The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-07-19
The Progress of the War


The financial equilibrium OF Europe and,
in q lesser degree, of the United States, was
disturbed yesterday by the pregnant rumor
that thsCzar Of Russia had joined hands
with, Prussia, and that the Russian army
was,in course Of mobilization. In the tele-
grams of Saturday and Sunday, it was hint
ed that Russia and Prussia were thoroughly
in n-accord upon the Spanish question, and
there were obvious reasons why the Cabinet
OF st. Petersburg should be willing to form
any alliance which would allow her to ad-
vance another step in carrying out her East
ern policy. Russia has never abandoned
her one great tradition-the acquisition OF
Constantinople, and the dismemberment Of
Turkey. The interests of Prussia do not
come in conflict with those of the Empire OF
the North. France and England, have
bolstered up Turkey, and were always ready
to join battle, as they did fifteen years ago,
to check Russian agggrandizement in the
East. But England will not go to war un-
less she is driven into it, and France has as
much on her hands as she can manage.
The alliance of Prussia and Russia would
set against Napoleon Russian army OF at
least million men OF all arms, backed by a
feet of three hundred and forty-four vessels
of war, drawing their recruits and filling
their ranks from population OF 77,00O, 600
more than that of France and Prussia
combined. And it is hard to see that
France can obtain, outside of England, any
allies who would compensate her for the
mighty hostility of Russia.
So far as the London Times may be taken
as the exponent of liberal thought, the
whole weight Of European opinion is thrown
against Napoleon, who is charged with
pluuging Europe into war, without shadow
OF excuse or. justification. The struggle
cannot be expected to be confined to the
two powers whose opposing battalions are
now in the field. II Russia come in, Turkey
and England will, in all probability, be
dragged into the arena Austria is already
said to be temporizing with France. The
North German Confederation will go heart
and soul with King William-not 80 much
for love OF Prussia as for love OF German
soil, not one inch OF which is any German
willing to surrender, whatever it cost to
keep.
France hopes for the alliance Of the
South German States. and, as the telegrams
report demanded their decision by noon
yesterday. These States are Bavaria, Wur-
temburg, Baden, Hesse Darmstadt (south-
ern part) and Liechtenstein, with total
population of s,6ll, 523. Baden alone, Of
these States, has shown itself favorable to
complete union between North and South
Germany. The others have been unwilling
to go beyond faithful adherence to the
treaties already concluded with the North
German Confederation. Aud, two years
ago, the party in opposition to Prussia de-
clared, in convention, in favor of mutual
action and reaction between Austria and
the rest of Germany, and declared that, in
the event OF war, the 'people's party" of
Germany would take that side which ''offer-
'ed security for the integrity OF the soil OF
Germany" What this may mean is not
SO clear. France, in the face Of Russia and
Prussia, could not guarantee the integrity
OF Germany, and French alliance, followed
by Prussian victory, would expose Baden,
Wurtemburg and Bavaria to the fate OF
Hanover, whose summary erasure from the
roll OF nations is not yet forgotten.