Middletown transcript., 1870-07-23
slrDDLETowN, DEL.
THE WAR IN EUROPE.

THE WAR IN EUROPE.
We last week ventured the opinion that
there would be no war between France
and Prussia, that the excitement was only
a huge war-bubble blown up by sensation
mougers through the medium Of the ocean
cable and the public press. But events
have shown that we did not fully compre-
hend the situation of affairs between these
two powers. Before our last issue went
to press, France had declared war. The
declaration was formally made in the
Corps Iegislatif on the 18th, at 1.50, P.
NJ. The troops of both powers were i'm
mcdiatcly set in motion for the frontiers,
but no conflict has yet taken place, the
reported battle at Forbach, near Metz,
being only trick of the spectators. A
battle, however, is daily looked for; it is
''The fearful hour of the brooding storm,
Ere the lightning-bolt hath sped,"
And every succeeding days advices are
looked for with increasing interest, as
probably bringing us intelligence of the
shock of battle.
The New York World sums up the
cause of the quarrel, briefly, as follows.
1t will be seen, at glance, how heavy
responsibility rests upon the shoulders of
Louis Napoleon, for thus disturbing the
peace of Europe upon so slight pretext:
"The sword is now drawn, and in a
short time the armies of the two nations
will face each other on the field of sangui-
nary strife. The main point to be deter
mined now is on which side lays the right
in the contest as it is now presented.
When Prince Leopold was announced as
candidate for the throne of Spain, under
the auspices of General Prim, France OBJ
jccted. That objection was not against
the man, but against the family which he
represents. Leopold belongs to the Royal
family Of Prussia. He is Hohenzollern,
and as the King of Prussia is the head of
that family, of course, Prussia would have
controlling influence in the affairs of
Spain. The influence was obnoxious to
Napoleon, and he called upon Prussia to
remove Prince Leopold from the field as a
candidate. Prussia replied that she had
nothing to do with the matter. She had
not put Prince Leopold in the field, and
could not, therefore, be justly held re-
sponsible for the embroglio. TO this po-
sition Napoleon took exception, and the
matter ended by the entire withdrawal of
the Pruussian Prince from the contest in
regard to the throne of Spain. As this
was the request of France, it was supposed
the settlement would be satisfactory to
Napoleon. This was based upon the idea
that his real purpose was to prevent Ger
man Prince from ruling Spain, not to
provoke war with Prussia for territorial
extension in the direction of the Rhine.
But Napoleon did not pause when Prince
Leopold was taken out of the field. He
made other dcm.nds of Prussia and,
urged the giving of certain guarantees as
to the course of that power in the future.
These were declined by King William as
insulting to the honor of his Kingdom, and
out of this action grew the magnitude Of
the trouble. Now in this aspect of the
case, calm, cool observers will fail to per.
eeive how Napoleon can justify his pres
ent attitude towards Prussia by reference
to Spanish affairs. Prince Leopold wa
removed because his election would be dis
tasteful to France, and yet Napoleon
pushed on the matter at Berlin. HI
would not pause. This shows that tn
opposition to Prince Leopold was mer
pretext, on which to base a war for terri
torial and dynastic purposes. France ha
traditions which Napoleon is anxious t.
solidifY into facts during his reign. H
wishes to obliterate all traces of the trea
ties of 1915, to appease the names of hi
great uncle, to reach the Rhine, to humbl
his rival Bismarck. These are purpose
dear to Napoleon, and he has used tn
Spanish trouble as a mask, behind whic
to get as near his real purpose as possible
This is the true light in which to vie,
the French and Prussian difficulty as
now stands. Napoleon opened a QUAR-,
ON pretext, but the mask is now remoy
ed, and the world can and will see that
is territory and power which Napoleo
Graves, and which he is prepared to clutc
at all hazards. All Europe must be di.
turbed, and thousands of people slain
satisfy the ambition of single ruler.'
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