The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-04-29
War or Peace in Europe

The brief news received by the cable yes
terday and the day before seems to foreshad-
ow war. The reported quotations of Ameri-
can bonds on the exchanges of London,
Frankfort and Berlin at least indicate the
apprehension of war. sAnd still we hope
that peace may be preserved in Europe
There is good pretext for var; the pub
lie mind all over the world Is prepared for.
it; the fanatics in Germany, not less than
those of France, are clamorous for 1t, and
yet there is chance for peace. That chance
exists in the sober sense of the Emperor of
the French. If he, in good earnest, wants
peace, there will be peace. And we believe
that he still intends to preserve it. 1t is evi.
dent that he entered upon the negotiations
with Holland for the annexation of Luxem-
burg in consequence Of foregone under
standing with Count Bismarck. We can
imagine great many contingencies under
which-the Prussian premier might have -ad-
hered to his concessions towards France
His overwhelming victory. over the Aastrians
made it impossible for him to comply with
his promises Whilst the French emperor
by his victories in the Crimea and in Italy
was enabled to subdue the public mind in
France, the successes of the Prussian arms
had just the opposite result. They have ex-
allied the national pride of the Germans to
the highest pitch, and this spirit now die
tates that policy which, disregarding the
most disastrous eventualities, has only one
point in view-the ruling influence OF Ger
many in Europe. The emperor must know
that Count. Bismarck is not free ia his ac-
ton. He must know that at this moment
Luxembug cannot be abandoned to France,
though Luxembourg, among all the former
NH. l>ofo 4 49, annfaH
eracy, is undeniably the least genuine Ger
| man state. A nation which, notwithstand'
| ing their national exaltation, could consent
| tosexclnde from Germany ten millions OF
| Austrian Germans, who are not less Ger
| mans than the most ultra eutonic Prussian,
| could, without derogating in the least from
their national pride, afford to give up also a
! few thousand Luxembergers, who mostly
speak French, whose education is altogether
French, and who have no other but French
| newspapers. Public opinion in Germany
abandoning with the greatest ease the con
nection Of Germany with millions of people
| who from immemorial times belonged t
| Germany, concentrated its pride on Luxem
| burg, not because it is German, but because
| the emperor of the French wanted it. Io
| possess it is no material benefit to France
| to lose it is no material disadvantage tt
| Germany +; it is only an occasion for boil
| nations to exhibit the strength of their will
their force, and, perhaps. their antipathies.-
1t is not the cause, but the pretext of war;
If, therefore, Napoleon desires to escape wa
| he has only to drop the pretext. He is able
to drop it Count Bismarck is not.
| 1t seems that the other great powers o
Europe have taken this standpoint in The
matter, and, therefore, have tried to engag
both governments, the Prussian and the
| French, to come to peaceable understand
| ing about the matter. The last cable news
which our readers will find in the telegraph
columns, seems to indicate that Count Bis
marck has declined such interference. He
is said to have declared emphatically that h
would not give up Luxembourg Nothin.
less could be expected, and, if this mean
war, then there will be war. Yet nothin;
indicates that Napoleon is pushed to tn
| same extremity by his people that BismarcI
is by public opinion in Germany. On tn
contrary, if there is any truth in the cabl
news, public opinion in France is rather OPP
posed to it; and inasmuch as that fact is i
perfect harmony with all that we know o
the disposition of the French people, we ar
very much inclined to believe in that state
ment of the cable great deal more than i,
its exciting, war trumpeting news items
We have not the least doubt that Napoleo
with all safety is yet able to abstain fror
| war. If he nevertheless takes up the gaunt
let he does so because he apprehends tina
the Germans are determined on a coutic
with him at all events, and he prefers to TAX
1t up now, rather than later, when Prussia
| by perfect amalgamation with its newl
acquired populations, shall have gained i
| strength. To discuss that point, our dat
at present are insufficient-St. Louis Rep.