The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-04-20

France hors de combat before she got her army
reorganized or rearmed. Those who hold this
theory are generally possessed with the idea
that Prussia is a military monarchy like
Austria, and that Bismark has been so elated
with his late success in the field that he now
stands ready to engage all corners. The fact
is, however, that there is no country in
Europe to which war, and, above all,
a war of even moderate length, such as
war with France would be sure to be, would
prove so burdensome as TO Prussia, because in
none would so little of the fighting be dOne by
professional soldiers, and so much by men
drawn suddenly from all the trades and pro-
iessions. Other nations hire men to fight; in
Prussia the whole community may be said to
lay down its tools and 60 to the field; and no
statesman who has to arrest the social ma
chine whenever he mobizes the army, would
ever think of doing so with the recklessness or
alacrity with which the Emperor Napoleon OF
the Austrian Kaiser pours his forces into
foreign territory to fight for a province or an
idea. Prussia, though one of the most war
like of the great European States, has had
more peaceful history than any of them. In
fact, from the foundation of the monarchy
to the present day, period of one hun
dred and fifty years, including the reign of the
great Frederick and the wars of the French
Revolution, she has enjoyed one hundred and
twenty-five years of peace. OF which other OF
the great powers could this story be told
The last great war, too, cannot in any sense OF
the phrase be called war of ambition or OF
aggression. 1t was but the expression in
action of the desire of the German people for
unity; and yet, tempting as the prospect
seemed which it opened up to them, the hard
ships and sacrifices which the struggle
seemed likely to entail were such that the
popular opposition to it up to the moment
when the army took the field was exceedingly
war of aggression, war of pride or suspicion
Or of ambition, or, in fact, war of any kind
except a defensive and a strictly defensive
war, we cannot do better than quote the
words of distinguished Prussian Liberal,
Professor Sybel, now a member of the German
Parliament, addressed last September to NJ.
FORBADE, and to which subsequent events have
lent every month fresh foTce:-
with such an army (the Prussian) incredl-
ble things may at any given moment be
through 1t at any price is a stat g of prolonged
war; such as a dynaStio passion for conquest
might cI cate. With us the mobilization OF the
army is II calamity which strikes every farm,
not a single branch Of the public service or OF
IudustIy which the calling out of the laudwerr
does not touch. The country, you may be
wCll assured, cannot impose such sacrifices
upon itself except in supreme crises; our mill
taTy organization is incompatible for strong
defense or for energetic otfenSe of short dura-
ton, but ii is utterly incapable of serving
The purposes of a policy of war and durable
Government the adoption of our military
system l can assure you that such a measure
would be received by all Germany with the
greatest joy. as pledge of peace and security"