Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1867-04-24

The world has before this learned t.
admire the bold and dazzling policy o
Count Bsmark. His conflict with tht
Prussan Parliament, the management O
the Schleswig- Holstein war, the secession
OF Prussia from the German Confedera
ton, the declaration of war against Aus.
trla, the establishment Of the new G,r
man Confederation-al these moves filled
the world with amazement at the boldnes:
IN which they were conceived, and at the
rapldity with which they were executed
Thousands of both friends and foes ex
| pected that some or every one of these
enterprises would prove crushing fail
ure; but these anticipations have not been
re lzed. 1t was found that Bismark
could make good calculations as we'll as
bold moves. and thus he has gradually
come to be looked upon as the ablest as
well as the boldest statesman of Europe.
But never in his brilliant career in the
past has Bismdrk so surprised the world
as by his recent note to Louis Napoleon
To call upon the Emperor of France in
peremptory language for an explanation
of his ornaments, and for their immediate
cessation, and to notify him that he will
be held responsible for all the conse-
quences, is an unreserved chellenge to
France for the leadership in the politics
of Continental Europe. Thus far Napol-
con has in every great European compli-
cation assumed the air of being the hon
orary head of the European State system,
and the ar tier Of all European conflicts.
He deemed it his business to interfere in
the Crimean war in behalf of Turkey,
and, in 1859, in behalf Of Italy. He
called a European Congress on the Schles-
wig Holstein question, accepted from
Austria the cession 1T Venetia. in order
to transfer it to Italy, aud insisted on the
establishment of the Main frontier
Though not loved or esteemed by other
monarchs, he made himself feared His
partisans of late have had some difficulty
in explaining his failure in Mexico and
on the erman question. Win they be
able to concoct any explanation if Napo.-
con conforms to the humlllatng orders Of
Blsmark? Napoleon has publicly declar
ed the possession Of Luxemburg to be
indispeusobIy accessory for France; he
has extorted from the Dutch Govern.
ment the promise to sell it; he has refus-
| ed to release Holland from this promise
when she desired to take it back; he b 4s
began to arm in order to enforce his de-
mauds. Now Prussia requires him tt
abandon all expectations o. annexation
and to give an explaina ion Of his arma
ments, and to cease them immedlatel -
Win it be possible for the Emperor tt
comply with these orders: directly or IN
directly, without suffering in reputation
more than he has suffered by any previous
act Of his Government!
Napoleon, aud with him France, must
chafe under the Prussan note Blu will
| the Emperor dare to take up the gaunt-
let? He knews that Prussia is fully pre-,
pared for war, and that Fran e is not; hat
the combined armies Of North and South
, Germany, which as soon as war is declar-
ed are under the chief command of ,he
King Of Prussia, number about | 300, ;.
600 men, and that France has to oppose
them no more than 10000 men Nol
is this all France is without allies
Belgium has refused the offered alliance
Holland wishes to be excused from t
and Switzerland has not replied. Eng
land cannot be expected to ID ndon her OBJ
) stinate neutrality. Italy will not march
J against Prussia, to whom she owes Ven
! ice, for the sake Of the selfcenstituteo
protector Of Rome. Austria has not for
gotten Lombardy, and Russia still smarts
under the remembrance Of Sebastopol. Il
is quite different with Prussia. Her re.
latlons with Russia are known to be init
mate, and even leading papers Of Vienns
have recently urged the cone uslon of an
offensive and defensive alliance between
Austria and Prussia. The publication o.
the secret treaties with Bavaria, Wurtem
berg, and Baden, as we'll as significant
hints of the statesmen and official organs
of Berlin, Pc ersburg, and Vienna ma
turally give rise to the surmise that's secret
treaties between the three Cabinets may
have been concluded many months .
1t would, therefore, seem as though tn
Emperor of France found himself in &
more embar. assed situation than he has
ever been IN before since the establish
ment Of the Empire. We shall proba
bly, know in few days in what manner
he will try to extricate himself.-N 7