Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1867-05-09

Towanda, Thursday, May 9, 1867.
A WAR IN EUROPE.

adjustment is on foot, has no certain
ty in it. Still, it is hoped that the
good sense of the leading spirits of
the Old World, will hit upon some
expedient to allay the jealousies and
animosities existing between Prus-
sia and France. For it is between
these powers that war is threatened.
Not that the people of these respec-
tive governments desire to shock
each other, not bit of it but
Count Bismarck, who rules Prussia,
and Louis Napoleon, who rules the
French, have lately become very
Jealous of each other, and it is to
crafty their private pique, that the
people are to fight. We have no
particular fancy for either of these
rulers, and if they would go to work
and pommel each other right effectu-
ally, we would not care which got
the worst, OF the best of it. We do
not desire however, to see their poor
subjects forced to destry each other,
to crafty these eowardly bullies.-
So far as numerical strength is con-
cerned, however, the two nations are
pretty nearly eqaal, and from this,
the inference would naturally be,
that contest between the two pow
ers, would be very doubtful. France
in all her late wars has been success
full, and as a war power has been
considered superior to any other in
Europe, until now, the late successes
Of Prussia, have, in the public judg-
ment, made her the equal of France.
A war between these two nations
now, would be very different thing
from what it was under the First Ma
poleon, not because of the incre ased
power of both, nor yet because of the
immense improvement in war proiec-
tiles, but because of the elevation
and advancement Of the people in
both countries in their civil and NOR.
al characteristics. In these particu-
lars, the German and the Frenchman,
have grown greatly, and as we be-
lieve, the former more than the lat.
ter Prussians are the best educa-
ted people-so far as book learning
is concerned-in the world. There
all males must be sent to school a
certain number of years, and all
able bodied ones must be soldiers for
a period of years /; and if we had to
guess, or bet, on the result of fair
fight between Prussia and France,
we would stake for the former first
because of her intelligence, and Sec
ond because Of her religion. The
Prussians ale Protestants, and the
French Catholics and we believe
the easy triumph OF Prussia over
Austria, was attributable to this con-
sideration. While the latter are as
decidedly German as the former, and
in physical and mental developments
are their equals, there is no account.
ing for the great superiority of the
Prussians over the Austrians, which
has long been SO thoroughly settled,
even before the last quarrel, unless
we DO it on the ground of education
and religion. In the war between
Prussia and Austria, it was Protes-
tantism and education against Ca
tholicism and ignorance, and the
r former had an easy victory, as il
: should have had and so it will be,
t we opine, if Prussia and France
fight, Notwithstanding the wonderful
5 prestige which hangs over the wal
: power of France
The immediate cause of rupture
\ in Europe, grows out of dispute
about the old Fortress and Province
of Luxemberg, lying on the borders
of Holland and Prussia. 1t contains
about eight hundred and fifty square
miles, and has a population of lesl
? than two hundred thousand souls
1t belongs to Holland, but is essenti
ally German in it's institutions anC
its population. In virtue of it's be
: ing a part of his possessions, tn,
King of Holland was a member O
1 the late German Confederacy, had ;
vote in the Diet, and furnished mil
itary contingent for the Confederate
armies. The city of Luxembourg
the capital of the Duchy, has one o
the strongest fortresses in Europe
which has always been kept up a
\ German expense, and garrisoned by
German troops, usually, both former
r ly and at present, by those of Prus
: sia The city and it's fortress togeth
f er constitute one of those stronghold
which the warning sovereigns of Eu
/, rope have always watched with the
: utmost vigilance. It's natural posi-
tion amidst precipitous rocks, and OF
one Of the routes C communication
between Germany and France, ii
: alone sufficient to give it very great
Importance, and this Importance has
. been enhanced hy its historical con