Middletown transcript., 1870-11-19
ALL EUROPE IN ARMS.

The nations of Europe that chucked, last sum-
mer, over the deadly grapple of Prussia and
France, reading in that strife only the mutual
exhaustion of two aspiring powers, are now sud-
denly confronted by the dread spectre of war at
their own doors. All Europe is in arms Rms
sia, hitherto neutral, though repeatedly showing
herself friendly to the Germans, and sending
decorations of honor TO the Germa:. sodier-prin-
ces, now declares her purpose to repudiate the
Paris treaty of 1856
1t cannot be denied that the situation is grave.
Were Russla's action unpremeditated, it might
De regarded as rash STEP which the firm atti-
lude OF other powers would induce her to recall.
But the plot is evidently deliberate and mature,
we long ago expressed the conviction that Prus-
sia could Ibid higher" in the market of Musco-
vite favor than distressed France and this she
seems to have done. Russia, like Germany.
makes war only with clear and definite pur.
pose in view; and her present purpose is of
course, to turn the Black sea into a Russian lake
from England and France her old Crimean foes,
sue mas nothing to hope But it is otherwise with
rrussia, VINO, as a comparatively non-msritime
power, has little TO fear. from Russias CONNER
clal growth. while her distance FROM the Bospho-
rus makes her comparatively indifferent to RUS
'',u assrahuIzement at the expense of the porte.
olgns nave not been wanting of the recent
completely OF Russia and Prussia for this pur-
pose. Added to the well-known friendship of
tne king and the czar, and 10 the frequent marks
ot approval of German yalor already sent from
% 81. retefSburg, we have all noted with suspicion
eiiat Ihe friendly advances of Austria have been
~ ,eJun.u ~ nismark with rudepcss amounting
to brutality, while the sycophantic shouts which
all Great Britain has sent up over Gcrman ~
,ories and "our Fritz' hayeJbeen answered hv
Count niSmark with keen satire or unconcealed
oontenPt VI course, the inference has been ir
resisnnle that Prussia neither asked nor wonId
accept the friendly Offices" either of Austria or
oI England, but relied on Russia as friend in
.ne nine 70 come; AgHin, Russia, on her part
ii's careriiy refrained4rom countenancinp inter
yentlon, and, on the contrary, has adrotlv, bnt
positively, preserved herself from the proposed
alliance OF neutral powers to secure peaca "
lrussa mas answered this conduct by a semi-ofi
eial declaration that she does not object TO the
aorogaton OF the treaty of Paris
Dut AZ last, it seems, England and Austria
nave taken the alarm. A Vienna despateb an
nounces the great tdings that England. Turkey
Austria ana Italy have agreed to "preserye n
common attitude toward Russia What Itolu
mas 10 gain in joining this alliance remains to he
seen put The NATIVES of the other three allies
are are pallable: London, Vienna, Florence and
IIphs.anuHaple are wild with excitement, and an
amsterdam despatch says that British feet is
preparing. 1t will be noted as remarkable tbat
there is nothing said of hostility to Prussia in
| tnis new move, but ii is only an -Russiann
alliance, provoked by Prince GortschakotF- : note
| tUePuuiatihg the treaty of 1856. Nevertheless
vienna receives the news of the French victories
;onrneiu ,Wrenhs WIN enthusiasm, while the London
ms time, with having cheered Prussia SO loudly
ally. e'H -husSiah
~ WIZ new war come of this new trouble ?
NOT o. necessity, because Russia has no interest
nn ln sa,ning oy war what she can get by peaceful
concession. The possibility of avoiding war lies
IN IN ASSEMBLING congress of qations which. in SET
tsllng lne eastern question, shall also make peace
oetYeen Germany and France Thus, three il
u clear possibility that the very appearance Of
tnlS new and portentuous war-cloud in the hori-
zen Ey may be the forerunner of clear sky all over
PusOp Europe fet, IN such congress Prussia and
% would probably agree to support each other. In
1.ner words, the dilemma now forced upon Eng
Ia iaha ana Austria, as well as upon France, is war
or humiliation. wal