Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1867-04-23
Bismarck and Napoleon.

Tho New York Tribune, after briefly
hearsing the more prominent events in Il
bold aud dazzling policy of Count BisDarG,
says nothing in his brilliant career has
surprised the world as his recent note TO
poleon. To call upon the Emperor of France,
ia peremptory language for ar explanation of
his armaments, and for their immediate cessa-
tion, and to notify him that he will be held
responsible for all the consequences, is, SAYS
the Tribune, an unreserved challenge TO
France for the leadership in the politics of
Continental Europe. Thus far Napoleon has
IN every great European complication assnm.
ed the air of being the honorary head of the
European State system, and the arbiSer of all
European conflicts. He deemed it his bust.
ness to interfere in the Crimean war in be-
half Of Turkey, and, in 1859, in behalf of
Italy He called u European Congress on the
ochleswIg- llolstein question, accepted from
Austria the cession of Vcuetia in order to
transfer it to Italy, and insisted on the cstab-
Ishment of the main frontier Though not
loved or esteemed by other mouarchs. he made
himself feared. His partisaus of late have
had some difficulty in explaining his failure
In Mexico, and on the German question:
WIZ they be able to cOnGoct any explanation
II Napoleon conforms to the humiIiatng or
ders OF Bismarck? Napoleon has publicly
declared the possession Of Luxemburg to be
IndIsPensably necessary for France he has
extorted from the Dutch Government the pro-
mise to sell it; he has refused to release Hol
land from this promise when she desired to
take 1T back; he has begun to arm in order
to enforce his demands. Now Prussia re-
quires him not only to abandon all cxpecta-
tons OF annexation, but to give an explaua-
ton OF his armaments, and to cease them i'm
medIately. Will it be possible for the EN-
pcror to comply with these orders. directly
or indirectly, without suffering in reputation
more than he has suffered by any previous
act Of his Government?
Napoleon, and with him France, must chafe
under the Prussian note. But will the Ems
Peror dare to take up the gauntlet? He
knows that Prussia is fully prepared for war,
and that France is not; that the combined
armies OF North and South Germany, which
as soon as war is declared are under the chief
command Of the King of Prussia. number
about J, ,3OO,O 900 men, aud that France has to
oppose them no more than 75O, coo men
Nor IS this all. France is without allies
Belgium has refused the offered alliance;
Holland wishes to be excused from it, and
Switzerland has not replied. England can
not be expected to abandon her obstinate
neutrality. Italy will not march against
d'russia, to whom she owes Venice, for the
self-con sttuted protector OF Rome. Austria
has not forgotten Lombardy and Russia still
sJDarts under the remembrance Of Sebasto-
pol. 1t is quite different with Prussia Her
relations with Russia are known to be inti-
mate,and even leading papers of Vienna have
recently urged the conclusion of an offensive
and defensive alliance between Austria and
Prussia. The publication Of the secret trea-
ties with Bavaria, NSsTtemberg, and Baden, as
we'll as significant hints of the statesmen and
official organs of Berlin, Petersburg, and vi
emma, naturally give rise to the surmise that
secret treaties between the three Cabinets
may have been concluded many months ago.
1t would, therefore, seem as though the EN-
Peror OF France found himself in more em-
barrassed situation than he has ever been in
before since the establishment of the Emoire.
We shall know in few days in what manner
he will try to extricate himself.