The New York herald., 1870-05-14
The Projects of Prussia.

lts
The Projects of Prussia.
Not long before the great events Of 1866
Count Bismarck, who had just returned from
pleasant trip to the south of France, said to
one Of the leaders of the opposition in the
Parliament at Berlin :-"Here is an olive
branch which have brought with me from my
journey I offer it TO you in token of friend
ship and peace. Unite your efforts with mine."
The opposition was short-sighted enough to
refuse. "Well," said Bismarck, again, 81 had
wished to make the country great with you; I
will make it great without you. Your friends
refuse. So be It,"
Such was the attitude of the great German
statesman when his own colleagues had not
calibre enough to appreciate his exalted views.
Such is now the attitude of Prussia as compared
with the rest Of the Germanic States. Prussia
meditates the building up of grand Teutonic
empire to hold the balance Of power in Europe
between belligerent and restless France on the
one hand, and overshadowing Russia on tho
other. But some of the smaller States
hold back, considering their dimin-
utive autonomies Of more dignity and
value than participation in the life
Of one vast united power that would command
the respect of the world. Prussia, then, de-
termined to make Germany great, and, eager
to have done 80 by the aid of her Teutonic
neighbors, will now do so without them. The
Zoll Parliament has transacted its business
harmoniously and has adjourned. King
William is exchanging courtesies with the
King of Bavaria; the Emperor of Russia pro-
misses an early visit to Berlin, and, meanwhile,
the most vigorous preparations, naval and
military, are going forward by night and by
day, as in anticipation Of some comprehensive
and yet perilous movement. The Prussian
journals, so the Austrians declare, have COM
menced systematic attack upon Francis
Joseph and his empire in all respects like the
general onslaught they made just before the
quarrel that led to the Sadowa campaign.
The Federal Parliament and the Zoll Parlis-
ment devised by the craft of Bismarck,
were but features Of temporary arrange
mer as many as two hundred and eight
members were missing, and the PROS
pect for another sitting is dim. At
the recent Zoll Parliament, although matters
went off, as we have intimated, smoothly
enough, there was notable absence of re-
representatives. from the South In fine, it is
felt that Prussia, in order to accomplish the
majestic programme which her master mind
had sketched out for her, must act with deci-
sion and act soon. Thus we see her at work
on all her coasts and In all her arsenals. For
tifcations are pushed forward with haste;
iron-clad fleets are equipped and sent forth TO
cruise in the German Ocean officers are re-
called from leave Of absence, and special drill
reviews are constantly held.
This peculiar activity has riveted the atten-
ton Of France, but the latter Is still enveloped
in the dust and smoke Of the plebiscitum, and
before she can get time to interfere the Prus-
slams may have made such move southwark
as to place the lower States of Germany at her
mercy. Then both her great neighbors would
be reduced to the necessity Of acquiescence or
forced to make war-a contingency of extreme
risk to either of them at this moment.
At all events, we again behold the astute-
ness Of Count Bismarck, whose recent illness,
it will be seen, was no idle symptom, availing
itself of the perplexities Of his rivals. France
with the settlement of her new system to COM
plete, and Austria, harassed by the discomfort
of her Cisleithan provinces, will hardly dare to
check the great southwark move which the
Prussian chess-king is evidently meditating.
They are watchful and uneasy, but he advances
With caution as well as with steady intent, and
leaves no step uncovered. The game as II
stands is one of profound interest to the eye Of
the statesman; for it, in high degree, affects
the future of all Europe.