Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1870-07-28

they arc not therefore called upon to play
the part of Prussia. Prussia must hold
her power together for the favorable OPP
portunity which has already been some
times neglected ; the frontiers of Prussia
were not favorable to good State con-
stitutioa. The great questions of the day
were not to be decided by speeches and
majoritics this had boon the error of
1913 and 1S49--but by iron and blood p
The House of Deputies having, on
October 7, declared all cx pcnditures not
sanctioned by it unconstitutional, that
body was dissolved on the 18th, and the
theory, apparently sustained by the
peculiar constitution of Prussia, that the
last budget voted would remain in force
until harmony was restored between tho
two branches of the Legislature, and a
new budget voted by the Deputies and
fully concurred in by the upDer house.
So the King and his new premier pro
ceeded to, reform the army without
legal sanction and iii deiancc of popular
opinion.
Meanwhile troubles with Russia were
arising, because Of the assumption by the
King and Bismarck Of the right Of Prussia
to stregthen her position in Germany by
forming q closer union with States within
the Confederation, and Prussia avenged
herself fer the opposition of Austria by
recognizing the kingdom of Italy. In
1868, the cnmity of the liberal party was
still further aroused by an alliance with
Russia for the suppression of the insurrec-
ticn in Poland. Another liberal victory
at the p lis encouraged the opposition in
the Deputies to bring a fresh accusation
against the King of violating the con-
stitution by governing without budget.
The address containing this imputation
the King refused to receive in person,
Bismarck supporting bin with the decla~
ration that constitutional conflicts may
be decided in other countries by change
of ministry, but such is not the custom
il Prussia. With u.s." he continued,
with characteristic arrogance, elf two
political bodies which cannot 60 to law are
unable to agree, cicumstancesr decide
which of the two is the strongest !"
TIE WAR AGAINST DENMARK.
But war upon Denmark diverted tho
attention Of the people from their imper-
lied liberties for the time, and rcconci!ed
them in measure to the arbitrary policy
of the King. The death of Frederick
VII, of Denmark, November 10, 1868,
led to the revival of German claims upon
the duches of Schlcswig-IIolstein BY
order Of the German Diet Il federal army
entered IIo!stcin on December %. Prus-
sia, however, joined hands with Austria
aad iuterfcrcd early in 1864, ailAout re-
gariing tho action Of the Diet, and in op-
position to its wi>hea a hotly contested
campaign cnsuel, the duchics were wres-
ted from Denmark, and King Christian
TX, the successor of Frederick VII, was
compelled to sign, by his representative at
Vienna, on October 80. 1864, treaty in
which he renowned all his claims to the
sovereignty of SchlcSwig- Iiolstcin and
LauenSurg.
TIE WAR AGAINST ACsrRIi-DIsRUPTIo OF
THE GEEMANIC CONFEDERATlog.
This accomplished, it was only uocossa-
ry to prcc pitate quarrel with Austria
to obtain au opportunity for seeking to
place Prussia at the head Of the German
States. King William, it must be con:
fcssod, entered into the wild and desper-
ate schemes of Bismarck with much re-
luctance at the first. But he was grad
ually persuaded to insist upon the annex
alton of the ducLies wrcstcd from Den
mark, with or without the consent of Aus
tria, and the Inscriptions Bismarck,
prompted solely 10y the grand idea of Ger
man unity, with Prussia at the head of
it succeeded in clfectually cstrangng him
from the Emperor of Austria The sit
uutlon WAS rendered more critical by the
short-sightcd policy of the latter country.
y conference OF the great powers was
held at Paris, but it failed to avert the
impending struggle. Austria then ap-
pealcd to the other States represented in
the Diet to assist her ia maintaining her
rights, to which Prussia responded by an
nounoing that favorable action would be
the signal for war. The warning was un-
needed, and on the 18th Of June, 1866,
orders were sent by telegraph for the
Prussian colums to move. The hlng's
last scrupes were removed, and he enter
ed zcalouSly into ali the schemes Of his
Prime Minister, treasured by the intense
enthusiasm with which this decisive &C
ton was received by the people. The
violated constitution and the unauthorized
budgets were lost sight OF in the grand
uprising which followed the Kings ap-
peal to his people, an uprising equalled or
ly by the one which the recent course of
France on tho Hohcnzollern candidacy has
provoked.
The campaign which followed lasted
but five weeks War against Austria was
formally declared on June II. Italy join
ing in the aggression by a declaration of
war on the Goth On the OATH was fought
the baltic of Custoza. and on tho Both
the King, accompanied by Bismark, left
Berlin for the seat Of war. In company
they fearlessly sought the front in every
battle, and were present on the ID OF Ju-
ly, when Austria was fairly humbled in
the dust on the fatal field of Sadowa. So
utterly Frustrated was Austria that she
made mere show Of resistance thereafter,
and on the 23l Of August was signed the
treaty Of Prague. terminating hostilitles
between her aud Prussia, the treaty OF
peace viii Italy being signed at Vienna
on October 4.
FORMATION Of THE NORTH GERMAN coNFEDEn-
ALTON.
The result of the grand system OF in
trigue conducted by Bismarck, and fol-
lowed up SO successfully on the field OF
battle, was tho formation Of the North
German Confederation, practically os 1t