The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1869-01-06
European Affairs.

The desire expressed by Prussia, that the |
United States should take part in the COM |
ing conference. of the European powers
brings into still greater importance to US the
present condition of European affairs. 1t is |
true that America is not directly interested
in European quarrels any more than Europe |
was concerned in our late civil war. Yet,
as fully shown by the late war, great strug-
giles, even in distant countries, affect the
rest of the world either for hurt or good.
Everything on the Continent indicates a
general war, and the various powers are
quietly but energetically preparing them
selves for the conflict which they feel to be
inevitable. The very quietude and business
are being madei is one of the most convincing
proofs of the certainty with which the d.
plonaats and rulers regard the coming of war.
The black cloud now fills the entire hori-
zon, and no one doubts that storm must
come from it. France or Louis Napoleon,
who at PRESENTS France, regards with jeal-
ousy the rapid increase of power made by
Prussia, power which, if sustain
ed, will completely destroy all ideas
of any addition to the territories
of France in that direction Austria,
who, by bad generalslip on her own part,
and by the unusual advantages possessed by
Prussia, was so greatly humbled, burns for
revenge, and is thoroughly preparing for the
contest, and will meet Prussia on even terms
when the deadly brcech-loading weapon will
not be opposed to the muzzle-loading gun of
past time, but to weapon as deadly as
itself The governments Of Paris and Vienna 1
have sympathy and understanding with
each other that bodies i'll to the peace of their
mutual antagonist-Prussia. Prussia, in the
meantime does not remain idle. The mill
tary force of the entire confederation of
which she is the acknowledged head is being
placed upon a footing that will enable it to
be brought out ready for service at short
notice and the lnnd,cehr or militia has been
so reorganized as to enroll every person ca
pable of bearing arms. In this connection,
however, must be considered fact which
causes much uneasiness to Prussia, and which,
in the event of war, would greatly mill
tate against her success-the unfriendliness of
Bavaria and Saxony. There is and has ever
been an antipathy to Prussian rule on the
part of the Bavarians, and the same feeling
was shown in the last war by both Bavaria
and Saxony. This, in our judgment, will do
as much to destroy the newly erected con-
federation as the efforts of any single power.
That a confederation enforced by military
power and so composed as this must fail is
self-evident fact, and is merely question
of time. Russia keeps aloof from all COM
| plications and but waits for European
war that she may seize Turkey and thus OBJ
tain those seaport advantages which have
| so long been her ambition. Once within
tile paws of the Russian bear the Turkish
government will be forever demolished, for
that animal has singular tenacity in keep
ing all which he once lays his paws upon.
England feels her Indian possessions threat
ened but is at a loss in what manner to pro-
tect herself and does nothing, but watches
fearfully and irresolutely, the signs of the
coming conflict Spain is in state of trans
ition, whether from bad to good or from bad
to worse, it yet remains to be seen. With
an unstable, vicious and degenerate people,
with no rulers of ability or craftsmanship,
her future is indeed unpromising. Italy is
like prisoner long immured in dark dun
geon and is yet unable to bear the bright
light of freedom. The 'ssick man of Rome"
is growing still more feeble and it looks as if
the Pontifical Keys will soon be blotted from
among the flags of the nations.
The attitude of Turkey and her treatment
of Crete are too well known to need comment
here 1t suffices to say that the manner in
which the barbarities that Turkey has COM
mitted have been allowed is a disgrace to
the civilized world and if America takes
part in the proposed conference she should
give her influence for the immediate ending
of this atrocious persecution. The only ma
ton that cannot be injured by the coming
general war is the United States We have
no distant Territories to defend, and no fai
off interests to be destroyed. On the Other
hand it is probable that we will be greatly
benefited. BY general European war the
commerce of England, France, and othel
nations will be destroyed, and all the carrying
trade must be done under the American flag
which will be at peace with the entire world
In this case our commerce that was destroy
ed by our own misfortunes will be restored
by the misfortunes of our neighbors, and We
can look calmly on and apply to ourselves
the truth of the old adage that it is an i'll
wind that brings no one good" ID. 3