us, or a territory of land that would
render our dominions sound and complete.
Which is the very case in hand
throne of France by perjury and treason, and
having lost much of the Napoleonic prestige
which was the only divinity that hedged his
title, he must do something to regain it. The
King of Prussia having just absorbed the
biggest part of Germany, and claiming to
be the chief power in Europe, must
maintain the hegemony of the conti-
nent as against France, who is sorely disn-
clined to yield that preGminence So they
to v,or ta Of
tory which confessedIy belongs to neither of
them, to decide which of them should have the
privilege of intermeddling with the affairs of
other Kingdoms, with which, also they have
no business whatever. Thus they are like to
illustrate another of the sagacious PROPOSE
1ions of the great vOyager-"Sometimes one
prince quarrelleth with another for fear the
other should quarrel with him." The King of
Prussia, knowing that Bonaparte must quarrel
with him as soon as he is ready, is making
haste to begin before he is so. And so
the festival of peace which has Just been in
augurated in Paris is likely to be inter
Tupted by the clash of arms and the roar of
artillery. Thousands of brave men will bite
the dust, the world will be filed with widows
and with orphans, and the fairest portions of
Europe will be laid waste, to settle the question
which of two men shall help himself to what
belongs to neither of them, and shall enjoy
the prerogative of putting potential finger in
Othes peoples pies
1t would be well if these two monarchs
would listen to the words which the youth
of France are addressing to the youth of
Germany The students of Paris are signing
an address to the German students which
shows that youth is sometimes wiser than
age. They say to them:-"Is not the time of
national hatreds past Far be from us the
ideas OF another age Peoples are great not
by their territories, but by their institutions.
1T is not the extension of their frontiers, but
OF their liberties, which both France and Ger
many should DESIRE" Brave and noble
words, and as wise withal But who will
listen to the voice of Wisdom crying aloud in
the streets OF Paris or of Berlin She will
6e, much more likely gagged and locked up
IN the conclergerie. We expect to hear that
this address has been suppressed, and its
promoters punished, But the fact is signif-
cant. 1t shows the direction of the under
current OF French thought, and is prophetic
of the force it may yet gather as it runs fol
1T is OF the leaven which will work it's way
gradually through the lump until it is al
leavened. But it will take long time to work
Its wholesome fermentation. ..
We do not believe that the London COME
renee will do more than delay the breaking
out of the war. Neither party could vel
refuse, when so entreated, to assume pacif
disposition, whether felt or not. The occasion
of the war which is to come lies deeper thai
dynastic or territorial interests. 1t will pro
ceed from out of the hearts of men, whenc
come all wars and fghtings. Passion, an
not calculation, will be the inspiring principl
of the conflict Prussia has never forgotte
the humiliation of Jena, nor France that @
Waterloo. The desire on the part of each
the two peoples to give the other satisfactor
1hrashing, will be the secret spring of the strif
that is to decide which shall be the great Cor
tinental power The manifest destiny urge
Prussia forward, and the instinct of self-prt
serYation must keep Bonaparte from holdin
back. successful war with Prussia woul
secure his throne for at least his lifetime
And he is not the man to hold back from
game, however desperate or dangerous, whic
is played for such stake. Kings can fin
quarrel in smaller straw than Luxembourg
whenever fight will suit their purpose
And so it will be now, the London COnferenc
Notwithstanding.