The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-05-08
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FRANCE AND GERMANY.


From the NJ y. Herald.
All our recent intelligence from Europe shows
that. though the war cloud has not yet burst,
the sunshine of security does not rest upon the
border lands of France and Prussia. There has
been no lack of peace speeches in France; nor
has there been any violent manifestation of belli
cose tendencies in Prussia. But while M. dc la
Valette accepts the situation in Germany, and
while King William cOngratulatCs NJ. de la
VaIette for his peaceful sentiments, both Napo-
Icon and Bismark reveal their distrust by pro-
yiding, as best they can, for the contingencies Of
the future.
tain recent public acts of the French Emperor.
80 make war prominent question of the hour
would be dangerous. 1t would tell injuriously
against the government at the elections now so
close at hand Hence the peace policy of the
7 resent. To carry with him triumphanty the
votes of the French people-this is Napoleons
immediate purpose. Mark how he paves the
way to success. The LiUret or Pass Book
system was a perpetual nuisance to the work
inl nan. 1t was an eyer-present policeman
W hing all his movements 1t was govern
IL spy which practically robbed him of his
in ,dual liberty. The workman hated the
/ ot but without it he could not live. Napo-
lc has abolished this system has set the
". man free and secured his vote. Napoleon
i.. one many clever things in his day, but, in
lew Of present eXigencies, this is one of the
cleyerest things he has done. This how
ever is not all. If the French have
glory. The new army law, it is true,
has never been largely in favor; but while this
may prove that the French people are settling
down with increasing delight to the cultivation
of the arts of peace, it certainly does not prove
that they forgetful of the glories of the past
Forty thousand veterans of the First Empire
still survive. By way of marking the hundredth
birthday of Napoleon the First, Napoleon the
Third has resolved very considerably to increase
the pensions of those forty thousand veterans
There has been some grumbling among the op-
positionists, but the proposal is Enthusiastically
popular all over France, and it cannot fail to
have powerful influence in favor of the Govern
meni ut the elections. We say again that the
great object of Napoleon is to triumph at the
electiOns--to prove once more to Europe and the
world that France is with him. 1t is scarcely to
be doubted that his object will be accomplished
He has made his moves with such skill that
failure is next to impossible The elections over,
will this peace policy continue5
That is the question which many minds are
now seriously asking themselves but which few
find themselves competent to answer. We have
said already that Count Bismarll is not deceived
by peace manifestations. In the North German
Parliament, the other day. he made speech
which furnishes us with key to his thoughts.
4 resolution had been introduced by prominent
member in favor of q responsible ministry for
the Northern Confederation. Count Bsmark
opposed the resolution, and in the course of his
speech clearly showed that he is not in favor of
too much Capitalization. His fear was that such
would ALLEVIATE the sympathies of South Ger
many. 1t would deepen and widen the Main
and would practically be shutting the door in
the face of the Southern States. 'The South
German" he says, "faces the danger and fights
like n brave soldier when he stands the
spot where the law has placed him; but if
nc must risk his person on his own RESPONSE
bility, he ponders long time before he does It,
1t is perfectly manifest from these words, and,
indeed, from the whole tenor of his speech, that
Bismark has come to the conclusion that Prus-
sia must not be sunk in Germany; that the unity
of Germany must not be accomplished by and
through Prussian ascendancy, but that the unity
and common sympathy of the German people
will be more effectually secured by loose and
easy confederation than by confederation too
closely united. South Germany, the Count
seems to think will be a better bulWark to the
North if not too closely pressed into union. Any
attempt to Prussianize Germany or to force a
general union would produce discomfort in the
South, and discomfort in the South would beckon
France to the Rhine. This conclusion of the
Count is no doubt largely the result of con-
Viction on his part that war with France is a
probability. How best to unite Germany against
France in the event of probable attack is Bis
marks present policy.
This conclusion of the Prussian Prime Minis
ter is already known in Paris, and NJ. de la
Valette has alluded to il as q reason for belief in
the continuance OF peace. Much, however, will
depend on the result of the elections. France
may become arrogant and aggressive, and she
may not. 1t is certain that Prussia will not be
the attacking party. The danger is that the be-
lief may grow that Prussia has sustained a check
in Germany, and that the idea of German unity
has been abandoned. Such belief becoming
general in France might act as a spur to the
aggressive tendencies of the French people. Sc
long as ''the f1owery banks of the Rhine" temp
French cupidity, and so long as 1t is necessary
for the Emperor to humor French vanity, Sc
long, we fear, must peace or war be an opeI
question. We cannot tell what day or an hOu
may bring forth.