The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-09-30
The Political Situation the Continent
Chances Of War and Motives for Peace.

FROM the LONDON Times sept lV.I
For some weeks past the two dark thunder clouds
OF the political atmosphere have been drawing
steadily together, until 1t seems Us II the most
guine could now hardly hope that an explosion will
be averted. France on one side and Prussia on the
other are either anticipating war or despairing OF
peace. The King OF Prussia has declared plainly and
boldly that he reason for lighting. but that
he viii fight II he must. AMI fight to the end. The
Emperor Napoleon could not venture to address his
menace Of war r. would be discovered '''i in
his words. Perhaps the conviction was not
il-founded; but deeds at any rate are safe,
have found practical means OF indicating his policy
without exposing himself to misconception. Prussia
did take the initiative by reducing the active strength
OF her army, but the example was not followed In
France, and Il Is already predicted by political
alarmists that the present year will see half the
tinent In arms before its close
The real question at issue Is exceedingly simple.
though It's issue will probably depend upon many and
frankly and finally In the pretensions acquired by
Prussia on the field OF Sadowas That Is the i'm
mediate question TO be decided and decided by
France alone. II Il but candid TO acknowledge that
Prussia can well AFFORD TO propose disarmament
ana OFFER pledges for peace She has nothing to
gain by war. Her war Is already over and her gains
are realized Her only object now is to keep these
gains, and to allow her position to be consolidated
and her pretensions confirmed by lapse OF time. No
one, indeed, dreams that Prussia would attack
France or seek to pick quarrel with her. Count
Bismarck, 1t Is certain would preserve peace II he
NJ hest nothing but an assurance Of what he hopes 70
secure without any fighting at all II the
Prussians believe q conflict to be inevitable
they may possibly think It prudent TO precipitate IT,
but on no other grounds could any but q
pacific policy be expected from the government Of
Berlin. France, on the other hand though II rests
tatons TO aggression. Reason as we Will II IN not To
be denied that the aggrandisement OF Prussia by the
late war does affect the position Of France In the po
itical system Of Europe. Prussia is now no longer
the Prussia OF 1915; she Is all North Germany aud
bids fair to become Germany entire. Instead Of her
100000 OF population she may reckon 40 900,
that France In now contermnous with State
more powerful for some purposes than herself. That
Is quite situation, and II Is the more
ceptabe from the fact that Italy has been similarly
consolidated and may probably be Prussia's ally. by
these political revolutions the influence OF France in
European councils has In "a manner been impaired.
Her voice would not be delivered so imperativey as
before. She might be less able 10 command or con-
her borders instead OF a cluster OF weak states
couple OF strong ones, some day perhaps to be CON-
bined against her. Under such circumstances she
may think that II is worth striking blow for the
chance OF undoing what mas been done or OF ar
resting the development OF the work and prevent.
ing 1t from being carried any further. successful
campaign against Prussia might detach Southern
from Northern Germany II 1t did no more, and thus
leave one-haf OF the German nation TO be still
played Off and balanced against the other.
We have put these speculatlons In plain language
as giving France the benefit OF such reason as they
contain. but 1t need not be added that they really
furnish Justification for the extremity OF the war;
what the Germans have done they were, by the laws
OF nature perfectly entitled to do, nor have they in
fact done ANYTHING more than me French have long
Germany has as good right to national unity as
France nor is IT possible that the French can pre-
tend TO q vested interest In the divisions of their
neighbors. when M. Thers argued that France need
not have made Italy one at the cost OF her own
blood aud treasure he had from his point OF view
q, warrant for his words. But the unIfcation
vi Germany was not the work OF France.
~ occurred without her and should have been ac-
eeptea as an accomplished fact That it brought any
danger 10 France or threatened In any degree the
interests or security OF the French peope coud not
| 10 be.s'ed tora momsaC waAlsyss NAY w WRITTEN