Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-05-08

TAAEuL1ExEg1BDRG QUESTION.
HntenRe Agitation An Dread OF war;
A Loud Cali for Friendly Media
tion-Epgl4nd Preparing 20 Inter
.wenes &c. s ssefs. + - - s l.5is5al ~ /
lre from the London Times. April 1s.l
2 The next fortnight will, in all human |
probability. terminate the suspense which |
now pa falyzes confidence throughout Et- II
rope, The preliminaries OF war are In |
these days as brief as the operations of war |
Of q collision between the French and Prus- |
sian troops on the Luxembourg frontier may
perhaps be the first notice we shall receive
of q struggle for supremacy on the CoDtin-
ent, the mqst formidable In, its probable
consequences, as it is certainly the least
since the days OF Napoleon the First.
Every day that elapsss without 90 assur-
ance Of a pacific settlement naturally in
creases the impatienee of both nations and
the difficulties Of mediation. The supposed
insHltsS conveyed on the one hand in the
soheme, for annexing the province, and on
the other by the refusal to evacuate the
fortresss are daily. aggravated by the ap-
peals to patriotic passions In the French
and German press. In commercial circles
on both sides OF the Rhine,th cry has al
ready been raised that war itself
~ INoD LuALA0tot t10u q PLOSLdCoC0
apprehension Of war, and In mili-
tary circles every rumof Of hostile prepara-
tions stimulates the demand for offensive
action. The most precise accounts of
French ornaments come from Berlin; the
movements of Prussian battalions are re-
ported at the earliest moment from Paris.
It Is not forgotten how rapidly the Italian
war followed the announcement that the
empire was at peace, or how persistent
were the, declarations that Prussia had
scarcely began TO arm against AiistriGn TN
0GsiaHjus before her LegtOns s0ere poured into
Boheg5ia tn perfect state Of discipline and
eQatpnent, 1t would be absurd to doubt
that both Governments have foreseen the
possible contingency of rupture for the
last twelve months. The treaties made by
Prussia with Bavaria and Wurtemburg
were evidently made in contemplation of
this very event, and the soitkdrd.cdt Of French
troops and transports from Mexic0 could not
hdpe beeHmoTe Opp0Ttsase had it been arranged
spftk the Sdnse prospect az Uiesg. FROM the day
that Prussia established her military SUI
pefiority to Austria II became a. fired idea In
the naiRds of Frencbaen. as egell as Germans,
that she sooasld nezt haze to contend 10Th
Frdnce fos. the chdulpionship of Europe. go
It is this issue, and no other, which is now
to be fought out between the two leading
States of the continent, unless reason and
conscience should at last prevail. If it
must be so, let us at least realize the tact,
QlS2faceLQ1 as II Isl not 10 mOQefn s6aG0S-
manship only bus to modern civilization,
without hypocrisy and without reserve
Last year and the year before it was BIAS
Phemyss against the 7seeU gospel Of national
rights TO tohtsper a saspictoit thar ordinary
tiUes of rapdcity had anything to do toith the
hgt-hGRded proceedings Of Prussia. It was
asserted, aud not wiEhout truth, that unity
was tue highest aspiration of the whole
German people; an aspiration to which
they were ready to sacrifice their own lib
critics, il necessary, much more the dynas-
tic interests of q few petty kings and
princes The apparent reluctance of the
Han0verians to accept Incorporation with
Prussia was explained by their aversion
from the Prussian system of CONSUMPTION.
and it was confidently predicted that. it
would soon yield to nObler pride In being
linked to the destinies of Germany
Sehleswig was more delicate topic,
and we are not aware that any per-
fecty satisfactory formuls has yet been
invented to justify its annexation
on the principle Of nationality, though it
was not difficult to imagine other motives
for the transaction. Upon the whole, those
who entertain the greatest horror of war
felt themselves compelled to own that re-
suits of adequate IMPORTANCE had been at
tanned in the reconstruction of Central
Europe upon less arbitrary and more
popular basis, If only. that basis should
prove to be sound and perm tnent. Even the
carnage OF KOniggratZ might not be too
dear price TO pay for the .satisfaction of
such a sentiment as the German liberals
professed, and the creation of lasting
guarantee for European peace. Already,
however, the lnisgfving, which few ventur-
ed to express, that no good would come OF
policy so unscrupHlous and, so daring,
bids fair to. verify itself. = &A*HO* Per-
haps there never was a case in which the
good offices Of friendly governments could
be invoked with greater propriety, and we
49, 49, -. -
an earnest, hope that the mediation of Gredt
Britain and Russia may yet PrOge successful
Our interveDtiOn Is theVery reverse of OFF,
clous, for Prussia herself invited an ex-
preston of opinion from those powers who
signed the treaty OF 1899. The opinion
stated on behalf OF England ts understood
to have been favorable to the legality of the
contract between Holland and France. But
legality Is one thing. international comfy
is sanother. lf our government Is called
upon to act the part of peacemaker, II
will not overlook those circumstances
which would give the occupation of Lux
embuFg by French troops the appearance
ofsa demonstration against Germany. Il
iRreported that asimu ultaneous communica-
ton has been made to the Prussian Cabine
on, the part Of England and Russia; what
ever may be its tenor wemay feel sure tha
it has been dictated by sincere desire tt
do, Justice by both parties. While some o
our German contemporaries. endeayor tt
prejudice US against France by signifcan
illusions to Belgium, and some of oul
French contemporaries foreshadows the los
of our maritime supremacy, if Prussi;
should annex Holland, public opinion II
this country has not as yet busted itsel
with these Interior considerations. Gu
single idea and desire is TO spare Europ
the horrors of war for which its promoter
can find no pretext, and ,clSicI, If 1t be t0Gged
history ,sciH brand as sdisgrGcefak to oar dgt
We deprecate it, not only as Englishmel
but as members of the great Europeal
family, and nothing would crafty US NOR
than to hear that our Queens personal in
fuence had contributed to prevent SO dir
q calamity. - -.ffi,i 30 s4y .s,. . t,sl 81
An ExtraOrdinary Fish. bs
A French journal emulates Victor Hug,
p I sloip Sosss,a traSs,ssa. nIm aha ite thns
- The ComTteuT de Saigon reports som
extraordinary items of natural histor