Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1870-07-27


Tho belligercL;s siill reserve their
fire, no doubt with the intention of
dealing each other a fatal blow. The
Philadelphia Age properly says -
There are always two sides to quar-.
rel. is an old but true saying. This
is especially the case when nations d.
vide and appeal to the sword as su-
premc arbitration in the controversy.
Ambitious rulers shape their interest.
ed purposes and views, and diploma
CIV shadows forth the interests Of one
man or family, rather than The good
of the whole people. The Emperor
of Franco is an ambitious man. lie
is intoxicated with the memories and
deeds of his "august uncle" He re.
members the glOries of his rcign, and
longs to place France in the same con.
dition again, and leave the rich lega-
cy to his son. For this he has toiled,
struggled, and schemed. AMI partial
success has crowned his efforts At
Sebastopol Russia received a check,
and Austria was compelled 70 take
her hands from the throat of ltal y at
Soferino. But Prussia, in the mean.
while, was steadily growing inpower
and military renown, and the light at
| Sadowa raised her at once TO ap equal
of France. Then camc the intrigues
of Napoleon to obtain the advantage
of Prussia. Wherever a blow could
be struck at the advance of Prussia,
il was done, until, at last, tho whole
affair eliminated at Madrid, when tho
proposition to place a ilohenzolern
upon the throne OF Spain was declar-
ed by France to be such an attack
upon her interests as to justify war.
In all these acts the ambition of Ma
poleon has been apparent, his propen-
sity TO grasp power whether right or
wrong, is plainly observable lie has
seen only France, heard only the
voice of the past calling on him TO re-
dress the past grievances Of his iami.
ly, and make the future resplendent
with added glories.
This is Que side Of the picture
What of the other? Are all the faults
on the shoulders of France and Ma.
poleon 7 Has he alone been ambi
lious, crafty and disregardful Of the
rights Of others Has France stood
separate from all other nations in her
desire for territorial enlargement
Has Prussia no record Of like offences
to face ? If Napoleon has shown an
ambitious spirit, and pursued tortu-
Gus path, are Prussia and her rulers
clear of like faultsl Tho whole poll.
cy Of Bismarck since 1850 has been
a cheat and deception, intended to
deceive other nations, while Prussia
was preparing for herlatter efforts to
obtain concentrated power. In the
first mentioned year be announced
the doctrine that the mission of Prus.
sia was TO subordinate herself TO Aus.
tria. Ten years afterwards he warn
ed Austria that she must finally aban-
don her old position in Germany. In
1864 Prussia led Austria into the war
against Denmark, and managed to
absorb all the advantages of the en-
terprise, aud in 1866 Bismarck open.
ly charged his 1850 programme and
subordinated Austria to Prussia. In
all these actions, Bismarck carried
double meaning. lie cheated the
public with professions while at the
sametime he ministered to the over
weening ambition Of Prussia.
But still further illustration of the
real designs of Prussia can be gather.
ed from her action since the treaty of
Prague, in 1866 That war was de-
clared TO be for German unity, not
tho aggtaudizvmeut Of uuv man or
one nation. But Prussia has pocket. !
ed all the fruits which fell from the /
tree. when the war of 1866 ended, /
the territory Of Prussia measured /
one hundred and eight thousand |
square miles. Now il measures one
hundred aud thirty thousand |
square miles. All this has been taken |
from other provinces by force-appro.
priated, stolen. Hanover was annex.
ed to Prussia without even decent
excuse, and even the private proper.
ty Of the reigning Prince put into the
public treasury of Prussia. This is
the way in which Bismarck carried
out his ideas of a united Germany
At the same time, the population Of
Prussia has been augmented fully one.
third since the treaty Of Prague
Small States, which before that time
had certain rights, have been tramplcd
under the iron heel of military dos
potism, and the people turned into
subjects of Prussia. In regard TO the
Schleswig Holstein provinces they are
still held in subsection to Prussia, al.
though the latter nation is bound by
the Treaty Of Prague to allow the
people Of that part Of Germany to
choose their own ruler Tho career
Of Prussia since 1850 has been mark
ed by the utmost dupicity, while her
plundering propcnsilics rank with
those Of any nation in ancient or nod.
rrn history.
This docs not excuse Napoleon for
plunging Europe in n war upon a stccr
pretcNt. This does not take f'om !
The banner Of France the stains placed
here by ambition, craft and cruely.
This docs not transfer all the right to /
he credit Of France. But il docs 9
'indicate that the truth of history.
Il does put each nation upon a proper
md truthful platform, aud enable fair
men TO view the struggle in its real q
ight, and that is what the American ,
people should do.