The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1869-04-21
The European Crisis.
VAR CLOUDS THE CONTINENT.

|
We copy as follows from the New Yor
Herald:
/ Our correspondence and our telegram
from Europe for some time past have bee
singularly suggestive and, in spite of peac
desires, rather bellicose than otherwise
We have had intimations of the most cor
Trajectory kind. One day we are told q
army reductions another day we are toll
of army mobilization. We are again in
formed that officers and men of the Frenc
army on leave of absence are suddenl
summoned to join their respective regi
ments. We have not yet had any higl
official announcement that war was immi
nent, but studious silence il oftentimes a
suggestive as unguarded speech. We d,
not exagerate when we say that since tn,
outbreak of the German war in 1866 Their,
has been nothing in Europe similar to tn,
present condition of things. There is .
cautious and determined measuring o
strength. All the European nations arr
armed to the teeth. Every one of then
believes that the time for action is close al
hand, but no one is certain where or in
what connection it may be necessary tc
unsheath the sword. We describe the sit
uation when we say that Europe, burden.
ed with intolerable ornaments, is sick OF
peace, which is war without the excitement
which naturally belongs to it-war without
the consequent honor or glory.
The Emperor of the French presents
in his single self the key to the Euro
pean situation. All that lie now is and
all that he has been since 1851 he owes
to success. OF all successful men. for
the last quarter of a century, he has
been, unqaestionably, until very re-
Gently, the most successful. Fortune
has favored him. The fi.tes have all
been on his side.- The tide SO often
written about, which occurs in the af-
fairs OF men, seems to have arrived in
the affairs of Louis Napoleon. His
schemes and plans are no longer neces-
sarily successful. They sometimes
fail. Some of the failures have been
disagreeable to him and hurtful to his
prestige. For years not France alone,
but Europe, and the world believe him
intallible. He was the great temporal
Pope. His sword swayed destiny. 1t
is SO no longer. He can make mistakes,
and the mistakes are SO palpable that
France and even the outside world can
see them. A reputation built upon sue
cess, deriving all it's worth from sup
posed infallibility, cannot survive re-
peated failure. Such is the condition
OF Louis Napoleon and such is the sit
uation of Europe.
France Is no longer the controlling pow
er, nor is Louis Napoleon any longer the
arbiter. she power has passed away from
the country, and is now in other hands,
Bismarck, not Napoleon, commands the
situation. Proof Of this is everywhere.
We see it at the present moment, particu-
larry in Spain. The arrangement about to
be come to in regard to the Spanish throne
10 one which, to the French Emperor,
must be extremely distasteful. 1t is an ar
rangement, however, which he cannot re-
sist. As in days gone by the money of
England, this time, fairly and justly used,
has been too much for French wit, and
more powerful than Ccrsicsn genius
Prussia and England together have been
too many for Napoleon and his Ministers,
Spain makes no election which snubs Ma
poleonic as well as French pretension. It.
lly, tired OF the Pope, angry about the ap-
preaching EcumeDical Council and sick Of
me temporal power, rejoices in the hope of
reedom. If Bismarck would but say the
word it would be the easiest thing 10 the
world to unite Italy and Spain against
France. With the aid Of English gold,
which is already working IN the Peninsula,
t would be ali the easier. France is thus
osiDg her position. The French people
ire greved Napoleon, his mind filled with
thoughts about his successor, bites his lip |
With rage. But France has fine army,
ully equipped, well differed and ready for
lction. One vigorous campaign might give
france her ancient position and make Ma
'oieon greater and more powerful than
'ver. Why should not the army be let
Dose! This is the European question of
he hour. When France is contepted the
world is at rest. But France is not CON
ented. The trouble is all here.
T.