Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1870-07-23
THIS editorial was crowded out
last week, but is not altogether out of
date:
WAR MUTTERINs IN EUROPE.

Among the current events worthy
of passing notice, is the threatening
aspect of affairs among the CONT
mental powers Of Europe. And as
the causes of war are sometimes
dimly seen through the succeeding
commotion, it is well, IN the begin
ming, to establish the land marks by
means Of which the cause or causes
may be easily traced hereafter. The
cause, in this supposed case, is trivial
and, seemingly insufficient to author
ize extreme measures; but our expe-
rience teaches that no cause is too
trivil to lead to bloody results, when
fanaticism and villainy want only
pretext for war.
Spain wishes TO govern herself, and
to elevate to her throne Prince Ho-
henzollern, In place of the abdicated
queen. Common equity would seem
to concede this right to a sovereign
power withouta question. But among
the powers of Europe there is an an
cient and mischievous superstition
about preserving the balance of pow
err, which has given rise to endless
complications and oceans of blood
she'd
France foresees danger to this SUI
perstition, i'm this contemplated act
OF, Spain, and protests against Ger
man as king on that throne, lest he
may strengthen the already dreaded
power Of Prussia, either by sympathy
or co-operation. This, we take it, is
the cause of quarrel now brewing be.
tween France, on the one hand, and
Spain and Prussia on the other. But
the close contiguity Of the numerous
powers of Europe, makes it difficult
to confine n quarrel to the original
parties, inasmuch as sympathy :and
interest will, more or less, control the
action of outsiders. Hence the rumor
that England and Italy are in SYM
pathy with France, whilst Austria is
neutral-these powers defining their
positions simultaneously with the
first notes of preparation for war.
Since the foregoing was written,
Prince Hohenzolern has declined the
throne of Spain, and the King OF
Prussia has disclaimed all RESPONSE
bility for the negotiations between
that Prince and Spain. Still France
has declared war against Prussia,
thereby proving that the ostensible
cause of quarrel was but a preteXt,
whilst the true cause remains to be
officially declared. There is little
doubt, i'm our mind, that the real mo-
tives of Napoleon are long latent
hostility to Prussia, and determine
ton to extend his territory to the
Rhine. If this he the true version, II
shows how lightly the claims of hui
mainly and national justice weigh
in the scale of ambition, and for what
trivial causes kings will sacrifice the
life, happiness and prosperity of their
subjects. 1t proves, too, the utter
hopelessness ofany scheme to elevate
the mass Of mankind to a proper ap-
probation of their power and theil
rights, and to teach them that theiI
relation to their high officials is that
of principal to agent. This is the
doctrine that underlies our original
system of government, but our peo
pie, like the oppressed subjects of Eu
ropean monarchies, have voluntarily
assumed the attitude of politica
slaves, and given to their agents tn,
most implicit obedience that tyranny
can exact from its victims.
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