, 1870-08-12
The War Situation in Europe-The Latest
Developments.

darkness as 10 Ilb purposes Ullu pans Oh ClLlcI
antagonist. That there is a powerful cOncCntra-
ton of troops ON both sides in the immediate neigh
borhood Of the border lines it is no longer possible
to doubt. 1t does seem as if each Power was afraid
of the other. At all events it is no longer possible
to doubt that on both sides there is a strong desire
to husband resources for some terrific tug of war.
The real novelty in the situation has been Great
cd by the publication Of Il treaty whose history
must at least be as old as 1866, if not older. We
are somewhat surprised by the excitement which
the publication Of this old story has created. New
to the public and to the newspapers, we cannot
regard it as at all new to the world of diplomacy.
We have not yet forgotten the famous Biarritz
meeting of Napoleon and Bismarck. We have
not forgotten the excitement which that meeting
bcgot in certain circles. We have a distinct re-
collection of the Prusso-Austrian campaign 0 fl866,
and of the Importance which was attached, at that
particular time, to the meeting OF the two great
chess players at Biarritz. 1t was a prevailing be-
lief that Napoleon was holding off because he had
faith in Bismarck, and because France was, in
some way unknown to the general public, to win
with Prussia. The campaign of 1866 was briet
and decisive beyond the expectations Of either Bis
marck or Napoleon. But it was SO decisive as to
make Bismarck the master of the situation, and to
give him the happy opportunity which politicians
and diplomatists loye-an opportunity to forget
private conversations and treaties talked OF but
not ratified. The year following gave us the Lux
cmburg trouble, which for a time threatened war,
but which was happily settled by the London con
ference. After SadOWa France was surprised and
amazed, but she was not prepared to fight. Napo-
leon was all tho more helpless that he had to face
two failures-that of Mexico as well as that of Sa-
dowa. Napoleon, not yet caring much for war, is
better prepared than he was in 1866 and in 1867,
and French feeling, as he himself has told us,
being so cmphaticaIly pronounced, he has had no
choice but to say, Here | throw my gage 1t
is possible that too much has been made Of this
treaty. To our minds it is no more, no less, than
Il fair and somewhat full revelation of what took
place at Biarritz in the spring Of 1865.
At the same time it is possible that this rovela-
ton will very much complicato the present war
situation. If the facts have not already been made
known to the different governments-aud it is very
possible that they have not officially been made
known-ovory government in Europe must feel
indignant, and the Indignation must be equally di-
rected against France and Prussia. That there is
ground to criminato is not to be denied, nor is it
possible to doubt that the parties eliminated are
equally guilty. If there be any truth at all in fine
statement of the Times it shows very clearly that
the ~vuItures are not yet extinct, and that where the
carcase is they will be found. If the report be
true, then Napoleon and Bismarck did sit down
day after day and make arrangements for the re
construction OF the map of ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
which implied a partition more i%niquitous than even
that of Poland. So far as Napoleon and Bismarck
arc concerned, that 'bloodicst picture in the book
of time" was about to be reproduced, and the in
tending spectators are not to be held the less guilty
that the wicked compact was a failure. We know
what history has said of the partition of Poland.
We know what we thought of the French Occupa-
ton of Mexico. If we have not had q fresh parti-
ton to the detrimont of Holland and Belgium, if
we have not had another occupation as wicked as
that of Mexico, we have, at least, had q revelation
of the spirit which accomplished the one and tho
other. This secret treaty, if it be found to be true,
will rebound to the disgrace of both Napoleon and
Ds-,o,,l- hut 0,-4so,Io.1vr Nono1oOn
The excitement in the British isles, and particu-
larly in the British Parliament, reveals q sentiment