The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-04-13
SPIRIT or THE PRESS.
KDrTORIAL OPINIONS or rHR LEADING JOURNALS
UPor CURRENT T0PUs-COMPILED BvERY
DAY FOR gHR KvsSING TELEGRAPH.
The War Cloud Over Europe.

IL ts only few days etnce We called the AZ
tention of our readers to the probability OF an
early and gigantic war the Continent OF
Europe. There were not q few who thought
that we wrote With too much oonfdsnce, and
that our conclusions were not warranted py
facts. Not day has passed since Dat news
from the different European centres mas Jusu-
fed our view of the situation. war rumors
Gil the air. War preparations on tne mos.
extensive scale are everywhere being hurried
forward. The preparations are more particu-
lsrly noticeable in Prussia and France. The
Attention of the French Government seems
60 be directed chiefly TO the equipment OF the
army, while Prussia multiples and strengthens
her f0rtresseS. II Is stated on what seems
Uood authority, as we recently mentioned In
our news columns, that the French Govern
ment has actually asked explanations from the
Government Of King William regarding the
concentration of troops In Hanover, Frankfort,
and generally on the French frontier. Austria,
we are also told, impressed with the DANCE
rous character of q war In which 1t might be
impossible for her to refuse to take part, has
expressed desire that any difficulty likely to
lead to hostilities should frst bs submitted to
a conference OF the powers before IL Is regarded
"a casus bei. II is q circumstance cAlcu-
lated TO excite suspicion that, In view OF the
approaching elections, the Emperor by abolish
Ing the liUrets has made bold bid for the
suffrages OF the wokringmen. The most i'm
portant item Of news bearing upon the general
question is that contained in one OF our latest
cable dispatches, to the effect that, in spite
of the bitterness Of the opposition, the Senate
mas approved the so-called defensive measures
of the Government. The concluding words
of the speech of M. de la Valette. SIT Is the
policy of France to maintain resolutely dig
nifed peace" mean that France is now ready
for war.
II thus becomes more and more apparent
that, much as conferences have in the last two
years accomplished, they have not given
Europe the hope Of permanent peace. The
London Conference on the Luxembourg ques-
tion, and the Paris Conference on the Eastern
question STAYED off war for the time, but they
settled no great question-they removed none
Of the great outstanding difficulties. The
Eastern question is as unsettled as ever, al
though in allegiance for the present; and the
demolition Of the fortress of Luxsmburg has
not put an end to the jealousy which has 30
long existed between France and Prussia.
The two nations seem less willing to shake
hands than ever. The truth is, conferences
even do but little 80 long as such enormous
armaments are maintained. 1t will not be
wonderful, however, If, in the event Of any
An attempt is made to preserve peace
by means Of another conference. It is not
for the interest Of Austria that war should
break out between two such powerful neigh
bors as Prussia and France England has no
desire to see the Continent in flames. Both
these powers, It may be taken for granted,
will, 70 in for conference, and among the
lesser powers they will find no lack of sup
port. We have no idea, however, that Ma
polson will be Influenced in the least degree
by any such proposal. No conference can
bend Prussia to his wishes. No conferences
can gives him what he wants. We know that
II was the imperfect condition Of the French
to war with Prussia when Bismark, after the
battle of Sadowa, snubbed him 30 efeotually
for asking the Rhine provinces as French COM
pensation for Prussian gain. It was the same
cause, we know, which prevented him from at
tacking Prussia when Bismark refused to yield
In the Luxemburg difficulty. But that cause
exists no longer. The two years and half which
have since elapsed have brought up the French
army to high standard of perfection. Mar
shal Mel has exerted himself to the utmost,
and Marshal Mel is now satisfied that France
need fear no foe. In other words, the Em-
peYor Is ready to try the genius of Bismark on
other fields than that of diplomacy. No oon-
ference could have prevented him from taking
the field against Austria in 1859. Should any
reasonable pretext be found, no conference will
prevent him taking the field against Prussia
In 1859, He is ready; France Is ready; and il
occasion offers he must fight or lose his throne.
Under him France will have no more Mexican
blunders, no more Sadowa miscalculations, NO
more Bismark snubbing. He knows well the
character of the people whom he governs. He
knows that no further compromise would be
tolerated, and now, and on this great question,
he and his people are of one mind.
The popularity of the present situation Ii
that there Is NO immediate Ineligible cause
of war. Il is difficult to believe that Napo
leon, for the sake of any uncertain gain tha
might result. for the mere sake of hatterinl
Frsnsh vanity, would rush into open hostili
ties without some satisfactory reason. Il
might be dangerous to bring down upon hi
head the indignation of Europe; and we may
feel well assured he will run no such risk
Whence, then, is cause of war likely tt
smerges There is the Belgian difficulty, fol
the settlement of which mixed commission
has been appointed. How this commission
will decide we know not. 1t is difficult to be
lisvs that the Belgian representatives will b,
plucky enough to separate the interests o
Belgium from those Of France. But It is not i'm
possible. It is the object of the commission "tC
give mutual proof of friendship and conf
denoe:" It's result will be "to develop tn
commercial and industrial relations of the tw
countries, |" and hence 1t will "examine tn
divers industrial questions arising from tn
existing relations, and from the treaties re
GENTLY proposed for the cession and workin
of the Belgian railways" It is not difficult I
see how q casus belLi might be manufacture
by this commission. The Belgians, as we hav
said, may not prove sufficiently yielding
What then2 Will Napoleon use force Ifh
does, will not Bsmark initiate his example
A French army in Belgium, the English peopl
would force the Government to interfere. SUI
posing, however, that some treaty is signe
which meets the wishes without wounding Il
pride OF either party, 1t is not conceivable th'
..Sx 80 ukuka