Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1870-07-27
The European Press on the War.

Liz COLllDdL dAlNC IulCl AAldb AAdA ONlAO
down upon the press of the Old World
after the decision of the Plebiscitum was
simultaneously and most noisily broken
by the sudden revealment of the Ger
man candidature for the Spanish throne;
and it is a matter of much curiosity to
observe the tone of the various national
journals, of every different shade of po-
litical opinion, as presented to us by our
latest foreign mails. The English papers,
almost without exception, deprecated
sometimes in very pungent terms-what
they called the rashness and self-wil of
the French government, andpraised the
quiet dignity ofthe Prussian King. The
Times, however, when Prince Leopold
of Hohenzollern popped up from the
diplomatic juggling board like ajack-i'-
the-box, expressed the hope that ''the
good sense of the Prince and of the Prus-
sian reigning family would withdraw
him from a position that could only lead
to present confusion and ultimate de-
feat" The Pail Mall Gazette sees any
thing but a promising prospect in the
present attitude ofFrance. aft Napoleon
III. determines to fight Prussia this
Autumn it says, sit will not be because
he himself wishes it, but because he dare
The prestige of the empire has already
had more shocks than il can well sustain
and it must not give such a handle to its
enemies as would be afforded by the
spectacle of a Prussian prince on the
throne of Spain" The Globe speaks
slightingly of the skill of Prim in max
ing this nomination, and says that the
Spanish nation must begin to see how
dangerous it is to have its destinies
placed in the hands Of a man who may be
brave and ardent, but who is not dis
tinguished for caution or common sense.
The Telegraph very distinctly recognizes
the menace to France involved in the
German candidature, and says: "Imme-
diate humiliation, future peril-that is
what Prince LeOpold's success will really
signify to France"
The French press on the first intima-
ton of Leopold's name burst into full
cry, all seeming to regard it as an omen
of disaster to French pre-eminence.
"What, then, can and ought France to
do?" says the Steele, "Simply to demand
from Spain a pledge of neutrality in the
eventual struggles of the Continent"
The Journal de Paris states that Baron
Werther reminded the French Minister
of State that when Prince Charles of
HohenZollern accepted the crown of
Roumania he did so without the consent
and almost without the knowledge of
King William, andthat France had more
to do with the affair than Prussia. The
Constitutional prognosticates that the
European Powers will intervene to pre-
vent Prussia from disturbing the equilib-
rum of the Continent, 'the security of
France and the peace of the world
England, it adds, had for a long time con-
stituted itselfthe guardian ofthe latter
Austria will not like to see her rival
strengthened by disguised ~aggrandize-
ments, and Russia is too much engaged
in developing her social institutions and
her almost newborn commerce not to
fear anything that will shake public cred
it in Europe and impede the course of
business. Italy, it thinks, must have
the same feelings in a still greater de-
gree.
The Journal Des De6dts, referring to
to the Hohenzollern negotiation, says,
''the moral of this history is that in times
like ours the most secret diplomacy is OF
no avail if it has not the instinct to re-
spond to the wants and to receive the as
sent of public opinion" The Memorial
DpJomatiqWe clearly and boldly init
mates what French policy continues to
be: France has always been in the
habit of not allowing herself to be shut
in by the neighboring States. Such is
the policy which has been pursued since
the days of Francis l., by Henry w.,
Richelieu, Louis XIV. and Napoleon I.
The Independence Beige details CONVEX
sation that took place between the French
Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Prus-
sian representative. The former used
the word catastrophe when limiting the
results that would follow a persistence
on the part of Leopold in accepting the
Spanish Crown. Baron Werther then at
once asked him if the true meaning of
that expression was a menace of war
The French Minister of Justice, who
was standing near, broke in at once up
on the collOquy, emphatically remark
ing hat it was, and that he replied in
the name of the Emperor and his gov
eminent.
The German press at home manifests
extreme surprise at the suddeness of the
crisis. Judging by the language of the
Koetaise Zeitung, the 4Uegeneine Zeitlng
the Neue PreHSsiSehe Zeitung, the NeHe
Freie PreSse, they at first supposed the
war threats of France to be directed
against Spain, and were one and all IA
vorable to the withdrawal of Leopold as
a means of allaying excitement. The
German editorials are temperate and
conciliatory in the highest degree, and