The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-07-08
PRUSSIA AS A NAVAL POWER.

Nothing in the history OF modern Europe
is more remarkable than the sudden develop
ment of Prussia into great power-in the
actual and not merely in the diplomatic sense
of the term 1t is but three years ago since
the European world was electrified by the
sudden revelation of the fact that Prussia was
no longer d-class power, tolerated
formally rather than accepted as an equal by
France England, and the other hereditary
''great powers" of Europe, but a nation that
could not only hold her own in a great war, but
which could absolutely crush formidable
military power, by sheer strength, in one
tenth of the time it formerly took to settle a
national duel. And although the weakness
of Austria, through her obstinate adherence
to exploded military traditions, caused her to
fall an easy victim to her younger rival, it
was still manifest that the splendid system of
military organization which had con-
verted the entire male population
of Prussia into a standing army,
without unduly drawing upon the productive
resources of the nation, and the judgment
and quickness displayed by the Prussian Gov
ernment in seizing upon and adopting the
latest improvements in the science of warfare,
had made Prussia the most formidable mill
tary power on the continent The overwhelm-
ing power of the breech-loader, practically
exemplifed at Sadowa, was at once recognized
throughout Europe, and even France, with
her splendid traditions and gigantic arma-
ments, felt shiver of alarm from which she
has scarcely yet recovered. And now that the
entire population of North Germany has been
practically brought within the reach of the
Prussian recruiting sergeant, it is scarcely an
exaggeration to call her the greatest military
power in Europe.
But it is clear that Prussia, under the vir-
tual rule of a statesman like Count Bismark,
is not content to remain military power and
nothing else. The scarcely concealed object
of Prussia in forcing on the war with Den
mark was the acquisition of maritime advan-
tages which would enable her to attain the
position of great naval power, and with
characteristic energy Count Bismark has not
| neglected a single available opportunity of
adding to the naval strength Of his country.
| The most powerful iron-clad in the world,
| built for the Sultan, and offered to the Eng
| lish Government, was snapped up by the
| ever-watchful Bismark; two other iron-clads,
of almost equal strength, have since been
! added to the Prussian fleet; all that engineer
ing skill can do has been done in designing a
second Portsmouth or Cherbourg in the
newly-acquired possession on the Baltic,
and we now learn that Russia regards
the naval preponderance of Prussia in
| that sea with undisgJlised jealousy
and alarm, while the English papers
are already beginning to speak of her as
formidable rival in the supremacy of the
European seas, so long claimed as the un-
questioned perquisite of the ideal ''Bri-
tannia." And at time when every nation
may be said to have fresh start in naval
matters, this perturbation among the older
naval powers is not unnatural What the
ultimate effect on the European "balance of
power" may be remains to be seen; but there
can be no doubt that hereafter Prussia will
be able to exercise an influence in European
affairs at large scarcely inferior to that hitherto
possessed by France and England. Even
now neither of these powers would much
relish the spectacle of the Prussian iron-clad
fleet taking an experimental cruise in the
Channel or the Mediterranean. For the
future, we fancy, the views of Prussia with
regard to little family difficulties between
European nations will be consulted with a
good deal more Difference than has formerly
been the case.
WHAT is NEEDED IN THE COUNTRY.
From the N. Y Times.
We gave place yesterday to letter from
an occasional correspondent in the country,
in which the writer, in rather facetious vein,
discusses the plans lately devised by the
Tribune for securing honest candidates Jol
the State Legislature in the rural districts.
aud sets forth the practical difficulties in the
way of putting them into operation. There
is much force in what our correspondent
says. We agree with him in believing the
pan III uueelluB SecIeIly, lOr Une purpose o.
naming candidates, to be unwise and imprac
ticable. Our friends in the country have
already much better method than this fol
securing the nomination of proper men, anC
they have only to carry it out to secure the
) best results. There are no close political cor
porations of any kind in the country. There
the Republican organizations, unlike those in
this city, are open to all persons who belong
to the Republican party, and all members
of that party are free to participate IL
caucuses and primaries for the selec
tion of delegates to nominating conven
/; tions. If, therefore, the rank and file of th,
party desire that honest men should bt
: nominated, they have only to attend thes,
preliminary meetings, and by voice and vot,
secure the selection not only of leading
but of "honest' men as delegates to the con
yentions. Let this be done, and there will
be no need Of Citizens Associations" in tn
3 counties to assist in defeating dishonest can
! didates. The great body of Republican
h voters are in favor of honest men and homes
y measures, and they have only to be true t,
. themselves, and 10 make use of the simpl
: and practicable party machinery already il
i existence among them, TO secure the preva
lence of their views, without resorting TO un
g tried and perhaps impracticable measures
4 They have the matter in their own hands
= We ''entreat' our Republican friends in tn
. country to consider it seriously Let ever,
. member of the party conscientously atten
Q the caucuses, and secure the election @
/ honest delegates to the nominating conven
> tions. :, Nothing else is required and the Re
publican party has the right to expect o
! every member the performance of this simpl
, duty
= word as to Citizens Associations in tn