The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-07-25

at %, -, and d. Whenever there is inn
portant news of the progress of the Euro
pean war. extra editions will be issued after
this hour, and before the regular time for the
early edition.
CAUSES OF THE EUROPEAN WAR
THERE is a substantial agreement between
the French and Prussisn versions of the i'm
mediate causes of the present war. The
French allege, rather ostentatiously, that the
honor of their nation demanded not merely
withdrawal of the German candidate for the
Spanish throne, but guarantees against the
revival of his pretensions. In the official
circular Of the French Minister of Foreign
Affairs to the diplomatic agents of France,
the premeditated intention of Prussia to re-
fuse such guarantees is stated to be an un-
pardonable offense, more especially as this
refusal is alleged to be part of the policy
which threatens to destroy the balance of
power in Europe. Napoleon, in his
address, does not condescend to discuss
particulars He lays stress upon encroach-
ments of Prussia, her growing power and
threatening attitude, and refers to the i'm
mediate cause of the quarrel in general
terms by stating that Prussia's evasion of the
French demands disclosed the instability of
the International understanding" 1t is pc
culiarity of all the French statements that
they never pretend to describe the nature of
the guarantees demanded from Prussia, while
the despatch forwarded few days ago from
Berlin gave an account of their character
which, if correct, clearly indicates that Napoleon
wished deliberately to insult King William and
to leave him no alternative between war and
deep diplomatic degradation. The Emperor
was anxious to influence the passions of the
French people, and to impress them with
belief that they were insulted by proceedings
which, according to the German understand
ing, we're in reality deadly insult to the
monarch of their reconstructed Fatherland.
Napoleon and his satellites, without making
a direct misstatement, put coloring upon
the whole subject which is made up of the
half-truth that forms the deepest lie.
One of the most remarkable features of the
Emperor's popular manifesto is his allegation
that his main object now is to Conquer a
durable peace, and to assist in abolishing
that precarious condition of things where all
nations are forced to employ all their re-
sources in arming against each other" Hy-
pocrisy is said to be the homage that vice
pays to virtue, but we could scarcely have ex-
pected the heir of the devastating conqueror
who held all Europe in awe for years, who
has been embroiled during his own reign in
wars with Russia, Austria, China, and Mexico
and whose hopes are all centred in his
- -. aal,
at the mement when he is about leading his
forces to mighty conflict of his own Great.
ing. The idea that France fights for durable
peace on eny other basis than her own un-
challenged ascendancy is the baldest imper-
tinence that her present ruler ever attempted
to palm upon the public The advocates of
Prussia claim that if she triumphs in the pre-
sent war the end which Napoleon processes
to seek will in reality be attained-that is to
say, that the prostration of French dominance
will sweep away the cid pretexts for main
tanning large standing armies in Europe. 1t
remains to be seen who is right in this issue
of veracity, but We cannot help thinking that
peace would be less likely to be broken, for
light and transient causes, if the steady
Germans triumph, than if the Frenchmen are
furnished with new incentives for future
wars.
One paragraph of Nspoleons address indi-
Gates that he is ready to play the role of a
libelating revolutionist if combination of
monarchical powers is formed against him.
He says that the flag he now unfurls is the
same which has borne over Europe the civil
izing ideas of the great French Revolution;
that sit represents the same principles and it
will inspire the same devotion" In this age,
when mems minds are familiar with the be-
trayal of the hopes excited by similar declara-
tions three quarters OF a century ago, and
when the tortuous career of the present
Emperor of France is understood throughout
all Europe no continental community will be
so stupid as to conhde in these false pro-
misses, and we doubt very much whether any
Frenchman will be credulous enough to be-
heve them. They will serve rather as the
crowning plumage of Napoleon's garb as the
great humbug of the age, and they will in
tensify the determination of his foreign and
domestic enemies to hasten his political de-
struction.
CONSTABLE McKULLINS TROUBLE.
OK Saturday the friends of Constable McMul-
lin, who was consigned to the County Prison
few days ago by Judge Paxson for contempt
of court in refusing to obey writ of habeas
corpus endeavored to procure his release,
but the Judge was firm in his determination