New-York tribune., 1870-12-15
THE ABSORPTION or LUXEMBURG.

We can readily understand why lnefe shOulu
be some excitement in the cabinets of Europe
over the apparent intention of the PruSsian
Government to seize the Grand Duchy of Lux
emburg-but there is scarcely any room for
surprise. 1t is known TO our readers that the
King of Holland is also Grand Duke of Lux
emburg and that in the latter capacity he
was a member of the late GermaniC COnfedera-
tOn The garrison of the Grand Duchy was
furnished by Prussia, and during the war of
1866 and for many years previously, PrusSan
force stood as sentinel in this most westerly
bastiOn of the German Power. After the
catastrophe of Sadowa and the reorganization
of the Confederation of the North, the
Emperor of France, smarting under
Bismarck's refusal to divide the spOils Of We
tory, secretly approached the King of Holland,
who is always in want of money, with an Of
fer for the purchase of the Duchy. The spend
thrift King was only too happy to fill his prlyy
purse with the price of this outlying province,
and at once agreed to the treaty. AT the mo-
ment of the cOnsummatiOn of the bargain,
Prussia peremptoriy forbade the trade and
the Conference and Treaty of London (Alay,
1867 postponed the necessary war between
France and Germany by providing that France
should renounce her scheme of annexation;
that Prussia should withdraw her garrison;
that the Grand Duchy, remaining under the
sovereignty of the House of Orange-Nassau,
should be neutralized, and the Notifications of
the City of Luxemburg should be dismantled.
A fairer compromise has rarely been made by
a Congress of Nations. and it was submitted
to by both the Powers concerned, because each
seemed to gain something in checking the adj
vance of his powerful adversary.
But the situation is now radically changed.
France, for the present has ceased to exist as
a military and political factor. The anneXa-
ton of Luxemburg can be no more prevented
by her than the bOmbardmcnt of Paris. En-
gland has her utmost energies devoted to
c0unteracting Russian aggression in the South
East Austria is involved in the same anxiety.
There could be no moment more OppOrtune
! for the seizure of this coveted prize.
The dispatches of yesterday indicate that
this will be done at once. A force of Occupa-
tiOn is announced from Berlin as on the way
to Luxembourg. The population of the Grand
| Duchy are protesting loudly against the alb
| sOrptiOD, and insisting that they have Loyalty
fulfilled all their obligations a. neutrals. A
decent regard for the opinions of mankind has
! induced Count Bismarck to 90 through the
form of denying this. In circular issued ten
days ago, he charges the Grand Duchy with
having refused transit to Prussian wounded,
with having permitted the revictualling of
| Thionville, and with having omitted to stop
French refugees-and with having acted in
every way like the violent and blOodthirsty
lamb of the fable. At the same time comes
the altogether probable rumor that the King
of Holland has secretly transferred his SOW
ercignty in the Duchy to King William, one
dispatch stating that the sale was made last
month. His Majesty of Orange Nassau prob
| ably concluded that he might as well turn an
honest penny in selling what he could not de-
fend, if the mighty Annexander should think
worth while to take it.
On the whole, it seems very much as if the
1dges- PreSse of Vienna were telling the exact
truth when it says that all treaties have be-
come yalueless AT this hour Europe lies help
less in the presence of the army of Prussia
and the indefinite menace of Russia. The map
is to be made anew, and changes may be pre-
pairing that no one dreamed of when Napoleon
blundered into war last July. Public opinion
in England is stupefed by this new develop
ment, which certainly ought to have been fore
seen. The Austrian press and people are even
more incensed and excited. But 1t is difficult
to see what they are to do. AT the first cloud
of disagreement between the Western Powers,
the Gar will begin to give practical applica
ton to his utterances of abstract principle
contained in the Gortschakoff circular. The
Intervention of any one Power between Prus-
sla and her prey will set the whole continent
in blaze. It may fairly be doubted if
British or an Austrian Ministry will think it
worth while to interfere to sustain in Luxem-
burg the rule of the idle voluptuary to whom
the treaty of London guaranteed it.
GEN SCHENCK'S MISSION
There is reason for hoping that, after long