The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-02-11
THE FRENCH 30, NDARY ON THE
RHINE. -.

It will be remembered BY our readers that the
French Emperor Inst summer made certain de-
mands for an adjustment" Of the French fron6er
o" the East side; an that the same we're fatty re7
fused by The Prussian cabinet. A recent number
Of the Augsburg Gazete gives us an authentic ver7
eion Of the nature OF said claim, and at the same
time thi owB out q warning, the more significant
just nov, in view of that ,2o00 900 army reorgani
cation, We have heard 30 much Of within the past
two months:
:. The Augsburg Gazette says: On the 24th OF
July M. Benedetti, Ambassador Of France, made o.
communication to Count Bismarck, Of which the
following are the main features: The Netherland
territories having belonged till then to the e1-er-
man Confederation, to be excluded from any new
political union with Germany, and Prussia to re-
nounce her right Of gariisoning Luxembourg. Re
PROCESSION to France Of the territories of Saarlous,
Of Saarbruok, and it's coal basn both obtained by
Prussia at the second peace of Paris Cession
.sovereigns Of those States to receive compensa-
ton in Germany. Thoss territorial claims en-
brace much larger extent Of territory than the
one France was compelled to restore to Germs
ny in 1916. In getting possession OF Rhenish
Bavaria and the. coal district Of the Saar France
would have obtained two fortresses, Landau and
Saarlouis, and also Mayence, the bulwark Of Ger
many. Moreover, once Luxembourg having ceased
to belong TO the German Federation, Holland
would have had no longer any interest to Pay the
expenses Of the fortress Of the Grand Duchy,
which would then have to be garrsoned by the
French or be demolished. Il. e. 2
The Augsburg Gazette adds that it is matter
ofpubio notoiety that the territorial compensa-i
tions claimed by France have not been Withdrawn,
and that tho day when France will deem proper to
press them again is perhaps not far distant.
The manner id which this demand Was made, 4
and the deoisive refusal it met with at the hands
Of Prussia, have contributed largely to weaken tho
prestige OF LOUIS NAPOLEON, and have done more
perhaps to secure. for BISMARCK strong hold on
the patriotism and the affections Of his country
men. Here he will ever have ra1lying point, that
will unite all Of Germany, whether, otherwise op-
posed to Prussia or not. How the Emperor came
to back down so ignominiously was then, and is
still, great mystery. Some suggest one e1plana-
ton and some another; the most probable solution
Of the mystery connects it with the sudden nala-
dy with which the Emperor was seized last Spring,
and which the Saturday Reuiew suggests, 'tmay
have naturally intensified the yacillation that has
for some time been becoming his chief mental
"But while this vas mysterious and humilating on
the side Of France, nothing could have been clearer
or more glorious tina the whole affair on the side
Of Germany. Count BISMARCK showed Germany
what she wes capable Of doing NAPOLEON thun-
lered at him, and he was not afraid. He resolute-
y declined to cede an inch Of German ground,
md Continental Europe awoke instantly to the
delightful conviction that it was no longer at tho
mercy Of one man, and that Powor had sprung
up which Imperial France was afraid to attack.
The Augsburg Gazette now reminds us that this
affair is not yet settled; and that ere long the
world may be gratihed with an aquiine combat
IN fearfully gigantic scale. The eagle Of France
wil fly at his black Borussian rival, and struggle
'or life or death may be the result.