The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-05-21
&SAce In Europe.

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Z Qnr cable dispatches nnnounee
disqualification of the terms of peace
by aM the Governments which were
Represented in the conference of ,Lon-
don. Thus Hthe great work of the
conference is consummated, and the
pence OF Europe is secured. 1t took
the nine. plenipotentiaries but three
days to bring about this result-to
prevent wnr which threatened to be
more extensive, and to involve moro
terrible sacrifices, than any which
this generation has known.
The promptitude with which all
parties have nssented to the treaty,
shows that there was less of deter
minatioh for war in any quarter than
had appeared to bo the case while
the quarrel was in progress. The
engerness of Bismarck to try conclu-
sions with Napoleon, and the anxiety
of the French to test guns with the
Prussians, were not only amenable to
reason, but both the one and the
other seized the very first opportuni-
ty to submit their case to the judg-
ment of the North, and give ussur-
anco that they would abide by its
decision. The proposition of :hc
English Government for q conference
was no SOONER made than il was agreed
to on Ill hands, and the terms of The
conference We're no sooner reached
than. each power advanced to give
them final ratification. If we recall
no similar body which ever met with
graYcr business or in q more Derilous
crisis, we know Of mono which ever
acted with greater despatch, or com
pletcd its duties with more satisfac-
ton to all concerned.
AS to the endurance Of the peace
which has thus quickly been brought
about, no opinion from any quarter
is worth listening to. We shall
doubtless be told by great many
W-isc-acres that, Notwithstanding the
conference, war must break out with
in few months, OF at all events, by
next year Perhaps it will; but then,
again, perhaps it will not If no bet
ter reasons for it can be given than
those which have just been refuted
and laid aside by the conference, we
shall not be troubled for some time at
least; and even if far better reasons
can be given for it than these, VIC
shall still refuse to be troubled; fol
we learn, i'll the course Of time, that
there are many forces operating upon
affairs and modifying their character,
which can never be taken into ac-
count i'll arguments preliminary to
the event. We believe, notwithstand.
ing oil that has been said, that it is,
and will be for years to come, tho
general policy of France, as we'll MS ol
England, to maintain the peace o1
Europe, and to postpone, so far as
possible, all arguments about disturb
ing questions. There are but few
matters of dispute about which the
voice of these two great powers would
not be potential.
We do not believe that France has
lost anything in prestige, power OF
honor by Napoleon's course in rcgar6
to this war question, or in regard tc
the peace conference. To assert thu
she has, is to take very narrow ani
short-sighted view Of lcr position il
the European system. Nor do WI
believe that the Emperor's course In.
weakened his hold upon the Frencl
people. On the contrary, VIC believ,
it has strengthened his Government
i'll all respects, and frightened thu
prospects of his dynasty.
Nec York Times, 1874.