Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1867-05-23
THE THREATENED FOREIGN
U

II seems to be the impression OF the
French people and the French press that
their astute Emperor, in the private IN
Outstanding that he is said to have es-
tablished with Count Bismarck, has
been outwitted. This reacts no only
upon the self.esteem Of Napoleon him
self, bu, is calculated to excite the pas
sions Of the French people, they being
proverbially a proud and high-spirited
nation. Their position as the leading
power in Europe appsars now to be dis
pu,ed by the new and rapidly rising
power in the North, and that is a situa-
ton to which they are unsccustomed.
If, therefore, Napoleon meditates a war
in satisfaction of the deceit that is sup
posed to have been practiced upon him,
he has the strength Of an excited and
united population in his own country at
his back. The knowledge Of this fact
is not calculated to check his purposes.
As al evidence Of the light in which
these events are viewed in France, we
may put the case in the language used
by a journalist now in Paris. He says
that there are but three theories Prus-
STA must evacuate Luxembourg on the
demand Of France, which humilistes
Prussia; France must yield her claim,
in which case she will be herself humil-
lated or France must 60 to war with
Prussia. Both the first and the second
Of these theories are considered to be
out Of the question by the French and
the German press, and hence only the
last remains, and that is war. This, it
is to be understood, is not our conclu-
sion, but the conclusion Of well-informed
and experienced journalists in both
countries interested. As to when the
war may begin, ifwar shall happen, that
is another question. Just now Prussia
seems to occupy An attitude exactly SIM
liar to that in which she stood aboutthis
time a year ago in relation to Austria.
She is now questioning the French as to
the reason Of their arming, the activity in
their armories, a~rsenals and dockyards,
just as she Intercepted Austria as to
the movements Of her troops. She is
also rejecting propositions designed by
the other great Powers to bring about
an accommodation of the differences be-
tween her and France, just as she reject
ed similar propositions before the short
campaign with Austria last year. II is
not easy at this distance to determine
whether Prussia is right or wrong in
doing so. We only note the facts as be-
ing just like those which preceded the
war in 1866, and all this may be because
she feels now, as she did then, better
prepared than her antagonist, and there
fore inclined TO push matters to y speedy
issue. On the part of Napoleon affairs
are somewhat different. He appears to
be moving cautiously ; his Ministers
speak With great reserve, every express
sion Of theirs being hedged about by
conditions that leave him and them OPP
~portunities for delay, if not for full
escape from the contingency of war.
Tho French government organ, too, it
has been noticed, observes an ominous
silence. All these things lead to the
belief that he does not feel prepared ut
this time for n campaign in Prussia. 1t
seems clear, therefore, that while the
temper of the French people may be for
immediate war in vindication Of their
los, prestige, their crafty Emperor has
reserved to himself a sufficient resource
in the way Of diplomacy to give him
that delay for arming and msrshalling
his forces that he seems to think may
be required to enable him to cope with
so powerful and well prepared an adver-
sary. It must be observed, too, hat as
the case now stands, the initiative in
warlike proceedings must be taken by
him, and he is therefore in command Of
the time. Hence, if Wal should ulti-
mately result from these events, it
would seem that it will not be i'm
mediate.