Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-04-08

Critical State of Affairs on the
Contfnent-Prussia ReaI Design
--'rha M ask 'B,S, ,.nxvE 6AR. E~E

CrIficaI State of Affairs ON the
COntfnent-IDrussia p n cal Design
The Mask 'Ehrown Oh: @ Ecs
lFrom the London Morning Pot, March 23J
as The prospect of affairs ON the Continent
Is not encouraging. A twelvemont1 since
the horizon was scarcely more overcast
than it is at this moment, and we know
what the summer brought forth. With the
conclusion Of the Austro- Prussian war
many were inclined to believe that the set
Ilelnent effected by the belligarents was
final. and that in becoming mistress, of
Northern Germany the ambition of Prussia
was satisfied. The apparent readiness with
which that power stopped short in its vic
toriousg career and the willingness with
which itassented to the suggeston thrown
out by France that the line of the. Maine
should mark the Southern boundary of the
Northern Confederation, furnished what
were supposed to- be ample grounds for such
belief. France, in her capacity of medi-
atOr, stepped in between the com 9atants,
and then and since then has congratulated
herself on the success with which she per-
suaded Prussia to temper the-rigof OF her
demands with fitting mOderation. 1t noao
turns ont however, that, whilst to all ap-
pearancesg stopping short at the Maine,
fTSsfu aods. IN truth, PctendtRg her frontiers to
thel ALpS.o The esecFettreaties concluded be-
tween her and Bavaria and Baden, now for
the first time shown to have been concluded
almost simultaneously with the treaty of
FNikolsburg, prove that everything either
said or assented to by Prussia in respect to
the line of the Maine was simply bind to
cover, her real designs. The time however,
has now come when Count Bismarck con-
siders that the true position of Prussia in
Europe may conveniently be disclosed, and
persons have noticed, as curious coinci-
dence, that this disclosure has been made
lSof
debate which followed the Interpolation of
M. Theirs in the Corps LegiSlatif. 1t was
the custom of the old school of tlipIomatists
to veil their designs in the greatest secresy,
and never to afford the slightest insight
into their policy until that veil had been
torn away by the irresistible tideot events.
Count Bismarck has long since emancipated
himself from the trammels and traditions Of
this school. He conceals his policy only so
long as he deems it expedient to secure its
success, but he Invariably torestalls events
BY openly proclaimiug what it is that he
intends to do. Such was the course which
he adopted both in the Dano, German and
in the 'Ahstro Prussian wars. Whilst ] :
seemed still impos- -ible to preserve the peac,i
of Europe by the aid of diplomacy, Couni
Bismarck declared that nothing less woul
satisfy Prussia than the absolute with ?
drawal of Austria from Germany. Prussi%
aimed at being the mistress of an Unite
Us a G+W y
fired her leading spirit candidly declaredt +.
Europe that such was her object. Nov
again question has arisen respecting he /,
views aud her intentions, and Count Bis
marckhaStens to make clean breast of l.
The organ OF the French Government hay
ing given it to be understood in the recer J
debate that the line of the Maine marke /
the Southern frontier of that portion { ,
Germany which acknowledges the suprem
at;y sof Prussia, Count Bismarck hdstens t /
correct so serious q nai>dppTebenSi0T. I'll [
King OF Prussia he points out, has as complet +
q control oDer the drDeies-of Southern as he hC
oUer those Of N o,tleTD Germany. He is, j I
fact the Generallissimo of the forces of a t
Germany, and in the event of war can dis /.
pose of them us he thinks fit.E The Rive /;
Maine, France and Europe generally al ,
given to understand, is simply geographi :
cal fact, and by its existence aud positio :
no more affects the joint action of Northei =
and Southern Germany than the rive I
Thames affects that OF Surrey and Mid
dlesex.
The Prussian minister is, no doubt, be
lieverin the logic icofaccomplished of facts, AL
by publishing the treaties of alliance wit :.
the Southern powers, he probably think
that he will carry conviction to the min ;
of the only people from whom he ha
is better that France should understan !
once for all the real magnitude of the pow
-er which has suddenly spruHg into existi
teneeon her Eastern frontier, and should al
stain from what would be vain atteml
to prevent it establishing its security. 1t !.
/ thus that Count Bismarck reasons; AM"
whether his conclusions be correct or not
no one will deny to him the merit of dist
playing great sagacity in thus frankly d. :,
fciartng what is the true position of affair ;
NJ. Rouher let fall in his speech, in reply t
NJ. Thiers, the expression that the WesteI {.
Powers would readily ally themselves !:
| preyent the realization of any ambition :
| follies on the part of Prussia. Count Bis
marck has replied to the challenge almOsi
as soon as uttered, by avowing that Pruss
| is identical, not only with Northern bi .
with Southern Germany, and by implies {:
Iltion inquiries whether the virtual apprC I,
Ipriations of all Germany is one of those an {
bilious follits, the realization of whit !
| England and France are ready to spring I :
We fear the day is gone by when state :.
men can speak seriously of the balance I !
/ d Iwer in Europe Assuming that the d. !
sired equilibrium existed two years az,
it must be confessed that the balance h, !
! been seriously disturbed by the creation !
a State numbering seme fifty millions
| inhabitants. ItTemains TO be seen " hetb I
not only the Western Powers, but thegr !;
Eastern Powers, will acquiesce in tn (
| change. This is not the time to review Il ,
policy which was pursued by them duriE !
the Dano- German war; but it is evideI !
| that, If those whom we may term the ouI
siders were then interested in maintainiE {
the existing balance OF power, they oug I;
then TO have interposed to prevent a gr,: Z
violation of international law. 1t may ! :
in the recollection of our readers that W :
/ although nearly alone, advocated the eau
of Denmark, and pointed out that the bio /
directed against her was in fart levellt {
against every small State in Europe. ] :
1 has been frequently urged, aud not will .
out much plausibility, that the existencet
number of small States too insignificaf J
to maintain their own independence, was Z
source OF weakness in the general econom s
of Europe. But those who held this bell :
will probably feel that the existence of )
State such as Prussia has now become wi !
be a source of still greater danger. 1t M
/ be asked, will France acquiesce in tn :
change? Prussia aoiH reply to such a QaGeSti
i Ly saying that she must GcQuteSCe. And this
i the explanation OF the publication of .
j treaties with the Southern Powers. Is I'll
llogic of accomplished facts so conclusive .
4 to carry conviction to the minds of n :
polt on LII and his advisers? The events
I the present year will supply the answer
this question. For the present it must
admitted that the chances seem in favor Z.
I the realization of Prussia's widest hope
Our Taxation Nightmare-Rad
cnl Pr11igacy.