The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-04-25

that Luxembourg shall be a French fortress
at least that it shall not be Prussian; Count
Bismark is determined that Luxembourg shall
be German fortress under Prussian CONTROL
at least that it shall not be French; and the
other great powers, anxious TO preserve peace
Jointly, propose plan by which the difficulty
may be got over and peace preserved. What
that plan is we have not been told. We only
know that while Napoleon is willing to accept
the proposed arrangement Bismark disap-
proves Of it. Peace, on Tuesday, was almost
despaired Of and on the London Stock Ex-
change the tendency was to financial panic.
A late cable despatch announces the arrival in
Paris of Marshal Mcmahon, Duke of Magenta
from Algeria, and that all furloughs are to be
ended and the reserves drilled. Negotiations
had not been broken off, but war preparations
on both sides were being hurried forward with
all possible rapidity. So the matter now
stands. Our next telegram may bring us the
intelligence that the difficulty has been got
over, or that the two largest, best disciplined
and best equipped armies of modern times
have met in mortal conflict, and that war is
raging on the ancient battlefield of Europe.
In the absence, however, of positive evil
dence to the contrary we are unwilling to
believe that the mediation of the other great
powers will be in vain. The ostensible ques-
tion at issue is not of sufficient importance to
Justify war which, if once begun, is all but
certain to sweep, conhagraton-like, over the
length and breadth of Europe, and to prove
more disastrous than blissful in its conse-
quences. All fire is destructive, but all fire is
not purifying. 1t is the same with war. Some
wars benefit while they destroy; but some
wars are destructive only. There is no doubt
a question of right involved in the Luxem-
bourg affair; but in the interests of mankind
at large it is a matter of comparative insgnif-
canoe whether the fortress shall continue to
be the property of the King of Holland or
remain in the hands of Prussia or be handed
over to France. The inhabitants of the duchy
are the parties most Immediately interested;
but war, if it be commenced, will neither be
begun nor carried on in their interests;
nor will their wishes in any way be advanced by
the result, whatever the result may be.
What chiefly lends interest to this question
and invests it to a certain extent with world
wide Importance, is the bearing which it has
on the relative chances of success of the two
great political schemers of the age. The game
which is yet far from concluded, has been long
and keenly played. How it is to end it is ex-
tremely difficult to say. The probabilities are
so numerous that he would be bold man
who should venture to tell beforehand on
which side victory was to lean. If Prussia
and France should go to war ON this LuXem-
bOurg question, it may hasten the final issue.
If this difficulty is got over and peace main
tanned for the present. the issue may be de-
layed, but the diplomatic struggle will not the
less continue. Prussia and France have openly
assumed the attitude of antagonists; on both
sides feelings have been embittered and pas
sons roused nor, so long as Napoleon and
Bismark preside over the respective nations
do we see how collision is to be ultimately
avoided War alone can determine the rela-
tions which new Germany and old France are
to sustain to each other. Sooner or later war
will be felt to be a necessity. But this Lux
embourg matter is not a caSuS beLi which public
opinion will sanction for the present or history
justify in the future.
We conclude as we began. We are unwil-
ling to abandon the hope that peace may be
maintained; but it will not surprise us to
learn at the earliest moment that the first
shock of arms has been felt. 1t may, we think,
be safely doubted whether either Napoleon or
Bismark is, in present circumstances, person
ally desirous of war; but necessity is laid
upon both the one and the other which neither
| is able to master. Napoleon has the Exposi-
tion on hand, and peace is necessary to its
success. Bismark has the consolidation of
Germany on hand, and peace is necessary to
! its success. But the proud spirit OF the French
| people is reused, and refuses to submit to fur
ther insult; the German populations are united
as one man against the alienation of one inch
of the territory of the Fatherland; and 1t is by
no means impossible that the interests OF the
Exposition will have to be abandoned by the
one and consolidation plans given up by the
/ other, in obedience to the force of deeply
reused popular feeling. A compromise, and
therefore peace, is still possible: but the pos
sibility does not appear to increase as time
/ advances.