The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-07-27
Tho War Situation in Europe-Tho Latest
Developments.

leaves us In darkness as 10 the purposes anu
plans of either antagonist. That there Is a
powerful concentration OF troops on both sides
In the immediate neighborhood Of the border
lines it is no longer possible to doubt. 1t does
seem as If each Power was afraid Of the other.
| At all events it is no longer possible to doubt
| that on both sides there is strong desire to
husband resources for some terrific tug OF war.
The real novelty in the situation has been
created by the publication of treaty whose
history must at least be as old as 1865, If moi
older. We are somewhat surprised by the
excitement which the publication Of this old
story has created. New to the public and TO
the newspapers, we cannot regard 1t as at all
new to the world of diplomacy. We have not
yet forgotten the famous Barritz meeting Of
| Napoleon and Bismarck. We have not for
gotten the excitement which that meeting
| oegot In certain circles. We have distinct
recollection of the Prusso- Austrian cam
paign Of 1866, and of the Importance which
was attached, at that particular time,
to the meeting OF the two great chess players
at Diarritz. 1t was prevailing belief that Ma
pocon was holding off because he had faith
in Bismarck, and because France was, In some
way unknown to the general public, to win
with Prussia. The campaign Of 1866 was brief
and decisive beyond the expectations of either
Bismarck or Napoleon. But it was so decisive
as to make Bismarck the master Of the situa-
ton, and to give him the happy opportunity
which politicians and diplomatists love-an OPP
portunty to forget private conversations and
treaties talked of but not ratified. The year
following gave us the Luxemburg trouble,
which for time threatened war, but which
was happily settled by the London conference.
After Sadowa France was surprised and
amazed, but she'was not prepared to fight.
Napoleon was all the more helpless that he
had to face two failures-that Of Mexico as
well as that Of Sadowa. Napoleon, not yet
caring much for war, is better prepared than
he was in 1866 and in 1867, and French feeling,
as he himself has told us, being 80 emphatically
pronounced, he has had no choice but to say,
'Here throw my gage" 1t is possible that
too much has been made of this treaty. To
our minds 1t is no more, no less, than fair and
somewhat full revelation Of what took place at
Biarrtz in the spring Of 1866.
At the same time it Is possible that this
revelation will very much complicate the
present war situation. If the facts have not
already been made known to the different
governments-and it is very possible, that they
have not officially been made known-every
government in Europe must feel indignant,
and the Indignation must be equally directed
against France and Prussia. That there is
ground to criminate is not to be denied, nor is
it possible to doubt that the parties eliminated
are equally guilty. II there be any truth at
all in the statement Of the Times 1t shows very
clearly that the vultures are not yet extinct,
and thai where the carcase Is they will be
found. If the report be true, then Napoleon
and Bismarck did sit down day after day
and make arrangements for the reconstruction
Of the map Of Europe which
implied partition more Ubiquitous than even
that of Poland. So far as Napoleon and
Bismarck are concerned, that ''bloodiest pic
ture in the book of time" was about to be re-
produced, and the intending spectators are
not to be held the less guilty that the wicked
compact was failure. We know what his
tory has said Of the partition Of Poland. We
know what we thought of the French occu-
patton OF Mexico. If we have not
had fresh partition to the detriment
of Holland and Belgium, if we have not had
another occupation as wicked as that of Mex
leo, we have, at least, had revelation of the
spirit which accomplished the one and the
other. This secret treaty, if 1t be found to be
true, will rebound to the disgrace of both
Napoleon and Bismarck, but particularly Ma
poleon.
The excitement in the British isles, and par
tcularly in the British Parliament, reveals
sentiment which is European in its range.
Great Britain feels insulted. So must Russia.
So certainly must Austria, who ia the only suf-
ferer in the premises. If this rumored treaty
be founded in fact, what can the nations think
of either of the intending combatants? Are
they not scoundrels both? Bismarck got the
better of Napoleon, but is he the less to be
blamed that he was the more successful? Can
Europe trust either of these men? Can Great
Britain and Russia any longer look on as mere
spectators? Can the smaller Powers of Europe
regard either of the vultures as friend? If
il be rs is said is it not time for Europe to re-
gard both France and Prussia, at least Napo-
leon and Bismarck, as common enemiesa The
hurried visit of the Prince Of Wales to Den
mark Is an alarming sign of the times. A gen.
eral European war or no war begins to seem
as much probability as war between France
has burst the wind bags, and both France and
Prussia will suffer. The sweet words Of a
villain caught in the act do not avail much.
In all this we discover but one more powerful
reason for the government Of the people by the
neonlp