New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-09-14
est in coin
Tgr WIZ QUESTION IN EUROPE

A disarmament Of Prussia. as announced by
a Cable dispatch in our issue of Saturday, would
be m event OF great Importance. For many
years the reduction of the war budget, and
conseTrently or The army, ha- boon a standing
dcmaud of the majority of the Prussian Legs
sture. and as the Government declared It I'M
possible 10 accsde to the demand. It has been
slant cause o quarrel between 1t and the people.
Afier tie establishment of the North German
Confederation the enemies of Prussia IN the
Scuth German States fonnd none of their
arguments against a union with Prussia
! - elective as that OF the heavy war
budget of Prussia. Formerly, the PuIsSian
Government justified the maintenance of the
large standing army by pointing TO it's powerful
neighbors. who greatly exceeded her in point of
population. and made ii necessary for her to
defend her position as one of the great powers
Of Europe by keeping up the most efficient pos
sblr military establishment. The most natu-
ral explanation of disarmament of Prussia,
Whenever it may take place. would be that
Prussia now feels herself sufficiently strong and
safe 10 dispense with portion of the army, to
crafty the wishes OF majority of the Prussian
people, and to court the applause OF all the
progressive minds of Europe by assuming the
initiative in the question of general diSarma-
ment, which the Progressive party have
BEGIN to agitate in every country. The
military power of Prussia during the Last two
wears has vastly increased. From being a ma
ton of 100000 of people, she has at present
under her immediate command the forces of Il
Confederation numbering I90, 100000, and as, in
ease of a foreign war. the South German
49,. I -. q III q. 10, az
latiou of the treaties which places their armies
under the chief command of Prussia, she rep
rescnts IN such case nation with nearly
100000 Of people. As the army of the North
German States has been wholly consolidated
with the Pl1ssan, and that of the Southern
States has been recognized after the Prussan
model, the army of which the King of Prussia,
in time of war, assumes the supreme command,
is double the strength of the PrusSian army
prior to 1866.
So powerful, indeed, was Prussia after the
reconstruction OF Germany in 1866, that the
French Government admitted the superiority,
in point of numbers and of readiness for a great
war, of the German TO the French army.
reorganization OF the latter though it was ex-
tremey unpopular and alienated some of the
through the Legislative Body, on the plea of
its absolute necessity for the safety of France
The reorganization having been carried through
the French Government declared that now it
was prepared for any emergency. Ever since
there has been n widespread opinion that
Napoleon, believing France to be possessed of
a military force superior to that of Prussia
was DESTROYS Of bringing on war and conquer
ing all Of Germany that lies west of the Rhine
The opinion has gained strength in spite of
(perhaps in consequence of the many semi
official pacific declarations on the part of the
French Government 1t has been supposed
that, after secretly completing all the prepar-
atons for great war, Louis Napoleon might
as pretcxt, spring upon Prussia n peremp-
tory demand for the reduction of her army.
Such demand would of course be refused.
Prussia has shown that she can muster cour-
age to refuse improper demands of Napoleon,
and that she viii not and cannot disarm at
his bidding Whenever Prussia may dis
arm, she will do so because she thinks her
self sufficiently strong TO risk such step. and
probably with q view to the effect upon home
policy in allayng the opposition of the Sonth
German Liberals.
The moneyed men Of France do not believe
in the pacific intention of the Emperor, and
the Bourse continues to be greatly agitated
Everybody believes that the Emperor, notwith-
standing his pacific assurances would not hest
tate an hour to declare wal. if lac were entirely